Digging Deep...So Far, Coming Up Empty

It's the most _____ time of the year. (Just please don't start singing Christmas carols on me...)

You can fill in your own blank. What I want to know is how we've come to such off the wall behavior with the students before we've even made it to Thanksgiving break. Heck, there's no full moon to blame right now, and I know I'm not the only teacher out there struggling. (That is both comforting and frustrating at the same time.)

What's a teacher to do? I promise you, the gray hairs are coming...and my patience is really being tested. What I think the students are missing is respect for (and a healthy dose of fear of) authority. The whole "teacher look" does not work right now - in fact, I can be looking a student in the eye who then will proceed to keep talking after I personally invited him/her to stop. (Ah!)

Sorry, not trying to be Negative Nancy...I just am at a loss. Parent-teacher conferences are coming up this week, but many of the parents I want to see did not sign up. <Fail.>

I'm cautiously optimistic that the whole week we have off for Thanksgiving will be helpful...but there's a part of me that thinks when we get between Thanksgiving and Christmas that there will be no hope whatsoever for getting the students to be respectful participants in the classroom.

I think my prayers have intensified every day. And I'm going to keep revving my prayers up. Whatever it takes...100% every day, no less...

But They Can't Come

As mentioned previously, my 6th grade homeroom won a movie and hot cocoa/popcorn party for winning the door decorating contest.

So, we had the party yesterday...
And I invited the other 6th grade class...
And then my class got upset.

REALLY?!?!

Me: Let's turn the tables - Wouldn't you want to be invited if they won the party?
Student A: But they didn't win.
Me: Let's pretend they did or that they will in the future.
Student B: But the class that won last year didn't share with the other 5th grade class.
Me: Well, I wasn't your teacher last year.
Student C: That's not fair that they get to come.

And so forth...

Ultimately, the other class came over, and they all ate their popcorn, some had hot cocoa, and they enjoyed their movie.

But I just don't know if the message I was trying to send sunk in.

As I was thinking to myself (not meaning to get deeply religious or anything), I thought about the idea that nothing really belongs to us - things and people are ours to take care of while we walk this earth, but, in the end, you can't take it with you. So, who am I to say someone can't use something or be included or whatever, when I turn around and take other people's (like my roommates) things (e.g. couches, tv, etc.) for granted as my own.

Isn't that hypocritical?

Anyways, I'm not trying to be a downer before Christmas. We did have fun, their concert last night was lovely, the parents were gracious, and I was home before 8 p.m. (in time to grade the final Hobbit quizzes and Advent make-up quizzes).

Today is a half day for the students - 15 minute rotating classes for middle school followed by their holiday party and dismissal. (And then the teachers are treated to a luncheon at a local restaurant - lovely!) After that, I'll come home, finish throwing things in my suitcase, and be on my way home for the holidays.

Safe travels to all! And happy (early) holidays!

Elfish, Not Selfish

Apparently, it pays to "be elfish, not selfish" - the students won the door decorating contest! (I can't take credit for the idea - it came from a lunch expedition to Tijuana Flats over the Thanksgiving holiday break.)

The kiddos are supposed to get a popcorn & movie party as the prize, but, unfortunately, their behavior after the schoolwide announcement was less than stellar (or so I was told - they were in Math class)...so, they clearly can make signs but possibly not take them to heart, as I would call their behavior "selfish" instead of "elfish."

Regardless, I think the decorations turned out great and the kids seemed to have fun making their "elfies" and putting ideas for how they can help others over the Advent season. Check out some photos below:

Keep on Turnin'

Today was better...at least for 6th grade. (7th grade, in all of their "love" struggles, left a lot to be desired.)

Still working to improve - more impromptu/move-around groupings? videos? less content but more depth?

The wheels keep turning. Slowly but slowly I'll piece this puzzle together...

Is that a Rhetorical Question?

Some days are just SO frustrating...especially those ones when the chattiness just does. not. stop.

(But, in speaking with my other teacher friends, I realize I am not alone, so then I feel much better about myself and life.)

However, I read an article that I had found on Pinterest, and I got a little disheartened that I'd used at least half of the phrases that it says to cut out. S***

As I think about the point this article is trying to make, I see the impact such rhetorical language has in my own classroom - it feeds into the need of my students to show power and get attention (the wrong kind).

Well, at least that's a positive step - realizing that I need to make a change. (Not that, by any means, do I consider this blog the Bible, but I think it makes a valid point.)

Let's see if I can make some changes to be less rhetorical tomorrow...