GRRR

My students were working on social studies posters and presentations in groups the other day. I was walking around helping, like any good teacher would (this is not a usual thing. Any second I get to sit at my desk, I take it...is that bad?). Anyway, one group raised their hands with a question and I was thinking to myself, oh good, someone needs me. So I walk over and they had not even started on their poster. One of the girls says, "We keep arguing over whether to use markers or colored pencils on our poster." I lost it! GRRRR!!!! Seriously!? I was so close to making them each get their own poster and doing it on their own. I told them that was the stupidest thing I had ever heard and did they really think the people of 1812 would have cared what they used on their poster!? WOW...special. Sometimes I do not like that my job involves mediating the smallest, stupidest conflicts on Earth.

I doubt it...

The other day my blind student said, "My life is so busy."
I then said back, "So is mine."
Then she proceeded to 'argue' with me that her life is busier than mine...hmmm...
Oh the naive-ness of a 10-year old.

Straight to the Heart

This note was left on my desk today by a disruptive student from my science class...

Dear, Mrs. ritchie/best science teacher :)
Listen why i'm not paying attention is because my grandma died not to long ago, so i try to have as much fun as i can so i don't really think about her. But i promise i'll pay more attention in class. I'm very sorry.

P.S. I'm S'o sorry, and happy saint patricks day. :)

P.S. The table i yous't to sit at i couldn't push in my toat tray and it is so wabbely. :)


Honestly, I feel terrible and pretty bad for the kid--talk about a stab to the heart. But I think he needs to try to have fun elsewhere and start paying attention in class. I am a fun science teacher and we do awesome experiments. I want my students to have fun, but he needs to find his out at recess or lunch or somewhere else. Am I mean for saying that?
Oh, and the office lady told me that she died six months ago and he uses it as an excuse for everything. I get it, my grandma died too and it was sad and I struggled for a really long time. I will be nicer to the kid now that I know, but he better keep his promise and try harder to be better in class too. Wow, that sounds harsh. Don't judge, it's been a long week.

Really?

We are taking a writing test in the computer lab and as I am walking around, I notice that my blind student is just sitting there and not typing. I ask her how it's going and she says, "It's going great. You shouldn't talk during the test though..."
Seriously? Who does she think she is?