Parents

I have experienced the parent conference. And it really was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.

For four hours I have seen a series of parents, grandmothers, brothers and sisters. Out of 120 students, I gave out 30 Fs and not one A. I have enjoyed handing the parents the bad report cards almost as much as the good ones. There are so many kids in my classes who need a huge kick up the arse; I’m really hoping a card of circled Fs might do the trick. A good example is Deyonta. The degree of laziness and insolence he reaches in class is mind boggling (unfortunately he is not alone). He doesn't bother to take out his notebook; he fails to read anything let alone finish assignment and has never participated in whole group or small group discussions. He might as well not be there. His father came in today and after taking in the plethora of Fs informed me that in 5th grade Deyonta had been classed as gifted. Well BULL SHIT.

On a happier note, I also had a parent began to cry when she saw her son's good report card.

Her son, Dasaahn, is a very interesting child. In class, he will work hard, but the minute he doesn't understand something, or something goes slightly wrong he will seriously lose it.
He has screamed in my face "I don't get it?” "I can't do it" "You are not making any sense", " I haven't finished"
He has thrown his work on the floor. He has stormed out of the room.
Every time he does this he comes to me the next day and apologizes. One day I asked him privately about his temper and without missing a beat he answered, "Oh I think I'm bipolar."

What do you say to that? He's 13. Maybe there's something in the genes.

One more day until I get to go home and spend some time with my beautiful family.

No voice no power

I took my second day off last Friday. I did feel slightly ill, but really I just wanted a day off. I'm calling tghem mental health days. Sods law is that now I;m really ill and have to go to work. Today I pretty much lost my voice. Not good when your trying to control 36 kids. But. the kids seemed really concerned "Ms. Lloyd are you sick?" "Ms. Lloyd I'm going to buy you some medicine.", "Ms. lloyd, I'll get you a get well soon card."

Unfortunately not a lot of work was done. But that is always the case.

I learned today that my classes will be reduced from 41 to 35. I'm scared that I have been leaning on the fact things are so bad because the classes are so big. If the class becomes smaller and it is still bad, then what is the reason????? Me?

Bad blogger

Over the past few months I have pushed myself further than ever before. It is pretty obvious that up before September 7th 2006 my life was ridiculously easy. Little stress, worry, responsibility. Things have changed. I became a teacher. Eighth grade English, 120 students in three classes, 85% reading below grade level. A challenge in anyone’s book, but added to that is the fact I had, and still have, no idea what I am doing.

I have failed to write down any of the numerous stories of craziness and trauma that I have struggled through in the past three months, but I am hoping to change that. I feel it is incredibly important for me to record what I am going through every day to both help me improve in the short term and reminisce in the long term. Right now I am terrible. The class is completely out of control and I feel learning does not happen. I face kids who seem to just not want/care if they learn to read. Read. I face others who are plain crazy. I face disrespect. I face some complete sweethearts who really try. I will write about them all and my responses as honestly as I possibly can.