Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Post Lockdown Malaise

So, yesterday we didn't do much because of the the lovely lockdown and I made sure we moved around to get rid of the kids' antsiness, so I was behind and I have come to the conclusion that I will always be behind with this group. Don't get me wrong, I have some great kids. Quite a few of them know how to listen and sit and some have been quick learners and can now do these things, but there are those five kids that there always are in every class that seem to be worth for 2 kids who will forever keep us behind. It doesn't help that there isn't a good system in place for dealing with behavior issues or that parents don't seem to instill any sort of discipline to these children until you have to call them in the middle of the day and tell them that their son spent an hour of the day jumping off the furniture because he did not want to work or acted like a little baby yelling no when given any redirection.

I don't know if any of what was written above made any sort of sense but that was my afternoon today. Each time I stopped to think: Would it have been an easier day if I hadn't had 22 other children in the room? Is it the size of the class that makes it difficult or the child's home training or even worst and last on my list to think of the quality of the teacher that makes for such a situation? I don't think I know the answer to that question and if I ever find it or someone out there knows it please share it with me.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Another crazy day

Well my morning started out ok. I checked on pencils and organized my copies and a milllion other little things that I can never seem to get done throughout my day and by 8 am my school was under a lockdown and around 8:50 I was in the cafeteria along with a bunch of other people trying to watch over 200 something students with a bunch of cop cars circulating the place.

My first thought on knowing that there was a lockdown this early was: "I am sure I am going to be missing a lot of children." Boy was I proven wrong. I had 24 of my 26 kids there. Who drops off their five year old at a school surrounded by police cars and waits in a long line of cars after being told of the situation? If that had been me I would be taking my child back home where I could be assured that he/she would be safe. What is wrong with these people? Is this why their children are as crazy as they are? That thought depressed me to no end. These children grown on me to such a large degree it is ridiculous, even the annoying ones, the "bad" ones, and especially my quiet ones.

Hell the police should have been the first to say, "Look, if I were you I would just take my kid home." Though from what I heard from the securities manning the gates they were cursed out by parents mad that they could not drop off their kids. People wonder what is wrong with society and I hate to say this but its the way people relate to each other and demonstrate their respect or lack thereof to others. Children being raised by these types of people end up doing and saying the exact same things.

I often wonder why it is that things have changed so much. Was it because of technology? Are we all just becoming intolerant of one another? Is it due to the break down of the family unit? Has the down turned economy and need for quick fixes done this to society? As with most things I end up with way more questions than answers about everything.

Then we come to the weirdest part of the day. Copies. Doesn't seem like it would be a weird thing but we were told today that copies must be authorized by our coaches before being made. The only things that don't need coach approval are five or less homework sheets. Mind you this is upsetting because they are asking us to be more creative and not use worksheets but I am trying to teach kids handwriting and that is hard enough to do with a pre-made sheet let alone with just a sheet of paper. We don't even get handwriting paper from the school we would end up having to buy our own. And people wonder why teachers are mad.

Well its late and I am supposed to teach tomorrow...classifying, numbers, sight words, and short a words, oh my!

Monday, September 26, 2011

I Wonder

Kindergarten...the final frontier....or just an easy way to add some gray hairs to anyone's head?? That is a question I ponder on a daily basis.

Why is it that children in groups of 2 or 3 at 5 years of age are so cute and funny to talk to but groups of 22 to 28 of 5 year olds so annoying as a whole? I love children but both times I have taught kindergarten I tell my mother the same thing, "Don't expect any grandchildren unless you are willing to raise them from the age of 3 to 6, then maybe, just maybe, I will take them back."

Either way I have the priviledge of teaching 26 adorable and oftentimes challenging 5 year olds who can't for the life of them figure out not to sit on their knees or their feet or that not all of us need to know that daddy is in jail or any other thing that pops out of their head.

Sometimes I feel like the voice over guy from the Wonder Years:  "I stood there in wonder as one of the sweetest little girls in my class peed on herself because she did not want to bother me by asking to go. I watch her cry as I write her a pass to the clinic and call her mother and think what kind of a person have I become that a little child seems to be in fear of asking to go to the bathroom." (one of many instances lately).

Am I cut out for this? Maybe not, maybe so. I guess only time and my own inner madness will tell.