Teacher's daily prayer

I was new to this high school, and to the students it served.I settled into my seat at the front of the classroom.Of the thirty students, I counted just 10 in their seats.The students didn't seem to want to be there.They sat in their chairs, staring out of the window.

The back door opened heavily.After Mike came Belinda.No apologies, no explanations.“Things will get better,” I told myself, and began the first lesson.Perhaps because I was nervous, I ran through the material more quickly than I should have.“Wait,” interrupted Mike.“I didn't pay good money to come to a school where the teacher doesn't explain things clearly.” It was forty-five minutes before class ended, but I couldn't go any further.In all my years of teaching, I'd never had a class like this.

The next day I got to school early as usual.This time the students showed up on time, but half the students didn't take notes.They acted as if they were sitting there to meet a requirement.

Why couldn't I reach them?

“You try picturing them being happy and successful, ” my husband advised.

The next day, I pictured each student listening, taking notes, raising their hands and learning.Then at school, my eyes moved from chair to chair.I thought about how hard they worked during the day, studying late into the night or whenever they had a spare moment.

Things started to change.During the break, Mark even volunteered to help me set up my materials.Belinda stayed focused, quietly taking notes.

At our last class Mike handed me a thank-you card signed by every student.One comment stood out: “It took me a while, but I found I enjoyed your class.Nothing could take away the joy I got from my experience.Thank you, Belinda.” My eyes were filled with tears.

Reading Check

1.How about the students first mentioned in the text?

A.They were cool and polite.

B.They were almost absent from class.

C.They were all promising.

D.They were never late for class.

2.What can we learn about the author?

A.She wasn't new to teaching.

B.She loved educating students.

C.She can't explain things clearly.

D.She was given a warm welcome.

3.Why were the author's eyes full of tears in the last?

A.All her efforts to teach her students paid off.

B.She felt heartbroken for her students' failure.

C.She can't tear herself away from her students.

D.Everything about the student was unchangeable.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

They sat in their chairs, staring out of the window.

【信息提取】現在分詞短語staring out the window作狀語，可以表示伴隨動作、原因、結果，以及目的等。

【句式仿寫】他們笑著，跳著，走出了教室。