It's February, y'all. It's hard to explain why this means teachers are exhausted more than any other time of year, but they are. So, I'm going to keep this post short and happy.
Getting through the February doldrums requires you to have something positive and future focused to think about.
So here it is.
Look at your students. They are not the same people you met in August.
- The boy who needed his schedule to be re-printed on the first day of school because he kept losing it is now helping a new kid find his way around.
- The girl who wouldn't wear her glasses or contacts and then used "not being able to see the board" as an excuse for poor attention is now focused and listening.
- The kid who failed your first two tests is working hard and pulling a solid C.
- Someone who came in at the beginning of the year saying, "I don't like math" has found the idea of limited infinity fascinating and now realizes math is more interesting than they thought.
- A new kid who was quiet and separating from the group at the start of the year is now laughing with her friends in the lunchroom.
- The kid who couldn't stand you at the beginning of the year dislikes you less now. (Let's face it, these aren't all going to be 180º turns.)
- All of your students are working more independently than they were at the beginning of the year, and they all have acquired content knowledge. Even the one who is failing tests has learned SOME things.
Think about your room. What progress can you notice and find joy in as you get through the last week of February?
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