Today was awesome but I could feel myself getting more tired every second I was teaching. By 3rd period I knew exactly what I was going to say, but it took so much more effort to do so. I'm struggling just to type this out right now, but I have so much to say!
The most amazing, profound moment of my day was in the middle of 3rd period when I was going through the procedures. One of which is that they may sharpen their pencils only in the first 5 minutes of class so they will not be getting up and sharpening while I am teaching, or students are doing work. I told them that 5 minutes would be more than enough time to sharpen their pencils because I have a magic sharpener. Some kids cocked their heads, some snickered, and some rolled their eyes. I continued to walk to the back of the room with a pencil. All of their little eyes followed me all the way there. I held the pencil in the air and without saying a word I stabbed it into the blackboard causing the top of it to completely shatter. Some kids jumped out of their seats, some of their jaws dropped to the floor, and again I didn't say a word. I held the splintered pencil up and swiftly inserted it into my magic sharpener without looking, instead I washed their faces, as their eyes opened wide. After what I believed to be 1 second, I said a little prayer (please be sharpened) and whipped the pencil out of the sharpener. I didn't even have to look at it to know that it was as sharp as a needle. Some kids clapped, some just gasped, but if they didn't believe me before, they had now witnessed a small miracle.
I'm looking forward to the days where these little miracles open their eyes just a little bit wider than normal. I'm looking forward to those AH-HA moments where they experience something they've never experienced before. As tired as I am I cannot sleep because all of these thoughts keep running through my head. I close my eyes and can't stop thinking about Ivette and how she told me she loves to sing and dance but she has stage fright. I can't stop thinking about Victor, and how he asked me what he should write where I asked for Parent(s) name, because his mother died. I think about everything I want to do for these kids, tomorrow, next week, in general, and I can't sleep a wink. I try to concentrate on my breathing saying in and out in my head, but underneath that, my subconscious still has so much to say. Someone wise once told me the achievement gap does not sleep. At the time I laughed and thought it was a silly thing to say, but I truly see it now. I live it now. Tomorrow is another day, and until then, I will try oh so desperately to get some sleep, so I can be well rested for another batch of kids.
Just in case anyone was wondering...
Today I....
Ate lunch.
Did not run in the halls, I walked swiftly.
Enforced the rules and policies.
Learned a lot of the A-block names.
Smiled.
:)
All my best,
Care
yay!!!
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