HURRAH!!!!!

So I know that I've complained here numerous times about my fifth period class- mainly the three guys that drive me crazy. Well, here is an update. I finally got so incredibly frustrated that I emailed the counselor, the Vice Principal and the two case workers of the special ed kid (we'll call him John to preserve some anonymity). John's the one on a special ed plan who sits and does nothing and disrupts the class and usually ends up sitting outside because class runs much smoother with him not around. Basically I told them all that I had tried everything I could think of with him, that I had no more strategies and that if something didn't change (talking to his parents, talking with the counselor, etc.) then i didn't want him in my class anymore. It was that bad. So a few days later, he starts shaping up.... I talked to the Vice Principal and apparently there was a meeting with Dad, both Dad and Johnny boy were crying and basically they told him that if he wasn't going totake advantage of his special ed accommodations, they would take him off and he'd have to repeat the eighth grade. Since then (about a week), he's been amazing! Doing his work, not talking in class, it was fantastic! I even wrote a note home to Dad about his change in behavior. He still needs constant attention, especially to keep him on task, but he's working! By goodness he's workign! This week was a little less positive but he was still working, just a little more jumpy. But a few warnings sets him back on track.

So, then, with John not taking out, I still had to deal with Brandon (again, anonymity, not his real name). With John not taking my attention and acting out in class, Brandon decides that it's his turn. He makes fun of other students, calls them mean nicknames, draws inappropriate pictures with his friend, and so he started being the one to be sent outside. Basically, you act out in my class, you're out. You don't get me respect, you're out. So he's here Monday and Tuesday of lats week and then was out Wed-Fri as well as Monday and Tuesday of THIS week. And then, thank you Jesus, I get a big white paper which reads that Brandon is transferring out of the school. Hallelujah! I was so incredibly excited. I know that's horrible but with Brandon gone and John not acting out anymore and the third amigo of the group having no one to banter with, I so looking forward to actually being able to teach my fifth period. I don't expect a huge change because I have a lot of ELL students in the class anyway, but I will now have more time to focus on the other 18 students in the class, not just the two of them. So excited!!!!