Homecoming (sort of)
As I type this, I am lying (i had to check whether to use lay or lie) in a bed in the Holiday Inn Express in Georgetown, Tx. I am here for SOS, a program that the education department puts on for first year teachers. I have come to realize that this program was just an excuse for me to come home and see my family and best friends. SOS stands for Semester of Support. I have not received any support from the school or any of my cohort, which is sort of disappointing since there are about 13 of us going through the same issues. But I have received an immense amount of support from my family and friends from home.
This week has been very hectic. One of the office staff was and is on vacation, so we have been short handed again. But all's well that end's well (it won't really end until Tuesday). But this week has been very calm compared to last week, and it was still semi-crazy. As sad as it is, I have realized that some girls just can not make it through the school day without getting into some kind of trouble, but I do realize that sometimes this is more because of the teacher than because of the student.
And although I already knew this, it has just now really come to my attention. These girls are not my friends, they are my students. Today, one of my girls was sent to room 22 by another teacher during my class. When she came back, she was not at all ready to come back to class and participate and do her work. She was very disruptive, so I sent her back in there. Well I found out after that class was over that she was saying some very not nice things about me. The staff who told me asked if it bothered me. I said no not really because she is my student not my friend and she is just saying that because she didn't like me right then because I did something she didn't want me to do. The interesting part is that when she did come back, she sat down, got a book, asked what we were doing, and did her work, calling me over when she had a problem or when she knew she got an answer correct. That is what I love about these girls. Most of the time they can be so upset with me, but (at least in my class) they do know when to get to work and do what they need to do.
Today I also told the classes that I would be gone on Friday. One girl asked how long I would be gone and another student answered forever. She got very upset. I think she thought that I actually wasn't coming back. I said that I promised that I would be back Sunday night and be back in class on Monday. She made me pinky swear that I would be back. It made me realize that as much as some of the girls don't like the teachers, we are the ones that are the stable part of their lives. It makes us that much more important to do what is best for them and help them not only with school work, but also help them learn what they missed learning because of their different situations. As hectic as the past two weeks at school have been, I know I am in the right place with these girls right now teaching them math and even the girls that I don't have but that I see in the office.
It is time for me to go to bed because I will be getting up two hours earlier than my body is used to (ahhh). But it is good to be somewhere where I can take a huge breath outside and not be too poisoned. A place that I am so used to it feels like home!! If only everyone could have a place like that.
grace and peace
This week has been very hectic. One of the office staff was and is on vacation, so we have been short handed again. But all's well that end's well (it won't really end until Tuesday). But this week has been very calm compared to last week, and it was still semi-crazy. As sad as it is, I have realized that some girls just can not make it through the school day without getting into some kind of trouble, but I do realize that sometimes this is more because of the teacher than because of the student.
And although I already knew this, it has just now really come to my attention. These girls are not my friends, they are my students. Today, one of my girls was sent to room 22 by another teacher during my class. When she came back, she was not at all ready to come back to class and participate and do her work. She was very disruptive, so I sent her back in there. Well I found out after that class was over that she was saying some very not nice things about me. The staff who told me asked if it bothered me. I said no not really because she is my student not my friend and she is just saying that because she didn't like me right then because I did something she didn't want me to do. The interesting part is that when she did come back, she sat down, got a book, asked what we were doing, and did her work, calling me over when she had a problem or when she knew she got an answer correct. That is what I love about these girls. Most of the time they can be so upset with me, but (at least in my class) they do know when to get to work and do what they need to do.
Today I also told the classes that I would be gone on Friday. One girl asked how long I would be gone and another student answered forever. She got very upset. I think she thought that I actually wasn't coming back. I said that I promised that I would be back Sunday night and be back in class on Monday. She made me pinky swear that I would be back. It made me realize that as much as some of the girls don't like the teachers, we are the ones that are the stable part of their lives. It makes us that much more important to do what is best for them and help them not only with school work, but also help them learn what they missed learning because of their different situations. As hectic as the past two weeks at school have been, I know I am in the right place with these girls right now teaching them math and even the girls that I don't have but that I see in the office.
It is time for me to go to bed because I will be getting up two hours earlier than my body is used to (ahhh). But it is good to be somewhere where I can take a huge breath outside and not be too poisoned. A place that I am so used to it feels like home!! If only everyone could have a place like that.
grace and peace
posted by valerie @ 11:04 PM
1 Comments:
At 1:21 PM,
Anonymous said…
Val,
Isn't it funny how they hate you one minute but don't want you to leave the next! As simple as it seems going to work everyday reassures those girls that someone cares. They don't have to be nice to you, but you have to come back for them! Go figure!! Just think you could be out shopping for Christmas gifts for 60 of them right now! And if that comes up tell the staff you know just how to get it done!! Hire someone else!! :)
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