Three Weeks In

Greetings and Happy Yom Kippur,

Well for those of you who don't know, today is Yom Kippur. I am not too familiar with the holiday, but I know that it is the Jewish New Year and it allows me to have a three day weekend :)

So I know it has been way too long since I updated the blog. I apologize, but currently my life is as busy as it has ever been.

We are now three weeks into the school year and my life as an inner-city educator is getting better and better each day. I am teaching at W.C. Longstreth which is located in Southwest Philadelphia. I am the 8th grade math and science teacher, so I am busy preparing worksheets, labs, and projects for two different subjects. Also, remember that I was a marketing major at JMU....

On the first day of classes, I realized that I would have my hands full. My homeroom walked into the door and there stood 32 eighth grade boys ready to take their seats (or walk around aimlessly as it turned out.) I decided before the first day that I was going to make a random seating chart and have students match a playing card that I gave them at the door to a card on a desk. After I gave out the first few cards, I realized that kids we not going to their matching seat, but instead they were throwing the cards on the floor and ripping the cards that I gave them. So as it turns out, students sat where they wanted on the first day of school...

I started the day out with more energy than I have ever had. I made sure the students knew that I was excited to be at their school and excited to teach. In fact, some of the students commented that I was too "hype", a piece of Philly slang which means overly energetic. We started out by explaining the rules for the class and my expectations for the students. When I told the students that it was our goal for everyone to meet and exceed 80% on all assignments, several students said that 80% was a B and there was no reason why the should try that hard. I knew from that moment that my job would be a struggle.

To be fair, I allowed students the opportunity to tell me what they expected from a teacher. They wanted minimal work, to be able to talk, and have unlimited gym and recess. Needless to say, I wasn't going to be a "good" teacher in their mind. I explained to students that I was from the "New School" of teaching, where we would try hard everyday and shoot for the stars. After some comments infused with bad language and some eye rolls, I just decided to move on.

The past three weeks have been a remarkable journey. I have two separate classes. One is my homeroom of 32 boys and the other is a class of 18 girls. I guess I have been away from middle school for too long, but I forgot how much more mature girls were at the age of 12-14. The girls will sit still and listen as I talk and ask informed questions. The boys on the other hand are talking constantly almost to the point where I need to scream. Also, the boys tend to wander around the room looking for something better to do than listen to my lesson. When my students behave badly, it is my bad habit to ask them, "How old are you?". When they respond, I am 12, it makes sense why they continue to play. They are simply children.

Besides managing the classroom, I have been able to cover some content. Most of the content we have covered is a review back to 5th and 6th grade. However, students continue to miss questions on adding and subtracting whole numbers. For a while, I felt helpless, not knowing how to catch these students up to where they should be. However, as of late, I just started with the basics and I teach each lesson as if they have no prior knowledge. It definately slows me down, but it is important that they know the basics.

Also, my students have spent the past 8 years of school in what I like to call a "Copy and worksheet' culture. Their past teachers were content with giving them notes to copy and worksheets to complete because it kept them in their seats and quiet. However, it became apparent on Day 1 that this strategy wasn't the best learning technique considering how far behind some students were.

My students seem to really like me. I am one of only three male teachers in the school so I am unique and different. I can laugh with them and also yell in a way that makes them take their seats. I think my students are realizing that I truly do care that they succeed. I was worried that my students would take advantage of me due to my inexperience, but they all think that I am 35 which has been a big help.

In the past three weeks, I have heard over 3,000 uses of bad language, broken up 4 fights, and heard one threat to steal my car (jokingly...although a 95 Saturn would be a cool ride for a 12 year old). Every day when the students leave, I take a deep breath to recover then start preparing for the next day. These kids keep me on my toes and I try to do my best to keep them on their toes.

Every day I have certain 7th grade students ask if I am going to be there next year. They are thrilled to have a "fun, male" teacher next year. I always respond with, "Why wouldn't I be" The kids always respond that every other teacher that they have had in their life has left after 6 months. This is so sad and it now makes me understand why these kids have such little faith and interest in their teachers.

My new career choice is very difficult and stressful, but I enjoy knowing that I am making a difference, even if it is very small. I have fun with my students and I am hoping to put them on the right track so that they will go on to high school and succeed.

Hope all is well with each and every one of you.

Take care,
Mark