It's All About the Relationships

I continue to love my job – especially the students I work with! Each day brings new adventures and insights.

I have been concerned about the students who leave my 7^th grade class halfway through class. Today I talked to the person in charge of special education for the school. In the past these same students would be in a self-contained classroom for all of their academics. It is my understanding that the state of North Carolina passed a new law stating something about special education teachers needing to be certified or highly qualified not only in special education, but also the subject matter they teach. Not only that, special education students need to be exposed to the reading and math curriculum. This is where I have difficulty understanding it all. If the student is reading on a second grade reading level and I am teaching a 7^th grade class on grade level, what does that mean for the student? Or the teacher for that matter? For me , it means I will be doing lots of literature circles. However, I was told not to have these students be a group unto themselves. I understand the good intentions of this law, but get concerned when students are not getting the intensive education they need. They can be pulled out for Science and Social Studies, but not Reading and Math. Two skills that need basics in order to progress further. I don’t understand it. I will readjust my teaching to make it work for all the students. I don’t want those kids just being exposed to what we are doing. I want them to be a part of it. Let the challenge begin!

My 8^th grade class is unique, special, and absolutely amazing! A couple of teachers saw me with them today and asked if I they were my students. I told them I did and they were my favorite class. They looked at me like I had lost my mind. I know that not only do I see something special in them, they also see something in me. Upon entering the classroom today, one of the boys looked rather down. I approached him and asked if he was okay. He said he was. However, later on our walk, he asked me why I asked him that question. I told him my observations. He said teachers don’t usually notice and then proceeded to tell me what was on his mind. (His family moves a lot and it looks like he is moving in a couple of weeks. He wants to stay in NC.) All the while, another student who doesn’t typically go out of his way to talk to me keeps interrupting to tell me about music he listens to and to see if I had heard of them. (Good thing I can multi-task.) I now have a list of hard core metal groups I need to check out. My day with the 8^th grade did not stop there. I approached a girl who left the day before because she just couldn’t handle school any more that day. I asked if today was better. She said not really. I invited her to have lunch with me. She opened up about her father not wanting anything to do with her. We talked all lunch period about that and other things on her mind. In the meantime, the positive relationship continues with all the students. Truly I am a fortunate teacher to have them in my life!

Our first soccer game loomed in the immediate future. As has been the case through this whole season thus far, I really had no idea what I was doing. I know how to fake it though!  Heading out to the field we saw the other team arrive. There must have been at least 30 of them walking down to the field. I looked at my 15 quaking in their shoes. “Mrs. Victor did you see how many of them there are?” they asked in disbelief. No worries. We would play our game! The first half ended in a tie 2-2. The boys couldn’t believe how mean the other coach was. I think they were happy to have inexperienced me. The second half brought all new players for the other team, while my team was down two players due to injuries. Throughout the game, the boys played with heart and a positive attitude even when being sworn at by the other team. The end result was a loss of 6-2 and determination to do better next time.

It all boils down to relationships whether in the classroom or on the soccer field. It is the relationships that make it all worth it.