Yes, indeedee — here I am, about to begin my tenth year of teaching. Ten. It is my second year of teaching in this district, in this school. With me so far? So today my principal tells me: The district, in their infinite wisdom, has decided that I’m a brand new teacher and has assigned me a mentor! Isn’t that special???? I couldn’t believe it! The principal pointed out that I can probably teach the mentor a few things! Anyway, I’ll meet her on Friday. The principal is thinking we’ll only have to meet like once a month. Oh joy.
My very first year of teaching, I allegedly had a mentor. Peg was another of the sixth grade teachers. It’s remarkable how unhelpful she was. She didn’t just not help; she badmouthed me to other teachers. She came in my class and yelled at my students and at the time I had no idea why. It was a nightmare! So the thought of having a mentor just generally runs chills down my spine. But really, in my tenth year? We’ll see. I’m not even really sure what a mentor’s supposed to do at this level.
My U of Phoenix class started today. The syllabus is … scary. But I filled it all in on my calendar, so I can stay on top of things! They work hard to help you be successful, which I like.
I survived day two of the reading workshop. I know a whole lot more about what I’m supposed to be doing in this program, and now understand the things I couldn’t do last year because they made no sense. A whole ton of stuff is squeezed into that 90-minute reading period!
The AC wasn’t working in the building very much yesterday, or at least not in the room we were in, so today we were in one of the portables. This teacher’s room certainly didn’t look like a summer room! His students could walk in this afternoon and he’d be all set! But that’s one nice thing about the portables — we (of course) have our own heat and AC. Mine are these dippy units that stick out (I have two), but I do get to control them. And because of the way they are, it doesn’t matter if you need heat one day and cooling the next (or as happens during part of the year, heat in the AM and cooling in the PM).
