Hey You, Mr Negru!!!!

Hey yyyuuuoooooouuuuuu, Mr. Negggrrrrruuuuuuu!

The past 9 months teaching at St. Margaret of Scotland have been probably the best 9 months at any job I have ever had. There were days where I just wanted to quit. There were days where I felt like I was king of the world, there can be no better teacher than me. It has been a crazy ride and it is coming to an end very quickly.

I didn’t think I would get this emotional over the end of a school year but it’s hitting me that the students that have been a pain in butt will no longer be here next year. Though I never tell them, the current 8th grade class has been my favorite class thus far. They were full of energy every morning, and in the afternoon they were dead tired and ready to leave my room. Walking into school they would ask Mr. Negru are you in a good mood? They could usually tell by my facial expressions that day.

The year started off with a weird start. Teaching Math was a whole new experience for me. I was afraid that Math would be my downfall, but it was actually my highlight. Math class went much better than expected. The structure of the class made it a pleasure to teach. The students on the other hand were not to pleased with the amount of work I was handing them. The binder was there life. They were to keep it organized and have all the materials necessary for grading. That soon faded after the new year, but it was a good start. I feel as though I got into the groove in the last few weeks of school when of course the course load was not as heavy and we were focusing much more on History and the Constitution test.

What I enjoyed most about the 8th graders was there persistence in getting there work done. Even though times they would goof off and act out, they were still able to keep themselves calm and get there work done. I do feel bad though because the 8th graders got the grunt of my frustration. The class right before 8th grade would just drive me up the walls. The difference in maturity from 6th to 8th is insanely huge. The capability of just being able to be quiet when need be is huge. Many times the 6th graders would walk out of my class with me giving directions in a loud hurled voice, and 8th graders would walk in knowing that Mr. Negru is not in a good mood because of the 6th graders. At the end of the year I asked the 8th graders some tips on what they liked and what they did not like about my class. The majority of it was very positive and made me feel great. The other part was the frustration that I brought into the class because of 6th grade. My tolerance for antics was so low after 6th grade that sometimes I would let all my frustration out on the 8th grade. It was a work in progress for me throughout the year, but I was able to keep the classes separate and give every class a fair chance with me.

Throughout the year the class did various extra curricular activities and one of my favorite was the drum circle. There was a gentleman by the name of Guy. He came in and taught the kids about drumming from West Africa. It was a period that I lost to drumming but one that I really enjoyed as the kids were able to be creative and use the time wisely to incorporate music into the school day. The above videos were taken from the last drum day where all the classes got together to see each class perform there own version of drumming. Really Really cool!

he year was winding down and I was able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. MY thoughts were on summer break and all the free time that I will have, but as soon as the 8th graders had left for their last day at school my feelings went from summer break to a bit of emptiness. For the past 9 months these students have been part of my life, and now they will be gone. No more funny jokes, no more acting out, no one to give an infraction, no one to tutor and no one to email me for extra time to turn in assignment due 3 weeks ago.

The emptiness will fade but I have to give it to this 8th grade class, that they are by far my favorite class I have ever taught. I wish them all the best. I hope each one of them gives it their all in everything that they do, that they continue to be the kind, funny and sweet kids that I know them to be. That they grow up and make the world around them a better place. I wish that God blesses every single one of them, and keeps them safe from all harm, and that they follow in the footsteps of Jesus and that they Love their Lord their God with all their Heart, Mind and Soul, and that they Love the people around them just like Jesus taught us to Love.

Hey Yoooouuuuu, Mr. Neggggrrruuuuu