The morning kicked off great after everyone was back in class, however, after the festivities, class was only in session for an hour before lunch. The hour was focused on Reading, and for one reason only. Report cards. They were supposed to go out last night, but since no on in my class is responsible, nor their families, they all came in this morning thinking I had time in the middle of the morning to meet with them. Lucky enough for them, it WAS Super Tuesday and the children were still outside eating, so I had a few spare minutes.
I gave the parents the report cards, all of which were splattered with a certain letter that comes after 'E' in the alphabet. Of course the parents were mad and their children would never ever do anything bad in class, let alone not do their homework. Of course it was my fault and I GAVE their precious angel of a son an F in all my classes. I gladly whipped out the grade book and flipped through each class and each student revealing that no one does homework nor completes their tests in class. They now had nothing to argue about except the fact they don't spend enough time with their children to know they have homework, or care enough to ask. How frustrating is that? After two, deep conversations with parents, who tried their best to conduct the meeting on their terms in Creole, but quickly lost that battle, let upset with me, the principal, school, children and mad at each other (as in spouses). What a great way to start MY Super Tuesday.
Therefore, as I explained to my guys that this 9-weeks would be better, I started off by talking how we were going to improve reading. I sat them down with their books and it was silent for an hour. I couldn't believe it. I got to work on some of my own things on the computer, much to my surprise, getting a surprise visit from the principal, to find me on facebook, while the boys were super quiet. "Why is everyone asleep, Isaac?" What!!! Asleep? I had just seem them reading and even asked them questions to which they responded, however, within two minutes of our conversation, they had fell asleep, making me look like a horrible teacher. I couldn't believe this. The rest of the day I was walking around with none other than a yard stick, long enough to connect with any student that dared to wink in my class. I made sure to bring my name back up to the level I previously had it with Ms. Beauregard.
The rest of the day was a constant fight trying to get them to do anything. Lunch was late, making everything set back an hour, and making me sit out in the sun 3 hours instead of two. This makes no one that I know happy to be left in the oven an hour longer than intended. In the world of baking, your cookies are now burnt crisp black and ruined. But, of course Mr. Isaac can withstand the heat WHILE continuously yelling at first graders who refuse to listen to anyone with the tone of white skin. It really is getting to me, the lack of respect these students have for other races, or, maybe, other people other than the Beauregard family. It that was my last name, it would be instant respect!
After lunch, I was determined to find a better way to keep grades, which actually worked. Instead of doing it longhand, and not knowing exactly how to figure everything up at the end, I need something on the computer and found just that. Thank you GOOGLE for always being there. I just searched 'online grade book' and WHAM! Out came the perfect software, which was downloadable and free. After doing the tutorial, I caught the ropes of it, and got it down pat. Putting grades and assignments in was so easy and will save so much time and reduce stress immensely. This alone is going to help my last quarter go so much better as I will have much more time and much more information to show parents, as the program breaks down every subject and assignment for parents online. Thank you technology!
Tonight I was interviewed by Mennonite Mission Network on the phone, as they wanted a story about the Miami DOOR program to put in Sunday School packages to try and teach people about Miami and our program. It was an honor to talk about this, as I realized how much it really is changing me. As questions were shot my way about things such as what I am learning from my boys instead of teaching them, it was fun to have to answer immediately, which only comes from the heart. I really am making a difference in their lives and in mine as well. I, slowly but surely, am shaping into the man that God intended me to be...through the help of five young Haitian men. And I will gladly call them men, knowing exactly what these boys have been through. Only men can go walk in their shoes and keep smiling!
No comments:
Post a Comment