Frustrated

I am just very frustrated today. It's not really anything I could or should discuss on a public blog, but I am just so tired and frustrated. As a teacher, I find it difficult to always be nice and polite. It's hard when you repeat yourself for what seems like 5,000 times and, yet, nothing changes or the direction is not followed. I realize that this is a normal thing. It is not a particular student "out to get me" nor are they trying to drive me nuts. It's just hard when you deal with the same things day after day.

I have said on here before that I try very hard to be a positive person and I fully believe that being a positive person and having a positive outlook should be a top priority for myself when it comes to students, but it is tough. I am disappointed in myself today. I reacted in a way that was not only negative, but border-line rude. I apologized to the student for speaking to her the way I did and, to be honest, I think she was over it after that... but it is really just weighing on me. I know that they learn from me- not only what I teach- but the way I act and the way that I present myself. They learn more than just subjects from me and I should be a living example for them of how to behave. I also know that I am human and that there are some days when I simply reach my breaking point. That is not an excuse, however, and I will not make it one.

I don't want everyone thinking I am a horrible person because I spoke to a student in a way that I regret. It is not that I said anything mean, it is that I said it in front of her classmates and I should have pulled her aside. I do not at all believe that public humiliation is an ok form of punishment. That is never ok. As I said, I did apologize to her and I think everything is ok.

Anyhow, I'll stop worrying about it and just learn from the lesson.

There is a quote, and I am not sure who said it, but it goes like this, "Teachers teach more by what they are than by what they say."