Presents from my Students

Is it me???

I keep asking myself..what am i doing wrong? I try to change my techniques, my instruction, my lesson plans, and it doesnt seem to be helping.

Today I had one girl push another twice in front of me. Another boy went to sit on the rug, because he didnt want to stay in his seat (even though he had just come back from being out of the room for an hour) and fell asleep during my lesson. Two other boys get so upset when I asked them to do work (in partners, mind you) but they grunt and slam their books on their desks. 5 students raise their bathroom passes in the air the minute i start my instruction for the lesson. And others still do not understand why i reward the students who do their work on time, and not them??? I DONT GET IT! Am i pushing too hard? But, they have to learn!

And perhaps me trying to change, and trying to make things better, is too inconsistent and makes them more frusterated???!!!

HELP!!!!

The song that moves me...

what good is it to live
with nothing left to give
forget but not forgive
not loving all you see?
-Coldplay


Listen and Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypZORJCH1m0

the People

Living in NYC you can feel completely alone, by retreating to your studio apartment and not leaving until you have to the next day. Or you can get yourself out there and meet new people, feeding into a large community of people who a variety of ambitions and careers. Not that that group of people does not exist in other cities. However, I believe there is more of a chance meeting a larger quantity of people in a shorter amount of time, in NYC...you just have to know how to make the connections.

For example, here are the people I met last night at my friend Rebecca's grandmother's Hanukkah Party:

1. A woman who teaches special ed. in a montessori school with 3-4 kids in her class!!! THis made for a good conversation of how backwards our school system is.
2. A lawyer who gave me advice on how to sublet my other apartment.
3. A real-estate woman who is going to help me and Teresa find someone for our other apartment.
4. A local artist who is going to introduce me to local potters/teachers so that I can take a class!

It was quite a productive night...and not to mention, the amazing latkes! (which I am attempting to make tonight)

Chappy Chanukkah!