The bell chides my lateness, coffee spills from my cup, and papers scatter to the floor. Twenty-six 8-year-olds instantly mark me as fair game. I swallow hard and collect my wayward papers. I begin with spelling and misspell my first three words, just as the principal walks in with two parents. Sally corrects my spelling in front of her mother and I shrivel to a shell in front of them all. For the millionth time I quit teaching in my mind, then I breathe, turn to my students, trip over my feet, and spill my remaining coffee on the principal.
Matt Yost is a primary school teacher, tutor, youth worker, and writer. Chaos and teaching seem to go hand in hand, and surprisingly learning seems to happen.