Tuesday, September 22, 2009

First Day of School

I looked across the classroom into a sea of faces. The first day of another school year; my first year back after a year's hiatus, had me treading water with four never-before-taught upper grade classes in three never-before-taught grades.
As we began our lesson I asked the students to pull out their notepaper. One student blankly stared back at me; no paper in sight.

"Do you have your paper?" I asked.

"Yes." he said.

Still no paper emerged.

"Do you have it with you in this class?"

He shook his head no.

"Why didn't you bring it with you?"

"I actually didn't think we would do any work today."

Silence followed. After all, what should one say to that?
Thankfully, for both of our sakes, I did not say what I was thinking.

9 comments:

  1. Was that my son in your class? LOL He was so disorganized and overwhelemed at the start of this year. After the first week it got much better

    May God bless you as you handle the hearts and minds of so many different children every day

    ReplyDelete
  2. 1st week of school seems to be the hardest for these kids :)

    That's great you were patient with him. Blessings.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I often think God asks me the same question. Where's the paper, elaine? We're doing some work today in case you forgot!

    Hang in there; you'll ease back into a routine very soon.

    peace~elaine

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linked here from RCUBES where I read and liked one of your comments. Funny, I just wrote an article on "Restraining the Tongue." You did a great job of that!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So funny!

    I can relate. I teach at a Christian college near here. And it's not always the students forgetting their papers. It's their absent-minded professor, too! Thanks for the laugh. (And for your patience with these kids....)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Haha! You must hear comments like that all day long. Lucky you! Seriously, I give teachers a lot of praise for their commitment to kids. What a legacy you will leave!

    ReplyDelete
  7. May GOD bless you as you work with each of these children. Thank you for your faithful service in this area.
    Blessings and prayers, andrea

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Lori! Thanks for coming to visit me. :o)

    I was that hyper-responsible student the whole time I was growing up so the thought of being in this situation would have been mortifying to me!!

    ReplyDelete