The Here and Now

I was doing fine for the first week of this teaching gig.
I thought, hey it's not that bad.

I was wrong.
I have failed at my first attempt to teach my writing class.

My writing students are right about 4th grade level.
They have learned in previous years about the different parts of speech.

Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, and Pronouns are in the topic of the day.
or week rather.

Since Wednesday of last week we have learned and reviewed and studied the joys of these few parts of speech.

Today, we had a quiz.
It was disastrous.
A fiasco.
A nightmare of educators everywhere.

Only two of my students got would be considered a passing score.
Only two had paid any attention to the work I had put into my lessons.
Only two seemed to care about the scowl on my face.

The rest giggled and whispered.
The rest squirmed and talked.

Other teachers try to comfort me with the words:
This is something every teacher goes through, with lessening frequency as the years go on.
I still think to myself:
This is something that is devastating, with lessening intensity as time goes on.

Tomorrow, we review again.
I will try different methods.
I will try different tactics.

We will quiz again on Wednesday.
They will pass.
They will know this material.

Even if it kills me.