Last year I was a 3rd grade teacher. This year I teach 5th. Last year I didn’t have to deal with silly notes being passed around among the students. This year I do.
Those little pieces of paper have covered everything from Hi! to Are you coming to my party? and down the line, asking Who do you like?, or commanding Don’t be friends with so and so. I would walk up behind the receiver and snatch the note from their small 5th grade hands and drop it onto my desk, where it sat, forgotten. In general, kids would either giggle or open their eyes wide, forming their mouths into an oval shape. And then the lesson would continue. As the days progressed, those ripped from the pages of their notebooks shreds of paper began to become more of an issue, which caused my attitude to change from such a cool and nice teacher to students being more secretive and less complimentary. Most of them began tossing me yikes! glances, hoping not to catch my eye for fear of getting in trouble.
My favorite note of the year, thus far, has been a quick drawing of me, looking mad, with the words stating Mean Teacher! But even better, they included Rudy in the drawing, also looking mad, calling him Mean Teacher’s Husband! As usual, I dropped it on my desk, but this time, with my back to the class of kids I smiled. Never before have I been called Mean! Never. I knew then that the environment in my 5th grade classroom differed greatly from the innocent charm I love you, Teacher! of 3rd graders.
BonaFideAffairs 
Nice nice!! 🙂
I don’t remember any of my teachers to be this good…I wish I had one!!
Stopping by from A TO Z Bloging
Kriti
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i am finding it hard to be ‘nice’ although i consider myself a very open-minded, forgiving, and pleasant teacher….. i am learning balance this year…..
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I imagine having an entire classroom of students can have its challenges along with its rewards. Great post!
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in general, kids are great, not perfect, but they are pretty awesome…. this year i have been challenged, learning to adjust my discipline methods….
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I can’t imagine what it must be like to be a teacher. Kudos. Stopping by from A-Z, Great to meet you.
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teaching is fun…. not always easy…. but worth the effort….
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Gracious of you to take that with a smile. Not sure if any of my teachers would’ve done that.
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i try to put myself in their shoes, i can remember being a kid, and i know i never meant any harm….
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i am still in their shoes, i remember being a kid… and i never meant any harm….. 🙂
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I agree with Sandy, there are challenges to teaching. Some of the challenges are specific to directly to a grade, a community, an age, or some other aspect I have left out of the list. I remember what kind of fifth grader I was… and what kind of fifth grader you were… 🙂 You would be blessed if they were all like you were.
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that’s where my mind is set…. i definitely remember being a kid…. 🙂
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I admire teachers. Always have. But even more today, in the culture in which we live.
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each year brings a new set of issues….. i consider this the ‘give me everything, even though i won’t work for it’ era…..
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You must be doing your job well:) Cute story.
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oh, boy, do i try…. i am not always feeling powerful and enthusiastic…. i’ve had many days of feeling discouraged and mad… 😦
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I think it is tuff being a teacher in today’s society. Many children have no up bringing and are not only rude, but punks. Not all, but many. I feel sorry for our teachers in this country. Other countries have rules, kids dress and go to school to learn. This country they dress like mini hookers and dudes and go to school to socialize. Guess that is why we are #57 or so around the world in education.
I would gather the notes, and put names to them and when mommy and daddy come to see how their little darling is doing, I would go over it all and pull out your notes when they are all shocked and surprised about their behavior in class…and that grade would be the lowest…
I also think they should have cameras in the classroom to not only protect the teachers, but the students. Roll the film for the little darlings parents so they can get a better idea of how little johnnie and sue act in class!
Something needs to make an impression on these people.
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I so agree with you!
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i love this, sandy…. so right on…. i like your idea about saving the notes to share with mommy and daddy….. and the cameras…. i have nothing to hide, but the kids sure wouldn’t want their parents seeing some of the behaviors they are displaying…..
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