Next Year's Group

I am a member of a second grade teacher message board. Most of the time, the messages end up being deleted but every now and then I get some really good stuff so I stay on the message board.

Friday, a post was written that has had sparked a lot of responses. The question was something to the effect of "Are you hearing horror stories about next year's kids?" Every single response to the post stated that they heard that they were in for it this coming year.

Generally speaking, I hate to even discuss this information with the first grade teachers. I don't want to bias myself against the kids. The way I see it, we all deserve a fresh start, right?

This coming year may be a bad one though. Ever since the beginning of this year, the first grade teachers have been talking about how low and poorly behaved this current group is. From what I see on the playground, I have been hoping (praying) that I don't get some of these little out of control kids.

In the end though, I will get the group I get and have to work through it. It will work out. The worse that can happen is that it might get rough but it will be over in nine months.

*****
Back to the message boards...
One of the teachers responding to this question on the message board said that a teacher at her school said that the reason this group is challenging is because they are the 9/11 babies. What is that about? What will they think of next???

Who Knew???

I have a student who behaves perfectly in school. Too perfect sometimes. I have always found him to be a bit stuffy. Everything has to be in just the right place in his desk, his peers have to follow the rules to the letter of the law or he tattles, and he has NEVER, not once, moved a clip for ANYTHING because he has to be perfect at school.

Well! I just found out that at home, he is the exact opposite of how he is at school. His room is a mess, and he is often in power struggles with his mom and brother. When I talked with his counselor last week, I almost didn't believe her.

I have been trying to figure out why he is behaving so differently at home and at school. My theory is that I have a very structured classroom complete with rewards and consequences. He knows exactly what will happen if he breaks a rule and he doesn't want to go there. I am wondering if it is that way at home. My guess is no. He must be exhibiting this behavior at home because he can.


Any other theories???