It's been awhile...

It's been a very long time since I've posted.  Lots of things have changed.  There have been many struggles.   As I start winding down from my last day of school with kids, I decided that this blog is the best way to express my reflections from the year. AND I need to do this more often!

As a teacher and mom of two teenage girls, I need an outlet! It isn't possible to successfully manage the daily stress and emotional support we give to others without letting out a little bit ourselves and getting reinforcement from others.

This year was tough. I went from teaching all Pre-AP Algebra classes to have a mix of both Pre-AP and regular 8th grade math classes. I KNEW this year would be hard and I KNEW I needed to go in prepared. Well, that only half happened and I wasn't prepared where I needed to be. I could blame it on several factors, but all in all it comes down to me. I had some, well like 10-15, difficult, behaviorally challenging kids.  They were horrible! About October I was looking for a new job. Anywhere that would take me and quick! I even went to an interview in December, but I couldn't take the huge pay cut.

So fast forward,  I worked, adjusted, sot help, and I survived. I usually do an end of year evaluation with my kids, but I said "nope, I don't want to know." I did, however, put for the last question on my exam "what was your favorite thing about math this year?". Most said some activity etc., but then I got these two. One was my most "extra" kid. The one I battled ALL year long. Another, a sweet quiet boy who had to endure the shenanigans of his fellow classmates.  I guess not only did I survive but somehow also managed to still make a difference even when it didn't feel like it.

If your year even came close to mine...just remember...every year is a new year and they are rarely the same as the one before.