Tuesday, August 25

Started off with a computer science class and little did I know that the students do not have their usernames to log onto the computer meaning they weren’t able to start the assignment. Going around the room I asked why they were interested in taking this class. Answers ranged from “I had to”, “I like computers and want to learn more”, and “I don’t know”. This will be more or less a self paced class and most of the students seem responsible.

Went swimming after school and with no one in the bigger male designated pool I requested to swim there until other people (strange men, boys) came. Well, male teachers from school came which is fine by me but the man on duty said – nope, time out, you need to get out. But I can sit on the side of the pool no problem.
Tonight a walk to the Filipino souq at 9:30pm to shop once the stores are open again. Some of the new teachers will come to see what is behind the walls. Tomorrow night I will hit the Mall of Arabia.

Mondays will be my long and short days. Long because I have all 4 grade 6 classes and advisory which is a 30 minute class to make announcements and to develop the whole child. The first break is at lunchtime and then there is one more class before early dismissal. This all translate to having 4 classes in the morning and one after lunch. Despite it being a long day, it was a good day today with seeing the rest of the students. They are eager, happy, and excited – just the kind of kids you want to teach. Already I see the stellar, hard working conscientious students who like to take notes, please, and want to do well. Then there are the ones who don’t know anything. AR, what do you like to do in your free time? I don’t know. Nothing I guess. Maybe watch TV. Then there are the talkers, jokers, wiggle worms, fidgiters, and know-it-alls. This is all part of what makes teaching unique and challenging and creative. How to reach everyone? After the classes were over and I caught my breathe, it was time to get down to brass tacks and make a lesson plan for the HS computer science class.

This class is a mix of all HS students but mainly 9th graders and we all know what 9th graders are like and what they are interested in and little of that has anything to do with school. We will be using Publisher and my thought is for them to think of a business they would like to run and then design business cards, letterhead, and a flyer for that business.

Sunday – first day of school and it was a bit hectic but everyone survived. First the mike in the caféteria did not work so the principal had to yell but he has a good voice for that. I had my advisory class for the first 3 classes forgetting I had a HS one during one of those periods but not much I could do about it. By 11:00am I got a good feel for the 11 students I have and they are seem decent. I can tell a few of the boys will have a hard time focusing because already they are figity.

Oh, a classic moment was about 11am when a bell rang but it was early because dismissal is at 11:10 so why was this bell ringing and why was it ringing so long – was it a fire drill? On the first day of school? Some kids were dismissed and walking out the bldg when principal says let’s make it a fire drill and now confusion sets in. Two seconds later the HS principal says no, it is not a fire drill, go to your next class. Then, finally an announcement comes on to say to disregard the irregular bell alarms, they are fixing the bell schedule. After that there were no more bells so some kids are being let go early and others late. Chaos but only temporary.

Now it is time for me to focus on the CS class and Publisher. I meet them on Tuesday. Met a newly arrived teacher this evening. He had a heck of a time getting here with late flights and long layovers. I bet half his time was flight and the other half layovers and plus waiting around to get baggage but one is still missing.
Time to rest.