girlfiend

Amanda asked:
How long have you been teaching, and do you ever want to throw your students against the wall and watch them bleed?

This is my 6th year, and sadly, yes. Well, maybe not bleed, but I wouldn’t mind knocking them around a bit. Because I teach students with reading difficulties they seem to come with more problems than the average kid. Sometimes they have behavior issues, sometimes they’re just socially inept.

Today, the student I hated most was Jen, a 6th grader who seems to be suffering from depression. She is really, really needy. Every time I turned around this morning I found her approximately one inch away from me. The poor girl has no concept of personal space and a severe case of halitosis.

My second most hated student of the day was India. India is the nasty girl I mentioned in reference to the uniform question. She has the worst eye-rolling, teeth-sucking, rude commenting attitude I’ve seen in an eleven year-old. Today, she saw this picture of Britney Spears and told me I looked just like her. If I could I’d muzzle the little bitch.

Mikey, the little racist, also happens to be a liar, thief and manipulator. Sadly, I’ve witnessed all three in the short month he’s been in my class. He also has a serious personal space issue. I find myself saying, “Back off. You must be three steps away from the teacher at all times,” at least 3 times a class period.

The worst kids of all are the kids in other people’s classes. I hate when I have to sub, especially in sixth grade classes. And the kids in my afterschool reading program. Their parents obviously signed them up with absolutely no regard for my sanity. I’d duct tape their mouths shut if it wouldn’t result in a lawsuit. Sixth graders who struggle in school should NEVER be put into academic programs after school without their consent.

Lest I sound like a complete monster, most of the time I like the kids. I actually hugged a kid today, when she turned in her homework for the first time in 3 weeks. I still miss kids I taught in 1999. I think about the students in my SpEd reading class when I taught in the high school almost every day. I really loved those kids. I email a few students I taught last year. Even some of the kids I teach now have grown on me. I especially like them when I get to send them home at the end of the day.