fridays

i teach 12th grade.  to stereotype: all the boys are taller than me, they can't keep their shirts tucked in, they spend a lot of time pretending they aren't as bright as they are, they are intimidated by smart girls, they are super competitive at any game we play in class, they talk trash to each other, they make really funny history jokes sometimes, they are usually polite and always kind.  the girls are diligent and eager, unsure of themselves and their knowledge, they outperform the boys on almost every assignment, they hem their skirts far too short, they laugh at the boys' jokes, they remember things from past history classes (!), they text in class - under the desk like i won't notice, they love non-uniform days when they can dress up, they are always polite and usually kind.  even though they can get into real trouble, they are becoming real people - the adults they will soon be.  and i love spending my days with them.

while i could never teach the younger kids - i do NOT have that kind of patience - i love working in a school where i get to see them occasionally.

one of the best parts of my week: fridays at about 2:45.  the lower school gets out earlier than we (the upper school) do on fridays, and a cute 5th grade kiddo with lots of red hair comes up to the upper school to meet his big sister and get picked up.  he walks past my office to do so, and pops inside for a minute because i have a bowl of candy and he knows he can have a piece.  he's loaded down with a backpack that's bigger than he is, a jacket tied around his waist, and a laptop bag and he kind of staggers through the door.  some days he's sweaty from recess in that way that little boys are sweaty, like he's just run as hard as he can.  some days he's tired and some days he talks a mile a minute.  today he was covered in pine straw.  "did you just have recess?"  half smile that indicates he knows he's a mess, but can't help it.  "yeah."  (this is what i love about elementary school kids: they aren't trying to impress anyone yet.)  he takes his orange starburst candy and he's on his way.