End of Molasses Classes

I'm joining in on the book club linky party over at TBA!

If your state is anything like mine {Michigan}, which I really hope it isn't, you might be feeling a little {under exaggeration} underfire from politicians and pretty much the public in general.  Teachers are WHO we are not just WHAT we are, so my heart has been aching because I feel like the passion I've felt for teaching - dating way back to first grade when I used to line up my stuffed animals in neat little rows for today's lesson has been yanked right away from me {Don't worry - it takes A LOT to bring this girl down}.  Beyond that sadness I feel ANGER...and with that anger is where I find my energy to fight.  Fight for my students and for myself because I know when I'm happy in my profession my students FEEL that energy and grow...

This book came at just the right time and I just ordered it over at Amazon...

This past summer I spent a lot of time reading articles berating public education/teachers, watching video links of various political figures working hard to dismantle public schools and PUBLIC education in general, and fought incredibly hard to recall Michigan's governor.  By summers end I felt like a bedraggled teacher just having fought a war and wondered how I was going to be present and encouraged not to mention encouragING of my 24 first graders.

They say you are what you eat -I feel you are what you read as well.  For the time being I'm going to be politically irresponsible by burying my head in the sand...and while I'm down there I'm going to read Ron Clark's End of Molasses Classes...because, I'd rather become that than the other!!!  If you're not sure what I'm talking about check out this video by Ron Clark  made for TBA {Teaching Blog Addict} here.

One teacher blog friend mentioned that Principle 4 really hit home for her ~ Uplift other adults who play a role in the lives of our children ~ if you're like me, you sometimes find yourself  coming down hard on those parents who just don't seem to do the best they can for their children.  While it might be true that some parents could do better and DO have the resources to do so...there are others that clearly are doing the best THEY know how to do.  Just last year I had a little guy whose parents just weren't doing things the way I felt they should.  Out of nowhere a lightbulb went on and I realized - they ARE doing the best THEY know how to do.  Together, we can work toward educating their child {my student} by being a team, a true team one that reserves judgment and just wants the best...because that's what we want for those we care about and these parents with limited resources both monetarily and emotionally love their children and are doing all they can do with what they have....my role in all of this? To support and encourage...no matter what.