A Good Question

This week one of the 35 asked why I became a teacher.  I started to answer with a wise crack like, "So I could terrorise kids like you."  But I didn't say it.  My reply was because my mother was a teacher and I had several great mentors along the way. This question has been with me all week.  Do I remember why I wanted to teach?  What was I thinking about in the late 60s and early 70s?  Do I still feel the same as then?  Have I become jaded?  Some answers are yes, I do feel I can make a difference in students' lives which is the same as I felt in college.  I now know it is much more difficult than I first believed and the reality is that I will probably never know how much of an impact I have made.  When one spends 180 days out of a year with a group of students, there has to be an impact of some sort.  I do wonder if my teaching has had a positive or negative effect.  I think about a girl I taught probably 30 years ago.  She was in second grade and would not stay in her seat nor would she listen, follow rules, or take turns.  Now I realize she probably was ADHD, but at the time no one had heard of that diagnosis.  So in all my wisdom, I put tape on the floor around her desk and told her not to leave the taped area.  It helped for a while, but was not long lasting.  That was a mean thing to do to a child who could not help herself.  I hope she was able to forgive me.

And yes, I have become jaded especially this year.  I have a hard time finding anything positive to say at school and begin to have stomach issues on Sunday night.  I am trying to be more positive because I have a student intern right now and I don't want to negatively influence her.  She is bright and enthusiastic and I don't want to do anything to dampen her spirit.  So, I have much work to do!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last week's score ...Schoolmarm 4.5 Students .5 Plus another students has moved into our school and onto our team.  The more, the merrier, right?  I would agree but he came to class with red marker all over his face.  Friday was "Wear Red Day", but I am pretty sure the intent was a garment of red. It is getting better.  This week we only have 4 days!!!!!!  Do you think that is a handicap for students or the Schoolmarm????????????????

Yikes! It's Sunday night!!!!!!!!

Last week the score between Teacher and The 35 was again 2 to 2 with 1 day as a draw.  Thursday was the absolute worst day of the week.  From the time my teaching partners and I walked into the door at 7:20 we were assaulted with drama.  This time it was boy drama.  One young man was having an emotional meltdown because of a misunderstanding between a teacher and the boy.  No, it was not me, this time!!  The other drama revolved around a student who is transferring.  By 8:00 one of my partners was in tears and I was just mad.  Then, we were operating on a different schedule because another grade was going on a field trip and needed to eat lunch early.  Just let me tell you that 12 - 13 year olds do not adjust to change well.  I would go so far as to say they are less flexible than a newborn who needs to be fed every 4 hours.  By 1:30, when the darlings went to special classes, I was having a meltdown, too.  At 4:02 I left school, went home and went to bed.  Sometimes one's home is the only safe haven.  Then in Sunday school this morning I was admitting that my feelings toward some students could be compared to that of having a root canal without anesthetic when a friend said not to be too hard on myself.  I should take heart in remembering that it is not really the students themselves, rather it is their behavior that is so abhorrent.  That really helped, a sincere thanks to my friend.

We have 3 days this week, thanks to the calendar fairies.  3days... One can do anything for 3 days, right???? Of course right.  I hope right.  3 days... hmmmmm... 

Best student/teacher conversation of the week-
The day the Chilean miners were being extracted  we watched some of the rescue on TV.  The next day I had this conversation.
Student:  I know why those people on TV were speaking a different language.
Teacher:  Oh?
Student:  Yeah, they were from Chile.
The positive of this conversation is that the light did come on for the student.  I do wonder how far that particular bit of electricity had to travel to get to this particular light bulb.  Is there a power grid on Pluto????

This week's score

Teacher - 2 good days; Students - 2 bad days; Toss up - 1 day.   I think this kind of record is called a draw.  So what makes a good day?  Happy teacher, happy students, good work.  I am not sure in what universe that scenario occurs, but it is not mine.  In my reality a good day is when I spend more time teaching than disciplining squirrely students.  These squirrely students are making me nuts!!!!!!  Perhaps I am an almond or pecan, I don't know but sometimes at the end of day, I do feel like I have been cracked!!!! 

One of the reasons I had 2 good days is because the principal has sent reinforcements!  I have a the use of a tutor who is bilingual first period!!!!!!!  She is not just a tutor but a certified teacher.  It is amazing how the presence of another adult makes a difference.  With this help I have become embolden to take The 35 to the science lab on Monday for a cloud making lab.  They have to use matches even!!!  I better put the fire department on alert!!!!!!

Today is a beautiful autumn day and I have lesson plans to make.  Stay turned to you police scanners on Monday in case The 35 set the school on fire!  That's all from the nutty schoolmarm.

A Good Day

It was a good day for the 35 and myself.  We used their e-minis for some research practice.  They really liked being able to hear the pronunciation of African names.  With all the Mansa Musas being played at about the same time, sounded more like frogs to me!!!  Tomorrow we will see if they learned anything.  As they say, "The proof is in the pudding."