Small Favors...

So, after my terrible day of the previous week, I have had a few very calm days, despite there still obviously being something in the water. Instead of just my students being crazy and getting in trouble, it's now all the students.

I guess I feel better, knowing it's not just me.

My calm days mostly come from the fact that the misbehaving students received ISS (in school suspension) for their misbehavior, so they were not in my room. Not only were those two out, several other students from my team were also in ISS for various reasons (thankfully none that had anything to do with me or my class).

Now, on a normal day, one or two or three students will be in ISS. We know how many and which kids are in there each day because the supervising teacher (I really would not want her job) emails all the teachers a list first thing in the morning, so we can know who is there. (If it's one of our students, we're supposed to send work down to them, so they're not just sitting and staring at the wall all day.) Then, she emails us whenever a new student enters ISS, almost an on-the-spot news-reporting about which students are misbehaving that day. Normally, one student may enter ISS during the day, occasionally two. Today, six students entered it.

I am telling you. Something is definitely in the water.

It's almost fun getting the emails, I think just because it's a throwback to the days when you were young, and said things like "Ohhhhhh... who's in trouble!" in a sing-song voice. The best part is when you see a name on the list you recognize... followed by "7th grade" or "8th grade." Because that means that while they were my problem last year, they are not my problem this year. I'm already looking forward to those emails next year.

Trouble has been in trouble almost constantly lately. His mother says we're responding to him the wrong way. She says we don't understand him. While that may be true, it seems a bit suspicious to me that he's not getting along in any of his classes, with any of his teachers. At least one of the teachers should be relating to him if it was us causing the problem. He has 7 different teachers! I do worry about him, but he is just not making it easy to help him.

And Stubborn has killed two more spiders for me (boy, he's helpful when he wants to be.) For some reason, he has recently bonded with me, which I guess is a good thing. He shows me all his work, and wants to tell me all about it, and about what he's doing this weekend, etc, etc. He shows me his Geography project (which I still have no idea what it was he was showing me, but he did get a C so I'm proud. I guess.) It's very sweet, and I am really glad he's attached himself to me, because he is doing much better in class, but sometimes, it's really hard to listen and give him my full attention. I don't want to discourage him, so I'm trying really hard to listen.

So anyway... I am just grateful for small blessings, like having a peaceful day, free of the trouble students. I know they'll be back soon, and I also know I'll be back to trying to find out what works for them, because I truly do want to help them, and I also want to be one of those success stories you hear about. But until then... I'll relish the peace.