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Perception is a fickle thing swayed by mood, circumstance and state of mind.
My initial reflection on my Math lit class was one of interest and hope but as the weeks wore on my reflections became poisoned by exhaustion, by their efforts to exert their ownership of the classroom and by public bias. What I mean by this is that a lot of the girls names were on the academic detention list everyday and their efforts to do homework or participate lessened as the weeks grew longer.
With my growing frustration my reflections grew more negative and the enthusiasm I had to start became a perpetual loathing. The effort I put in far out weighed the reciprocated effort so with their decreasing interest my efforts and enthusiasm waned resulting in a stale mate.
I think the long days of me getting to school at 7 and leaving sometimes at 5:30 then working until 2am in the morning and waking at 5am to begin another day of the same might have had a lot to do with it.
Anyway, today being my last teaching day, I was presented with a present and a card from the girls in which they expressed their heartfelt thanks and appreciation and appologies for giving me such a hard time.
So now looking back at the entire experience it does not match up with my perception and daily reflection of dispair and growing negativity but instead I have once again a feeling of acomplishment, of hope and of fond memories of a class which, on paper, seems impossible.
My initial reflection on my Math lit class was one of interest and hope but as the weeks wore on my reflections became poisoned by exhaustion, by their efforts to exert their ownership of the classroom and by public bias. What I mean by this is that a lot of the girls names were on the academic detention list everyday and their efforts to do homework or participate lessened as the weeks grew longer.
With my growing frustration my reflections grew more negative and the enthusiasm I had to start became a perpetual loathing. The effort I put in far out weighed the reciprocated effort so with their decreasing interest my efforts and enthusiasm waned resulting in a stale mate.
I think the long days of me getting to school at 7 and leaving sometimes at 5:30 then working until 2am in the morning and waking at 5am to begin another day of the same might have had a lot to do with it.
Anyway, today being my last teaching day, I was presented with a present and a card from the girls in which they expressed their heartfelt thanks and appreciation and appologies for giving me such a hard time.
So now looking back at the entire experience it does not match up with my perception and daily reflection of dispair and growing negativity but instead I have once again a feeling of acomplishment, of hope and of fond memories of a class which, on paper, seems impossible.
