TGIF

Don't get me wrong. I do love my job, but I couldn't be happier that today is Friday. I am from Texas, so that means football games too : ) I don't think I mentioned previously that I am a fourth grade math teacher. The district curriculum director observed my class today and all I could do was thank God that my class was doing exactly what I wanted them to do. I just kept thinking...thank goodness she wasn't here for third period!!!! I made two kids cry today. I am not saying this because I think it is a victory. I am saying this because I feel insanely guilty for it. The other teachers say just ignore it, but it is so hard. I know that I didn't step out of line. I was overly corrective or anything of that sort. I suppose that this is a tender age for kids. I know I used to be one so I should know right??!?!?! but I am still perplexed by their actions everyday. I keep thinking....was I like that when I was their age. Of coarse not. I was perfect (hahaha). Teachers NEVER had to correct me (yeah right). So now my question is what do you do with the students who never seem to want to do work? What do you do with the students who have the intelligence, but not the discipline? What do you do to help them get that intrinsic motivation to do well in school and academics? What do you do to help them see there is a great big world out there and they don't have to settle for below average or average? How do you reach those kids?