I survived the day even though I felt sick as hell. The principal had donuts for us this morning so that was nice. Come to find out about 50% of the teachers were sick too. I don't think these kids seem to understand they need to cover their mouths when they cough. And I guess we're just not disinfecting enough or at least not keeping up with it well enough. I'm okay now I'm just completely worn out.
Did not get my grade book set up until about 10:30 and then left for lunch at 11:15.
I had lunch with some fellow teachers which is always nice. It seems like there is a group of us that always end up together even though none of us work in the same Department. I don't speak much at these lunches. No one goes out of their way to speak to me or question me I'm anything and occasionally I'll add a comment but that's about it. I'm too awkward and autistic to lead any conversation even at this Advanced age. Still I enjoy it greatly.
The professional development in the afternoon was boring as hell. They always have these things in the Middle School cafeteria where the bench seats have no backs and are horribly uncomfortable. Plus it is always freezing and the person giving the lecture was about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Surprisingly enough the principal told us as soon as the training was over at 3:00 we could leave. That's the first time that has happened in about 7 years. Most of the time they demand we go back to school and work until 4:30. But we ended up going back and working anyway because Gradebook took so long to set up. And even in 2 hours I had not finished putting in grades because so many of my kids did not turn anything in and you would have to write an explanation by every single failing grade.
The typical comment was "Worked on it in class and either did not turn it in or turned it in without a name and did not claim it when I asked whose it was."
I only got two and a half classes done and one class would not populate no matter what we did and it was not just me it was for the whole school. And I did hear a lot at teachers say that as low as these kids are and as inherently annoying and needy as some of them are they are nothing compared to how bad last year's kids were. I'm so glad those kids have moved on to another grade and I wonder how they are faring in Middle school.
