I cannot believe we have all been at it for 7 weeks now. Time really does fly when you're having fun -- and busy!
I truly am enjoying my time teaching. Except for a few kids, the group I have been given behaves exceptionally and actually care about school.
Something I am really troubled by is my relationship with one student. He is a senior and has just been informed that his grades are not good enough for him to graduate. Since then, he has shown even less care than before. This is the student I did my 10 day behavioral journal on in moodle.
He continues to sit in the back and draw, and not even remotely pay attention. I have moved him to the front, not without battle of course. I have emailed his parents with no response. I have called his parents, and they have trouble understanding my English because they are Mexican. They refuse to come in for a meeting. I have spoken with him one on one, telling him I want him to pass my class and that I will help him with whatever he needs. He continues to just not care.
This past week during an activity (a Dickens e-moment actually) I called on him to read his story. He just looked at me and talked. I said that it didn't look like you were reading much there. He said "because I didn't write anything". I told him that he would not be receiving points for the day. He got very angry at that point and said "You are the only teacher that gives me problems, all the other teachers just let me sit back and do my thing!" My cooperating teacher said that is because none of his other teachers care, they just let him fail. Whatever the reason is for any of this, it has just been on my mind lately and it really troubles me that some of my students dislike me because I move them or reprimand them for misbehaving in class. I am on their side, they just don't see it that way.
Aside from that, my classes are going smoothly. I have been readying our horticulture class to take their pesticide certification exam and they are truly enjoying it. We just hung our ornamental plants in the greenhouse for April sales, and our hydroponic lettuce has all ripened and is looking perfect. I am beginning co-teaching landscaping next week with my cooperating teacher, and am excited to tackle something new.
Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Tyler,
ReplyDeleteYou have such a big heart and your concern for your students is evident. I understand how frustrating it can be to try so hard to make a difference and it not feel like its working. But, keep heart, continue to show this student you care and want him to succeed. Keep working at making the lessons relevant and applicable for the students. Make them want to learn the material. Sometimes its not until after a student is graduated or out of your class that they see the true impact you have had on them. As teachers we don't always feel like we are making a difference, but know that you are impacting lives in a positive way and, unfortunately, its not every student we encounter. Continue to be a role model and being on "there side".
Keep up the good work!
Laura