Devil children

Hello all.  After a relaxing weekend at home, I came back to Houston on Monday got my very own (well, almost, I share with two other TFA teachers-in-training) classroom of 14 1st graders.  They're in summer school because they all failed the Texas state test twice in the past two years and are in danger of having to repeat first grade.  We did initial reading diagnostics yesterday and today and found that most of them read at the kindergarten or pre-school level.  Despite the fact that they're supposed to be entering second grade in a few months, only one is even reading at the first grade level.  They're adorable, but complete little monsters.  My co-teachers and I teach a math/literacy hour in the morning all together, then Aleena, the girl I'm teaching with teaches two blocks of reading and writing, then the guy, Phil, teaches a block of math, then I come in at the end of the day and do a block of science.  I taught the whole math/literacy block this morning and the kids were total angels.  No problems or anything.  Then Phil and I left to go to a lesson planning class and Aleena stayed and did her lesson.  Apparently by the end of her block they were so bad they made her cry.  First graders.  Seriously, they're out of control.

Phil and I did alright with our blocks, although I was pretty annoyed by the end.  My block is last so its a battle just to keep them in their seats (they don't get recess in summer school).  Its sad because more than half of them are actually interested in learning and they have to sit quietly while I try to get the others to focus.  One girl, Javanecia, is so freaking cute and the best behaved 7-year-old I've ever seen.  She just sits there with a big grin on her face patiently all class.  Another girl, Montaza (pronounced Mont-asia) is one of the trouble-makers but even though I spend all afternoon trying to get her to focus I can't be mad because at the end of the day she holds my hand when we walk to the pick-up area and today she gave me a big hug before going home.  Seriously, so cute.

I'm definitely counting down the days until I get to go back to Denver.  I'm not freaking out and totally stressed like a lot of people here are, but I'm definitely sleep deprived and at times overwhelmed with how much stuff I have to do.  At the same time I've never learned so much in a one and a half week period as I have here, which is good.  Obviously my classroom management skills need some work, but I feel completely confident planning lessons and creating big goals for my students and all that other wonderful Teach for America stuff.

Alright, back to work so I can be in bed by 10:00 tonight.  I lead a sweet life.