One very unique homeroom – 2008

*Class of 2008 – My Homeroom*

(See sidenote at end of blog)

  

      Teachers do not just teach, we learn.  Everyday, every year – we learn.  This year I learned about acceptance, not taking people at face value and the power of the heart.  My homeroom this year was a group of students I can never forget.  They were quirky, unique and protective and supportive of each other and me.  As they would say – “They had each other’s back – including mine.  I do not know if I will ever have a group of students like this again. They will be hard to top – that’s for sure. Let me see if I can accurately do justice to the quirky, unique, one-of-a-kind group of students I called my homeroom from August 2007 to June 2008.

     When I first saw my class list I told my fellow Jr. High teachers that my homeroom would probably send me in to early retirement before Christmas.  You see I knew many of my students because they had been in my classes as 7^th graders and they had driven me crazy then! 

                                                                                                                                                                                       

       Needless to say the year started off in such a way that it looked like I would be retiring by Thanksgiving.  My homeroom was driving me crazy, driving the other teachers crazy and even the Principal crazy.  There were more complaints, more discipline issues and more problems with the students in my homeroom that the ENTIRE Jr. High.  It was very frustrating as their homeroom teacher.  Everyday I would have students who had been written up for inappropriate behavior or hear stories about students who SHOULD have been written up. 

 

 My homeroom in cartoon form – who do you see?

                                                                                

 

 

 

  I got very tired and frustrated with them showing up throughout the day because they had been kicked out of another class due to behavior.  At one point I even tried bribery, but that did not work either.    

 

                                                                               

 

          They just did not seem to get it.  Some days I felt like I was  talking to a group of blank walls.     

 

        How I felt – many times!                 

           

    

                                    AND                                What I said MANY times!

                                                                       Excuse me! What are you doing?

                                                                      

 

 

 

    However, all was not lost – every once in awhile I would see a glimpse of the “diamonds in the rough.” I would catch that brief glimpse of potential, that fleeting moment of “what could be” and I began to realize that maybe, just maybe, I had underestimated my homeroom and needed to give them the benefit of the doubt that they deserved.

     So, I rearranged seats, reinforced my expectations once again and began to accept their individuality, their uniqueness and most of all their quirky sense of humor.

     I first begin to appreciate them during P.E.  There were three 8^th grade homerooms and my homeroom was the most enthusiastic and most fun when it came to P.E.  Whatever we did for P.E, whether it be sprints or duck-duck-goose, they would smile and participate with unchallenged enthusiasm.  They were upbeat and always tried to have fun.  Many days they made me smile and laugh.  When the boys took off one day running laps while holding hands, I was laughing so hard I could not even tell them they were going the wrong direction.  If you have not seen a group of 13/14 year old boys run while holding hands, you have missed out.  There were so many times I wish I would have had my video camera with me.  I could have won top prize on American Funniest Videos AND have had the most hits on You Tube!! They were the best!

                                                                                                                 

  

  As I began to see their hidden potential and appreciate them for their uniqueness and individual personalities, I also noticed the bond they had among themselves.    Of the three homerooms they were the most cohesive.  They were close; they got along with each other – most days – and were very defensive of one another – even me.  There was one incident where I thought they were going to tear a part a disrespectful 7^th grader for being rude to me.

 

Don’t worry – I got your back!

 

 

     By 3^rd trimester they were the “favorite” 8^th grade class.  They dud not bicker among themselves and academically they really stepped it up.  In fact, my homeroom had the lowest number of non-graduates.  I was very proud to say each name of every one of them as they received their diploma. I can say that each one stepped it up and did what needed to be done to earn their 8^th grade diploma.

 

     I am very proud of each one, not only for graduation, but for growing, maturing and working so hard to meet their goals.  I also want to thank them for reminding me to look for that shiny diamond in the rough and for bringing their individual, unique personality to our class to make it a one-of-a-kind, unforgettable homeroom. 

 

In NO particular order: 

 

Kayson:  future high school sport stand out, who, when focused can do great things academically.  However, his “ladies man” weakness may trip him up if he is not careful. J   Remember Kayson – you can play any sport out there and be good at it – save the girls for off-season.  

                                      

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Brittany:  who could read circles around any one – just needed to stay on the same book as the rest of the class.  Thanks to Kayson for keeping her on the right book.  Brittany was a great cheerleader for the younger students during their P.E.

