Why do French Toilets Flush Up?

While I have had nothing but praise for my classes this year, things have come down just a little. Everything is going great, but my 5th period class is just a little bit more wild. It's funny...the whole "wild" thing is relative. I would have thought this class was a group of angels last year! I actually had to give 2 detentions for talking last Friday when they were just not heeding my warnings... A bit of backstory: I had to rearrange my room so that I could have a computer installed and a projector for my powerpoint notes--the portables are finally getting outfitted in week 6 of school. I have taught with these two features for the last 2 years, and it's been a bit a struggle to learn to teach without them! In any case, when they walked in today, I had a bit of a disdainful taste in my mouth,seeing as they caused me a bit of anger last week. Today, however, I had a reading assignment prepared, and they took out the book and began to read silently. I heard NO complaints that it was all in French! When the time came for popcorn reading, I had kids eagerly raising their hands, wanting to read out loud. The story was about introductions and a group of secret friends, but in every class today, we somehow got on the subject of bidets in our discussion...

Funniest thing heard today: "Crazy Lady, party of one, your table is ready."

I Guess This Thing Still Works...

Not blogging for the last 2 weeks or so probably isn't the best way to keep my 1 or 2 readers coming back for more. I haven't been on vacation, as the picture I took above illustrates. I've been going to work, dealing with kids, and trying to put together both a French National Honor Society and a trip to Europe this summer. Having a classroom seems to have calmed things down a TON. I never knew how much less stressful it is to have a place to call your own. If my desk looks like a pile of crap, I can leave it. I must say that this is the greatest part! My students are still pretty attentive, and I have had more kids come for tutorials since the beginning of school, than all of my students put together over the last 2 school years. I guess there is so willingness to learn. I wonder what's in the water...Kids respectful, interested, and willing to learn. Teachers smiling and generally happy to be there, and a plethora of cheap watering holes on Friday afternoons. I started this blog as a way to vent about things going on in a public high school, but if things continue their upward spiral (I guess gravity has to take afoot sometime), there won't be any more need for this space! Edit: I've been saying for two years that I refuse to take on any more television shows. As evidenced from my "Watching" items on my sidebar on the left, my curiosity is getting the better of me. I have become hooked to both 24 and Law & Order: SVU...I hope for crappy shows this fall!