Challenging Days at School

 Today was a rough one.  Well, it was more of a tricky one.  

The day started out with 1st and 2nd period being engaged very well in the assignment.  3rd period not as much engaged, but then 4th period and 6th period were not enjoying the activity.  

Looking back now, I think what I did was to stay with the opening activity for too long.  I was able to get all three rounds done with 1st and 2nd but not with the other classes.  

4th and 6th especially could have moved along more quickly, but I'm thinking 3rd threw me off a little bit because of the wide range of learning levels in that class.  Kinda weird.  

Then there was the three boys that I had bad interactions with.  

First was Dominic Garcia.  He was lost and getting frustrated, probably.  He was off task and I tried to call him out on it.  I said that his behavior was like that of a sped kid.  That got his attention and he didn't like that at all.  We have a meeting with him next week.  I'm hoping my comment about the sped thing doesn't come back to bite me so I need to be ready for that.  To make it constructive and not attacking toward him.  

Then there was the interaction with Deshawn and my 6th period.  He will not stop making personal comments.  Asked Zoey if she likes girls.  Walk to his seat point to apparently random students saying they are racist.  I told him that saying that is not ok.  He laughed and I said that he was embarresed.  This has to stop but I don't know how do make it stop in my class.  Ella and Jacob have gotten a lot better after I called them out in class.  I'm thankful for that.  

Then there was the Jevon incident.  He was acting so sneaky and wouldn't tell me what he was doing.  I asked him over and over and he would not give me a direct answer.  That pathetic interaction ended in my telling him to grow up in a shaming tone that only made him giggle a bit.  Instead of that tone I should have showed him empathy then said it, or not said it at all.  I wouldn't want to say it with a pleading tone.  The tone would put the responsibility on him and make the reality clear that growing up is something that he should consider.  I also said that he is tiring.  He gave a look of confusion.  He's a smart kid.  Maybe just a small part of that will register with him, especially when I called him by his name.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Birthdays aren't all that great these days either

 Man, what a depressed selfish boy I sound like.   I'm feeling all this self pity on my birthday.   I think what really set me off was Susie getting upset with me because Esther wasn't ready as early as she wanted.  It felt like intentional messing up my birthday.  That really frustrated me.   I have some important people to me in my life, and their birthday wishes meant a lot, but I still feel alone.  I still feel like I'm on my own.   Last year the Superbowl was on my birthday and it was one of my very best birthdays.  This year I had to teach on the day after my birthday and I was one of the worst I can remember.   This week especially sucks because Valentines Day is coming too.  That really sucks because it used to be such a special, fun time for me, and I thought it was for Susie too.  But maybe I was fooling myself all the while.  It's hard to believe that is that case, but I think it's true....
Read more

Jr. High Bullying

 In the 8th grade I was bullied by Cory.  I can't remember the kids last name.  I would stand there at my locker and he would shove my back and I would bump into my locker.   It seems like the first time he did it it was an act of endurement.  Like playing around with one of your buddies.  But after a few times it got old.  He would look back at me with his hair flip in his blonde hair, seemingly to make sure that I knew it was him that pushed me.  It went from enduring, to annoying, to bullying, to daily trauma.  I set up a punching bag in my basement.  I found some martial arts magazines and started to practice some moves.  I grew a fear of confronting him.   I tried to just hope away the problem but it wouldn't go away.  I grew more and more weary of him doing this to me and I tried to come up with a scheme to get him to stop doing it.  Often there was an administrator at the end of the hallway watching o...
Read more

Trip to Gerald - May 26 to June 3, 2021

Wed, May 26         heyooooooooooo Abq to Tucumcari 2:40, 186 mi to Amarillo 1:41, 113 mi to Sayre 1:57, 132 mi to OKC 1:54, 129 mi to McD 2:25, 167 mi to Spfd 2:05, 132 mi to Gerald 2:34 163 arrived! We left at 6:03 am, almost on time. Elijah wanted to make oatmeal before leaving. The driving was very smooth and easy. Elijah commented about the time going by quickly. And it did. Compared to the trip in Nov. 2020, the van made much better time. We averaged about 80, the scion averaged about 70! Elijah and I listened to Rachel Held Evans. He was diggin' it. It gave him a story to relate to. Though I don't think it strengthened his Christian faith. But, overall I think it was good thing for him to hear. We talked less than I would have liked, but we did talk some. I was able to speak to him about the value of putting yourself in a position to make money if there comes a time that you need or want to. That he should pursue writing, but that this is a good ti...
Read more