FanTABulous day!

I had an amazingly wonderful first day back to school!  Everything seemed to go so smoothly.  Except for our new student information system program.  iNot, I mean iNow, is not the greatest, to say the least.  Why the state is having us change over is beyond me.  The previous program (STI) had its problems, but so far, iNot seems to be one huge problem.

We aren't having a daily advisement (aka homeroom) period this year, so the daily attendance will be recorded during 3rd block.  For some unknown reason, some teachers were able to post while others weren't.  I think I was one of the "weren'ts."  Even though I marked the students who were absent and clicked on the POST icon, nothing ever showed up indicating I had posted.  So for this week, we have to send down our 3rd block attendance at some point during the day.  Maybe this will be a problem that will be straightened out soon.  A few systems piloted this program last year, so hopefully one of them will be able to tell our powers that be what to do.

My class numbers are AWESOME!  I have 19 in my 2nd and 3rd block classes, 29 in my 4th block class, and 13 in my 5th block class.  I wish about five of the 29 in 4th block could be moved into my 5th block, but I'm happy if everything stays as it is.  My 3rd and 4th block numbers have fluctuated all day long...one time I would have 18 in 3rd and the next I would have 19.  Then it would be 18 again, and then back to 19.  Fourth block has gone from 27 to 28 to 27 to 29.  I really don't know what to expect tomorrow, but hopefully everything will be sorted out by then.

I always have my students do an activity so I can get to know a little about them.  In the past, they have written 1-2 page essays, answered questions about themselves, or done a fill-in-the-blank form.  This year, I took Georgie's blog post from a couple of weeks ago.  The RHOK (Real Housewives of Oklahoma) had done a McLinky that Georgie participated in, and I just took the idea and ran.  (Hope I did violate anything...)  Anyway, bloggers who participated had to complete the following:  "If you really knew me, you'd know that I..."  I thought that would be a fun way to find some things out about my students.  I want to share a few of their answers.

LB said "If you really knew me, you'd know that I am kind of shy until I get to know a person.  Then I don't shut up."  (I had her last year.  I can say she's right about that.  LOL)

MH said "IYRKM,YKTI hate the feel and the sound of cotton."  (I love to find out the "odd" likes/dislikes of people.)

BS said "IYRKM,YKTI have 2 sisters, 3 dogs, and a sloth."  (Hmmm...I'm gonna have to ask about the sloth.)

RS said "IYRKM,YKTI do not like green eggs and ham, and my name is not Sam."  (Hahahaha  I love it when students tell me goofy things like this.  It makes me laugh.)

TJ said "IYRKM,YKTI don't like pickles, but I love pickle chips."  (I can relate to this.  I don't like onions, but I love onion rings."

Some of the common things were a fear of spiders, a strong hate of cockroaches, having to put the radio volume on an even number (I do this), and of course, a love of food.  Keep in mind that these are teens!

One thing that I am really excited about is that one of my former students is doing her observation hours with me for her one of her education classes.  She'll be here only this week,but I was thrilled that she came to see if she could do them with me.  :) 

I have the usual first-day-back achy legs and feet, but I have them propped up on the ottoman, and unless I have to, I'm not moving.  My wonderful hubby has ribs on the grill.  YUM!  They are smelling SOOO good, too!

OK...I've got textbook forms to do, so that's it for this post.

Have a GREAT day tomorrow!