Sometimes
Sometimes I get so down and frustrated. And there are SO MANY things to get down and frustrated about in this big big world! Fortunately, I mostly manage to stay "topic specific" frustrated.
Huh?
What I mean is, if politicians are driving me crazy, my frustrations are all pretty much politics related. Topic specific frustration.
Just imagine if EVERYTHING that could get to me in a single day really did. I don’t know that I could crawl up from the depths of the pit THAT would make.
Today, it was students getting to me. More specifically – 6th grade students. 6th graders in general are not my favorite. They are still too much like babies. I don’t like teaching the "babies". That’s why I am not in elementary school. I like ’em with a little sass and a lot of confusion. That’s why I’m in middle school (LOL).
Sometimes the sixth graders cannot be quiet for even the few seconds that it takes to take attendance.
Sometimes the sixth graders have foul mouths like sailors, dress like strippers, and suck their thumbs….all at the same time.
Sometimes the sixth graders roll their eyes, suck their teeth and try to make you believe that THEY are the ones in charge.
Sometimes the sixth graders act in such an immature way that I honestly expect to have to change their diapers before the class is over.
Today I got a new sixth grade student. He is from Viet Nam and knows absolutely zero English. (Remember – more than 80% of my school speaks Spanish as their FIRST language). The available seat was at a table with 2 Hispanic boys who know about 5 words of English each and 1 Haitian boy who knows 10 words. I sat the new student down. I spoke to the others – reminded them how THEY felt being new and alone and scared. That whole table chipped in, rallied around the new boy and did their best to help him do the English work (through their French and Spanish filters – lol) By the end of the class ALL 4 of the boys were friends and smiling – and – (shock!) WORKING.
4 kids. 3 languages – trying to learn a 4th language. When the new boy goes home today I don’t know whether he will tell his parents "Hello", "Hola", or "Bonjour". heh. But I DO know that
SOMETIMES……my sixth graders are just the best thing since sliced bread.
It’s good to know that they can sometimes pleasantly surprise you, isn’t it?
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it”s amazing how people can surprise you sometimes. xoxo
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If it’s ok, would like to use this as: Sometimes, another gem from teacher Subshine Wolf. Can italicize Sometimes.
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Way, way cool. With a smile…
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Lovely! Yes, even the “toughies” can identify, if they’ve been through similar situations. Eons ago I was preparing a group of students to be billeted in Indonesian homes, had done lots of discussion (indoctrination?) re cultural differences etc. Poor kids; it was probably overkill because I think I made them insecure. But it also made them sensitive to others moving into a new culture. At that time we had a Vietnamese refugee student, delightful kid, but having real trouble with intonations so that everything he said came out like an aggressive statement. His words were right, but his tone was way, way off!! My language kids took him on, gave him enormous help on how to say things with the correct inflection so as not to give offence. I was so proud of them!!
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Wow, it’s so cool that your kids are that diverse. Teaching in general is one of the hardest jobs I can think of, but teaching to kids with passable English, no English, just a little English, must make teaching even harder. You’re a hero, P.
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Wow. You have quite the challenges every day, and your frustrations seem so organized. Lol. Today mine are so mixed up I can’t seem to find where one ends and the other begins. But yes, sometimes there are those silver linings, the best things since sliced bread 🙂
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🙂 (Hug)
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80% speak Spanish as their first language, now that’s quite the challenge of which I’m sure you have many being a teacher. You are soo valuable, never forget that. huggles,
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*smiles* Kids are always great underneath it all.
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🙂 kids kind of have a way to make me so mad I can’t see straight, then again, they also have a way to make you smile so much, you can’t see straight either.
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I LOVE your classroom stories. You set the right tone with your introduction, “Remember how you felt…” Your wisdom is inspiring. I hope all is well in your world.
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Someone is too busy being a grandmother to write us! Ahem, I won’t mention any names [Sunshine Wolf].
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Oy, SW!! Get back in here, cos you been tagged! Hugz
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Merry Christmas, Grandma! 🙂
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Amazing … you are there to facilitate all of this! {{{{{{{{{{{{{TOO}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I hope that you are having a wonderful Christmas holiday with your new grandbaby!
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happy 2008, SW! i can see you’re out having sooo much fun with the little one! hehe. just imagine all the changes in this new year, they grow so fast! wishing you and yours a year of many cherished memories!
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Pulls the cobwebs aside hey there you still alive in here? Or did a wild pack of 6th graders get to you? L.
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