Another Year, Another 8th Grade

by Andrew Negru | Jun 18, 2018 | Teaching, Uncategorized

Its been a LONG DAY……………..Without you my friend

This title right here describes this past year. There have been some very long days. The start of the new year was so exciting. I was ready. Mentally prepared. Physically prepared. Ready to get the ball rolling and teach for a whole new year. Not more than 21 days passed and I was ready for break. There was some sort of mind shift this year that just caused an enormous amount of problems, headaches and discipline issues. In the first 30 days of school we had already given out multiple detentions. A student had already been suspended and a fight had broken out. This was very unusual, like very unusual! That was the first 30 days of school and we were already in survival mode – Just get through it – 9 more months.

That was the first 30 days of school and we were already in survival mode – Just get through it – 9 more months”

Oh Boy!

This 8th grade class was my saving grace! Where the other classes were just off the wall, these kids kept me sane. When the other classes would drive me to lose my patience, these 8th graders would know the when, the what and how to keep things cool and light hearted. Their laid back ambiance is what kept me teaching for the rest of the year. I really enjoyed the last few months of school as the kids knew they were almost done but also that they would no longer see me, the school and the other teachers.

I really enjoyed each and every single one of my students this year. They all had a different character and background, yet if you took just one of them out of the equation the class would have a completely different dynamic. I had the occasional mishaps with the students but nothing major that I lost my trust in them. 

Every once in a while they would push the limits, for example, Caleb and Marcus thought it to be a great idea to try and jump my tables while I wasn’t in the room. I Step outside in the hall to check on the kids and maybe 5 seconds later I hear my desk crashing to the floor, all the materials on the ground and both of them starring at me thinking, “oh boy, we’re in trouble” and yes, yes they were in trouble. They explained what they did, told me the truth, and I let them off the hook. If it were the other classes, NOPE. I would have dropped the hammer.

Some of Favorites. Always made class fun!

I’m not sure how many times I said this, but this was my motto. I would use this during my math class to make my students show their work. It wasn’t until Caleb used it in his Salutatorian speech that I realized the importance of that saying. Caleb was academically the top of his class, and it was sad to see that when we put all of his grades together he was just a few points shy of being valedictorian. He realized the importance that if you want to get the points, you want to succeed, you need to show your work, put in the work because without it you will not win.

Six Flags 8th Grade Trip

FAVORITES

Did I have favorites in the class? I sure did! You can’t help but connect with some students better than others. Will I tell you their names here? Nope. Just in case they decide to read my blog ;p These favorite students of mine always knew how make the day go by easier. When I was having a tough day with the 6th and 7th graders, they would calm the rest of the class down, get things in order, go above and beyond inside the classroom to make sure that their day went well with me, but also that my day would go as well as possible after they left. I enjoyed them teaching me how to dance, their slang, their jokes and anything and everything about their days and their lives. I got to spend my 2017-2018 school year learning about the lives of some really amazing kids. The things I let this class slide with because of the other classes was pretty drastic. Walk in a straight line? Nope. Can’t talk in the hallway? Here and there was okay. Free time in the class? Yup. Finish homework in class? Yup. The benefits of having a great class that loves and respects you is great. I thought last years 8th grade was the best. Nope. I think this 8th grade takes the cake. I’m going to miss them! I hope they have wonderful high school memories and they stay safe, are careful and will always remember to show their work!