If you build it they will come!

Today I had my afterschool tutoring. I've had this tutoring time every Monday and Thursday since September. I stay afterschool to give extra help to my students in anything that they might need, but specially for math.
Well I usually have the same kids, and some finish their homework and some ask for help as they go along. This tutoring time has been created with the intention of helping the students that are in danger of failing or are actually failing. Of course, these kids don't necesarily come on a consistent basis, but the help is still there for them. Today though, one of my lowest performing students showed up today and he just sat there w/ his head down for about 20 minutes. I kept asking him if he was going to work and he responded w/ "I am I have my paper out." "Ok", i would respond "but if you need any help, I am here to help you." He sat there for a while longer and then I spoke to him again, "It doesnt look like you are working. If you dont need the help, then I am going to ask you to leave." He responded very rudly, "Well I DONT GET IT" (I hate this response) "Are you asking for help or are you just letting me know that you dont understand?" I said. "Ms. Torres could you please help me?" I said of course and sat down next to him.
We actually finished his math HW assignment and I am so pleased because he has not turned in HW for a few months now. He will ocme to class tomorrow and actually have his HW!!!
Iam hoping and praying that this does not become a one time thing, but that he will see how good it feels to have his HW and be ready for the next day.
Also... my little turtle (my slowest student in the history of slow) finished his HW during tutoring and he was so surprised when I told him that I was proud of him!

It is small moments like this that help me to continue giving to my students and my career. Now i am praying for more of these!

I love to see their faces when I tell them that I am proud of them and that I knew that they could do it!

I'll keep holding tutoring classes... we'll see if they continue to come!

Last Day of Spring Break!

Today is Friday and it is the last day of Spring Break! I woke up this morning thinking "Where did the week go?"
I am actually feeling rested and I also feel that I got lots done in my house and I also had a lot of fun!
I have not even opened any of my materials for planning or looked at any student work to grade. I love that! I am always thinking of the next thing that I will be doing in my classroom or with a specific student or with a great learning strategy that I will be using in the classroom.

This break I decided to make it more about me!!

I woke up without alarm clocks, I read, I watched tv (I acutally caught up with all the shows that have been recorded) and I went to universal studios with my sister.

I also experienced riding the red line metro going to Universal Studios. This was such a scary experience! I enjoyed it though because I knew there was someone waiting for me at the end of the trip.

I dont know if I will be thnking about my classroom until Sunday evening, but I know that I am happy with my amount of resting because after Spring Break it will be a long haul until June.

Yay for breaks and Holidays! I know that these days keep us from killing or seriously hurting a student or a co worker.