 

 

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Travis:  a smile and sense of humor to brighten anyone’s day. He had some rough moments, but he pulled it together and got that well deserved diploma. 

Yeah – Travis!   His enthusiasm for “the  wave” and having fun was unchallenged. I believe my homeroom, because of Travis, was the only 8^th grade class to do a perfect wave after a fire drill!!  J  Travis is as smooth as butter and I love his hair.

 

 

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Johnny:  always upbeat, friends to all and he always roots for the underdog – which is what I really admire him for.  I have known Johnny since hewas six, so I was able to tease him relentlessly and he would just smile and nod. Of course, when he and Tyler get together – watch out world because danger is a brewing. Keep all ladders under lock and key!

 

 

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Alex:  the hair, the smile, the heart of gold and the hair!  Alex was protective and loyal – as well as reckless – you need to have a license to drive a car in the

State of California – Alex!  At least once a day you could depend on Alex to be up to something.  However, Alex did know how to brighten the day of all the teachers and was a great motivator when it came to getting the class warmed up for P.E.

 

  I think ALex said this everyday to everybody!

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Michael:  quiet, soft spoken, but a true friend who always watched out for his friends to make sure they were okay.  He was always concerned about the well-being of others. Michael has a very gentle spirit and is one very, classy, noble young man.

 

 

 

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Didra: new to our school this year, but before long fit in perfectly.  Her upbeat attitude and beautiful smile were one of the things that kept me going during those days of contemplating early retirement.  Didra is a wonderful young lady and I will miss our conversations. 

 

 

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Ravneet:  what would I have done without her!  She kept me so organized and on track.  There were times I honestly would have been lost without her.  I admire her strong desire to succeed and her determination to do the best she can do.  I know Ravneet will go far in life!

 

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Carlo: he did not enter my homeroom until 3^rd trimester, but it was not long before he blended in perfectly. Always polite and considerate, even when he got caught chewing gum over and over again.  Carlo was a wonderful addition to my homeroom because he wasn’t afraid to be himself.

 

 

 

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Darren: very creative when it came to making different types of tools to shoot projectiles across the room – even though this would usually get him in trouble.  However, I have to give him credit for his creativity.  I also must say that the last day of school when so much packing a moving had to be done – Darren stepped up and helped out a lot.  Now if he would just smile more.  J

 

 

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Paula:  the girl who has the ability to be one of the best female athletes in our district if she chooses to do so.  Paula has great athletic potential if she would just believe in herself.

 

 

 

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Jaslyn: a very talented writer – one of the best in all of 8^th grade.  I hope she will take  Honors English and show the high school teachers her deep intelligence and talent. I have to personally thank Jaslyn for getting me hooked on the “Twilight” series.  She told me I would “love” it – and she was right – I am now addicted.

 

 

 

 

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Jana:  what a sweetheart! It has been a joy to have you as a student for two years in a row.  I have enjoyed watching you learn and grow

into the wonderful young lady you are today.  I can’t wait to see and hear about the things you do in high school because whatever you do – I know you will always do your best.

 

 

 

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Christian:  almost always smiling and laughing.  Every once in awhile he would have a bad

day – like all of us – but Christian loved to smile and laugh.  He also knew how to brighten every teacher’s day – chocolate – and we are expecting him to keep up the tradition – after all he has two little brothers still at our school.  J 

 

 

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Karina:  never said a bad thing about anything, always concerned about others, helpful and one of the hardest working students I have ever had the privilege of teaching – I do not think she missed an assignment in 2 years. She taught me the true meaning of perseverance = never give up!!

 

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Aivary:  best dressed boy in the entire school, not just 8^th grade.  I think Aivary had a different pair of shoes for everyday of the week and every outfit.  I have to give him credit, his shoes always matched his clothes.  The question is: how many pairs of shoes does Aivary really have?

 

 

 

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Ronnie:  I could always depend on him to help me out with whatever I needed. He would take charge of organizing and leading P.E. to fixing my stool and filing cabinet.  Ronnie was always working hard and doing the best job he could. He was always respectful, trustworthy and there when I needed help.  Who is going to fix things for me next year?

 

                         I’ll fix it!

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Adrian:   quiet and reserved at first – then once he found his comfort zone – look out world – here’s Adrian!  Adrian’s personality just shines and it is never a dull moment when he is around.  I think he would just be happy hanging out with his friends and telling stories – or listening to stories. J I just wish he was going to high school around here instead of Stockton. I know his friends are going to miss him. 

