What a week... I suppose I have learned a few things, so I'll take that as a positive.
Nervous people or people stricken with crippling anxiety should not work with my students. They will test your patience, and push you to your limit everyday. All you can do to keep a grip on your sanity is find the small bright spot in everyday and hold on to it. I have to great ones this week.
First. A girl how was in my first class, was sitting in the hall crying, so I sat down next to her and asked her what was wrong. She looks at me with tears running down her cheeks and says "She;s mad because she could go to class with the rest of the fifth graders."
This is a girl, who two years ago, would run screaming down the hall, throwing punches and kicks at anyone who came near here just to get out of doing three math problems in my room, and now she is heart broken about not getting to do work on grade level. I hope she understood when all I could do to comfort her was smile, laugh, and give her a big hug. (I also made damn sure that she got to go to fifth grade today)
Then there was today, which was harder then usual, big changes in the barometric pressure always bring big mood swings. That and a missing staff member (see paragraph number one) made for lots of running about putting out fires, and trying to deal with problems before they start. By the time 230, and the afternoon movie rolled around I was physically and mentally exhausted. I flopped down on our mini couch between a pair of students, Little J and Big Mak, and our young autistic gentleman, Big J (he loves that nickname), wanders over and plops down in my lap and serenades me with Yippee-Kai-Yai-Yea while the previews roll, and then the new girl, Darlin', wanders over and asks if she can sit with me too, I tell her that I'm sorry but I only have one lap and it is taken right now, so instead of getting upset she pulls a chair up to the end of the couch and holds my hand. It moments like that that remind me that these students, diagnosis and all are just kids, usually with rough pasts that just need a little love and consistency, and no matter how much of my day I spend correcting there behaviors and dealing out the consequences of bad choices. They appreciate me, They can learn and grow just like any other kid, and I really do have the best job in the world.
Now the weekend, lots to do. Haircuts, Breakfast with Santa, hopefully a little Christmas shopping, and scheduling my next tattoo. Oh and the Muppets, definitely Muppets.
Ummmm... a tune for everyone who made through my ramblings... how about something in keeping with the coming season.
Goodnight and good luck
Nervous people or people stricken with crippling anxiety should not work with my students. They will test your patience, and push you to your limit everyday. All you can do to keep a grip on your sanity is find the small bright spot in everyday and hold on to it. I have to great ones this week.
First. A girl how was in my first class, was sitting in the hall crying, so I sat down next to her and asked her what was wrong. She looks at me with tears running down her cheeks and says "She;s mad because she could go to class with the rest of the fifth graders."
This is a girl, who two years ago, would run screaming down the hall, throwing punches and kicks at anyone who came near here just to get out of doing three math problems in my room, and now she is heart broken about not getting to do work on grade level. I hope she understood when all I could do to comfort her was smile, laugh, and give her a big hug. (I also made damn sure that she got to go to fifth grade today)
Then there was today, which was harder then usual, big changes in the barometric pressure always bring big mood swings. That and a missing staff member (see paragraph number one) made for lots of running about putting out fires, and trying to deal with problems before they start. By the time 230, and the afternoon movie rolled around I was physically and mentally exhausted. I flopped down on our mini couch between a pair of students, Little J and Big Mak, and our young autistic gentleman, Big J (he loves that nickname), wanders over and plops down in my lap and serenades me with Yippee-Kai-Yai-Yea while the previews roll, and then the new girl, Darlin', wanders over and asks if she can sit with me too, I tell her that I'm sorry but I only have one lap and it is taken right now, so instead of getting upset she pulls a chair up to the end of the couch and holds my hand. It moments like that that remind me that these students, diagnosis and all are just kids, usually with rough pasts that just need a little love and consistency, and no matter how much of my day I spend correcting there behaviors and dealing out the consequences of bad choices. They appreciate me, They can learn and grow just like any other kid, and I really do have the best job in the world.
Now the weekend, lots to do. Haircuts, Breakfast with Santa, hopefully a little Christmas shopping, and scheduling my next tattoo. Oh and the Muppets, definitely Muppets.
Ummmm... a tune for everyone who made through my ramblings... how about something in keeping with the coming season.
Goodnight and good luck
VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
el_diablo_blanco:
I just remember being blown away when I saw Election in theatres. Hard to believe that was way back in '99
lighthammer1979:
That's cool you're a special needs teacher. A friend of mine was a teachers aid for a while when he was going through some medical schooling. He said it was frustrating at times but very rewarding.