The end of the beginning.....

Well, today marks a milestone of sorts for me. 
Though I received a bachelors degree in Social Sciences in 1980, I never really used it for the purpose I had originally intended, which was to become a Family Counselor.  I have worked in several professions in my adult life including doing voice overs and commercials for an advertising cable channel and writing for a newspaper, both of which I enjoyed immensly.  I have worked in cable and advertising sales, customer service and I even worked as a car rental agent for a time.  But when I turned 59, I decided to go back to school and pursue a teaching certificate to be able to teach my favorite subject....History.  I accomplished this feat shortly after my 60th birthday. It wasn't an easy task since I had been out of school for so long, but my desire, determination and tenacity.....plus many prayers and much faith...allowed me to forge on and focus. I got a teaching job not long after in a small, diverse middle/high school.
So, today was the last day of my first year of teaching Social Studies to middle and high school students.  I cannot even begin to describe what a wonderful year this has been for me!  I love my job!  Don't get me wrong, there were struggles and plenty of days when I wondered if I had lost my mind, but in the end, I would not have traded this experience for a million dollars!  I not only got to teach, but I got to relearn things I'd long since forgotten in the subject areas of History and Geography.  I've met some of the most wonderful people and I have often wondered why God put me in this particlar place, but that is another story for another time.  I have also been able to get the intellectual stimulation that I have literally needed for so long simply by teaching and learning at the same time.  My students have, for the most part, been wonderful.  I did have one class that I felt I couldn't reach at times.  Their discipline issues, disrespect, and nonchalant attitude about things bothered me to such a degree that I dreaded teaching their class every day.  But I trudged on and I know they learned and I really did grow to love every one of them.  The other four classes I had were almost always delightful.  Eighth and sixth grades were my favorites and the easiest to teach and handle.  I taught American History..my first love... to eighth grade and we had a fantastic year.  There were only eight students in the class, but we faced challenges together and learned so much. I got into so many interesting discussions with them about all kinds of topics. I usually allowed one day a week for getting "off track"  just for discussing issues that were of interest to them.  It was never trivial, as they were all deep thinkers.  They were usually always fully engaged in the subject and I was able to do so much with supplemental materials as well as with the text and curriculum.  Sixth grade was World History and we had such fun because I could illustrate things on the board for them to teach them concepts and they would never make fun of my art, or, better stated,  lack of ability in that area!  They were such eager learners!  The subject area was never dull, and even though I don't enjoy this particular phase of history as much as others, it turned out to be a great subject to teach and relearn.  Not to mention the sweet and engaging students I had lucked out with in that class.  Ninth grade was the most challenging subject wise.  They had World History as well, but much further on than sixth grade.  It was dull and boring and hard to make interesting for them.  There were days when I couldn't engage them at all and it was very frustrating.  Their age is a factor too, since they are in the middle of hormonal hell for one thing, and they are still not quite as mature as is necessary to keep their focus for very long.  This may not be indicative of all kids in ninth grade, but it definitely was a factor with this particular group.  Some days I loved them, some days I wanted to strangle them!  Tenth grade was actually the most difficult at first because there were only 2 students in the class and I felt intimidated at times trying to challenge them and keep their attention.  As it turned out, these two students were awesome!  They enjoyed learning, discussing, reading and all the other things that go along with history.  I was able to engage them most days and we had a great year. I became very close to both of them and  I will truly miss them next year.   Another highlight of my year was the History Fair.  I was in charge and I pushed the kids hard to do the best projects they could.  I made them work on some phase of the project every Friday until the Fair itself and they did a great great job.....every single one of them!  I was so proud.  12 projects went to the Regional Fair and of those, 3 went on to State.  It was one of the most fantastic experiences for me!   I got to meet some wonderful teachers from other schools, both at the regional and state levels, and we bonded as they welcomed me into the "group".  I can't wait to do it again next year!  The rest is a blur....but those have been the highlights of my first year as a history teacher. 
I am now taking Reading Endorsement so I can teach reading in the future, or at least help struggling readers.   That is going well and I am loving the learning and it is rekindling my love for reading as well. 
I figure I can teach for at least another 5 years ( hopefully, God willing).  The end of a saga has come....but I think it is really just the beginning! 
Happy Tales!

How do you solve a problem like Maria?...

..How do you catch a cloud and hold it down?....   This song, made famous by "The Sound of Music", is what I think of every time I walk out of  my 7th grade Geography class.  I don't particularly like Geography to start with and teaching it is a challenge at best, but I try to make it as interesting and thought provoking as I possibly can for the students.  But this class is a little different.  Actually, they are impossible!  Since day one they have been hyperactive, noisy, rowdy and unable to understand English, it seems.  At first only the boys were rowdy , but it seems the girls have followed suit.  I have to admit I have grown to love every one of them in time, but still.......  I have tried everything to get them to calm down and pay attention. (I am not the only teacher that has this problem with the 7th grade class).   Some things, such as making them write classroom rules 5 times each or sending them to detention (well, only one of them) or giving extra homework have worked...for about 30 minutes, if that.  I have lectured them, appealed to their sense of responsibility, threatened to call their parents, sent some of them to the principal, held up a sign that says "Quiet Please" (like a Kindergarten teacher) .....nothing works!  They are all quick witted, smart and full of energy.  They literally exhaust me!  Anyway, I have recently started making the rule breakers write the meaning of the word "quiet" 100 times each.  Repeat offenders have had to write the meaning of the word "respect" 100 times as well.  It was working.  They were finally behaving and learning.  Yesterday I gave them a map skill activity (including coloring and making a key)  that I thought would be fun.......but what did they do?   They acted like Kindergarteners! First they complained, then they started arguing over crayon colors and sharing and who had the best map...and, oh my goodness! We got through it though.  Today we started our lesson and it was going really well until they all started talking at once, laughing and just generally acting rude.  I stopped mid-lesson and had them all take out a sheet of paper and a pencil.  They freaked out because they thought they knew what was coming....write the meanings 100 times!  Then they started begging and pleading..."please, teacher, we won't talk again, please!"  Ha Ha (insert evil laughter here)!   I stared them down.  I told them to write their names on the paper.  The groaning and pleading continued.  Then, in a soft voice, I said, "This is an open book pre-test.  Write the meanings of the definitions for this chapter and answer the questions in the review."  18 pairs of huge eyes were starting at me.  A collective sigh filled the room and they were finally quiet!  They began working diligently.  I burst into laughter.  They all looked up.  "I wish I had had a video camera," I said.  "You should have seen the looks on your faces; it was priceless!" I then told them that I would have posted it on YouTube with a caption that read..."My seventh graders....speechless at last!"  They all laughed until I told them to get back to work. They know I'm easy and they know I love them, but I just don't know what I will do with them.  I will keep trying everything in my bag of tricks and then some.  Something is bound to work.  In the meantime..."how can you hold a moonbeam in your hand"?    Happy Tales!