 

 

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Mercedes: she understood the novel “The Outsiders” so well.  I just wish she would have used her independent, strong spirit to achieve the things she was capable of doing.  Don’t take the easy way out – you’re better than that.

 

 

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Kevin:  so quiet and reserved.  No one ever had a bad word to say  about Kevin and he has more friends than he even realizes.  Kevin, believe in yourself, because you have what it takes to succeed at anything and be remarkable. 

 

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Tri:  Nobody could beat Tri’s smile, enthusiasm, positive attitude and upbeat outlook on life. Tri always had a smile, was polite to others and everyone liked him because he was a friend to all.  Tri is the only student I have ever had who smiled the entire time he ran his 6 to 7 minute miles.  I love his smile, positive attitude and desire to gain new knowledge everyday. 

 

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Damion: Welcome to California!  I know things are done a little differently out here on the West Coast, but once you figured out how things went, you did great.  One piece of advice for you, Damion; don’t be afraid to let other people know how smart you really are because I see great things for you in the future.

 

 

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Jena: quiet and unassuming, but independent, strong and intelligent under that quiet demeanor.  I enjoyed our one-on-one talks when I had the chance to see beyond the young lady who always sat so quietly in class, even when I butchered her last name – but I got it right at graduation!  J

 

 

 

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Kirandeep: thank you for telling me how to pronounce your last name.  All these years of teaching and not a single student told me that I was saying it wrong.  Thank you.  My future students will be thankful also. Your intelligence and determination are going to lead you down a successful road in the future.

 

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 Oscar:  somewhere between the end of 7^th grade and the beginning of 8^th grade you found your “niche” and entered 8^th grade with self-confidence and the desire to achieve.  I watched how you learned a lot during your 8^th grade year, but I think the most valuable lesson you learned was not to hit someone on the back of the head.  J

 

 

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Carolina:  a social butterfly who loved to smile, laugh and visit with friends.  However, you did work hard and did what you needed to do in order to graduate 8^th grade – I am very proud of all the improvements you made between 7^th and 8^th grade.  I hope you will continue your successful streak in high school and do really wonderful things over the next 4 years.

 

 

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Kyle:  another late comer to my homeroom.  Kyle had a hard time at first adjusting to my quirky, unique homeroom.  I don’t think he knew what to think of all of us at first. However, by 3^rd trimester he had adjusted to all of us and fit right in.  Kyle worked really hard 3^rd trimester to make sure he had everything done he needed to have done in order to graduate.  Good job!

                                  

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Shanice: a.k.a the energizer bunny.  Shanice has more energy than anyone I have every met.  I get tired of watching her sometimes.  However, Shanice is outgoing, friendly and not afraid to say what is on her mind.  She is also a talented athlete.  I hope in high school she will focus on the important things in high school – like academics – instead of boys.

 

 

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Austin: I am sure he went home complaining when he discovered I was his homeroom teacher AGAIN!  We did start off a little rocky, just like we ended 7^th grade, but slowly things began to change. He began to pay attention in class and get less DARS and I began to notice this change.  By 3^rd trimester we came to some kind of unspoken understanding and acceptance of each other.  I was able to tease him and he would smile and laugh instead of getting defensive.  Of all the students in my homeroom Austin was the toughest diamond in the rough to see, but when I finally saw it, it was on of the brightest.

 

 

Austin on the first day of school. J

 

 

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     As I reflect back on my first 8^th grade homeroom I remember the good days, the bad days, the downright ugly days and the beautiful day they crossed the stage to receive their 8^th grade diploma after I said each name.

 

     It was a crazy, odd, quirky, once-in-a-lifetime ride through the 2007-2008 school year and I will always remember being the driver of this unique group of passengers.    

 

 

                                                 

           

 

 

 

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REMEMBER:  The road to success is always under construction! 

 

 

*SIDENOTE*:  There are SO many 8^th graders that I enjoyed having in my classes this year and I am going to miss them all.  Each 8^th grader brought something unique to class and I wish them nothing but much success in high school.  I wish I could have listed them all – but I only have so much time before I have to go back to work.  Keep in touch, keep and eye out for the VW and remember any time you see Johnny Depp – Mrs. Ryan really likes him! J