- [image]Please write and answer one other question that should have been on this survey.

Once you have surveyed the kids, you need to ask yourself ask yourself some questions. In your case, they don't need an answer right away. The important thing is to keep asking them every year. some questions. In your case, they don't need an answer right away. The important thing is to keep asking them every year.

- [image]How can I organize my time to get more out of each day?

- [image]How can I organize my cla.s.s in a way that lets kids help me run it effectively?

- [image]How can I avoid making last year's mistakes in the future?

- [image]How can I get students to learn more of what they need to know?

- [image]How can I make myself a better person so I can become a better teacher?

- [image]How can I balance teaching with the rest of my life so I can enjoy my job?

Are you satisfied with this ending? Of course not. That's because deep down, you still wanted teaching to be like the movies. We all do. We all want great lines that come on cue and become turning points in students' lives. We all want that moment on the last day when our toughest kid turns to us with tears in his eyes. There's supposed to be a sign that we are the hero of this story and we will never wonder whether we're bad at this again.Instead, we end the year tired and still unsure of ourselves. Even if this were a movie, the last day would make a horrible freeze-frame. Decorations are down. Kids are more interested in hanging out with each other than in expressing grat.i.tude to us. The only soundtrack comes from the radio we let them play so we can handle paperwork in peace. We don't always end the year knowing what we did right.Don't feel too bad, though. Your job isn't to end every year with a grand finale. It is to keep asking questions, grading quizzes, sitting through meetings, trying to catch up on paperwork, and walking students to the bathroom-slowly becoming a better teacher in the process. There is no parting scene, only everyday duties. And once in a while, there are moments-unplanned, unexpected, and unexplainable-when you know you've made an impact whether tomorrow is a good day or not. You are the teacher you came to be right now. Cue the music, and let the credits roll.Make Me or Break Meby Roxanna EldenThey say this first year will make me Or break me.

I guess that's because it takes me Eight days to get through a stack of papers And there are eight more waiting, And every day I stay at school later And get less done ...

This is not fun.

Help me someone!!!

I'm already counting how many more Mondays Till vacation (There are 12, by the way, And I'm getting impatient) Because I spent all last night On grading and preparation But I can't get these kids to just SHUT UP!!!.

And take this inspiration.

My temptation to keep driving Instead of arriving In the Teachers' parking lot Is almost as strong As my fear of what could go wrong If I don't pull into this parking spot And I'm not sure if I can take it ....

I'm trying so hard to make it work The way the movies make it seem.

I've been sacrificing so much sleep I forgot what it feels like to dream.

This isn't the person I'm used to being Not the image of me I'm used to seeing

I miss the days when I was a student, Complaining about teachers to my friends ....

This job seemed so easy from the other end.

From here, nothing looks the same, And you know what's even more of a shame?

I hear my teachers' voices When I yell my students' names.

And you know that one quiet girl, In the back, With the gla.s.ses?

I overheard her mom saying She wants to change cla.s.ses.

They say this job is rewarding, but lately I just feel like all my students hate me ....

Their papers frustrate me And I'm going so crazy No sane person would want to date me.

But I'm here to stay.

It takes a lot to break me.

And that's why I say No matter what it takes me ...

This year Is gonna make make me. me.

ThanksThis book was made possible by the honesty and generosity of the following people - Lillian Acevedo-Brako - Maipu Aguila - Cory Allen - Ashli Andersen - Andy Baldwin - Eric Berry - Andrew Block - George Bombalier - Tara Brock - Meghan Casey - Manny Cruz - Tanya Das - Crystal Davis - Shawn DeNight - Zakia Dilday - Billie Diehl - Luther Dollar III - Rosa Elba - John Ermer - Tara Garland - Ana M. Gonzalez-Fernandez - Reem Hamdan - Nichola Hanson - Damita Haynes-Ferguson - Taryn Hendrix - Bianca Huff - Diana Hurtado - Panitra Jackson - Valerie Jean-Gilles - Maite Jerez - Deno Johnson - Sibel Kaplan - Dr. Alice Kawazoe - Cathy Kelly - Dr. David Kirsner - Lorenzo Ladaga - Tamica Lewis - Billy Lombardo - Jon Mangana - Daniel Desnudo Martinez - Herminia Martinez - Iris Martinez - Victoria Martinez - Jodi McBride - Sarah McFarland - Kristine McMillan Willford - Stephanie Millar - Katia Mompoint - Delphine Opet - Abena Osei - Carmen Paredes - Brian Perry - Chris Pickett - Monica Redondo - Griselis Reyes - Eric Richey - Maria Salazar - Sharon Samuels - Joshua Sheridan - Lavanya Star-Fulton - Sarah Thom - J. F. Thompson - Darlyn Trujillo-Espinosa - Stan Walker - Phyllis Williams - Ed "Coach Woody" Woodson - Terri Woltch - Rosena Wright Other contributors who, for various reasons, asked that their names not be usedAlso, thanks to ...

- [image]Rita Rosenkranz: For being everything I hoped for in a literary agent. For seeing the big picture from the beginning, and catching all the little details along the way. For being everything I hoped for in a literary agent. For seeing the big picture from the beginning, and catching all the little details along the way.

- [image]Michael Sprague, Tim Brazier, and Kim Bowers of Kaplan Publishing: For handling this project with care, humor, and understanding. For handling this project with care, humor, and understanding.

- [image]Arielle Ekstut and David Henry Sterry: The authors of The authors of Putting Your Pa.s.sion into Print Putting Your Pa.s.sion into Print. Your amazing book and workshop helped me do just that.

- [image]Brenda Orr: My first-year mentor teacher, always fabulous and never completely retired, who told me after a rough first day that you saw a great teacher in me. My first-year mentor teacher, always fabulous and never completely retired, who told me after a rough first day that you saw a great teacher in me.

- [image]The faculty and administration of Hialeah High: For making the school a great place to work. Special thanks to the coworkers who trusted me with their stories. For making the school a great place to work. Special thanks to the coworkers who trusted me with their stories.

- [image]Reem Hamdan, Daniel D. Martinez, Zakia Dilday, Abena Osei, Tanya Das, and Billy Lombardo: For sharing your time, stories, and comments. For sharing your time, stories, and comments.

- [image]Ginger Seehafer and Inga Aragon: For turning my words into pictures and losing nothing in the translation. For turning my words into pictures and losing nothing in the translation.

- [image]Grandma Barbara, Grandma Sylvia, Grandpa Harold, Aunt Wendy, Uncle Marty, Uncle Stewart, Stephanie, Tammie, Bryan, and Rudy: For being a great family, for reading the book, for advice, help, company, good times, and furriness ... not necessarily in that order. For being a great family, for reading the book, for advice, help, company, good times, and furriness ... not necessarily in that order.

- [image]Erica Elden: For everything. No other way to put it. Without you there would be no book. For everything. No other way to put it. Without you there would be no book.

- [image]Phyllis Mandler and Gary Elden: My first teachers, who did for me what I hope to do for my students-lead by example, expected the best, and repeated the most important lessons until they sunk in. My first teachers, who did for me what I hope to do for my students-lead by example, expected the best, and repeated the most important lessons until they sunk in.