The Perkins School

So, having taught for a total of 9 days I'm beginning to fall in love with my students. It happens every September for me. It is a time of great reflection for me. I have been handed 18 of the brightest children who trust most of what I say. It is beautiful! At the Perkins School, I teach 9 5th graders and 9 4th graders. It is a very peculiar existence! Most of my 4th graders are reading above my 5th graders and my 5th graders are now beginning to realize it. Today we talked about perseverance and oh my do we have our work cut for us! I have one student, let's call him E, he is 12 in the fifth grade, his twin sister is a grade above him because he was retained last year, he's attempted suicide more than once, last spring he broke the window with his head, and now...he's mine. I love him already! He and I are learning to trust each other (I actually have to go to a 2 day training on strategic restraint for him). Yesterday he was faced with a teacher who does NOT love him as I do and after yelling and throwing a fit, he walked out. We talked it out and to my joy and amazement he turned it all around! In just 9 days with E, I have been reminded why I teach. E has reached into my heart and allowed me to shine! I am sure we will struggle. We'll bump heads! But this time we do it together. I am a teacher!