Third Classroom...
Third Classroom...
My third classroom…
I taught Shakespeare.
I was fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen-years-old.
My classroom was chaotic and stunk of school lunches.
Once again, the ‘weird’ kid was the center of attention.
Seriously though, how hard is it to read the footnotes?
They hold the keys to the wonders of the world!
More Posts from Rengerain and Others
Forth Classroom…
I was at a community college, panicking over my BA in English.
So I went for an associate’s in medical secretary.
I helped my friend learn her medical terminology, abbreviations, grammar, and anatomy.
I helped another friend learn about computers as we had to take Windows, Excel, and Access.
All three of us struggled comically over transcription.
The Puerto Rican said that the “Puerto Rican” doctor on the recording didn’t sound right.
The Caucasian said, “Where the heck do you find the ‘send’ key?!”
I felt like the smartest person in the room for the first time in my life.
Life Changing Moments…
In teaching there are sometimes life changing moments…
One such moment for me was when I first got sucked into teaching ESL.
Another such moment was when I sat in on an ESL kindergarten class…
I met my first little autistic student.
He was non-verbal and hated colors and loud noises.
His fixation was a car…but it was also me…oddly enough.
Direct eye contact and then a hug…
His teacher discouraged it… It was my first day there and she did not know me.
But I did not mind the hug…
From then on, every time he saw me, he’d rush over to hug me or show me something he worked on in class…
This is how I decided that my next Master’s degree will be in Special Education, one sweet boy who changed my life…
Here we go Again...
Oh no, another
Praxis test to take
I must prove my worth.
Eleventh Classroom...
It’s been a year…
Still AroAce…
Still a teacher…
Still barely sane…
I went from being a ‘traveling ESL teacher’ to a paraprofessional at a Montessori school. I am not impressed. Oh sure, Montessori is a wonderful learning philosophy but it is not for everyone. It is certainly not for a teacher with ADHD that struggles with hyperfocus. The individualized lessons given are often at the cost of classroom management or vice versa.
The parents who send their kids to a Montessori school do so in lieu of seeking out professional help for their unique or troubled child. I have TWELVE out of twenty-six students who are either obviously ADHD or obviously Autistic to some degree. Two have IEPs and the rest are ‘busy kids’ in their parents’ eyes.
This is a challenge that I have no problem with. I LOVE my students.
BUT I am not thrilled with their parents…
‘I want to focus on this pregnancy’…Yeah, but while you’re doing that you could LAY in bed and work with your son on his letter sounds.
‘My parents are in a motel getting their act together’…AKA, drug addicts.
‘My mom says that this rule is dumb’…Sorry, it’s a SCHOOL rule. No sweets.
The only thing worse than the parents is how this school is run…
The double standards and obvious favoritism is what REALLY pisses me off.
I do my job, I get yelled at by THREE different people.
Someone else DOESN’T do their job and they get praised…wonderful.
Oh yeah, and we have FOUR Montessori teachers out of FORTY.
Depression Battle...
Depression falling.
After so many weeks of pain…
I feel at peace now.
Hug...?
Hug hug hug hug hug
You’re my favorite teacher
No, no please don’t leave!
What am I watching?!
Watching a movie
It is so very trippy
Appropriate drugs
Distracted...
I have a tight schedule that has grown even tighter…
There is no wiggle room…
So I find it where I can…
Last night I found too much, got too into it, and forgot to post…
Oops.
Happy Christmas!
It is Christmas time
One day I will be people-less
Cats will be my love…
Sixth Classroom...
Three weeks just sitting in a library watching ELLs take the ACCESS test…
Oh great, Corona.
I’m banned from the school and go home.
Now, the school shuts down and the children seldom show.
I sit in my bedroom talking to the walls on Zoom.
YouTube stories…picture books and animations on environmental and wildlife conservation…
Stories lead to class discussions and simple assignments.
The edTPA is not going to happen.
Thankfully I don’t need it for institutional backing once I finally graduate.
Virtual classrooms where students are constantly interrupted by poor internet or having to watch younger siblings.
These kids are learning nothing yet being passed onto the next grade.
It’s such a disservice…
