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.