Changes Fast

My coworkers have been hinting that, for the last two weeks of school, kids would try to get away with breaking the rules, and the administration would start asking students not to return to finish the year.

I think a more accurate description of this must mention that our senses are heightened. We've been operating at full throttle for months now, and we are weeding out kids who are failing and not following reasonable social conventions. One of my students has ended his year today. I didn't know this at first. I found out after I stood in the office with the suspended student and told him that, yes, he could make his final project using whatever materials he could find. And that I'd accept extra credit if he could really blow me away with the project. And as much as I was like "he will never do this" in the back of my mind, the thought that he would at least consider doing something for my class makes me smile.

Anyway, he's gone, so I'm going to focus my energies where they are best applied: to the kids under my charge until May 17th. I have planned to read a book and host literature-circle activities around it for the next 10 days. We are solving a mystery together and it's fascinating to hear the students' theories. Blue Balliet was right: kids are able to form patterns and theories with more skill and creativity than you can fathom.

So much is going to change next year. Things floating around in my head, I could fret about them all day. I'd rather write 'em down and let it be what it is: my hours split into two schools (it gets better), larger class sizes, six classes instead of five, collaborative transition into two teachers of ENGLISH 6 which combines Reading 6 & Language Arts 6, new national standards, new standardized tests, new coworkers (principal, team leader, special ed support). It's hard to say if I want to charge back into next school year because it will not even be the same job - not to mention the kids. Next year's sixth graders are numerous and opinionated. I know; I met some of them at open house. I made them hula hoop and some of them are naturals.