Favorite Students in the Hills

"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve."
-Albert Schweitzer

I can honestly say that I don’t have a favorite student. I know this sounds corny but I enjoy all of my students. I find positives in them all. I can’t honestly just name a few. So I will describe my classes.

First period is my basketball girls, who I enjoy coaching. They are so crazy and energetic. They tell me everything you can imagine. It’s crazy they just open up to me. These girls just come up to me and ask, “Hey coach what do you think I need to work on.” I tell them. The next couple of days they stay after school and work on it. I must say these girls work hard; they just have so far to go to become good ball players. But I hope that they are learning something about life in the process.

2nd period- These are my Greenwood babies. They remind me of the kids I taught last year. I absolutely love these kids. It is easy to draw them in and get them interested in a lesson. But they sure can talk and walk around the classroom. I still give out write-offs in this class. They are the students that I feel need the most attention and love from me. They always speak to me no matter where they are. “Hey Ms. Johnson!!” They love to tell me stories and ask me thousands of science and random questions. I really don’t want to leave them next year.

3rd period- These are my angels, up to this point in the year that is. They are the sweetest group of kids ever. I have never raised my voice at them. They do what I ask of them. I push them to limit. I give them homework every night. I cover a Chapter a week. I teach them Biology I, which is a state tested subject area. They have somehow figured out that one of my ex-boyfriends plays in the NFL. They love teasing me about it. I have to threaten write-offs and outlaw certain names!! But I push them hard!!

4th period-Now these are my talkative, IEP babies. All but five students in this class have IEP. Many of these IEPs consist of behavioral or social problems. So can imagine how out of control these students can get. They drive me crazy, but I somehow find ways to enjoy them. The diversity of the student’s learning levels are so vast. It is really hard to plan for this class. I struggle with keeping them interested.This class is very dynamic with a lot sensitive personalities.

Beginning of semester Reflections

I am still coaching girls’ basketball, as I did last year. I enjoy it more this year. I feel, I have more input and my opinion actually matters. I am getting a lot of hands on practice. I head coach the freshman team. We are not very good, but I really enjoy my girls. They are very respectful and try to do what I ask. The girl’s basketball team is doing better this year than they did last year. Last they only won three games; this year we have already won eight games. At this moment, I am happy with my choice to move.

Teaching is fun and stressful as always. This year I have a wide range of students. I have two classes of the “Delta” students and one of “Suburban” students. The Delta classes are very similar to the kids in Greenwood. I have to tell them to be quiet five times a day. I still give out numerous write- offs. At the beginning of this semester, I went over the classroom rules again. I said each rule five times in every way I could think of saying them. They still don’t get it. How hard is it to follow my rules? They are simple.
1. No Throwing and Tossing
2. No talking while the teacher is talking.
3. Bring all materials to class.
4. You need your book every day.


There are only 4 rules. I still can’t figure out how you can make it to fourth period without paper or pencil. I am so tired of saying that you need your book every day. Ok let’s focus on the positives; I must say that I do like my students. I have realized that helping children is my calling. I really enjoy kids. I don’t want any right now, but I enjoy teaching them. Their smiles and comments, I enjoy everything about them. They all show so much potential. I must say it is tougher teaching these students. It’s like they don’t catch on as easily. The difference is that they do their homework and some of them actually study.
My suburban kids are great. I have never given a write-off in that class. I have never raised my voice either. But some of these students just don’t do the work at all. A few of them already have two zeros. They only have three grades. I have found that some of them are just lazy!!