Confidence is the name of the game...

If confidence is the name of the game and I don't got it, where does that leave me?

Today my students were busy trying to make me feel like the "cool" teacher so we could play games. Knowing their  game, I met their challenge with humor in the form of exposing their actions. Frightened by my knowledge they chose to try to make me feel uncool. To this I always reply with one swift answer, it doesn't matter how cool you think I am, just how cool I know I am. You could think I am the weirdest teacher in the world, but I know I'm cool.

To this I usually get the nervous laughters, as how could anyone in 6th grade comprehend not caring what others think of them? Alas, I told them it is my goal to get them to believe in themselves as cool and smart and capable regardless of what others think, because after all, they are only as cool as the believe themselves to be. Of course, hilarity follows.

Me: Confidence is everything in life. It can take you a far way

Student: What is confidence? I don't know what that is...

Me: You know what it means to be confident, right?

Student: Yeah, well I don't have any of that. I am (insert funky voice) hopeless in that area. Lacking of the confident-ness-eses.

Class bursts out in laughter, because let's face it she was not phased by it. It is my day that is often filled with quotes like this. My little life lessons sprinkled into a class discussion and utterly failing amongst the kiddos. But I guss that's cause I'm weird, right? 

Later... same student starts encouraging another

Student: You are smart--- look to the bright side. GO to the bright side. Have some confident!

Me: Yes, have some confidence.

Student: It's confidence? O-M-G.... I was confidence that it was confident.

Me: Uhhh...

Student: I hate language. Grammar is stupid. Math is funner.

Me: Funner?

Student: See, more fun is too long to say, so uh... funner. See why I hate grammar, it takes too long!

At least the kids can make me smile, even when I'm having a bad day.

It's all about low expectations today

It's the first day back from a  long extended break and the motto for the week is "low expectations." When kids and teachers alike flow back into the halls of the school, not much can be expected. We're all rusty and slow from the weeks prior, filled with sleep, food, and not much else. Lackadaisical attitudes are what school is all about the first few days back and getting back into the grind is really difficult.

I awoke this morning, surprisingly perky, given that I had not woken this early in weeks. Surprised, but still moved, I found my way to school, even though the roads were icy -- I conquered the ice with teacher-like ease! It could only get worse from there. 

Low expectations of work output -- if a teacher's work output is 6 times less than normal, expect that the students will be at least 12 times less than normal.

Low expectations of attention -- you're not focused, you're thinking about when the day will end. Between parents forgetting ADD meds, students are right there with you. Worst of all? Santa (if they believe in him) hasn't left their minds and the hangover from the 1am stay up on New Years Eve.

Student: I totally stayed up until 1am ALL break. I'd totally be asleep right now, I swear.

Me: At 3pm?

Student: No 3am. Oh my goddd, it's 3pm during the day, isn't it?!

Low expectations of the understanding of life --

Student: Make your mommy make you be born after me. You're twelve, I don't want to be the youngest!!

Me: I'm not sure that's possible

Student: How? Her mom controls all her life!

Student 2: Haha.

Student: Did you stay at your mommy and daddy's house over break?

Me: Are you talking to me?

Student: Yes.

Student 2: She doesn't call her parents mommy and daddy.

Low expectations of appropriate sentences/school language --

Computer program: ...find the one that matches the numbers below

Student: I'll give you something that matches!

Me: HEY!

Student 2: Are you okay?

Student: it's too hot in here, open some windows!....to the windowssssss... to the WALL