Comments on: The Hardest Thing Lately

By: Rostyslav

Rostyslav — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:59:16 +0000

I have been there before. I have one in my class named Nathan. It is really difficult, but you have to do what has to be done. Best of luck to you.

By: Lori Jablonski

Lori Jablonski — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:47:24 +0000

Getting Married? Nice.
If you’re coming to Sac, you know where I am…I’m not sure McClatchy is a place you would find employment happiness (is it possible for tech conditions to actually be -2.0?) but we could sure use your brand of math sass and there are some nifty iconoclasts working in every dept. Anyway, email me or stop by if you’re in the big tomato, I would love to meet you.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 03:00:13 +0000

Well, go figure–good luck with your upcoming nuptials. I’ve been married to the same person for 36 years—it’s been a good gig. Your new school will be lucky to have you. We will be joining together to write a rec for you, just let us know where to send it.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:38:02 +0000

Mine is the wrecking crew named Savannah. Amen.

By: Ryan McRae

Ryan McRae — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:34:02 +0000

First, carpetbomb down here in So Cal, HOLLA.

Second, if you ever hand back anything to your silent-emo man, Miles, I’d write, “Hey—when I don’t say hi to you, I’m really saying hi, in my soul, to you, but when I say it out loud, I’m just acknowledging you along with the rest of the sheep.”

Get in his head, man. Get in his head.

By: dan

dan — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:43:28 +0000

No idea & no idea. My fianceé graduates in May. Once she gets a job, I’ll carpet bomb the area with teaching applications. Bay Area & Sacramento are the #1 & #2 most likely future residence of mr. and mrs. dy/dan but who knows.

Who cares, for that matter. I’m gettin’ hitched! The rest’ll shake itself out.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:32:48 +0000

You’ve implied several times you are changing jobs/schools next year. Where are you going? What are you doing?

By: A. Mercer

A. Mercer — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:39:23 +0000

Last week I was pimping here, now I’m expropriating from you, I’ve started a new page on the first day wiki:
http://firstday.wikispaces.com/startingover
To share posts/etc. on how to fix, redo, or remake your discipline system in the sloppy months of spring. I figured it was a good time for this. Maybe we could share?

By: Morty McNutt

Morty McNutt — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:14:53 +0000

Judging by all the posts of yours I have read, I would venture to guess that you fit in the “strong personality” category. I don’t. When people with strong personalities are in an authority figure (teachers of mine, bosses, older brother) I get tense. Not quite like a turtle hiding in his shell, but a bit like, “get me outta here! NOW!”.
Try not to be Mr. Meyer when you speak to him. Act like this guy is going to act in 10 years when he is your age. Use his manerisms, stance, etc. I took a graduate level counseling class and we were always told to “walk in our clients shoes”. Not always easy to do. Actually, never easy to do. Try it with Miles. From the little image I have of this kid, I would mumble something around him. Like, “I soooo don’t want to be here today. I shoulda called out sick”.
I’ve always done well with these kinds of kids. People have always said to me “You don’t seem like the teacher type”. Since I was a kid, I was always attracted to teachers that were human. The ones who while good teachers, plopped in a movie now and then. I got them.
I admire teachers that are always on their “A” game. The ones who hit the ground running, who walk the halls full speed, have no time for chit-chat (or don’t know how to chit-chat) seem to be always carrying a boom box on their shoulder with “Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston blaring. Not saying that’s you, Dan.
OK, maybe I feel sorry for them.

Say-La-Vee [sic]

By: Peter Rock

Peter Rock — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:08:06 +0000

These situations are where teachers are made.

Do whatever you gotta do to get in and relate…and don’t worry if it takes a loooong time. So long as you don’t do something stupid that breaks trust, you’ve got good chances because you care.

All the best.