What a difference a year makes

Haven't been on in a while computer issues. Last year I didn't know if I would make it or not. My class was unruly, my personal life was a mess and I was broke. I pretty much felt like a failure in every aspect of my life. I hope the statute of limitations is up but one time last year a kid was driving me so crazy that I put him in the closet desk and all. When I realized that what I was doing was crazy, I told him to come back out and he refused saying that the closet was his office. I didn't know what to do so I just let him stay there the rest of the day. He finally came out when they called his bus. Also, I would hear other teachers gossiping about how chaotic my class was and I would not have admitted it at the time but it was hurtful not to have the respect of my peers and administration. That may give some idea of my teaching ability last year.

This year has been much different. We have had minimal discipline problems. The students are generally engaged, my principal has asked me what I did with the teacher from last year and even had me demonstrate lessons and classroom management techniques to the faculty. I'm not always pleased with my performance as a student but I'll have to say I don't know what I would have done without NTI.
Happy Thanksgiving

Teamwork

I have stressed the importance of teamwork and unity in my class all year. The students have responded. They encourage each other and work together. I was pleased with their progress until the other day when one of the students got in a fight on the bus and two others jumped in saying "We're Construction class B#####"!" I'm not sure whether I've created a sense of unity and pride in our class or a street gang.

Most of us (vocational ed. teachers) get students who are not functioning well in a traditional school environment. That's just a fact of life for most of us and I sometimes I have to be reminded that I cannot expect for students to make a complete turn around in nine weeks after a lifetime of negative behaviors, frustration and failure in a traditional school environment.

I'm disappointed with these boys but I just don't see taking away extracurricular activities (I can do that at my school) for an extended period over this incident. They were suspended and I feel that is enough. Also, the students involved have not been disciplinary problems in class. I do not want to "beat them down". I do want them to do an assignment about how they could have avoided this incident. This is my gut feeling about how to handle this situation but I would appreciate some input.

Dismayed by a parent

I recently attended an IEP meeting for a student who was dropping out. I did everything I could to get him to stay in school. The student got a job. He told me he needed to work because of the financial needs of his family. His mother quit her job because she did not want to change colostomy bags when she knew that was part of the job. His father has not worked in years. I don't know why. The only concern this mother had was that her son be allowed to participate in graduation in the Spring. I had a conscientious urge to tell her that if she was so hard up for money that her son needed to drop out of school to support the family she might consider pulling her gold teeth and selling them. Thankfully, I was able to maintain some self control.

student arrested

Had a student arrested for writing gang graffiti on the bathroom wall. He just turned eighteen I here he is going to be in real trouble. The detective told me he would be charged with some kind of gang laws in addition to destruction of property. Can any of you public safety people give me some info on these gang laws. I need to make my students aware of the consequences of gang activity.
Thanks
jj

New Year

Night and day difference between this year and last in the classroom. Came to NTI kicking and screaming but NTI has made teaching what I hoped it would be.