Snow Day!

So, yesterday was our second snow day of the season, and I have not felt so much like a kid than when I got the text that school was canceled. And on a Friday for a three day weekend!! I immediately began brainstorm what amazing things I would do with my time and at the top of the list was sleeping in, heading to the gym, and catching up on some missed TV shows. It wasn't much after that, however, when I was reminded that I am a grown up after all. I spent a majority of my free day writing unit plans, and I could not have been more thrilled. When you spend your free time willingly doing work that you enjoy, that has got to be a sign that you are doing something right. I felt accomplished, and I cannot imagine a snow day better spent.

T-shirt and Jeans

I have never felt so comfortable in the classroom as I did today in my t-shirt and jeans. Like most schools, my school implements a Jean Friday policy for its staff. I usually try to pair my jeans with a cardigan or nice sweater, but today all of the freshmen teachers were asked to wear t-shirts to support an upcoming event. I was leery. I rarely wear t-shirts to begin with and wearing one in front of my students I feared would make me look more like a student than ever. I only have four years on some of these kids and my khakis and pencil skirts are usually my definitive mark as an adult. Today, however, I rocked the t-shirt and jeans and loved it. I do not know if the t-shirt and jeans made me feel comfortable or if I am finally comfortable enough in myself to be comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans, but today I felt good. Students responded well to my relaxed look, and I would go so far as to say my look made them more relaxed around me. Whatever it was, I liked it, and I look forward to all of the jean days to come in my future!

Valentine's Day Dilema

A student of mine came into my classroom this morning and shared with me his Valentine's Day woes from the day before.

"I left her gift in my locker!" he complained, "I can't believe I did that!"

"What did you get her?" I asked politely, afraid that he might have found a melted chocolatey mess in his locker this morning.

"Well, it was like this necklace, and it had rubies in it, and it was really pretty and cost me $235, but it was totally worth it, and we've been dating for 5 months, so I don't think she's going anywhere."

Keep in mind that these are 14 year olds! Let me repeat, after 5 months he already realizes she's not going anywhere? What kind of naive 9th grade fantasy is this? It took every ounce of strength I had not to openly laugh in this young man's face. Now, I am no cynic of love (and no romantic either), but I would bet every penny to my name that they are not together three months from now.

I did not mean to mock; this boy was very upset that he could not deliver his girlfriend's gift, and in an attempt to redirect the conversation I asked him what she got him.

He replied, "Nothing. She doesn't really like giving or receiving gifts."

Oh, so a ruby necklace worth your entire savings to date was your best option? For an eighth grader who doesn't like gifts??

I hope you got as much of a kick out of this as I did.

Happy V-Day!

Tears

Seeing the step-father of one of my failing students cry in myclassroom after school is one of the hardest things I have yet to see during my student teaching experience. His son is failing due to sheer lack of effort, and it is breaking his heart. He said that he is at wits end with this boy and that he can think of nothing to do to help him see the gravity of his poor decisions. As an educator, I feel obliged to help my students find success, but when they do not accept my help or the help of the supportive parents they have at their side, their situation becomes nearly helpless. The step-father fears that there is something larger going on in his son's life that is distracting him from his work, but he is not showing any outwardly signs at home or in my classroom of any changing or atypical behavior. He is failing now, and as the end of the trimester inches closer the likelihood of his passing is growing ever slimmer. I want to help, but how can you help someone unwilling to accept it? All I can do is offer and hope someone takes me up on it. The step-father's tears nearly brought me to tears because he so passionately wants success for his son, but is it increasingly out of reach and there is little I can do this late in the game to make up for the son's three month lack of effort. I can only hope that the heart to heart we had today changes his attitude about school, and he gives himself the opportunity to be successful.

Always an Explanation

I was not naive enough to believe that I had left all of the heartbreaking stories behind in my last school district, but I did not expect the variety of stories that my new school has to offer. There is a student in one of my classes that struggled to cope with my integration into the classroom. At first I took his insults, disturbances, and disrespect personally until I learned that he lives with a solitary parent who puts her habit before her children and that he has been fending for himself for years seeing time and time again how incompetent people can be at their roles in life. The adult figure that serves as his role model is a constant disappointment to him, and he assumes that her lack of effort and affection on his behalf is what is to be expected of adults as the rule, not as the exception. Despite his negative attitude, I have showed him nothing but kindness, and though I am sure that I am not the first educator to try this approach, his teacher told me today that since my arrival he has been on his best behavior all year. Alright! I'll take it! If what I am seeing is his best behavior then I know we have work to do, but I also know that he is ready to put in the effort to improve, and I am willing to meet him exactly where he is. I am again reminded that there is always an explanation; all you have to do is listen for it.