Oh the joy of 8th graders

So some of you know that I have started a new job (and some of you might be keeping score that, yes, technically that means I am up to 3 jobs now) teaching 8th grade Art at a local middle school. Since I have only experienced 1 week of these students, I am going to keep this entry short and to the point in order to not discourage myself from the learning process of it all. Hopefully, I will be able to add more as my time with them progresses through the remainder of the school year (I am already counting the days left). 

Basically, it was... to say the least, not easy... and not fun. Factors such as class size (38 students) and school geography/socio-economical status, added with my inexperience produced a depressing result to my first week as a teacher: failure. But, I am always up for a challenge, so I am not giving up... it's a learning experience, and I am soaking it all in.

I can sum these 8th graders up in 2 statements:

1. They make the gang-affiliated, incarcerated youth offenders I teach through Juvenile Probation seem like angels.

2. One student drew me a sketch on the first day of my instruction that was titled "Welcome To hell."

Enough said...