The first two weeks of school have been great. I have great kids in great classes. Oh, yeah, there are a couple who are giving me some grief, but it’s ok, it’s manageable. On Wednesday, it hit me as to why this was such a great beginning of the year and I was feeling terrific. For the first time in 18 years, I do not have the sophomore Academy class. I do not have to be the drill sargent, I do not have to teach like it’s bootcamp. I have the kids who I put all that effort into two years ago, and now I am reaping the benefits. It is bliss.
I knew I wasn’t happy having to be so hard on kids to retrain them to do what they were supposed to do in the first place. The results, down the line, were exemplary, but getting there was killing me. Each year got harder as I found kids had fewer classroom management skills. I have some of my Academy kids in multimedia, and oh, what a difference. They know how to behave, they know what’s expected, they know to listen to ME when I give directions, they know to do the work the way I want it. Again, bliss.
Teaching is fun again.
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Sounds fabulous! I hope I have a similar start!
Isn’t it great when you’re freed from the shackles that bind you? I felt the same last year when I started teaching straight journalism classes–no room in my schedule for English because I had 5 classes of journalistas. It’s downright liberating! BTW, come join us for some insane fun tomorrow, with my Silly Sunday Sweepstakes!