The Year of the Bearcat - First Two Weeks

The aroma of cinnamon and spice lingers in the air as I grab the nearest cardigan before I go out for a walk in the nice crisp air of September. Wait a second, it smells like sweat, humidity is making my hair frizz and poof, and I grabbing the nearest pair of shorts for my walk. What happened to the flavors of Fall? I think I was just dreaming or wishfully thinking of what it might be like now that school has started. With the beginning of school I am always reminded of Fall, yet Fall isn't quite here. But I'm not here to talk about the weather, I'm here to talk about school. This year I am teaching at Ruston High School, a place of great professional development, helpful and encouraging co-workers, and bright students. I think I was more excited to be at school with my annotation stations at the ready than my kids. All 130 of my eleventh grade students came shuffling into room 228 either sleepy-eyed, or ready to cause to trouble. It was a week of rules, routines, and procedures and by the end of it I was exhausted. In a mere five days I went from laying by the pool, being the "cool" adult to hang out with to the old lady with no life. Bed time comes early now, and I don't get to do many things socially. It doesn't matter though because in that week I remembered why I teach - I love the kids. Every single one of them. Well, I think our times of ease have now disappeared as the second week has come to a close. My poor students just stared at me everyday as I basically threw up information on them about the Declaration of Independence (our first read of the year). Their blank stares and lack of involvement in the groups told me it is time to slow down. So, I tried to take it a step back and BAM! Hurricane Issac ruined all my plans. He came with all his rain and wind, soaking up our grounds, turning off our power and forcing our kids to stay home from school. That stupid hurricane pushed back my assignments and for the first time in years I actually wanted to be in school. But hurricanes don't care about stuff like that. By Friday the hurricane had diminished, but school spirit had not. The students at Ruston High were awakened (because you know they were still sleeping in the halls when they got to school) by the drum line going up and down the halls playing music signaling football season has begun and no rain will stop us. The changing of classes brought the melody "eye of the tiger" over the loudspeaker and I may or may not have danced a bit in the classroom waiting for students to arrive. The kids were excited, the pep rally was krunk and despite the bouts of rain the football game went on as planned. Standing by the band and my pom squad girls, friday night, I knew it was going to be a great year... the year of the Bearcat. Tomorrow I might be singing a different tune when I tell my students they have to annotate the Declaration of Independence

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