Ironflower started Kindergarten yesterday. She loves it, not that this surprises me. I think she's only disappointed that it's half day. Between her starting public school and the research I just did about high schools, I sort of got motivated to check up on former students.
The very first class that was all mine, that didn't involve student teaching or subbing, graduated from high school this year. I had them in first grade in a technology magnet school in a tough neighborhood in Kansas City, Kansas. I loved that class just a bit more than any other class I ever had. I remember my little group of super-smart kids, four of whom graduated from a top-ranked high school this year (there is one in KCK, believe it or not). And then there was, well, let's just call him VR. He drove me to distraction, it was so hard to get him to focus and keep his hands to himself. But in the end - after many visits to another teacher (who not only had taught VR's parents, but still scared them) for time out - I managed to teach VR to read. He actually has a football scholarship now. Sadly, I can't find the rest of my students. I can only hope it's not only those 5 who managed to graduate. But that is a possibility.
What breaks my heart even more, though, is the realization that Ironflower could easily do all of the assignments I gave my former first graders the first few months of school. And she would do them better than half of the class. Not because I'm supermom, or because her preschool was highly intensive, or because she's such a genius, but because most of those kids I had started out so far behind.
And what breaks my heart most of all is that I know some of my former students are parents themselves already, or in jail, or even dead. And that kind of puts into perspective all of my anxiety about Ironflower enjoying kindergarten and not getting her feelings hurt by any mean little kids.
11 comments:
How sad. but it is reality. Somewhere there is always a child who is left behind, who falls thru the crack. and then never makes it out alive.
Honey, she's gonna be fine. She's brilliant and funny just like her mom, I bet. And she's gonna get her feeling hurt at some point. It's a part of growing up. Relax and congrats! xoxo
props to you, for your own kids and the kids you've helped along the way!
I'm glad you could track down some of your former students. Many of them moved out of the district, I'm sure. KCK has done a great job in raising test scores from 11% proficient (the year I started) to 66-ish% and your students were the start of that upward trend. They've now built a brand-new pre-school facility to serve many of the high-risk children. That and the addition of all-day kindergarten for ALL students has helped our first graders begin the year far more prepared than they were when I started teaching reading with you. The new plan is to make the district not only a top-ten urban district, but to make it top-ten overall. It has been hard work and we have a long road ahead of us, but it's a good feeling knowing that we are headed the right direction.
Definitely true, Michelle.
Soccermom, I know, it just upsets me to know that's what happened to some of MINE.
Thank you, Silken!
Jen, you're right. Although she's more brilliant and funny. :)
Carrie - That ALMOST makes me want to come back. I'm glad that you're feeling positive. . .and that you finally have a room of your own!
Carrie - That ALMOST makes me want to come back. I'm glad that you're feeling positive. . .and that you finally have a room of your own!
Definitely true, Michelle.
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