I miss having my own class

Once again... it was super awkward when I went in to school (Mondays I'm at Les Marendiers). I don't know why, maybe it's just because I'm there first thing Monday morning and they haven't had time to talk amongst themselves... but unlike at the other schools, where Murielle the directrice, and Pierre the director both greet meet and hold a conversation before I get started, I just sort of get my stuff out in silence and go to my first class.

My first class is with the longterm substitute. I thought after what happened last week, they'd remember that I mean business and not to be rude... but it turns out they forgot. They weren't quite so rude as they were just annoyingly noisy... between everything I said or question I asked, they'd make a comment or talk amongst themselves... it was annoying. And the teacher's soul method of getting them to quiet down is to say shh, which obviously still isn't working. I'm being observed at this school next week, so I decided I'd teach the class one little trick that sometimes works... I clapped my hands twice and had them repeat (this gets there attention and makes them focus on me long enough to realize I have something to say). It would work for the most part... except for the kid who kept clapping afterwards. It's just so frustrating because I'm only here for 30 minutes... how am I supposed to be able to gain any control of the class???

In the third class, with Sabine, her class is less chaotic, but still difficult. As soon as Sabine steps out- all hell breaks loose. The kids are cute, but can still be rude. Sometimes I have flashbacks to when I used to substitute.... you're in a class full of kids, whose names you don't know (I maybe know 1-2 in each class), whose personalities and abilities you don't know, and you don't really know the regular behavior system. I'm probably making it sound way worse than it is.... I know the kids are learning what I'm teaching (colors for this week), but I miss having a class of my own... When you're with your own class, you set the rules, you set the tone, you know your kids, you learn how to solve problems, etc. But tant pis, this is my job for now... and I need to figure out how to do it to the best of my ability:)

Anyway... sorry for my internal reflections.... after my next three classes, that went fairly well, I went out into the pouring rain to get my lunch at the cantine (have I mentioned that the cantine is always in its own building?). It was actually a very yummy lunch, scalloped potatoes and a stew with pork (plus baguette, cheese, yogurt, and fruit). And while we ate, I not only understood the teacher's lounge conversation, but I added something to most topics:) I even brought up that I'm going to see Audrey Tautou on Thursday and some of the teachers were like... NO WAY!!!! At the end, I got all of their email addresses so that planning would be a little easier. I left feeling accomplished... if not with gaining control of my classes, certainly in my ability to speak French and to feel like "one of the gang."

After school was over, I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things.... now I'm home to plan, plan, plan for next week. I want to make sure I have everything set up before Amy comes!!!

Reste cool:)