Lately in my teaching profession, I've noticed I've hit "bulldozer" mode. I say bulldozer mode, because I have this sense that I'm plowing through a number of obstacles through out my day, without really noticing the severity, the comedy, the seriousness, or the grossness of what I'm actually dealing with.
Take Tuesday, for example. Now, I think it's safe to say that all teachers-no matter what they teach-have several decisions to make during the day, and all kinds of unpredictable events pop up. In all reality, no day is a "typical" day. So, I'm not saying that my Tuesday was any more crazy than any one else's Tuesday. However, it wasn't until I got home that I realized what I had just bulldozed my way through.
I started my class by collecting my student's daily "red folders" that go home each night for parents to peruse my class info. I was pleasantly suprised to open a red folder from my student who had artistically spread poop all over the inside of the folder. I asked him immediately what happened, and he replied, "um. thank me?". These are 3 of 10 words in this little muchkins vocab. So, I was actually just kind of impressed that he spoke. I quickly corrected him "No. it's Thank you". He repeated me, the correct phrase, and was quickly rewarded a smile and pat on the shoulder for his correct usage of the word.
Shortly after, one of my students threw up all over his shirt, but made it to the garbage can for the clean up. Wow! He made it to the garbage can! We all celebrated. There were cheers, hugs, and lots of high fives. I had to quickly stop the high five giving when the blind student joined in. (Kids exchanging excited high-fives to a blind student typically ends in someone getting slapped in the face. We all know from experience.)
Then circle time on the carpet that is my comfy shag rug. All of the big kids know to sit just right as to block my little carpet eater from pulling large pieces of lint and sticking them up his nose or down his throat or in places I don't need to mention here. I am calmed by the grinding sound of one the kids chewing his chewie toy. A contraption that is keeping him from biting the kid next to him. I am so thankful for that chewie toy.
I start singing my "Hello" song, and the students hum along. I sing like I am center stage with a huge smile on my face. I kind of get into it, and they love it. All of a sudden I hear a loud grunt and a shoe is thrown at my head from across the room. One of my student's blocks the shoe with his hand. "WOW! Nice job!" I say. And he smiles. With all three teeth.
So, as I sat down to write this, I was planning on sharing the full day's events. Not necessary. This is just a taste of what I reflected on after a long days work. Like everyone else's job: you just do whatever works. And I think I could "go pro" when it comes to getting that down.
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