The high today was 84 degrees. My classroom got a few degrees higher because the air conditioning in our building was not turned on (luckily we have it ready for May). My first two classes progressed as usual and then I had my standard 2 hour break in my day to prepare for the onslaught of 3 hours of teaching. That first hour after the break was exactly what I thought it would be: a crazy-fest.
Trying to teach in a hot room with kids who are already demotivated is the worst. I try to be funny to get them to laugh (performance again). I try to be annoying to get them to pay attention. I try not to be shocked when one of them references global warming (wow - someone is actually paying attention to the world around them!).
But these are just the tip of the iceberg of the problems. Some of these kids are regulars at putting their heads down and not listening. Some are always complaining, regardless of how much they might be learning. It frustrates me to no end that they do not see the importance of education in achieving goals in the future. Or maybe they do, and other issues in their lives are not allowing them to focus on that.
Resiliency is something my students mostly lack. As hot and annoyed as I may be during the day, I have the gusto to keep going. A lot of them just give up. A lot of their parents have given up on them. And giving up is the problem that will wind them up on the streets, in prison, or just trying to make ends meet each week so they have some semblance of security in their lives.
But I REFUSE to give up.
I don't think I am the best teacher I could be so I keep growing, learning, expanding my exposure to techniques in education. I think that maybe if my students see me giving my all they will learn to as well. I hope.
Trying to teach in a hot room with kids who are already demotivated is the worst. I try to be funny to get them to laugh (performance again). I try to be annoying to get them to pay attention. I try not to be shocked when one of them references global warming (wow - someone is actually paying attention to the world around them!).
But these are just the tip of the iceberg of the problems. Some of these kids are regulars at putting their heads down and not listening. Some are always complaining, regardless of how much they might be learning. It frustrates me to no end that they do not see the importance of education in achieving goals in the future. Or maybe they do, and other issues in their lives are not allowing them to focus on that.
Resiliency is something my students mostly lack. As hot and annoyed as I may be during the day, I have the gusto to keep going. A lot of them just give up. A lot of their parents have given up on them. And giving up is the problem that will wind them up on the streets, in prison, or just trying to make ends meet each week so they have some semblance of security in their lives.
But I REFUSE to give up.
I don't think I am the best teacher I could be so I keep growing, learning, expanding my exposure to techniques in education. I think that maybe if my students see me giving my all they will learn to as well. I hope.
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