Nostalgia.

As I was cleaning I came across a stack of "happy notes" from camp. People said a lot of nice things to me in camp, and I wonder sometimes if I deserve it anymore. It was nice to read again, though. Made me... happy.

Moving.

I got antsy yesterday and wasn't in the mood to do any work. So, I started packing up all of my things and realized that over the last six years I've moved more than eight times. This either means I am going places in life, or that I am a steady paycheck away from being a transient. Maybe I'm growing up!

Science Fair.

Over the last three weeks I've been working with my kids on science fair projects. The genius in me decided to let the nine different groups work on nine different projects. Of course, I had to help them run all the experiments and collect the data and do the research and put the boards together and all of that other stuff. I thought I was going to kill myself or someone else at many points during the last few weeks.

The results came in today, and the top 3 finishers in 4th grade were all from my class. Second place for the whole school was from my class too!

The third place team was two of my most difficult boys. One of them is the kid that keeps getting suspended, that I drove home after school for months, that bit me once, hit me a few times, and learned all of the multiplication songs a week after I taught them.

The second place student was the kid that I took to the library after school and got him a library card. I've tutored him at his house when he's been sick, and I know his whole family.

The first place team was three more of my difficult boys. During the whole time we worked on their project (What type of exercise will make your heart beat fastest?) they kept complaining that their project - and science - is stupid. When they found out they won today, they were so out of control happy. When I kept the three of them after school because of other behavior issues, one told me that they couldn't have done it without me, and that they were going to give me some of their cash prize. Another said, "I told you guys that Mr. Lyu would find something that was good for us to do." I asked them if I've ever steered them wrong, and one of them told me no, that I always care about them.

It was a pretty rough day, but I'll take that.

Surplus-ed.

I basically got laid off today. School doesn't have enough money for me next year, so I'll be finding a new place of work hopefully before I go home for the summer. I thought they were supposed to give me a pink slip or something. Instead, I asked what I would be doing next year, and I got, "Oh, I meant to tell you..."

Oh well. Maybe it'll be nice to get a new start. I'm just trying to get through the day. And the week. And the year.

Back from Break.

Walked into the classroom today, and felt like I was in a different world.

Anyway, I got a lot of hugs from the kids when I got back. It was nice. And they were really excited that they are really getting how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. It's cool that a lot of them are proud of what they know.

Spring is Here.

Not much positive to say about class today. But the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. So that's nice.

The Genius Dance.

One of my students is in special education for reading but is with me for math. He's a little slower, but when it comes to numbers especially, he really understands what's happening. He's allowed extra time for tests and assignments, and I'm also allowed to read things for him. I was sitting with him yesterday, reading the end-of-unit test, and watching him as he worked. We've been doing 5th grade math, and the past couple of weeks we've been working on least common multiples, equivalent fractions, and adding and subtracting unlike denominators - all of which are really tough concepts.

As he worked, I encouraged him to keep going because he was doing really well. Halfway through the test, he found an answer and said, "I got it! I am such a GENIUS!" I couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, yes you are. I tell you that every day." By the end of the test we had made up a genius song and a genius dance and we were singing and dancing through the halls on the way back to the classroom.