Title 1 Schools

Teaching in a Title 1 school is a crazy thing. I've talked about it a little bit here, but you truly do not understand until you actually are a part of it yourself. Yesterday was the last day of Quarter 3, meaning it's the last 3 week track out break before the end of the school year. I am having many mixed emotions and have been discussing all of them with the other teachers on the 7th grade hallway. One of them (who I respect deeply as a teacher and as a person) made a post about a puzzle on Facebook that really hit me hard. I wanted to include some of her story here, because like I said, it's hard for people to understand what it's like teaching at a Title 1 school. This story really encapsulates how I feel, so here it is.

"To some people this may be an ordinary puzzle. It's missing 2 pieces, which may drive some people to the point of insanity. But to me, this puzzle holds hope. 

I work in a Title 1 school. Working in any school holds its own unpredictability and constant motion, but working in a Title 1 school adds another piece of your heart that you give to your students. The other day, my assistant principal and I were talking in the hallway between classes when no fewer than five students approached me (for help, for reassurance, or simply just to stand close by). That was in just three minutes. For eight hours a day, I answer countless questions (many of them not academic), mediate conflicts, tend to real and imagined illnesses, and somewhere in the middle of it all, I try to teach. I love my students, but my brain is in overdrive. So I pulled out a puzzle. 

During arrival, I drag a desk to the doorway, and puzzle. The calm before the storm. I've had puzzles available to students at previous schools, but this puzzle became special. Students began to help. Some students do puzzles with their families at home, many have never attempted a puzzle before. The most beautiful part was watching them come together, students of all academic levels, backgrounds, and languages, working together. Everyone had a place. Everyone could contribute. 

The 500 piece puzzle took about two weeks. We had placed the final piece at 3:16 on the last day of school. I began the puzzle for myself, but I never imagined it would become something so much bigger."

Now to all of you who took the time to read the story, it might not have hit you as hard as it hit me. I truly teared up reading it. Transparently, I have been applying to other schools, mainly so that Clayton and I can move to an area more south that we like better. Since I started applying, I've been feeling kind of negative about my job now, really hoping that I get accepted to the jobs I applied to. I applied to schools in a better area, trying to veer away from Title 1 schools. This post hit me so hard with the feeling that I was supposed to work at the school I'm at now. I interact with at least 200 kids a day, and I could be doing so much good. But with the mindset I've had this last week, I now feel insanely guilty for not seeing all the good in my job. 

I have students who beg to fill up my water each day. Students who will bring me a chair in the hallway when they see me sitting on the ground. Students who leave me notes on my desk. Students who clean my room when they see the messes. Students who ask me about my day and if I'll keep them during lunch or during my plannings. Students who hug me when they leave class. Students who tell me about their personal lives and ask me for advice, or just want to tell me like I'm one of their friends. Students who bring me food from home that they made me. And so much more every day!

I could be doing so much more for them, and could be appreciating more all that they do for me. I truly love my job and want to do all I can to not cloud my thoughts with feelings of overwhelm that comes from being in this position. Teaching is definitely not a job for everyone, but I know it is the job for me.