Kontan.

Yeah right. I’m counting. Spring is springing and I’m looking forward to break. The mental energy that goes in to teaching is so much more than most understand. As the days get longer it becomes increasingly difficult to get students to focus…and to stay focused and motivated. We are all tired and ready for the semester to be over.

Many of my students are settling down and indicating that they want to learn. They see the correlation between negative behavior and a poor average. Tempers are short, and this includes mine. I shouldn’t have, but I asked a student today why he was here if he was only going to disrupt everyone. I really do wonder, but I really shouldn’t say it. Really, he’s 18 years old and repeating the 9th grade…again. Don’t you want something more for yourself?

The girl I referenced in this post realized that she has to have my class to graduate in May. She works hard and had apparently had a bad day when she blew up at me. She still hasn’t apologized. I would hate to know my future rested in the hands of a teacher that I cussed out. I would never deliberately fail her and I intend to help her pass, but I think she needs to realize that you have to treat people with respect even when you are having a bad day. If you throw a temper tantrum in the workplace you are looking at more than a day off for bad behavior.

I have a 20 year old student from Cambodia. Intelligent, quiet, and I would take a room full of him. I don’t know why he is 20 and in high school, but he tries hard and is striving for something better. He was scared to death the first day in my room, but he is opening up more. I just wish I could understand when he speaks. I don’t want to ask him to repeat things over and over, but his accent is so heavy and he is so shy. I have another student who has not spoken a word. I assume he speaks English since he understands everything I say, scores well on tests, and writes English. I have never heard his voice. He won’t answer if I ask a question that requires more than a nod or shake. Hey, there are too many other issues to worry about for me to pick this battle. He is doing everything he is supposed to and showing progress so I am not going to worry about whether or not he’s talking. One less voice in a difficult room.

Thanks for stopping by and hello to the lurker out toward Albemarle area. I have to say, you have me curious.

Blog-buddies, I am reading, just not commenting much. Have a happy…