Dreaming of Wishing Wells

Three school days until spring break...then 10 glorious days off school. I'm really, really, really looking forward to it. I haven't actually had any long stretches with lots of school thanks to the freak blizzards and the recruiting trip. But the school days I've had have been grueling. Today I was scratched hard enough to break the skin, kicked repeatedly in the shins, and also verbally abused. Kids (well, just two angry boys) yelled in my face, "Get away from me!" and "Don't touch me!" The other week a boy said, "You know everyone hates you." Another boy said a while ago, "I don't want a white teacher. I want a black teacher" when he was mad at me. Please excuse the following quick rant. Ready, go: I don't get paid enough to be physically and verbally abused. No way. Is this what spent all my money to get a college degree for? So little kids could kick me and scream at me? And when I try to tell someone or ask for help,...

Well, last time I posted I had had a good week celebrating Dr. Seuss and Day 100 and reading fun. After that, things got back to the usual, and I have had two not so great weeks. Wednesday of this week I actually called horrible, which I haven't said too many times in my teaching experience thus far. One of my students (I'll call him Marcus) was a total mess this week. He started coming to school from daycare and then leaving with a daycare worker instead of coming and going with his mom. So I didn't see his mom all week. Plus he was late two days (his first tardies this year). No one looked in his folder all week. He didn't do his homework for the first time all year. I'm pretty positive no one saw the notes I sent home. I called his mom and left a message, but she never called me back. And he was basically non-functional in the classroom. He'd get to school and within 10 minutes, he's shove someone and then start yelling and crying and kicking, and eventua...

Drum roll please...I had a pretty good week at school. It's been a while since I could say that. Plus it's been a while since I actually HAD a week at school. This was my first time teaching five full days since the end of January. I am feeling more like a legitimate teacher, or like the teacher I want to be after this week. Instead of pressing on through the very boring Saxon curriculum, I put it on hold to do our Day 100 celebration and fun stuff for Read Across America Week. Does that mean I might not finish my math and phonics curriculum? Yes. Does it mean my students will be unprepared for first grade? I think not at all. I did fun things that made them interested in learning and reading and integrated different subject areas. Something my prescribed curriculum does NOT do. Sorry, I did not intend this to be a rant against Saxon. So I think I'd better change the subject. One of my students (one of my very favorite students--but of course I love them all!) prayed this ...