Did I mention that teaching is hard? Did I maybe whine a few
But this hard really IS worth it. Doesn't make it less hard, but definitely makes it worth it at the end of the day.
Kind of like this running thing. I ran today ... under an 11 minute pace. That's hard for me, I hate to admit. "Running" wasn't so bad when I didn't really expect myself to work at it, just get it done. But I am learning that just "doing it" is the start. not the end of what we are called to.
This week I came face to face with what some of our kids live in. They don't all have food. or water. or electricity. They don't all live with parents. They are not all loved. The stories of this week have broken my heart.
I sent my Mom on a mission to find food for some kids so they would eat this weekend. And I am loading my car tonight with lunch foods for some kids that should be getting free lunch at school, but aren't. "Systems" and "programs" can be good. We've got several of them ... but they don't always work.
This week one of my kids opened up to me about his mom having surgery tomorrow. Another about his Dad being in Afghanistan. And another came out and hugged me when my Mom and I went to CFA last night. Makes it worth it. Reminds me WHY they fail tests and want to sleep in class and act out. Reminds me that they are 15 year olds dealing with hurts and fears adults would not handle well. And makes the long days worth it. And it gives me a calling much greater than photosynthesis (Did I mention I hate photosynthesis??? It's hard ... :-)
Maybe it was being super tired by the time we made it to Friday night, but I teared up as I watched the game with some other teachers from my building. Suzanne (my classroom neighbor and one of the best teachers I've ever known) jumped out of her seat cheering for one of her kids who caught a toughdown pass and as she settled back down in the bleachers said, "Baby, your Momma would be so proud ..." His Momma is in the hospital dying of cervical cancer, not sitting in the stands right now cheering on the boy, who no doubt, is the light of her life. But Friday night, his biology teacher was standing in her place cheering on the kid who has bigger fears than losing the Friday night game. And hard became worth it ... all over again!
We hit the 1st quarter mark this week (for this semester) ... no wonder we are all worn out. 9 weeks worth of stuff in 4 1/2 weeks is rough. We are running hard and long ... but my kids are getting better. I'm pretty proud! Two of my classes actually hit the 90% average on the last test and have earned a party this week (God help me!!) ... we might work hard. But we celebrate success!
Here's the week in review ... 155 days to go.
What happens to eggs in a hypertonic/hypotonic solution??
and ... cell membranes are a phospholipid bilayer ...
I loved it that all of my 4th block kids huddled around my desk to see what they made. They were so proud of their A's and B's ... so was their teacher!
My 3rd block is my only "regular" class. They struggle, most of them. They are the ones that sing "Georgia on my Mind" to me ... and this week, they worked really hard. They were super quiet and super diligent and that is almost unheard of. SO, I made them cupcakes to celebrate a good week!
I guess the Salt Bowl is the HS version of SEC game day. Bryant played Benton at War Memorial in the Saline County Showdown. It was a big, big deal. And I got to help pass out 1000 of these with Midtowne before the game. It was a long day ... but I had some happy kids that I got to see them in the halftime show.
Now, it's 6 pm on Sunday night and I need to get on top of what we are doing tomorrow. It. never. ends.
But my heart is a little fuller and my prayers a little longer these days. And, hopefully, there is enough diet coke to make it another week. Even a week with lunch duty on Monday!
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