I'm probably being oversensitive but it doesn't stop how I feel

ReeB83

This whole week has been one big fail.

My students have been off, like WAY off. They're bouncing off the walls and then when I need some engagement, I get crickets.

Our school's Mother's Day Program is next week and the theme is "Decades". I picked the 90's and made up a routine to Kriss Kross "Jump". My principal vetoed it, saying it was "gangbanger-style music" and I had to scramble to find a replacement song. Nevermind that I felt some racial alienation about it, being that I'm the only black teacher presenting this dance to an all-Hispanic audience. I picked "MmmBop", which my kids H-A-T-E. With 4 days of rehearsal left, I asked my principal if we could have more rehearsal time for a whole new dance. She then informed me that my WHOLE class has really low test scores (I guess she got the results back already), so I can have 15 extra minutes. Way to pile on the pressure.

For Mother's Day, I wanted to have all the grandkids get together for a photoshoot for my MIL. I have Target coupons up the ying so I set up the appointment. 2 hours beforehand, my SIL tells me she doesn't want to anymore because of money (it would have came out to $40 which we would split but whatever), time and the fact that MIL's church does photoshoots on Mother's Day for free, although it's nowhere near the same (think gray sheet in the gym, folding chairs, 1-2-3 *click* NEXT!") and we do it every year. 

I haven't seen one of my ideas successfully executed in about 2 weeks. I literally locked myself in my DS's room to cry... and write this post. 

pitterpatter129

That sucks.  Hope next week goes better.  At least you know every class in the school is crazy - it's just that time of year! I love that song, it's definitely representative of the 90's, my PE teacher uses it in class all the time (also an urban school) and your principal is nuts.  I'm sure not ALL your kids had low scores!   Sorry about your family's downer attitude.  At least it's almost summer break?

 

 

SPIJaimie

At this point, I would just try to survive the rest of the school year. My mom feels the same way every year. Its like the kids can smell summer and they go nuts. Would it be ugly for you to take your kids only to the Target ones and give to MIL? Even if you do not, at least you have some nice pics of the kiddos right?

Iblamethebeer

That sucks

What a crappy week!  Next week has to be better... 

(Silver lining: at least you can avoid a big death talk with your kids since you're not doing the Kriss Kross song?) 

lexusolsen

That sounds awful! I'm sorry. I gave up trying to organize group gifts with my ILs it was way to much stress on me to do something for their parents. I buy the kids presents and let DH handle the rest. I like PPs idea of doing the target shoot on your own. It's not your fault that all the grandkids aren't in it and I'm sure mIL will love it.

LittleFish1

My students are off too ... Spring Fever mixed with AlmostSummeritis.
Evidently 45 mins of test prep will raise your students to proficient and advanced. Interesting concept that many have tried to adopt. They take away PE, library time, art, science, social studies, field trips, all because the state test does not explicitly cover those things and then there is confusion about why parents who are participating in their child's education will transfer the student out of the school as soon as they are able to .... Sometimes admin forget that physical activity helps kids concentrate, and that all students are in need of positive school experiences which will keep them interested in school so they can make it through their various challenges. Sucess facilitates pride and positive self-worth, which carries over into other areas of our students' lives.

Agree with others about going ahead with the photos on your own. My sister frustrates me too when she does not follow through on the original plan after we make arrangements. True that the photo won't be same as initial intention, however Grandma wouldn't be the wiser.

Stephorse

I am so sorry. That does suck. I've had a terrible April and time of it as well. Found out I wasn't going to be hired back next year due to differences in direction (which I had no clue about) DH and I had the stomach flu at the same time for about 4-5 days, had three rejections while interviewing for new jobs, and four snow days with about 30 inches of snow. So ready for summer! Hang in there. It will hopefully get better soon. Try to take some time for your self and try to find something to do that you enjoy to get you through.

ReeB83

Iblamethebeer:

That sucks

What a crappy week!  Next week has to be better... 

(Silver lining: at least you can avoid a big death talk with your kids since you're not doing the Kriss Kross song?) 

 

That's true. I only teach first grade but there's one kid in the class that watches waaaaaay too much grownup TV and would've be happy to make the connection clear for everyone. I could just hear him now.... "He died from taking speedballs"..... 

ReeB83

LittleFish1:

My students are off too ... Spring Fever mixed with AlmostSummeritis. Evidently 45 mins of test prep will raise your students to proficient and advanced. Interesting concept that many have tried to adopt. They take away PE, library time, art, science, social studies, field trips, all because the state test does not explicitly cover those things and then there is confusion about why parents who are participating in their child's education will transfer the student out of the school as soon as they are able to .... Sometimes admin forget that physical activity helps kids concentrate, and that all students are in need of positive school experiences which will keep them interested in school so they can make it through their various challenges. Sucess facilitates pride and positive self-worth, which carries over into other areas of our students' lives.

The crazy thing is, I teach at a parochial school and the sisters arrange no less than 4 programs a year with song and dance numbers, that the teachers have to coordinate and rehearse with the students. Christmas, Mother's Day and  homages to the Blessed Mother and the school's founding father. That means that I spend at least 8 weeks of the school year practicing dance steps for half an hour. Not to mention all the time I spend outside of school choreographing it. So NOW she cares about test scores? 

 Also I think it should be taken into account that only 4 kids in the entire school speak English as their first language. Most of the questions on the test went right over my students' heads.