Week 34 flew by so much quicker than the week before.
Four of my classes are working on research projects…in-school assignments…so the week promised to be a little easier.
These classes also had their Seventeen Second Miracle movie project storyboards due…
I had to go over the instructions a little more clearly with my 9th graders, so I listed out various social injustices that they could do research about…
Meanwhile, my 6th graders received instruction on how to write letters. I tied the in-class assignment with the short story we read last week…
They giggled a little as I wrote my own version of a letter on the board. Then, they wrote their own letters, which did not include requests for bail money but actually were related to the story itself.
I also taught them how to address envelopes. Folks, with the internet and email, I think people have lost the art of addressing envelopes! You would be surprised to know that students often have no idea how to do this basic task.
The rest of the week passed by in similar fashion with the exception of Wednesday, when my high school students discussed The Seventeen Second Miracle…the third of our weekly discussions. I love hearing their interpretation of the story. They especially enjoyed analyzing the “Seventeen Hour Miracle” chapter. They felt it was the most realistic part of the book. So, Mr. Wright, if you’re reading, that’s some good feedback!
My 6th graders worked on basic skills, such as reading charts, news articles features, and other stuff.
Overall, it was a fairly easy week, except for a couple of issues with students.
Without going into details, let me just say that teaching can be a heartbreaking profession. Kids are struggling with some very difficult issues. Some people might think that teachers are only in schools for academic purposes; however, I would argue that this is just not the case.
Teachers are greatly affected by the outside influences that affect the students who walk into our classrooms. You just can’t always separate academics from the real-life stuff that happens.
I found myself hurting deeply for a couple of my students. Although they attend a private school, they are not immune to the things that public school students deal with.
I guess that you would call this life.
Sometimes it bites.
In an ideal world, students are sheltered from life’s harshness, and they can skip happily from one classroom to another with perfect little smiles on their faces with perfect, ready-to-obey attitudes.
The real world is just not like this, and I got a good taste of it this week.
By the end of the week, though, I had reconnected with one of my students. I think this student knows how much I care, and that my concern goes beyond what the student accomplishes in my classroom.
I care about how my students develop as people. I deeply desire their success and will do everything I can to help them.
Week 34 was tough and emotionally-draining.
We have three instructional weeks left.
The countdown continues…
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