Usually, my 8th graders are my favorites. They already have a foundation of French, we have a mutual appreciation for the language, they're smarter and maturer than most other students in the school...I love them. They're awesome.
My 7th graders were not thrown in the best situation. Because I was not hired until the week before school started, the 6th grade academy cut off enrollment and only allowed one period be made for these kids. I have 33 kids in one classroom, all with varying language backgrounds and language learning experience, and I have to provide all the motivation and explanations so that they can make sense of why they're learning what they are. One of my 7th graders was beyond confused because this wasn't how we learn English when we're younger so why are we learning French this way, and let me tell you it is not easy to explain Language Acquisition Theory to a 12 year old lol.
It's been in the forefront of my mind for a while now that it is only I who is responsible for teaching these kids what they need to know to do well in high school French. There's no previous knowledge/learning, there's no other teacher, it's just me. When they get to the high school it's going to be very evident that if they don't know something then it's my fault. You know, no pressure :P
On top of teaching French and English as a New Language all day, I'm in charge of the annual EL testing, which is taking place right now. In the course of 10 school days I will have had 4--maybe 5--substitute teachers. On top of that, ISTEP is approaching directly following the EL testing, and right now it looks like due to that testing schedule, I will only be seeing my French students for 16 minutes everyday for what looks like three straight weeks. While I have no control over these things, It's getting me down, and I feel like I'm not giving my students their best teacher to prepare them for high school.
I was conveying all of this to my 7th graders because I had to postpone one of their quizzes for the second time. While I got an applause for it (I mean what 7th grader actually likes taking quizzes?) I felt terrible about it. It made me feel unreliable and like I wasn't keeping my word to these students who have nothing else to go on but my word. It was disheartening, and I apologized profusely for it, saying I completely understood if they wanted to talk to a counselor or administrator about it. I come in today, in higher spirits and a plan in action, and before the period ends I am presented with a poster signed by everyone in the class saying that "You're the best teacher!!!!". I'm still beyond words. I'm so blessed and thankful and I want to tell the world how awesome my kids are...
And then it dawned on me. My 7th graders ARE my kids. I'm the ONLY French teacher they'll have until high school. I GET to teach them everything they'll need to know for high school. My methods are the ones that will establish their foundation, and most likely be the ones that they remember most. No one can take that power away from me, and as much as I love my 8th graders, I'll never have that with them.
It was so empowering to realize that my kids, the ones that are actually MINE, appreciate me. Not because they didn't like their former teacher or they can relate to me better than someone else, but because I am their teacher and they enjoy what I present to them.
Working with 33 kids in one class is a challenge. Finding a way that they all understand to learn a new language is probably one of the hardest things I've ever done. But damn, I wouldn't let anyone take it away from me if they tried. :)
