Mean Girls

As I've been around more and more kids over the past two years, I can honestly say that at least at the elementary level, girls are more mature than boys. In general, they are far less impulsive, can keep control of their bodies better, and are slower to anger. That being said, I am so glad that I never had to be a girl in the 5th grade. Not only are they sensitive, but that sensitivity is amplified because they are flat out MEAN to each other!

I'm at the age now that I need to watch what I eat or else I can see the effects it has on my body. A few months ago, I mentioned with excitement that I discovered fat-free cream cheese at the grocery store, to which my girlfriend said "Really? I knew about fat-free cream cheese since the 5th grade!" I chalked that up to me not being very perceptive until yesterday. One of my girls was crying and said her friend (a girl) was saying mean things to her - that she was calling her fat. I can't imagine the negative self image this can give someone! No wonder girls discover fat-free cream cheese, diet coke, and lean cuisine at an age where their bodies and metabolisms can handle ANY kind of food. One of my colleagues that I confided in about this issue was up all night thinking about this, and told me she remembers what it was like for her in the 5th grade. Me on the other hand, I can barely remember college, let alone what the 5th grade was like for me.

I consoled the child and arranged for the two girls to talk things out. Turns out that this was a culmination of many small fights due to miscommunication, and even this event was not what it seemed. The two girls made up, and all is right again in girl world. Tis the life of a teacher - part teacher, part counselor, part parent, part everything. I know I can't be all things to all kids, but you better believe we have to wear many different hats. But I love my job because children speak from the heart. Not 24 hours later, one of the girls gave me a handmade card. It said... "THANK YOU! For helping me with my problems." Would we as adults go to that much trouble to thank even our closest friends?

1 down, 3 to go...

Well, the first quarter is over and I can't believe how it has flown by. I get a little breather now... more on that later. Some thoughts from the first 9 weeks of school:

- Working carefully must come LATE in a person's development. I must have commented "needs to work more carefully" on at least 3/4ths of my students' report cards. One student got 50% of his answers wrong because he didn't fill in his scan tron correctly on his quarterly math test; after I had him take it over, he got a 94. Smart kid... but he also spelled his name wrong on the test. *sigh*

- Grades are not a reflection of how smart a child is. They are a reflection of responsibility, effort, attentiveness, AND intelligence. Probably a few more things too.

- As much as I worry about not being a good teacher because I think I'm not reaching my kids well, success stories help lift me up. One child in particular I have seen make strides right before my eyes, and she will be one of only a handful of 5th graders that made honor roll this quarter. This will be her first time... and she was SOOOOO excited when I told her!

- I once said that if I could make a difference in just one child's life, this career change would be worth it. As teachers, I think we want to be all things to all our kids, and it can get overwhelming when we put so much on our own shoulders. Thinking about this though, making a difference comes in many forms and the results of what we do may not be seen for years. Watching a child succeed in school is tangible right now... but that doesn't mean I'm not reaching the kids I don't see making huge strides academically.

- A teacher I interned with last year once said "this is the hardest job you will ever love." I'll tell that to another soon-to-be teacher someday. Today, I begin my much needed rest before 2nd quarter begins...

...which is one of the greatest benefits of working a year-long school calendar. Yes, I'm off while the other schools are in session because my breaks are split up more evenly. Instead of having a long summer break, I get breaks between each quarter. I can't imagine wrapping up the first quarter with parent teacher conferences, report cards, quarterly testing, and working the whole weekend to get it all done... then having to come back the following Monday to begin another 9 week race. Well, I CAN imagine it since that's what I would be doing if I wasn't on a modified calendar. But I'm thankful that I get a break to recuperate. I'm going to play golf, watch football, rock climb, pay attention to my girlfriend, and take a trip to California to hang with my old roommate. It's going to be glorious!!!