A Little Less Than Angelic

My babies were not very angelic today. In fact, I once declared them demonic to a fellow teacher, but I quickly repented and retracted the statement.

I was trying to teach them how to multiply two-digit numbers. Part of the challenge is the fact that the students are on such different levels. Some literally cannot add. Others can multiply four digit numbers. A few of my students have very limited English abilities while others speak no Spanish.

While I was attempting to teach them, there was near constant talking. I was really frustrated because the need to learn the material so that they can pass their end of the summer test.

Things escalated and I snapped "inside" after I tried to break them up into groups. They were all moving really slow and one of the girls started complaining about the teams I had chosen. She told me (in front of the class) "I don't want to be with Jo! He is slow." In a rather icy voice I said, "What did you say?!" Then I told the class to sit down that instant. I passionately told them that we never, ever call students stupid or slow. I told them that each could be sitting next to the next President of the United States or my future boss or a future principal. I shared with them that when I was younger, I was teased too but I was now a college graduate and their teacher. I finished by saying that that type of treatment would never happen again in my classroom.

After that, I handed them their assessment and told them if they didn't want to learn, they would take their assessment without knowing the material. When they raised their hand to ask a question, I told them to do their best. After they struggled for about seven minutes, I asked how many of them were ready to learn. All but two raised their hands. The two that did not raise their hands were the two that already knew how to do the math and were bored out of their mind. I collected their (unfinished) assessment and gave them worksheets to do and finish and homework. I taught the rest of the class until the end of the period.

A part of me wants to blame my children for not learning, but I now know better than that. I am a teacher. I am responsible for everything that goes on in my classroom. I need to find someone way to better invest my students in the goal which we are headed towards. I would appreciate prayer relating to this manner.