I Was Mean and Then I Fell Asleep

After a truly horrific Thursady, I finally decided that I needed to break out the big guns with my students. I have three double blocked classes, two sixth grade classes and one seventh grade class. One of my sixth grade classes is fantastic almost all the time (*knock on wood*), but my other two classes have pushed me to my limit. They were talking out of turn, not listening during class, interrupting me while I was trying to instruct, and basically, not caring how many times I asked them to be quiet. So, I proceeded to become a resemblance of the "substitute teacher" (Miss. Viola Swamp) from the book Miss. Nelson is Missing.

So, on Friday, for my well-behaved class, I rewarded them with tickets (I give out tickets for participation and correct answers to warm-ups. The tickets go into a drawing for prizes. We draw every Friday.), and drew for prizes for all three of my classes in that one class. It was fun. I also told them how wonderful they were and that I appreciated their willingness to be respectful.

For my other classes, however, I didn't smile the whole class period, I denied any request to leave the room, and generally became the Wicked Witch of the West. I gave them a pop quiz, assigned book work for class (loooong book work), and gave them homework over the weekend. The topic was "Why Ms. Pittman shouldn't give me homework over the Thanksgiving Holidays." My 7th graders had to write two pages on that, and my 6th graders only had to write one page, but they also had to read and summarize the chapters (we were suppose to read in class that day) from our current novel. I then proceeded to tell them we were not drawing, and in fact, I had given my well-behaved class their prizes. A lecture followed that addressed disrespect, rudeness, and appropriate behavior in the classroom.

Yeah, you can say it, I became "the man." I do not like playing that role in such an obvious way, but holy cow!, they pushed it way too far. I haven't decided which Ms. Pittman is coming to class on Monday--mean Ms. Pittman or normal Ms. Pittman? Hum....we'll see.

Anyhoo, dinner with Emily and her family Friday night was fun. Her nephews are so funny and extremely cute. (Taylor is a sweetheart.) I ate a lot of tortillas and queso.....yummmm, queso. I guess all that food and meanness got to me though cause when I got home, I changed into my pajamas, started to read a book, and promptly feel asleep. It was 9 P.M. I woke up at 2 A.M. with my light still on. Next thing I know, it's 11 A.M., and I'm feelin' good.

I guess being mean just takes it out of you.....well, at least that level of meanness takes it out of you..... ;)