Ummm so I met students for the first time on Thursday... I sat at my desk for about 35 minutes repeating, "Gwendolyn Ann you are NOT going to cry!...there's no one here to hold you while you do it anyway..."
For the first four days of school my job is to instruct 7th and 8th grade students in team building games during their introductory PE period. I am not a PE teacher. While I enjoy the sounds of children playing I do not enjoy the sound of my own voice screaming over wrestling 8th grade boys, "DID I SAAAAAAY WRESTLING WAS PART OF THIS GAME! PUT DOWN THE CONE! Oh great, you punched him in the lip... be that as it may, accidents can still cause bloody lips. CASE AND POINT!"
At my school the teachers are supposed to use "teach-to's" to inform the students of our expectations before we set them out to preform a task. I panicked a bit on Thursday. There were no teach-to's. In short, I didn't really do a very good job. The kids had some fun... but it usually dissolved into, "Yeah. You can go to the bathroom...I guess...maybe one at a time? Whatever makes you happy..." The only game one group of 8th grade girls wanted to play was Duck, Duck, Goose. They played that for 20 minutes. I tried not to cry. Imagine if you will a room full of kids who are so super, duper, Justin-Bieber-excited to see each other again and here's a brand new teacher with a name they can't pronounce trying to tell them to PLEAASE play a fun game of tag and something to do with stealing cones and a few hula-hoops...
FRIDAY (today), however, was a magical day. There were no potty breaks because we are to pee during passing period. Everyone plays every game because it's what I said. I smiled. I gave directions. We played dodge ball. Apparently, children of all ages and races love to throw things at each other. Great! I will let you do that so I can drink coffee and smile at you. I loved it! I learned names, they had fun, we talked about integrity in sports and life. Basically everyone won today...mostly I won today.
I had a class of young 8th grade gentleman that could not follow directions, stand still, listen, or do really anything I asked them to do. I calmly asked them to sit down, listen to the directions again, and try again. This worked for mmmmm I wanna say -56 seconds. I simply told them that I had already played dodge ball three times today so it wasn't really a big deal to me if we all just sat down in silence until the end of the period. WOW. I emanated disappointment at the front of the class for an entire two and a half minutes. As soon as I asked them if they were ready to get it together I heard the most glorious sound I have ever heard in MY LIFE. "We're sorry" in unison with sad little looks and sincere puppy dog eyes. They were my most fun class to watch play dodge ball. They were fun and it was actually really exciting to watch the athletic kids "dodge" balls. I think that little situation saved my reputation. They even said thank you as they left. Why did this work? It's hard to say...
My theory is this, SHAME BASED CULTURES are the answer to our youth's attitudes today. 95% of students genuinely feel bad when you tell them you're disappointed. That's not so hard.
I am still totally in love with my job, the people I work with and now some of the students. HOOOORDAY DODGE BALL!!!
On a non-work based note, I helped one of my new pals pick up a couch she bought on Craig's list Tuesday night. Picture two girls driving around in a rented Home Depot pick-up, listening to ACDC, playing air guitar and drums, and making 7 point u-turns on two lane highways. YES. It happened. Yes I got a free couch out of it. Yes she is actually a 26-year old version of Heather L. I love her! So fun and so unexpected. I had no idea when ACDC came on and Breaking Benjamin that she would even stay on the station let alone sing every word :) So happy!
Still homeless. Still haven't hiked a mountain. Learning how to run all the way up here. I decided I want to buy a kitten after Christmas. Thank you and Good night!
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