Along with the Good comes the Not-So-Good

A while back I shared as sweet treat that I received during Teacher's Appreciation week. That is an example of one of the good things that happen in the life of a teacher. But just like the law of physics, with the good there is also the the not-so good and teachers have their share of that as well.

The picture above is one of my "not-so-goods" that happened about the same time that I received the Snicker Sundae.   This picture is of the entry to my classroom which includes a door and window.  One of my students became angry and punched the window with their fist causing it to break.   The window was made of safety glass so it did not shatter and thankfully the student was not hurt nor was anyone else hurt.  ( although I can imagine it must have been painful at some point for the student when the adrenaline wore off)  The picture was taken after a board was put up behind it to stabalize it until it could be fixed.   I didn't think to take the red bag down before taking the picture either-- that is our class emergency bag that is kept near the door .  We grab that on our way out the door should their be a fire or severe weather ( or drills for these things). 

When this happened , I called my administration to handle the incident because of the severity of the situation.    
 Thankfully, in my school there is more good than not-so-good..  :)

What Do Teachers Make?

Snicker Sundae

For Teacher Appreciation last spring one of my students brought me this treat - a snicker sundae.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It was so sweet!  Literally!

Teachers Make a Difference

Interesting Observation

School has been out for nearly three weeks now.  I have many things I want to write, and will write them in days to come. 
In these last three weeks, I spent about one week working in my classroom doing some deep cleaning/purging of my files.  They have not been done for about 5 years because I generally don't have time during the schook year and usually feel rushed at the end of the year to make room for the summer school teachers who will be in my room.  This year my classroom is not being used, so I took advantage of the time. 
Then I took a week to work on the district level helping to align and write the common math assessment for our grade level next year.
This past week I have been doing work at home catching up on chores that have been neglected all year. 
Sprinkled throughout the 3 weeks have been fun days of relaxing, time out with friends, family, and lazy days. 
Tonight I went to a happy hour with a slew of colleagues at a local pub.  Three of them wont be returning to our building next year, so it it was good to have this time with them to laugh, to tell stories, and to have a good time.  I havent seen many of them since the last couple days of school 3 weeks ago.
One such friend looked at me and said that I was looking very relaxed-- that I looked happy and glowing and so different since school has ended.  She remarked that the time off has been good for me. 

How interesting---  that the stress of the year physically manifested itself upon me without me realizing it and now as summer unfolds, the year leaves me.  I know that this past year was a hard year. Physically, mentally, emotionally.  But I guess it was visible as well.       

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.

Pressures

I've been feeling some pressure the last month or so.  It could be perceived or it could be real.  It comes in waves.  At times it almost makes me want to just leave and find a place to work where there aren't so many problems--like a prison.   That is supposed to be a joke, but I don't know how far off it is.  Pick up any newspaper and you can find an article about the state of education today. 

Funding?  Cut, slash, cut some more...., increase class sizes until the seams are bursting,  problem kids stay in rooms because there are no behavior alternatives, but you better raise achievement, and the government may just pink slip you before the end of the year-- so even if we promised to pay you for the work you did --sorry.    

You are doing it for the kids, right? You're a teacher.

Even if all these things are happening...just give some slack in some area ....   somewhere.....