Dear Susan,
This year is my first experience teaching middle school students and it has
been very difficult. Students and parents alike have had great difficulty
accepting an art curriculum and grading according to standards. The conduct
that I was met with at the start of the year floored me. I had to turn things
around if I was going to keep my sanity.Changing things has been very hard
for both myself,. the students and parents. My biggest regret is that I
walked into this situation unaware of what the situation was. So, I have
spent the year trying to instill order, being firm and presenting projects
designed to "win them over". At times I have felt very defeated and thought
about leaving education, but last week a change happened. After being
promised the opportunity to do the Edible Color Wheel Activity if behavior
continued to improve, the 8th grade did indeed get to have fun with this
wonderful lesson. (Many thanks to the list members who posted this activity
and provided me with such a positive experience with these kids.) After the
class, the most incredible thing happened: the class applauded me! They know
I was stunnned, but I'm sure they will never know what a saving moment that
was for me. The next day, four of them brought me a piece of cake from a
party they held in their homeroom. I never would have believed such a
turn-around could have happened even just a few months ago. But it did.
Sometimes when we feel we are giving so much and doing our very best and are
getting so little back, it has hard to be positive about our students and
ourselves. Keep believing that it can happen. Take a break from the serious
stuff and have fun together. It can work wonders.
