Classroom Numbers

 

I have been trying to figure out how to explain or describe the amount of extra energy my job is taking this year. This is one class, by the numbers. They don’t really like to read or write the assigned work, although one loves to write confessional poetry and they all love to read text messages on their phones, but that’s not reading. There are about 21 kids in class.

·         1 kid who wafted through before class, to check out the vibe, so that he might come to class at some unknown time.

·         2 kids who needed to discuss plans to deal with stress if they need to leave class because of an incident on Friday.

·         Several girls peacefully eating breakfast—juice and a sticky roll.

·         1 student in a lovely velour jacket, who decided to come to class for the first time in two weeks. He had read ahead, so it could be worse.

·         1 student who is being observed by admin because of anger issues in class. He left for a long pep talk in the hall.

·         2 kids whose masks “slip off” their noses all the time, but who put them back up if I look at them.

·         2 or 3 kids who like the mask beard look and argue about masks.

·         1 couple who like to sit very close together—I told them last week they cannot hold hands in class.

·         2 kids feeling guilty about being butts on Friday.

·         2 kids NOT feeling guilty at all about Friday.

·         2 kids who have to leave class because of anxiety—one who talked to me before class, the other who talked to me weeks ago.

·         2 kids who have to slip out for medication during class. They are subtle.

·         1 kid who shows up with his mother an hour into class. Mom has no pass, so I send her back downstairs. Really, we should not have any one in the school right now.

·         1 mom who come back with the principal, who proceeds to lurk outside my room for the last twenty minutes of class.

Not all of my classes are this weird, but all of my classes have very high levels of anxiety, low turn in rates, and an underlying feeling of tension as well as exhaustion. We shine some days, but it is hard.