O how I wish I had a camera this morning. During 1st period, several students came from the Spanish class to my lab to work on a skit for the assembly tomorrow on Mexican Independence Day. While I was working with them, my boys started looking through the costumes and trying them on. I think my favorite moment was when one boy had a red headband around his head and a shiny blue skirt on over his jeans. We did have a lot of fun coming up with ideas for the skit and playing with costumes. It gives me an idea for a project using the costumes to create characters. If this morning was any indication, these students love to play dress up.
2nd Period I worked with a few more students participating in the skits and talked a few of my own students into participating. Even the boy that I had to ignore in order for him to do his work volunteered to perform in front of the school tomorrow. I hope so much that they follow through. We are making the reenactment a little silly. We were trying to figure out how to portray the Spanish as bullies and why they wanted to control Mexico. They came up with a few silly reasons including better tequila. I think my favorite was, "We have to win or my wife will stop making me enchiladas!"
3rd period worked on more props and decorations for tomorrow. Yes, I gave them permission to make fake weapons from the 1800s. Now I just have to make sure that none of them disappear from my classroom. Eek. As a very important side note...my student that had disappeared came back today! He and his brother had found someone to stay with and told me they were working a lot. They came in on their day off and will be attending on a more flexible schedule. I was so incredibly relieved when I saw him this morning.
4th period one of my students finally returned from SMARTS. She seemed to be less defiant today. The dynamic of the class has changed dramatically with the addition of the last three students. Before they were one of the few classes willing to do theatre. Now I have a lot of work to do to rebuild a safe place and community. But change is constant here and my student's schedules will continue to change. Never a dull moment.
6th period is where everything went crazy again. The lovely girl who has been struggling and trying so hard to get attention from her classmates. There were a few problems at the beginning of class and I stepped out in the hallway for a few minutes to talk to her. She almost started a fight with another student. I was hoping to build some understanding and support with her. Didn't work so well. A few minutes later I had to take her cell phone (which was not only out but she was showing other students some video on it). Then I lent her the pass to go to the restroom. A few minutes later I received a phone call from another teacher saying she had come by his class UPSTAIRS and wanted to know if she was supposed to be there. I told him no and to go ahead and send her to the office. School was ending in less than 10 minutes at that point and then she wandered back in my room. Within another minute or so she hit the student she was trying to rile up earlier with her backpack and I told her that was it, I was contacting the office.
After school I went to check in with my supervisor and he pulled out a few chocolate bars to wallow in the challenges of the day. It was hilarious.
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