Sometimes I don't like my students.
Most days I do but somedays, like today, I really don't.
They're frustrating and unappreciative and obnoxious. They talk back and don't listen and expect me to do their work for them even though I've already successfully completed 2nd grade. They want me to feel sorry for them and all they don't have when what I really want is for them to quit wasting what they DO have.
Oh, and the fact that they can't walk in a line without poking or hitting or otherwise bothering the person in front of them is pretty much rediculous.
I told them that too...in those exact words.
I think I say, "This is so rediculous" or "You've got to be kidding me" at least 10 times a day.
The problem is that there's days when they do listen. When the conduct themselves like normal 2nd graders, not tiny little gansta homies. They're respectful and engaged and...well...pretty darn likeable.
If there were not days like that I could put up with days like today, but instead they leave me at the end of the day with an unenthusiastic goodbye and I obsess all night over how we all, as a team, failed today.
Kiddos, tomorrow needs to be better.
You will follow our expectations.
You will come ready to learn.
You will respect me and in turn I will respect you.
You will not ask me to go to the bathroom when you know it's not an appropriate time to go, and you will not sharpen your pencil when I am trying to teach you something.
You will not talk in the halls or jump on your classmates.
You will not eat your clothes.
I do not expect you to be geniuses, but I expect you to be more than average because average doesn't cut it.
If you want to be something someday you need to be better and I will NOT let you settle for less, even if it robs me of all of my sleep.