The last four months have been spent pushing my kids harder than they've ever worked before. My teaching partner and I have taken them to levels that I don't think they've ever been. It has been an incredibly hard road, but we've hung in there and are seeing some amazing results. They're starting to get accepted to high schools (GOOD high schools), they're becoming more responsible, they're test scores are increasing, and they're working harder. Like I said, it's been a rough couple months.
The funny thing is, the next four months are the hard part. This is very difficult for Jessica and I to imagine, but it's true. Not only do we have to get them ready for high school (incredibly challenging high schools at that), but we are also going to be dealing with "senioritis." And so it begins.
This week we've added two new things to our rooms. I have started a "9th grade Reading" book shelf, accompanied with a list of standard 9th grade literature. I'm very excited to see what kinds of things they choose and if they are really going to be up for that challenge. This thrills me. I've never had the opportunity to share really incredible literature with my students, and I cannot wait to start showing them some of my favorites.
Jessica and I are both adding a chart that tells everyone what schools the kids have been accepted to. It's the size of a wall, and whenever they get accepted to a different high school they can add it under their name. We've been desperately trying the route of positive reinforcement over negative, and it seems ot be working. I think this will be something they can be proud of, not to mention the reality check that they will get each time they look at it - ONLY FOUR MORE MONTHS. I'm excited to see how the kids respond!
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