Positives

I am calling my kids by the first letter of their name today bc for some reason it feels more appropriate at this moment.

J is a student who never wants to do any work and who is consistently disrespectful and mouthy. Or at least he was, last semester. This semester he has been somewhat on task and not disruptive. He and I are working together for 45 minutes twice a week during my prep period to get him caught up. I discovered that he doesn't like to do work because he is insecure about his intelligence. If you don't do your work then no one can prove you are stupid. That is his logic. Anyway, today he missed class and this isn't out of the norm for him. I saw him during his study hall (not studying...shocker), and he agreed to meet with me extra times during the week to catch up from his missed classes. You have no idea how hard it was to get him to agree to meet twice a week. We had to have a principle draw up and sign a contract and everything. I feel hopeful about this.

The other J is a student who told me he was in a gang and there is so much hate in his life that he just doesn't care about anything. This kid has been taking notes and trying in class. When I come to help him with a problem after I see he has given up, I work with him to get him to see the process. He nervous laughs when he gets stuck and it is very endearing bc I know he is going out of his comfort zone to be caring enough to try. I think he is coming up to my classroom tomorrow before school to get his notebook caught up before I grade them this weekend. We will see, but he has a TON TON TON of potential and a very good heart. I think he could be a huge inspiration to kids around him and could def make it through college if he gets his game together now.

N came to hang out with me after school today even tho I had to go home right at four. She can make my day. I told her a story that had a moral about how when you treat mean people nicely then they are naturally nicer to you. I think she got it, but maybe not. It was a fun to tell a story anyway and she enjoyed listening to it. I know this bc she isn't the type to pretend to be interested if she isn't. BELIEVE ME... haha...sighhhhh

S stayed and hung out with me while she did her research project on Gauss. We had a blast talking about math and anime. 

T is still taking notes and paying attention. I don't know what changed but I sure like it. 

C called me a b*tch the other day and the next day...said it was out of line and he was sorry. He apologized bc I told his coach that his swearing was getting out of line, but C still seemed genuine. Later that day he came and stood at the window of a car I was in with a few other teachers and just chat with me for about 5 minutes. 

Work is good. Kids are great. Life is crazy :).