Count On Me

I just had a moment in my classroom that I needed in the worst way. My class this year has been a real challenge. They are a group of kids who are most happy reading the textbook, filling in the worksheet and bubbling an answer on a test. This is soooo not my style! We have been butting heads all year long. I want to push them and they refuse to be pushed. I was talking to my husband just last night about how I don't feel like they really need me there, that I'm not really teaching them anything that they couldn't get out of a book.

So starts another day...
My kiddos have been working on a poetry portfolio for the last couple months and one of the requirements is to memorize a poem and recite it in class. Today we started sharing our memorized poems and one of my students chose to sing the Bruno Mars song, Count on Me. I had to stifle back tears. Let me explain why.

This student was in my combo 5/6 class last year and he was quite a handful. We had weekly meetings with parents and there were daily behavior/homework reports going home. I actually really like the kid but he had issues. As we set up classes for this year I vowed to get to this kid and I have to say that this year has been an incredible year for him. I do not take much credit for this! He has really turned himself around. Listening to him sing today (and the choice of song) was a culmination of who he has become and, gosh darn it, I am going to miss this kid! I am so proud of him and the accomplishments he has made. In fact I am going to send an email to his mom later today to say so and he will get a letter from me as well.

I have been feeling very frustrated this year with the state of education, the apathy of students, the lack of support from parents, etc, etc, etc... (Which I'm sure many of you can commiserate with!) This one act, from one student, has restored me.

Thank you, Jacob.  

Count On Me by Bruno Mars

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see
I'll be the light to guide you

Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

[Chorus:]
You can count on me like 1, 2, 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it
I can count on you like 4, 3, 2
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do

If you're tossin' and you're turnin'
And you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Every day I will remind you

Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go
Never say goodbye
You, oh, you

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you