summer school round up, week 1

so, i think i finally became a teacher this week. i managed to pull off four days of instruction with kids i’ve never met with not a whole lot more than sidewalk chalk, portable whiteboards, and sight word list. that’s what they say, you should be able to walk into a room and just teach. and i got them to trust me without letting them walk all over me. i even enforced my expectations. high five to ms. zuckerman.

and now for the bad/ood news… dcps in all their wisdom after first misplacing my students decided to send me back to my home school with the students that will be mine next year. though, from what i hear, it was less that i asked for it much earlier this week than the woman who ended up with that class couldn’t hack it. if they don’t have an aide, well then this news is just plain bad. anyway, i think this is terrible idea for the students i had this week. too many transitions… plus they  will loss their ability to trust if people always leave them, especially ones who will have gained their trust. i also think its bad for me, in a way. i was looking forward to getting a jump start on my new assignment in early childhood. but now, i realize i was in the middle of a transition here. in the middle of learning that i can teach. in the middle of actually teaching something beyond my range and succeeding. but i’m gonna take it in stride. i moved all my stuff back to school. and it was nice to see my security guard, who i adore. and it was nice to walk into the cafeteria and have kids call my name. i got to say hi to big d, though i had to wake him up. poor thing. it felt good to be back at my school.

here’s my list of what i learned at summer school, week one:

1) i can sufficiently set up my classroom in three hours. i can pull it down in less than 1.

2) i can work with 8-10 year olds just fine.

3) all children respond well to kindness (ok this i knew, but my story proves it again). take m.m. for example. he came to me on tuesday labeled a trouble maker and a handful.  he was reluctant to come in, but i welcomed him to my room and got down on his level (although he’s 10, he’s the size of a five year old) and talked to him. and then i took him around and introduced him to the other kids in the class. at the end of the day he hugged me goodbye and i gave him a big warm hug in return and told him genuinely that i was glad he was in my class. no problems from him for the rest of the week. seriously, not a one. when i was asked to send down the names of my two best students for the week, his was the only one i sent. and he earned it. of course, when i told the gen ed summer school principal who it was, she responded, in front of him, oh no, uhuh, not him, sliding down the banister and running around the halls. no way. and so i had to say, well, he doesnt do that with me. genuine rapport with a child goes a long way. so does having expectations and enforcing them. he’s a good kid, quick too. i’ll miss him.

3) i can have a routine and follow it. i can have expectations and hold the kids to them.

4) i can pull 4 hours of instruction out of my butt and cobble it together from thin air.

5) not all sped aides suck. a big up to ms. p for rocking out and being awesome.

6) i love kids and i love teaching (ok, that was a reminder)

7) i can and will advocate for any child left in my care. and i will genuinely care about that child and their best interests as an individual.

i can look out for myself in a broken system.

all was not lost, but i am sad to be leaving a good group of kids with whom i was starting to build relationships with.  and a really awesome educational assistant. who deserves to be paid way more than what aides make.