My project (i.e. self-proclaimed long lost son) didn’t do well (or as well as he is capable of!) for the 1st semester. He received an A- in my class the 2nd quarter after stepping up his game, but his GPA was pretty low. He was sitting outside my classroom door when I came back from grabbing my lunch today. We talked about grades and his plan for the new semester. Goal = 3.0 GPA

O: Mama, would you beat me if I got a 4.0??
Ms. A: Isn’t a 4.0 a good thing? Would I beat you!?
O: Yeah… because you would know I could have done it all along!

I’ve already known it all along. I need to figure out how to get more of my kids invested in my class, and me, and believing they can succeed.
About a month ago he told me that he didn’t know he was good at science until this year… And with exception of 1 aunt, I am the only person who has ever told him that I am proud of him and he will go far in life.

And few days ago he said, “You know mama, now that I know I can do it everything seems easier so I want to do it more.”

Am I the most effective teacher? No. Am I making a difference? For at least a few students, yes.