Wait for it.
So yesterday I went in to Aiden's school to be a "Parent Helper". Never thought you'd see that day, huh? Yeah, me neither. Mainly because, really? The activities required to be a "Parent Helper" are really close to the job description of "Teacher". And, well. Been there, done that.
And can I just say something? First graders are, wow, I don't know how to put this. They're....kind of....assholey. I mean, I'm sure that if you had each one of those kids alone, there's a pretty good chance that they'd be alright. But. BUT. Twenty five of them in one classroom? Nuh uh. NO. THANK. YOU.
One year I taught 24 fourth graders and that year I weighed 115 pounds. And the only reason I weighed 115 pounds was because I HAD NO TIME TO EAT. The time that I was at home I was taking care of an infant and stressing about going to work the next day and facing TWENTY-FOUR 9 year olds. It was not a good year.
(As an aside, the issue of class size is of a GREAT concern to me, but that's a different entry.)
That many kids, of any age, is too many. FAR too many. And, basing my experience with that many nine year olds, versus that many six year olds. Hoo boy. Let me just say this: Three years makes a BIG difference. HUGE.
Dear First Grade Teachers,
Exactly when did you lose your sanity?
Dying to know,
Adrienne
So there I was yesterday, knee-deep in first graders, purposely keeping my neck very very stiff so my head wouldn't actually spin around in front of everyone. AND OF COURSE. You're wondering, I know. WHEN IS THE PUNCHLINE COMING? It's coming, rest assured.
Ethan was with me, and he was being extremely well behaved, I must say. Near the end of the day (I had almost made it!) he pointed in a general direction and said "Hey I remember that boy from last year!"
Using my (by that point, 80% fried) perception skills, I attempted to follow his point (didn't anyone teach him that pointing is rude?) and my gaze landed on the kid in my group to my left. This also happened to be Aiden's group, so he was across the table, readying the punchline.
I put my hand on this kid's arm, turned to Ethan, and said,
Who, HIM?
And Aiden said,
MOM. That's a GIRL.
And can I just say something? First graders are, wow, I don't know how to put this. They're....kind of....assholey. I mean, I'm sure that if you had each one of those kids alone, there's a pretty good chance that they'd be alright. But. BUT. Twenty five of them in one classroom? Nuh uh. NO. THANK. YOU.
One year I taught 24 fourth graders and that year I weighed 115 pounds. And the only reason I weighed 115 pounds was because I HAD NO TIME TO EAT. The time that I was at home I was taking care of an infant and stressing about going to work the next day and facing TWENTY-FOUR 9 year olds. It was not a good year.
(As an aside, the issue of class size is of a GREAT concern to me, but that's a different entry.)
That many kids, of any age, is too many. FAR too many. And, basing my experience with that many nine year olds, versus that many six year olds. Hoo boy. Let me just say this: Three years makes a BIG difference. HUGE.
Dear First Grade Teachers,
Exactly when did you lose your sanity?
Dying to know,
Adrienne
So there I was yesterday, knee-deep in first graders, purposely keeping my neck very very stiff so my head wouldn't actually spin around in front of everyone. AND OF COURSE. You're wondering, I know. WHEN IS THE PUNCHLINE COMING? It's coming, rest assured.
Ethan was with me, and he was being extremely well behaved, I must say. Near the end of the day (I had almost made it!) he pointed in a general direction and said "Hey I remember that boy from last year!"
Using my (by that point, 80% fried) perception skills, I attempted to follow his point (didn't anyone teach him that pointing is rude?) and my gaze landed on the kid in my group to my left. This also happened to be Aiden's group, so he was across the table, readying the punchline.
I put my hand on this kid's arm, turned to Ethan, and said,
Who, HIM?
And Aiden said,
MOM. That's a GIRL.