Sunshine on my shoulders…
May 4th, 2008 -- Posted in Cheaper than therapy | 1 Comment »…it actually feels like the world. Maybe I just need to take the camera, Tchaik, and the girls and go take pictures. Maybe that will improve my outlook. Right now I am about as far from motivated as possible. I went to get groceries yesterday and had to just leave. Too many people with too little control over their running, screaming children. My own children aren’t being too difficult, just constant. 26 days of school remaining. I know that it is always like this, but it doesn’t make it any easier. This group is the most challenged academically. I do prefer academic challenged to behavior problems. The major issue is that they not only can’t grasp the academic concepts, they have no desire to. It isn’t like it is difficult. It’s history. You listen. You read. You think…and there is the problem. Thinking requires effort and this is the laziest group of students I have ever taught. I rarely give homework, but if I ever do I guarantee that 80% will not do it. I had better results with the major grade homework. I gave a take home essay test this past week. Eighteen out of 95 students did not do it. Many who did complete the test did only the minimum. Seventy points possible, thirty (forty for “advanced” group) required. There were more in the “advanced” group, the students who are supposed to have greater ability and care more, who didn’t complete their required points than in my regular classes. The lack of effort is astounding.
Juggling the teaching of lazy students, planning the upcoming dance, the job hunt, the needs of my own children, the cluttered house, and life in general is more than I want to face right now. We do what we have to do and that is what I will do. I have an interview Wednesday and that is a bright spot. It means progress, hope. I can not remain at a school where I do not have a classroom and have to float. I just can’t. I don’t know what I will do next year, but I cannot float again. There is neither stability nor organization when you do not have a room to call your own. It hinders your ability to teach with maximum effectiveness.
Now…therapy session over. It is a beautiful sunny day. I am going to take my own advice and enjoy part of it.