Where It All Began

This is my first ever post on here. I'm a bit nervous that it will not take off like I would want it to, but all in God's hands and in God's time.

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sara Cart. Mrs. Cart to those I work with in my classroom.

Yes, I said classroom. I am a middle school teacher at a charter school in Toledo, Ohio. My students need a loving guide with some good ideas to keep them engaged.

When I first started teaching people would ask what grade I taught I would say 6-8. (This is no lie, I do teach 6-8th grades. Then the face would fall and dark shadows seem to cover their eyes. That would be followed by one of two comments:

1. "Oh you poor thing..."

2. "Are you asking for punishment?"

I don't think I'm a poor thing, I'm just poor. (Occupational hazard.) And I really don't view my students as a punishment, just a challenge on some days.

I hope that blog will help spread some ideas for ways to teach middle school students who just don't want to be taught. I am also hoping that this will help me release some of my stress.