I Like It, I Love It, Do I Want MORE Of It?

I no longer wonder if I want to make the jump to middle school.  The answer...NO. Well it might be the best thing since sliced cheese between sheets of plastic for some, for this gal it is just too boring to teach the same lesson umpteen times a day.  Half-way into the second go-round of this rodeo, I'm already bored and wishing I was anywhere but there.  On the other hand, the students (all 5 of them if I'm lucky for that particular class) seem to be enjoying themselves and they are getting just a taste, A TASTE, of what it will be like in middle school i.e. several different teachers, clanging classrooms, having homework in every subject, and not being allowed to use the bathroom except at passing times, well then, I suppose it's alright.

The program breaks down like this.  This particular school is located in the 'hood.  You know, broken and empty liquor bottles in the gutter, graffiti on every building surrounding the school grounds, and free lunch being served to anyone in the neighborhood 18 and younger.  That kind of 'hood.  So these kids who usually roll out of bed 5 minutes before school starts and still getting there on time, and who aren't used to having being held accountable for things like homework, or spelling, or other things, will be going off to middle school in a few short weeks.  They have no idea what awaits them.  So, my teacher-friend devised a program that will hopefully fill the void.  This is how it works:

She found three of us suckers teachers to help her out.  We each took a subject (science, math, and ELA/Reading) and we broke them up into three groups.  They have a class, then rotate to their next one, and so forth.  They get a lunch period of about 15 minutes, 5 minutes passing time in between classes and a computer lab for 30 minutes every day Monday through Thursday for the month of June.  Due to the society into which these children live, daily participation is not as high as we would like it to be.  Our highest day of attendance so far was 14.  On average, its runs 11.  So, as I mentioned earlier, the classes are about 4-5 students.  For the ones that have come everyday, they will at least have some sort of idea what middle school will be like.  

I only have 4 more days to go then the project will be over.  it's only from 8-12 in the morning, but I still am missing that time with my Bean - and who can judge me if I want more time with this face? 

Edison and Bean: this is my new favorite picture. (Until I take a new one that is!)

He just makes me happy.  Just happy.  

Tomorrow, Bean, Graham Cracker, and I are off to scour JoAnn's, Michael's, and Walmart for superhero fabric for my classroom.  We love our "questing" for treasures!  

Always yours,

Shauna'mar