And with that routine comes a lack of blog topics. I feel like there's not much to update. The days are all passing pretty quickly. Things are going well again with my students - mostly because I've chosen relationships over control. They're loud. They don't do anything in a straight, quiet line. They often have to be told to do things at least four times before they're done. They exchange rules and expectations for what they prefer throughout the day. But if I'm patient, they'll usually finish what they're doing (which hasn't been bad stuff lately) and they'll laugh with me and get their work done. Maybe that's what matters? I honestly don't know... I never imagined my classroom being like this... But I know that I've changed. Changed with them and changed in general. A lot... Maybe I'll be able to put it into words before this is all said and done.
Two of my girls came over to hang out after school today. We made a homemade pizza and played on Facebook. I like being able to do that with them. Three months ago, I was blogging about being bullied by one of these girls. The Lord has absolutely changed her. The difference is miraculous.
One of my boy students loves one of my girl students. Apparently he has for three years (since she moved here). Honestly, it's pretty serious for elementary school love - as far as that can go. She won't give him the time of day. He's the bad boy and often the ring-leader for mischief and anything lacking innocence. She's the straight-A student who has no interest (for now) in anything related to trouble. He got tired of her around Valentine's Day and decided he was giving up. Last week, she gave him one of her plastic bracelets. (I'm not sure why... Maybe we all like being liked, even if we're not sure we return the feeling.) His eyes lit up as he told me about it and who it was from. He's worn it everyday since. It seems like one of those situations where he could pine for her for years. I can tell he'll never forget her. I'll be interested to see if she somehow motivates him to be good, or if he ends up pulling her down later on... Time will tell.
My class is leading chapel tomorrow. I'm a bit more heavily involved than I would like, but I'm proud of the way they've pulled it together. The first time we had a brainstorming session, their attitudes and participation were so bad, I gave up and just made them put their heads down. We've come a long way since then! In our actual planning session, I was incredibly blessed by the quality of their explanations of what it means to be a Christian (the theme of our presentation). Somewhere along the way, at least some of them have heard some of the things their parents and teachers have been trying to share.
That also means that tomorrow is a Day 4 schedule, which means I will have a surplus amount of breaks and free time - especially considering how well I've been staying on top of my grading this week. Send me emails and keep me entertained!
Goodnight moon.
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