School Memories Linky

I saw this linky and took a trip down memory lane.  My school career did not start out so bright, but I was lucky and it turned around for me.



My first memory, actually the only memory of Kindergarten was making an art project and getting yelled at by the teacher because I drew and cut out a circle in the middle of the paper not the side. She was angry that I had "wasted the whole paper!" Maybe she didn't like my haircut;)

I also remember being in gym class, it must have been 1st or 2nd grade and someone whistled.  Well we all had to sit down and we got yelled at for whistling in school! The boys said the girls did it and the girls said the boys did it. So we all sat for 40 minutes during gym class.  Honestly those are the only memories I have of K-2 grade.  We lived in Downtown Denver, lets call it pretty low income (ghetto).  It was a pretty rough neighborhood. I wasn't allowed to play in the front yard, it was too dangerous and I have memories of gunshots and a man chasing a woman down the alley with a knife!

Well in the last half of 2nd grade we moved to the suburbs.  My mom and dad had saved to buy a nice house and get us into a nice neighborhood with good schools.  My school was right down the street and it was brand new!! I could even ride my bike down the street:)

The teachers were pretty nice and young! I didn't get yelled at all the time, and I think they actually liked kids!  I had the same teacher for 3rd and 4th grade. She was okay, but I think I annoyed her or something, she always sat me next to the worst kids. I was quiet and shy, not super smart and the only minority in the school. I never complained and I was picked on alot, but she never really did anything about it.

 Then I moved to 5th and 6th with Miss Bresnahan. She was tough, but loving.  When I didn't understand something she worked with me to figure it out.  She realized that my parents first language was not english and I think it made her want to help me more.  She celebrated my successes and made me feel like I was important....somebody special:)  By the end of 6th grade I knew that I wanted to be a teacher just like her.

I try to remember this and make a difference in students lives as much as possible.  Some days aren't easy, but after a negative word or action,  I try to back it up with lots of positives!

I would love to read everyone else's memory lane stories so please link up with Jennifer at Simply Kinder.