i *heart* my team so much.

i *heart* my new babies too. barring the many repeaters i have chillin' in my class who are seriously LARGE, the freshmen are largely sweet. and so small. so very very small. i have some kids who seriously look to be about 4th grade. tiny. ridiculously tiny. but good natured, barring the few white supremacists. (i know, right? who knew that there were white supremacist hate groups in the middle school?) but there are --- but for even them, i feel hopeful. they respond to me. no one has told me to f off. no honors students (bar one obnoxious and arrogant boy) have gotten in my face. they play well together. they smile. they ask for permission. they do what i ask. there are a few catty girls, but i LIKE them. i really do. hard not to play favorites ... but i am certainly enjoying them.

it's also different as a third year teacher here at hillsjail high school. i feel more confident, and am less afraid of them. ('course, they are smaller than me.) i am more willing to lay the smackdown on them. these first couple of days, we just practiced systems: how to come into the classroom, what to do when you come into the classroom, etc. etc. sometimes i make them pack up and go back outside and have a do-over. one girl totally rolled her eyes and was like "this is so fifth grade." and it is, but it's working. they are developing habits, and systems and hopefully this will get them in order for the next two years. it's the worst, knowing that you screwed them up from the start, and you're stuck with them for two years.

i do miss my juniors though. despite all the hate posts i've written over the last two years, they had their moments. they keep coming back and popping in and out of my room, threatening to kick freshman ass if they're mean to me. for all their bitching and kvetching, they miss us, and they miss the system. wish they knew that earlier. suckahs. they sure love us now.

happy first week, guys.