Different English Styles (by Mrs. Styles)

I need some help teachers…  I currently have a 10th grade class that has varied abilities.  It is a blended class, with about 1/3 of the students classified, most with reading and writing goals.  There are also five students who were in Honors English last year, but chose not to take it this year, and then the rest of the class who seem to hold their own and put forth great effort. My question is this:  has anyone ever taught 2 separate novels in the same class?  The five students that were in honors last year, are beginning to complain about the simplicity in the class.  I’d like to challenge them, but not overwhelm the classified students or the other students who might get lost with a more difficult novel.  The special ed teacher and I were tossing the idea around of teaching 2 separate novels.  Any suggestions or feedback?  Thanks for your help!

It’s official.  I’ve officially lost my mind.  I’ve known it’s been coming, looming overhead like some awful monster about to attack.  I could feel it.  It happened yesterday during my 10th grade class.  All hell broke loose and my students saw the spawn of the devil in me as I chewed them out for their disrespectful behavior, spewing the words “rude” and “disrespectful” and “ashamed and embarassed of your actions.”  There was silence in the room, and then muttered apologizies, and a whole lot of staring at the sneakers.  And there should have been! They needed to hear it!  But, deep down I feel so so so bad because I truly and genuinely like all of these kids and want them to be successful, so giving them the “rude and disrespectful” lecture (NOT in a nice voice, let me say) is not a fun thing for me to do.  But when the bell rang, and I heard them push out into the hallway saying, “dude, you should’ve just seen Mrs. Styles!  She’s p#@*#@ off!”  I couldn’t help but laugh. 

So tonight is my high school reunion.  I’m not going.  I wish I was going, but I’m not.  Oh, it’s for a good reason–my son has hockey.  Also, not many of my close friends  that I graduated with are going, either.  When I look at my students, I can see so much of myself in some of them.  They act like I acted, they get upset at some of the things I got upset about, they laugh at the same ridiculous things that I laughed at.  And I look at them and have all of these secret wishes for them for their futures.

I wish for them to remember who they are and not change to try to please others.

I wish that they learn the best way to use their strengths and how to shed their weaknesses.

I wish that they learn from their weaknesses.

I wish they stay in contact with their friends after school.

I wish that they are not afraid to make new ones, either.

I wish that they become advocates from themselves.

I wish that they have fun but stay responsible.

I wish they learn the value of giving and being grateful for what they have.

I wish they realized now, how some very poor choices can have monumental effects.

I wish they learn to be happy.  So many are not.

Mostly, I wish I could tell them all of this, but at this age, they don’t want to hear it.  The best I can do is teach them well, and hope that I have instilled the ability to learn this for themselves when they are ready.

Did you ever have one of those days where it seems that every student is against you?  Where nothing you do is right?  Where you want to put your head on your desk and go to sleep for 3 hours right there in the middle of class?  And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, someone comes around and makes it…better.  Today was one of those days.  I was at the end of my rope and in a total state of self pity after a particularly long class.  Then, as I was returning back to my classroom (or “__  assroom” as it says on my door.  14-year-olds can be clever) I found a former student peeking into my room looking for me.  When he saw me round the corner, he said (with a smile on his face, no less!) “Mrs. Styles!  I’ve been looking for you!  I just wanted to say hi and see how you were!”    Now, I know this seems like no big deal, but if you could see the sincere look on his face and you knew the history of this kid, it would have melted your heart.  And just like that, my day was better.  Go figure.