Wednesday, February 15, 2006
A Lesson From Johnny
Sometimes, we as adults simply have to stop and listen to those we are in charge of. They aren't the only students. Sometime we are their student
s, and if we open our hearts to them, we will learn some of the most profound lessons in life that ever can be learned.
Today was the worst class as far as behavior that I've had this three weeks. In desperation for a position for today, I accepted a sixth grade class (my first sixth grade class, I might add) at a middle school thinking, "how much trouble can they possibly be?" (*twitch, twitch*).
Okay, I understand WHY the teacher had this specific seating arrangement, but I hope she has more luck with the ones she separated (for disciplinary reasons) than I had today. There were five boys that were in five completely separate sections of the room that knew exactly how to work the room into a chaotic frenzy every fifteen minutes. I wrote down names, promised rewards, took away rewards, made half the class put their heads down, pulled some aside to talk with them privately, and made them do extra work. There are just some classes that cannot be managed well except to make sure they don't damage each other or themselves. I had more success in the alternative school with the kids who'd been arrested for gang-banging and drug possession than I did with this class full of sixth graders. (I hope that doesn't make me a bad sub.)
One thing that caused a lot of the problem in the beginning was that the teacher had left her lesson plans with a teacher in the next room, but didn't notify her of the plans. This neighboring teacher and I looked for them, but they were not found until 1:30, thirty minutes before the class left for music and PE, which ended my day with them. Therefore, I had to "wing" it all day. "Winging it" is great for the upper grades when you have one class to teach (i.e. music, science, english...), and you can pull a rabbit from a hat and teach it seven times a day. However, in a contained classroom, where you have to teach all the subjects, "winging it" takes a little more than just effort. It takes a miracle. Needless to say, I made it through the day on a "wing and a prayer". There was one moment when I was waiting for silence and gave a sigh, mainly because I'm still a little under the weather with this flu thing, but really, because the stress of the day was wearing me down. One boy at the back said quietly, "Are you stressed, Miss?" Of course, not to admit it in front of the class, I said, "no, I'm just getting over a cold. I'm fine." (As it stands now, I have no voice.)
The highlight of the day, however, was when one of the quiet students, a boy, wrote me a letter, very silently handed it to me, and sat back down with a shy but understanding smile. This letter made me want to cry, but crying in front of a class of m___s is not allowed. (They eat you alive!) He wrote, (in part) "...on behalf of the class I would like to apoligize (his spelling). I'm sorry you have to see us like this...but I hope you can forgive the people who are doing bad, and even the ones that are good." (Now I can cry, because I'm at home! *sniff*) POW! Right in the kisser!! It knocked me for a loop and I could barely stand there reading it.
Yes, little Johnny, I can forgive. Even though there were moments when I could have thrown in the towel, I knew that you are all blessed children at heart, and knowing that is why I stay a sub, even though there are bad days when not all of you are doing what you should. Sweet child, you will probably never read this, but I am thankful for this note you gave me, and I will keep it forever. Because, to me, it says, "On behalf of ALL the students you will ever teach...forgive."
s, and if we open our hearts to them, we will learn some of the most profound lessons in life that ever can be learned.Today was the worst class as far as behavior that I've had this three weeks. In desperation for a position for today, I accepted a sixth grade class (my first sixth grade class, I might add) at a middle school thinking, "how much trouble can they possibly be?" (*twitch, twitch*).
Okay, I understand WHY the teacher had this specific seating arrangement, but I hope she has more luck with the ones she separated (for disciplinary reasons) than I had today. There were five boys that were in five completely separate sections of the room that knew exactly how to work the room into a chaotic frenzy every fifteen minutes. I wrote down names, promised rewards, took away rewards, made half the class put their heads down, pulled some aside to talk with them privately, and made them do extra work. There are just some classes that cannot be managed well except to make sure they don't damage each other or themselves. I had more success in the alternative school with the kids who'd been arrested for gang-banging and drug possession than I did with this class full of sixth graders. (I hope that doesn't make me a bad sub.)
One thing that caused a lot of the problem in the beginning was that the teacher had left her lesson plans with a teacher in the next room, but didn't notify her of the plans. This neighboring teacher and I looked for them, but they were not found until 1:30, thirty minutes before the class left for music and PE, which ended my day with them. Therefore, I had to "wing" it all day. "Winging it" is great for the upper grades when you have one class to teach (i.e. music, science, english...), and you can pull a rabbit from a hat and teach it seven times a day. However, in a contained classroom, where you have to teach all the subjects, "winging it" takes a little more than just effort. It takes a miracle. Needless to say, I made it through the day on a "wing and a prayer". There was one moment when I was waiting for silence and gave a sigh, mainly because I'm still a little under the weather with this flu thing, but really, because the stress of the day was wearing me down. One boy at the back said quietly, "Are you stressed, Miss?" Of course, not to admit it in front of the class, I said, "no, I'm just getting over a cold. I'm fine." (As it stands now, I have no voice.)
The highlight of the day, however, was when one of the quiet students, a boy, wrote me a letter, very silently handed it to me, and sat back down with a shy but understanding smile. This letter made me want to cry, but crying in front of a class of m___s is not allowed. (They eat you alive!) He wrote, (in part) "...on behalf of the class I would like to apoligize (his spelling). I'm sorry you have to see us like this...but I hope you can forgive the people who are doing bad, and even the ones that are good." (Now I can cry, because I'm at home! *sniff*) POW! Right in the kisser!! It knocked me for a loop and I could barely stand there reading it.
Yes, little Johnny, I can forgive. Even though there were moments when I could have thrown in the towel, I knew that you are all blessed children at heart, and knowing that is why I stay a sub, even though there are bad days when not all of you are doing what you should. Sweet child, you will probably never read this, but I am thankful for this note you gave me, and I will keep it forever. Because, to me, it says, "On behalf of ALL the students you will ever teach...forgive."
