I shed a tear tonight. I'm not sure if it was a happy tear or a sad tear. I think both. I received this message from one of my former students: "...How u been? I miss you, i wish u worked there lol we need sum teachers who care"
Two years ago, I taught 7th grade in an inner-city classroom. The school was experimenting with their middle school by going to self-contained classrooms, rather than allowing the students to change classes for each subject. (There were many reasons for this, but one of the explanations I was given was to cut down on the fighting and violence in the hallways between class periods).
It was probably the hardest teaching job I ever had.
It was definitely the best teaching job I've ever had.
The horror stories? Oh, I've got a few. Every day of the first two or three weeks was a nightmare. A young man grew angry at another student and threw an overhead projector into a group of students, shattering it. When he returned from his suspension, he got into another altercation and threw my timer through my window. Another boy picked up a chair, ready to throw it at a girl in the classroom. I really began to wonder what I had gotten myself into.
I honestly don't remember the exact moment that things changed, but I know that I told them that we were no longer going to function as a classroom. We were going to function as a family. I know that it stuck with them because they reminded me of that all year long. These kids needed a family.
We had a Thanksgiving dinner together. Many of my kids brought in dishes to share. We sat together and ate together. I know I'll never forget it.
When the kids would come back from lunch upset over something that had happened, sometimes we'd have a family meeting. We'd take a few minutes of class time to discuss what happened and why we were upset. My rules were simple. 1. No shouting. 2. Be nice. 3. One speaker at a time. Sure, we missed a few minutes of math, but they weren't going to be thinking about math if we didn't hash out the problem anyway. And believe it or not, they didn't take advantage of this. We only did it a handful of times during the year.
I introduced the kids to service projects. I refused to do a fundraiser to go on a field trip. We participated in can collection, Operation Christmas Child, and other activities to "earn" our end of the year field trip.
I was pregnant the second semester of the year. When I told the kids, their joyous response made me cry. On my birthday, one of the boys' mothers, who knew that I could only stomach certain things, brought one of those things in - and enough for the whole class.
Don't get me wrong. We still had our issues. But, we handled 90% of our issues in the classroom. I chose to involve the kids in their consequences (mainly by making them call their parents if they were getting out of line) I kept them out of the office, out of suspension, and in our classroom.
And then I got RIF'ed. My kids were furious. I wasn't exactly thrilled, but it's a pretty common thing, I hear. But nevertheless, I wasn't going to get to teach my kids the next year (the school was going back to traditional format the next year, so I would have had them again for whatever subject I would have been teaching). I decided that these kids had enough obstacles to overcome without losing contact with someone that they knew cared about them. I did something I wouldn't normally do. I gave them my email and my Myspace account so that they could keep in touch with me if they chose to. That's how I came to see the above message.
I went back to the school for their 8th grade promotion. I could almost feel my blood pressure rise when I walked into the building. But when I got to the room where my kids were waiting for their ceremony, I knew that the whole year had been worth everything.
Two years later, I still hear from about 1/3 of my class on a regular basis. They're freshman now, split between two high schools. But they still know that they can talk to me whenever they need someone to talk to. I even got a message last March from a boy wishing me a "Happy Pi Day." He remembered! (I made a huge deal about it. All of our subject lessons had something to do with those numbers and we even had pie that afternoon).
I can't wait to go back in four years and see them graduate from high school. I know they will. I told them they have to. But I really hope that somewhere along the way they are going to find "sum teachers who care."
Crystal Pratt is a writer and content contributor for LessonPathways. com, an education-based website that maps online educational resources into ready to teach units.
Crystal holds a Bachelor's degree +24 in education with a focus on middle level education. She lives in Illinois with her husband, four children, and two step-children.
» left by LK from Mechanicsburg, PA (7 days 4 hours ago.)
I wanted to shed a tear or two reading that. Don't ever doubt the difference you can make in the life of a child (or in this case children). It's the school district's loss that they rif'd you, but our gain here on searchwarp. Thank you for sharing your hardest/best year with us. I don't think any of those kids will ever, ever forget you.
Outstanding Crystal, I commend you for what you did and I wish the nation havd many more situations where qualified teachers could do such good. I commend you.
RIF is "reduction in force." They basically lay off and (generally) rehire new-to-district teachers every year. They lose a lot of good teachers that way. *But I'm not bitter. Much*
I'm sure I could have gotten twice that many to come with me if I'd have staged a coup. :-)
Crystal, very inspiring article. Thank you for caring for those kids. Some of them might have dropped out of school later in life, but it sounds like you gave them some tools for dealing with their frustrations.
Cyrstal this is absolutely an inspiring article. You have touched your students and I am sure they now can better themselves. I applaud you for doing such a noble act --- teaching in a positive approach and possibly changing their lives. God blessl
Thank you. My family joked with me that they were going to make a movie about my class. :-) I was just doing what I felt they needed, but it is nice to be appreciated.
You wrote a passionate account of your experiences with this particular class. It is very evident that it was both difficult a difficult year and a rewarding year and you accomplished much. Reading your article makes your audience realize that you are in your true vocation - you are dedicated, passionate and caring - all the character traits necessary for a good teacher. It has to be one of the most difficult professions now because of attitude changes, parents' unsupportive behavior; well the list is endless. I can only say, hats off to you and I hope my own kids and friends will have the blessings in a teacher you so apparently have. On behalf of those whom you have taught and those you are teaching or have yet to teach, thank you.
Thanks Crystal for this inspirational writing. I have taught and was taught in inner-city schools (taught in New Bedford, MA and I'm a product of the Chicago Public School system). I understand and know where you are coming from. I happy that you had this blessed experience, but I am even more happy that your students have had the blessing of you.
Thank you for caring for this class, Crystal. I can only imagine the pride you'll feel when they graduate from high school! And to know part of the reason they stay in school is that a teacher cared for them in those formative years of middle school. Wow! That will be a day of celebration for you and for them.
Crystal, WOW!! I can't add much more that hasn't already been said in previous comments, other than to say I really, really wish there were more teachers like you. Even better, if there were more school administrators who embraced this type of creativity, and sought to advance it.
Thank you, Joyce. I wish the same things about administrators, but unfortunately, they are forced to focus on test scores and then pass that down to the teachers. Because of this, I fear we're losing sight of the kids and their actual needs.
I enjoyed this very much. I hope you go back and teach more. I am running for Mayor of Everett WA. Part of my plan is to make Everett's schools the best in the nation. I probably will not win. The incumbent has $160,000 to spend to my $4000. But I too have a passion to improve our schools.
Good article. We never know who's life we are going to help along the way, but I am sure many have been blessed by you and your attitude. Thanks for sharing.---Linda D
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I kept them out of the office, out of suspension, and in our classroom.
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