I Could Have Been A Journalist

I Could Have Been a Journalist

My First Year Teaching in a New York School District

By Corwin T. Harris

Copyright 2015 Corwin T. Harris

Smashbooks Edition

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Table of Contents

A Note from the Author

Acknowledgements-

1. Introduction

2. What did I get myself into?

3. Colleague or Cry Baby

4. Common Crap

5. Put your phones away

6. …And parents

7. The Putrid Existence of Substitute Teachers

8. Final Thoughts

9. About the Author

A note from the author:

Hi guys. Thank you so much for picking up my book and reading it. It really is an honor for me that out of the millions of books you could be holding, you are holding mine. So thank you once again. I hope you enjoy what I have to say about teaching and the education system as a whole. I hope I don’t sound too preach-y on some topics. I just wanted to give some insight to the point of view from a teacher. Let me know what you think of it! I can be reached at corwintharrisbooks@gmail.com.

Thanks Again!

-Corwin

Acknowledgements

I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the strength every day to get up and continue the fight to save these kids.

To my High School Teachers, Thank you for the wisdom you have imparted into me!

To my family, thank you for listening to my horror stories and keeping my sane during the crazy days.

To The Dr. Tracy, Ms. Tracy A. Harris: Thank you for taking the time to read this manuscript and give me your honest opinion. I love and appreciate you more than words can express.

To my VERY FIRST CLASS EVER: Thank you for making me a teacher from day one. I will never forget any of you!

Introduction

This book is in no way a complaint about the woes and evils of teaching. Instead, it is a peek into the classroom from a perspective not often appreciated: that of the classroom teacher. I have been in just about every form of teacher there is in High School. I was a student teacher, a substitute teacher, a consultant teacher, and a classroom teacher. My first year, I was the consultant teacher for several inclusion classes, and the classroom teacher for resource room, and a substitute teacher.

The time I have spent in the classroom gave me a world of experience that no college courses could offer me. Things are wonderful in theory, but the practical application of the theory to the classroom situation is not as smooth as one would think. In my first year, I have experienced some extreme highs and extreme lows of the profession of education. I have had students love me one day and hate me the next. I’ve been