To my fellow teachers...

I got him.

You know that gangbanger kid that looks at you everyday like you are the stupidest, most annoying, bitch he has ever had the misfortune of meeting?

The one that you have to constantly remind yourself to look at every 15-20 seconds to make sure he has not snuck his iPod headphones in, isn't tagging on your desk, or isn't setting the kid next to him on fire.

The one that when the office calls because his probation officer wants to see him you gleefully reply, "Sure! Keep him as long as you want!"

Yeah, him.

Today he actually deemed on of my lessons mildly interesting enough to accept the handout and work on it.

Then he asked for help.

Even raised his little, thuggy hand!

And when I explained it, he did it, then asked if it was right, and I said, "Yes, exactly like that. Nice."

He gave me that 'Hey, I actually get it' half smile and proceeded to finish the lab with a clear understanding of the material.

And we are not talking some '2 + 2, George Washington was the first president of the United States' bullshit. We are talking the 'Independent assortment of chromosomes during Metaphase I of Meiosis' kind of 'get it'.

I had to check to make sure my heart had not literally burst out of my chest.

Boo. Fucking. Yah.

That, my friends, is the sweet crack hit of teaching. The type that will keep you going through mind-numbing faculty meetings, endless, asinine staff development sessions, and stab-yourself-in the-eye-to-avoid-the-pain District Site Team meetings. All for the faint hope that you will feel that again.

I just thought I would share before I see him again and regain my status as the stupid, annoying bitch.