"As teachers we must believe in change, must know it is possible, or we wouldn't be teaching because education is a constant process of change, Every single time you "teach" something to someone, it is ingested, something is done with it, and a new human being emerges." ~Leo Buscaglia
Change is difficult. Change is difficult for anybody, but it must be harder when there are barriers in the way. Without a doubt, my students have difficult barriers to overcome. I want to help my students, but sometimes I feel as if I am inadequate to do anything. There is so much going on behind the scenes of their lives, so much that I am unaware of. How can I help, if I don't see it?
I can love, that is how I can help. Dictionary.com defines love as a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person and a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. The Bible explains a different love, love that is not just an emotion. Love is the foundation stone of our life. Love is the root of our being, thoughts, and actions to guide our lives. Love is a choice, not an encounter. The only way I can love as God defines love, is to love like him. My pastor recently said in a sermon that if we are fully connected to God's heart, then it becomes to beat in our chest. Then we will live like Him, act like Him, and love like Him. My love cannot help these kids, but if I love these kids with the love of God, then that love can help.
These students need love in the good times, the bad times, and the ugly times. Love can bring laughter in the good times, comfort in the hard times, and a friend in the ugly times.
The Good:
When life takes you off the lesson plan. Here are some laughs that have been in my classroom.
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I had students silently fill out a discipline form. Later that class I overheard a student talking to another student: "She needs to be happy. I wonder if she has ever tried marijuana."
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Me: What undoes a square?
Student: a circle
He thinks he so clever.
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A student responding to me saying I lost my voice: "Do you need help finding it?"
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Student: Dang, I'm out of carrots!
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Me: Label this side the hypotenuse.
Student 1: High. Pot. hahaha
Student 2: Can I draw a marijuana leaf there instead?
At least they are engaged... ??
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Student: Why are there so many tall people at this school?
Me: Why are there so many short people at this school?
If only she could go to Calvin and see real tall people.
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Student mid-sentence of answering a question: "Is that..... a spider?!?"
Me: "What?" *wide eyed, moving away from the wall behind me*
Entire class: *laughter*
In my defense, I was caught off guard. I'm not really afraid of spiders.
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Student: Have you ever been arrested?
Me: no
Student: Have you every gotten a ticket or pulled over?
Me: no
Student: You're boring.
Of all the questions, she was most concerned about these....
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I gave each of my students a Clorox wipe, and told them that the dirtiest one at the end of five minutes would win a king size candy bar.
Student: "Is this just your way of not cleaning yourself?"
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The Bad:
I've shared of some of the barriers my students face. Some students are in and out of lockup, suspended every other week, or going home to very little.
Fabio is no longer my student. He did not live in our boundaries, and since he consistently sluffed and got in trouble, he was sent to the school which he lives in the bounds for. When I discovered this, I was disappointed. Although he had many downward spirals, he did have some upturns. There were moments when he put effort towards his education, and I thought that I could continue being a positive influence. I hope that his new teachers see past the trouble he causes. I hope that they give him encouragement and support.
Andres in one of my students who came partway through the year and caused so much trouble in my classroom. He constantly talked in my class and would not follow any directions. One day the situation escalated, and as I was filling out a form for him to go the office, he muttered that he would back hand me. Obviously, I did not appreciate this and requested a suspension. He was out of my class for a week. Towards the end of his time, I saw him walking to one of his other classes, and I told him that I was looking forward to having him back in my class. He came back to my class and has been a new person. I found out that he did not take notes because he did not have a pencil; he has a pencil in my desk with his name on it now. I found out that he didn't have a place of his own at home; he has a section in my filing cabinet to put any paper he needs there. Andres has shown so much improvement. We recently started something called Flex time, where students will meet with a certain teacher for two weeks. When I was putting together my list, I was hesitant to put him in my class. I did not want any backlash, so I asked him. He said yes, and he went from knowing nothing about solving equations to being able to solve one-step equations (ex: 3x = 15 or k +8 = 16). Although the standard for eight grade is to solve multi-step equations (ex: 4(x -5) +x = 5x +5), he is making improvement. The sad thing is, that it won't show on a test score because he is too far below grade level. I hope I can help him look past this.
You probably saw one of my recent facebook posts: "nothing like starting class by standing in the middle of a fight to break it up... #thatwasnotonthelessonplan #sorrymom #adrenalinerush" Never thought that I would be in this situation, but yes, I broke up a fight. There would have been punches thrown if I did not step in. It began with words exchanged and name calling. One student stood up, encouraging the fight, and the other stood up ready to defend himself. I got in the way of the encourager, making myself big and in the way. Of course he told me to get out of the way, but I kept telling him to walk away from the situation and into the hallway. His face was shaking; he was furious. All I could think of was to be calm for him. I asked one student to get the teacher next door. By the time she came, I had the student in the hallway. The teacher helped settle my class as I walked the student to the office. I came back and class continued, like it was any other day.
The Ugly:
In the lunch room, you hear a lot of things. I'm thankful that my lunchroom does not focus negatively on our students. But I recently found out that an article in the paper was about one of our student's family. One teacher had collected all the newspapers in the school so that other students would not know about it.
Before you read the article, I want you to recall some of our students don't know what they are going home to. They don't know if there will be a drug deal going on, being evicted from their house, cops arresting their parents, and so much more. After you read the article, I want you to pray for my students. I don't know who this student is. I do not think she is one of mine. She was telling her teachers about her last day at the school, and that she would be moving to California. Pray that she and her siblings (I believe there are five) receive love and support. Here is the article.
