#13: Five Minute Conversations

Teenagers are different everyday. They are SO unpredictable. I am learning that with my three classes all of them will have a week where they are so frustrating and then the next week they will decide to impress and thrill me to death! It just how they are I suppose.

Well this week I am thankful for the fun five minute conversations I got to have with my first block class. Towards the end of that class, I know that no serious learning is going to happen. Maybe I haven't been structured or strict enough but I can just see them turning themselves off and whatever I say math wise really won't matter to them. So, instead, I usually let them pack up and talk with one another and myself. This week we had some fun conversations during this time.

One day my students all got onto what they want to be when they grow up. So I then basically made everyone tell me. They told me what they knew about these jobs. One said he was going to be a web designer which will be "so easy." My student M that I mention a good bit says he wants to be a pyschiatrist. They were really cute talking about where they want to go. I have one who said he wants to play pro basketball but "don't worry Ms. Hall I know I have to have a back up plan too." I wonder how many people have stressed this to him?

Another day we got into a discussion about how much money teachers should make. They had me laughing as they said, "teachers should make alot of money for dealing with all these attitudes." How reflective of their own species! It was enlightening too how little they grasp money and paychecks. M said, "I bet y'all get paid like at least $6,000!" They also were aghast when I said we get paid twice a month. "Why not every week?" was their response. It was really nice though to see how concerned they were that I get paid well. It made me feel good that they could even appreciate that teachers do alot.

In another class too while I was calling them up one by one to talk about their grade (since report cards are coming up), they let me know I care about them more than the other teachers they have. While I know I can't start caring whether they like me the most, it was nice to know they realize I care about them. My response to them saying that I care was "get used it!"