At the beginning of the year, I hated my freshmen. They were rude. They acted like monkeys. They couldn't sit in their seats for more than five seconds at a time. They didn't do their homework, then whined when they weren't passing. They smelled like gym socks and candy and made my room smell for hours afterwards. They called me "Mrs. Anonymous" no matter how many times I reminded them I wasn't married. They stared at me with blank expressions on their faces and attempted to answer "I dunno" to every question I asked them. They picked on each other and caused silly fights in the middle of class. Basically, they made my teaching life miserable.
If someone would've told me at the beginning of the year that I would really be leaning towards teaching freshmen again next year, I would've laughed in their face...loudly. But I am. Like fungi, my freshmen have grown on me. I actually enjoy them most of the time. They still act like idiots occasionally, but we've learned to appreciate one another.
I've learned to relax some with them. Their still young. I can't expect the same maturity out of them as my juniors. I give them a break if their giggly (we've learned to put our heads down on our desk if we can't control our laughter). I've figured out how to pull them out of their little shells. I didn't realize how scary high school can be, but it was overwhelming for them...a huge change, and I didn't take that into account when teaching. Most of them were simply over their heads. Now we have discussions, joke around, and actually enjoy one another's company.
They quickly learned I wouldn't tolerate any sort of disrespect. That was off-putting for them at first. They thought I was (and I'm quoting here) a "bitch" because I wrote them up for what they considered to be minor things. They've matured since the beginning of the year. We can actually have fun now, and I can be a little more laid back as a result of their improved behavior.
Anyways, this post has been sitting in "draft" status for several days now, so I'm just going to post it.
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9 comments:
I discovered your blog a few weeks ago and I identify with your struggles and triumphs, because they are so similar to my own. I feel the same way about freshman. They are silly and immature at the beginning of the year and then they start to grow on you. Now if I could only remember that next September...
"Like fungi, my freshmen have grown on me."
I smiled at that. Though I am a bit worried for your personal hygiene :)
I will also be teaching high school some day and right now I'd have to say that I am leaning away from wanting to teach freshman (as if my wants will have much merit in placing me where I'm needed). I may have to bookmark this post and come back to it in a few years when I'm ready to strangle every freshman in my classes.
So basically your freshman kids are no different than my grade 1 kids.
I feel your pain - this is my 8th year teaching Freshman (History).
You will be amazed at the growth by senior year - those "fungi" will develop into amazing human beings. Well, most of them. :-)
Keep up the good work - :-)
Oh, this is exactly how I feel about my freshmen. This class is the most horrible thing that ever happened to me (it's my second year as a high school teacher). I love all classes, this one I dread. I thought the silly fights and picking on each other was a special thing in my class, but you write the same in your post. I don't think there will ever be a 'click' between them and me. EVER.
"I've learned to relax some with them. Their still young. I can't expect the same maturity out of them as my juniors. I give them a break if their giggly (we've learned to put our heads down on our desk if we can't control our laughter)."
They're. >.> *ducks and runs*
I taught freshmen my first and second years. My junior classes this year include a handful of those first-year freshmen. And while I definitely enjoy these students' increased maturity and curiosity, I also miss some of the wide-eyed goofiness of the frosh :-)
If you wouldn't mind, I'd appreciate a link to my own blog, the aptly-named anonymousteacher.blogspot.com. Thanks!
I am glad to have read your perspective on freshmen! I am a student working toward teaching certification, and this brought up the point that I will need to think about the unique position that freshmen are in should I end up teaching that grade level - you made teaching them sound pretty interesting and fun, by the end of the school year anyway!
I really like like this post. This reminds me of one of the major reasons that I am going into this profession. It's because I care, and I want to make a difference in young lives. I am sure that my first year of teaching will be a ride, especially if I am teaching freshmen, but no matter how it it will be I believe that I will stay in this profession and care anyway. I think your whole mood of this post is what I call a "motherly instinct". Every teacher that I have ever met, male or female, possesses this instinct. It is gratifying to say that all of my teachers were like this, and I hope that I will have as much patience as they do and treat and care about my students just as I will care about my children one day.
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