Late Night Ramble.

I love my children and I want so much for them to succeed, but right now, I’m definitely not giving them what they deserve.

Roberto doesn’t understand a word of English. I sit him in the front so that maybe he will pay close attention to the hand gestures and facial expressions that I make just for him. Instead he just stares at me with a confused face and every once in a while will pound his head frustrated, as if he is trying to tell his brain to wake up. The thing is, his brain is awake and he is so brilliant. He excels in math – far beyond his classmates and begs for more difficult problems. Once I translate the words to him in Spanish, he can write up an elaborate story for me about a purple monster living in a lake. He deserves more.

Francisco talks a mile a minute and somehow always knows the right answer. But I worry so much about him being bored. He deserves more too.

And then there is Jarolis who needs special attention for her violent outbursts. When I gave her a time out and a reflection sheet for slapping Laquisha in the face I could actually feel her cussing me out when my back was turned. But when I noticed her working diligently on her writing assignment, I couldn’t get to her in time to praise her, and she crumpled it up and threw it at Elvis.

Oh Elvis. Who acts like such a gentleman and opens the door for me and will attempt (most students don’t) to speak English. But when I come back into the room after my teaching session is over I see that he is on the red consequence. Apparently he is a nightmare in the afternoon.

All my kids deserve so much more than I am giving them right now. I worry that I won’t be able to get my act together by the time the summer is over…