17 February 2010

Teacher Fail

This might not surprise those of you who know me, but it happened today.




I am mean.

My eighth graders hate me, and the feeling is mutual.  (Okay, I'm exaggerating, I don't really hate them, but I'm getting THISCLOSE.)  Amongst my thirty-three eighth graders I have officially been called "mean" behind my back- and that's just what I've heard about.  When I was in eighth grade, I had words much harsher than "mean" to describe my teachers, so I have a pretty good idea of what I'm not hearing.

But they are mean.

Some adult I am, I know...

but they are.


Dear Reader, I am trying so hard.

I tried music- like "cool" music (in Spanish) that The Kids are listening to these days.  It was "annoying."  I tried videos to stimulate interest.  They were "dumb."  I tried games.  They were "ghetto."  I tried relating to them regarding respect.  I had a class meeting.  Each activity has elicited a negative, sarcastic, condescending response.  Today I gave a slower student who never participates a high-five (I KNOW, who DOES that?  ME.) for giving the right answer in class and when I turned around he said, "Ew, I touched her."

He sits in the front row.

I'm officially out of ideas.

Ten more weeks?
Ugh.

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