90 days of May

A friend tagged me in this picture the other day on Facebook. 

 

Although I'm not sure how accurate it truly is. At a staff meeting a couple weeks ago my principal said that everyone needed to prepare for the 90 days of May. While I'm fully aware of how busy and crazy the month of May is, I actually never thought about how busy it is for other teachers. 

And really why is May so crazy??? 

The days are longer,

The weather is nicer, 

Kids are restless, 

AP Testing, 

Standardized Testing, 

Placement Tests, 

Seniors are checked out, 

FFA Banquet, 

Fair,

Officer Elections,

Senior Trip, 

Fundraisers, 

Master Scheduling,

The list goes on and on...

May has just begun and yet I feel like it's been May for at least two weeks. Not to mention that I picked up another class to help out for the last six weeks. 

However, this class has given me some perspective as a teacher, adult and potentially a future parent (someday). We have reached a generation of students that literally have no idea how to act as respectful human beings to one another. I like to think that I don't stay in my little bubble of Ag students. But apparently I do!! With a few exceptions of course... 

This new class is all freshmen and none are of an FFA background because it's not an Ag class. It is appalling to think that we have many students in schools, who are so intolerant of each other and each other's beliefs. I like to think we have come along way towards equality and common decency, but I think many of our students are regressing when it comes to being a student. 

I'm probably gonna get flack for this but I think it goes back to parenting. 

#1- If you could be their parent and hold them accountable that would be great! It's pretty difficult for me to hold kids accountable when it's a new concept.

#2- Tell them NO... I know this begins at a young age but them constantly thinking that homework and class work are optional is not okay. 

#3- Teach them respect. While I don't have this issue often, other teachers get disrespected daily-- which is not okay. 

#4- Teach them tolerance. They don't have to like the person they sit next to but teach them enough manners so they have common decency when sitting there. 

I am a teacher... Not a parent... I am here to help facilitate the learning of children. While some days I feel like a drill sargent, it's pretty hard for me to also teach children skills like, respect, tolerance, decency, etc. 

So on top of all the craziness of May, discipline at school seems to be off the chart... Instead of the Hawaiian minion, I'm feeling like the purple one might last until June! 

One thing this class has really taught me is, I would not trade being an Ag teacher for the world!! 

My kids are amazing! Even the ones who are a little rough around the edges learn from the ones who are on their A game. Behavior (good or bad), like success, is contiguous!! 

I think more kids on campus could learn a little something from the "Ag kids". 

While they might be goofy, they are upstanding individuals!