Teaching

Post date: Aug 12, 2014 10:22:17 PM

I have the best job in the world. After a week of frustration with scheduling, placements and "we swear this isn't for evaluation purposes!" Common Core work I was drained and defeated. I've never been less focused on my first day. Part of that comes from having now had 12 of them (first days that is) but this year I had a new course and completely changed up my usual day 1 for my 7th grade class. Still, I wasn't thinking much about it.

And yet, today was awesome. I got to work with kids. No agendas, no jockeying for position, no telling me what I want to hear just straight up, to my face kids.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

My 8th graders learned about their home city (less than half knew where they lived...) and wrote letters to the governor's dog explaining why our community is so wonderful. My 7th graders wrote my history by examining artifacts from my life and taking a field trip to my car. My elective kids greeted me with smiles, hugs and those bright faces that just screamed "I've missed you the last 2 months."

I have 42 kids in one class and 40 in another. I know legally I'm only supposed to have 35 but I've only known them for 45 minutes and I don't want to lose a single one of them. I brought joy to them. They live in a harsh world. If I can do that (and of course, teach them stuff) then sign me up.

Was my day perfect? Of course not. My computer crashed hard right in the middle of my intro video during one period (The Most Important 10 Minutes of the Year totally ruined), I forgot to put instruction sheets on the desks before the next period and, of course, I didn't have enough seats for the the two huge classes. I had to already have a conversation with a student about wanting his energy but only at appropriate times. I had to quiet my last class twice - never a good first day sign. I left my lesson materials at home and had to turn around to get them as soon as I parked. Hiccups all around.

And yet it was a great day. I taught. Kids learned. People actually pay me to do that! I'll probably be back to being frustrated about something very soon (it is hard to be idealistic in a bureaucratic world) but then I'll see my kids again and be right back where I should be. Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life they say. Nonsense. I say love what you do and you'll work harder than anyone and still wish you could do more. I did quite a bit today.

I taught.

Teaching gets my wholehearted recommendation.