The Struggle is Real

So this post is probably going to be more therapy for me than anything else.

This is my first year teaching (besides the preschool) and it has been rough but good. I did not do as all of my peers advised. I did not start strict and then relax. I started loosy goosy and fun which was fine for most of my classes except for my biggest class. They constantly push the envelope with me.
I am lucky I really only have trouble with one of my classes trying to walk all over me and take advantage of me. But unfortunately, I have found that the only way I can get them to pay attention, respect me, and follow my classroom rules I have is to be super strict and mean. I honestly hate it. It stresses me out and I am saying things that I instantly regret because we are trying to get under each others skin and somehow I let them under mine. Those of you who know me, know that I am a very easy going person...well atleast I was. I find I have a whole new list of pet peeves that seriously grit at me and cause me to lose my patience. It doesn't help that they are on constant repeat 5 days a week.

This is really the main reason why I started my blog again. I have become a very negative and tired person since I have started teaching. It is hard and I need to vent and welll I am doing it all the time since the misbehavior and disrespect is so constant. But then I become that person where people ask you, "then why are you doing it?" And then you start questioning that yourself..."Why did I choose this career again?" I don't want to be that person. So in order for me to not explode I need to vent but to do it more constructively I will do it in my blog. Then I will finish off with positives and focusing on the reasons I have for becoming a teacher. It will not be done with good grammar since I will just be spewing things onto the page.

VENT # 1-Disrespect
               I have never seen a group of kids who feel they are entitled to respect but only GIVE it to those they like...including, teachers, cops and even principals. They argue when they are punished as if they don't deserve it and bad mouth and talk back to people they feel they don't need to respect because they don't like them. I'm sorry but I was taught those who have authority over me such as teachers, cops and principals are to be respected no matter if I like them or not because they are my elders.

The positive is not all of my kids are like that and the ones that aren't are the diamonds in the rough. Sweet and polite. I find it a privilege to have them in my class.