Long Days, but they fly by?

I feel like I'm back at my summer training of institute with Teach For America. Days go by so fast, but at the same time, you look back and each day seems like 5! I guess the schedule 7-5 is really jam-packed!

We finally finished our first 2 weeks of actual teaching and lessons and it's definitely been a roller coaster ride. If I'm having a good day Monday, guaranteed someone else is not and is needing my support. If I'm having an awful day Tuesday guarantee SOMEONE is having a good day and will be there to help me out. The teamwork at my school floors me and really makes this high-stakes, high-stress environment manageable.

I've found that the more I get to know my students and let them know I DO care about them and will be sticking around and strict no matter what they do, the more they respond. I'm gaining an inch every day... Examples that stick in my head:

Tuesday: J talks out, I give him a demerit (his 3rd which = a detention) he screams out "This is not fair, I don't get it" and starts bawling and spewing snot in the middle of class. My heart is breaking on the inside but the next day I sit down and have a heart to heart with said child and he thanks me for how much I care about him and how I'm pushing him to succeed, it's just hard.

Wednesday: J (different student) storms into class fuming and refusing to do anything. Surprised (because he was generally so compliant and excited to learn) I sent him to our dean to try and talk out whatever was wrong. Turns out he had a family member pass away that weekend, I late had a sit down with him and let him know my grandfather had just passed away as well and that I understand how difficult it is and I am there if he needs to talk.

Thursday: Class 3 (my toughest class). I inform them that my mother is from Colombia South America, and that she speaks Spanish. I then proceed to have a 2 minute conversation with them completely in Spanish. The kids who had been giving me such a hard time's eyes light up and are so impressed with my ability to speak. They let me know they were impressed and that I did well.

Friday: C comes up to me and shoves a book I let her borrow in my face and said with a lot of attitude "Ms. Gerlach this book is lame, I need a new one!" I said, "C please try that again". C said, much more politely "Ms. Gerlach, this book is lame I need a new one *smile :)". After talking with her about what I meant by do it again I thought she didn't get it....until later that day C said "Ms. Gerlach, I really did appreciate you letting me borrow that book, I did enjoy it but I read it so many times and I wanted a new one so bad so I wanted to let you know".

They might seem simple, and small, but the growth our students is making is incredible. Are they testing us? Most definitely, will they continue, unfortunately Yes. But I think it's these little wins that will get us ALL Through the year!