A Sweet Surprise

I met my cousin for an early dinner at the local bread company Friday afternoon.  The young manager behind the counter greeted us enthusiastically as we approached. I gave him a second glance and realized that I knew him!  That was why we got the enthusiastic greeting.  He is one of my former students.  He came around and gave me a hug and we had some small talk before I ordered my dinner.

It makes me proud to see my students doing well.

Before I left to go home, I stopped back at the counter to pick up a couple of muffins for the weekend and gave my order to the girl behind the counter.  The manager, my former student, happened to walk back to that area and he told the gal-- "She was my 5th grade teacher!"  

Mercy!  I feel old.  But I also feel proud.


Have you had a chance run-in with a former student or former teacher?    

Teachers Make a Difference

One gone

I have some difficult children in my class who require more time and energy than I have.  Two especially compete to be my top tier kids and the top tier of the school kids.  One of these kids transferred into my classroom midyear and while my class was not perfectly run, it was managed with ocaisional outbursts by the other defiant one.  However, once the new student entered the dynamics changed and the  room seemd to explode.  I often wondered if I would make it to the end of the year.  If retirement were closer, I would have considered it. 

So, selfishly I was glad and relieved when I found out that the one student would be transferring out of my classroom before the end of the year. It is not a good move for the student-- three schools in one year--   but for my sanity , it is a wonderful thing.  For the rest of my students, it is a good thing.

The student has been gone now for two weeks and there is a noticeable difference in the class. It is not a peaceful class by any measure-- I am having to get it back to a place close to where it was before. But there is a tension or energy gone.  The defiant student that remains is wound tighter than a top and cannot make it a full day without having some sort of problem or disaster, other students are trying to fill in the void of the one who left, but the air is calmer and I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I think I just might make it to the end of this year.

A first

I'm not proud, but today a first happened to me after 9 years of teaching.   The kids actually made me start to cry.  Darn it!  I hate it that it happened!   I am not usually an emotional ball of goo-- but they worked on me all day and wore me down.  My regular hard-hitters were on cue all day and I was deflecting them left and right with the best of them.  The hit I took that left me wavering with watery eyes and a quivery voice came out of right field. It was from one of my good kids.  One of the kids who who generally gives me joy when I teach.    He was mad and thought I was being unfair.  

We had an assembly today that was scheduled during our recess time. The children were upset because assemblies are always scheduled then.  I empathized with them but told them I didn't think it would change.  The assembly finished with about 30 minutes left before school was out for the day.  Our class still had things to pass out and closure to have for the week so we headed back to the room.  However, the other classes in our grade decided to go outside for a recess time.

My class whined and complained all the way to the room.  I considered letting them go out as soon as we got our things passed out, but they continued to whine and complain, and then began to accuse me of being unfair to them.  It didn't bother me at all until my good kid started in on me.  He told me that it is not fair because our class always misses alot of recess. 

I reminded him and the class that just yesterday our class took a double recess ( and only our class--the other classes went inside at the regular time).  He then went on to say that I sit at the computer and check my email and our class misses part of their recess all the time. 

Now I know this is not true.  I never check my email or do any personal things on class time.  In fact, I told the class that I felt I was more than generous with the free time and recess that they had.

I guess I am hurt because they don't realize how much I care and put in to working for them.  How many hours I give for the class.  It is not worth it.  When even my good kids begin to turn against me and take the joy from me, then I might as well stop putting in the time that I do. Maybe I will just do the 40 hours from now on and whatever doesnt get done--oh well.

No more tears for me.     

Losing my Kids

I have had 5 Korean children in my class this year.  Two of them are recent arrivals -- what I fondly call "right off the boat."   All of their fathers are visiting scholars at the state university and they come in January/February to stay for 1 year. 

So I will be losing 3 of my kids by February 1 as they travel back to their home country.  As I have really only known these children well since late August, you would think that it would not be a difficult thing to have them move.  You would be wrong.  These kids have wriggled themselves deep into my heart and my heart breaks to see them leave knowing that I will most likely never see the again.

One of my students left at Christmas break.  It was difficult to say our goodbye's, but it was also a busy time of year and everyone, me included, were looking forward to a break. 

My 2nd student left last week.  This was my little girl with the pink glasses. She was torn about leaving.  She looked forward to going home to her grandparents, friends, and home.  And yet, she was sad to leave her friends here.   I became emotional as I thought about her leaving.  At home, I would think about it and tears would come.  She left last Friday and I after all the kids left I did cry.  She will be missed.

My 3rd student is leaving this week.  She is smart cookie and has been so much help with the two new girls who speak so little English.  I have known her family the entire year they have been in America and it pains me to see them go.  I know that I will shed more tears when she leaves us.

These kids are wonderful students.  I don't know if it is the Asian culture that makes them so wonderful as a student.  They value education.  They are extremely respectful and always do their work with great effort.  They are neat and organized in their work.  They are impecable.   One of the specials teacher who works with my class jokingly asked me why we couldnt send a couple of the other kids away and keep these ones.  I say jokingly, but it is a thought I have had as well.   Sometimes I wish that our American students showed similar diligence and effort int ehir schoolwork and attitudes.

This is the first year I have had ELL students who return home mid-year.  That could be why it is so tough on me.  I may get used to it.  But for now, my heart is heavy. 

Building a Relationship

I have a new student that has been with me less than two weeks and we are still in the stage of getting to know each other.  We are building a relationship so that he will trust me and know that I have his best interests at heart.  In turn, I want to know that he will give his best effort for me when I ask him to do something that may or may not be difficult for him.

This past week I was wearing a necklace that had a cross on it.  My new friend came up to me and asked me if I were a Christian.   I told him that I was and watched his face to see if he had any other questions.  He stayed near me with a pondering look on his face.  So, I asked him if he was one.  He replied, " I dunno.  Sometimes. " 

Another piece of the puzzle to help me know him.  Do I know what it means?  Not really.  But it is a piece that will help me understand him and reach him.