170 School days behind us… 10 to go. End of Grade testing was this week. For my Isaac it was his first time – and he did just fine – even though we were worried about his ability to pay attention and bubble the correct answer. Now that we KNOW he CAN do it… well, he will have to continue.
In the 11 years that I have been administering this test (and 19 in the classroom) I cannot remember a group of kids who worked harder or more intensely than this particular group of 7th graders. It was heartbreaking to me when I read the list of kids who missed it by the skin of their teeth. It was heartbreaking to sit with my teammates and break the news to kids who I knew had given their all.
Now they need to rise to the challenge again next week and one more time give everything they have. I know that many of them can dig just a little deeper and make it. I just hated to see their faces fall. I know they all hoped that they had finally made that magic score of a 3. I could see their heart break.
Other kids were ecstatic with their scores. It was fun to talk to them and watch them. I only wish that they all could have felt good about it.
I have not typically been the “touchy feely type” but I guess as I get older… the softer I get. What is up with that? I mean really? I think part of the softie thing is that I have a child who doesn’t just intuitively do what the teachers want them to do. The girls went through all of elementary school without needing me to push or prod. Isaac has not been quite like that. I think that I have more compassion because I see my boy in so many of the kids who struggle. Maybe that makes me a better teacher. Maybe it makes me a softie. Maybe I am just becoming a pushover. But, for whatever reason, I hope that the kids know that they matter. That I really do love them, and I do want the best for them.
This group is only mine for 10 more days. I will take care of them while I can and help them to be their best while they’re mine and pray that they grow up to be what they really want to be.
