So here I am -- with only two weeks of Institute left. It's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago I was in my cushy downtown Austin apartment ruing the construction and humidity.
I've been teaching for two weeks now. It is exhausting. The teaching itself isn't difficult, but it does cause quite a bit of anxiety. It's like getting up on stage in front of 15 little screamers, ready to scrutinize your every move. Like I said, it's not difficult. You lay down the rules, you discipline the kids that are messing around and reward those that do well. At times, the whole education part gets a little fuzzy amidst all the behaviors that need to be kept in check.
I have a few favorites, and those who know who they are know who they are. Yeah, they're suck ups. Asking for more work or telling me a story about something they saw on the Discovery channel. I never thought I would be the guy who was moved by little 8 year olds, but -gosh darn it- they're just so cute!
There are the ones that cause hell. The ones that don't want the be there. The ones who don't need to be there (all of them, technically). The ones that just want to be loud, obnoxious 3rd graders, and they should be allowed to be! But TFA is about data, results, changing the world. The only way you can change the world is to have data proving you did. Otherwise you're a failure.
It would be easy to detail the multitude of frustrations I've faced both in the classroom and with the program, but you know what? Little Mia, sitting in the back, exclaiming that she lost her homework so instead came up with three multiplication problems so she would have something to turn in, well, she makes it all worthwhile.
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