Third Time's the Charm

Last year, I got hired mid-year to take on a middle school ELD class in a new school district. When I interviewed, I discovered that this class had gone through three, count 'em THREE, teachers prior to my being hired. This information in-and-of-itself was a bit terrifying, that and the fact that I had gone from teaching adorable little elementary kids to giant, hormonal tweens and teens.

It was one of those whirlwind job opportunities - the kind where you hear about the position, interview and sign contracts within a few days. Before I knew it, I was being introduced at a staff meeting, sent off to curriculum trainings and in the classroom with some very wild kids. I was lucky enough to get to work with the long-term sub (who had been there a few weeks and done a great job with the kids) for a few days before being left on my own. 

Now, let me be clear. My initial thought when I heard that these kids had been through three teachers in just a matter of months terrified me to no end. I assumed that their behavior was so atrocious that the original teacher and two subsequent teachers had run screaming from campus.  I could just picture the little monsters and hellions throwing things, talking and fighting in class – kind of like every teacher-goes-to-rough-neighbor-and-tries-to-make-a-real-difference-in-students-lives movie every made.

But that was not actually the case. By some twist of fate, the teachers had never actually set foot in the classroom. The first teacher taught there for a few years prior, but had accepted another position over the summer. The other two teachers had interviewed for the job, but for some reason or another never showed up on their first day of work. Both of them. Months apart. Honest-to-goodness truth.

It’s bizarre, but I like to think it really was fate, and that I was the teacher who was supposed to be there. As my principal joked, “third time’s the charm.” When I arrived for my first contract day, my principal pointed out that I was already ahead of the curve because I actually showed up!

Even though the kids hadn’t actually scared off the other teachers, it was as bad, or even worse, than I had imagined. The long-term sub that had been there for a few weeks prior to my being hired was amazing. She and the instructional coach had taken some good steps towards getting some control of the class, but after an entire trimester of having a string of short-term subs with no management skills whatsoever, the kiddos were really out of control. Fights, graffiti, overall classroom destruction were everyday occurrences.

At first the students didn’t seem to believe that I was really their teacher and there to stay. They actually got into arguments on a regular basis about whether or not I was a teacher or a sub. While it was amusing, it broke my heart. These kids seemed to feel unwanted and some even seemed hopeful to have a “real” teacher. I promised them that I wasn’t going anywhere and that I was there “real” teacher, at least through the end of the year. [Because of the nature of my work (and the funding source), I have always been on temporary contracts, which are only a year at a time.]

The first few months were, there’s no other word for it, H-E-double hockey sticks. During that time, I have never been more exhausted or more discouraged. I had also never been more determined. I have always felt confident in the classroom, but these guys had me seriously doubting my management skills.

I had to be at times so patient and permissive and at others so mean and so LOUD. I’ve never thought that yelling was a good management technique, but with this group nothing else seemed to work (this was verified by the instructional coach and the admin!). It was a tough crowd, with a lot of drug and gang influence. At various points in the year, we had a tagging crew, drug dealers, gang-related fights and other such ridiculousness on campus.

Our school had more suspensions and serious behavior issues than any other in our district – not because we had that many more issues, but because our principal is amazingly supportive and believes in following through with consequences and being consistent.

I was so fortunate to be surrounded by welcoming, hard-working professionals and all-around good people. I was immediately adopted into the school “family” by coworkers and supported immensely by my administrators.

Last year was truly a battle each and every day, but I was determined I would be the victor. There were a lot more tears than I would have liked (on my part, and more due to the stress of a family illness and eventual passing of a loved one during that same time), but I survived. And I think, like a battle, the kids and I were irrevocably bonded by the end of the year. The kids made such a turn around that behavior and grades improved significantly by the end of the third trimester. Our class was even chosen to be a model classroom where the author of one of our textbooks filmed a training video. I was so proud of my kids and myself.

It was by far the most challenging and most rewarding school year yet. I cried yet again when my principal renewed my contract for another year. I am so excited to be coming back. I have so much more work I want to do and can’t wait to refine my middle school teaching technique.