Somehow, I've gotten on the good side of a former student's mother.
The student ran up to me on Tuesday, and told me her mother was preparing food for some teachers, and took my order. Now, last year, the student, a sweet Muslim girl with a whip-smart mind, shared some of her lunch with me a few times. I remember eating the sweetest corn bread I'd ever tasted, and she grinned at me and told me the secret was maple syrup in the batter. After that moment, she would bring things in to me from time to time. And it was never less than terrific.
So I gladly wrote my order down, hurriedly and a little confusedly in between classes. Phone number? Check. Dietary resrictions? I'm one of those vegetarians who eat fish, so I'm really a pescetarian. Spicy? Heck yes.
Yesterday, she brought me grits, scrambled eggs with tuna, and buttered toast. I was in the middle of teaching, was shocked by the kindness, and stammered a thank you and set it on my desk. I had two classes to go before I had a break and could eat it, and could smell the aroma wafting from being my computer. I stomach was growling by the time 10am rolled around (my current schedule, which is getting up at 5am, working out for 90 minutes, eating a Fiber One bar at 8am in a car on the way over to school, and then working for a couple of hours before any other break, contributes to my hunger.)
I thought it was a one-time thing, but, today, at 8:20 am, I was in the middle of the drill when I heard a knock on my classroom door again. Another tupperware container. Another meal of grits, scrambled eggs, and toast. The only change was, this time, she had plastic silverware wrapped inside a napkin. She grinned, handed it to me, and told me she'd see me tomorrow.
Talk about feeling appreciated. And, wow, that's some damn good food she's giving me. What a cook! I'm pretty sure she's making multiple deliveries around the school, although her current English teacher has not gotten in on the action yet. I asked. You know, "So, is Rabiya's mother bringing you a gourmet breakfast every day, or is it just me?". Ha.
Anyhow, another great thing happening this week, in a rather wonderful week start to the school year.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Observation and effect about looking grubby in a grocery store
I live almost exactly halfway between the Harford Rd. Safeway and the Moravia Rd. Giant. I'd never been to the latter, though, and since I've been unhappy with the lines at the Safeway so much lately, I decided to check out the Giant. After an after-school hour nap so I could stay up to see Barack Obama tonight, I threw on a pair of sweat shorts, a white undershirt, and, because I couldn't find my sandals, a pair of dress shoes without socks. A pretty impressive sight. But I just needed milk and a few other things.
And, of course, at the grocery store, I see four students who graduated from my school last year. The former student of mine yelled across the store at me, making a big scene of waving at me. The three kids I didn't teach were a little more uncertain, saying "Hi" to me and waiting for recognition back. Since I didn't teach them, I couldn't offer any, so was just polite. "Aren't you the baseball coach up (school)?" one kid outside asked, after his friend sort of looked up at him like, "Why are you talking to this poorly dressed white man?". He was right, though, and they both talked to me for a while even though they had never had my class.
It was a good reminder to (a) look a little more presentable when I leave the house, because you never know who you'll run into; (b) I like living in the same area as my students; and (c) I love the fact that I've sort of set up these kind of roots in the city and at my job. It makes me feel part of the greater school community.
*****
A great day with the 9th graders today. I'm teaching them text-marking and analysis for theme, and tomorrow we're going to turn it into an Observation / Effect thesis statement. You know, stuff like, Cisneros uses olfactory imagery and child-like similes to demonstrate the theme that a mother's love is the only thing that can keep you safe in a tough world. That's for "Hairs." One of my ninth graders, working ahead, came up with that one today. Not bad, for a ninth grader, eh? So far, we've only learned about four or five literary devices (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and today, the five kinds of imagery - visual, olfactory, auditory, gustatory, and tactile), but it's a start. We start Fences next week. I'm just running off some vignettes from Cisneros.
The first week of school can be frustrating a bit, because you feel like a paper pusher. So much paperwork that I just wish teachers weren't in charge of - emergency cards, textbook contracts (ironically, I haven't had textbooks for my class in six years), acceptable use policy sheets, syllabi, free and reduced lunch forms. I didn't get enough of any of them, and still don't have enough free and reduced lunch forms. So this year, I tried to be really tough, and say that I was only accepting these things the next day, and counting it for a grade, but, you know what? The kids still forgot them, and I still need them, and now I have to convince them other ways. And call home. And hope they bring them in. And then check them off. And then alphabetize them. And all I want to do is teach!
Today, I felt like I did, and didn't give up any of the time to do that BS. It felt awesome.
And, of course, at the grocery store, I see four students who graduated from my school last year. The former student of mine yelled across the store at me, making a big scene of waving at me. The three kids I didn't teach were a little more uncertain, saying "Hi" to me and waiting for recognition back. Since I didn't teach them, I couldn't offer any, so was just polite. "Aren't you the baseball coach up (school)?" one kid outside asked, after his friend sort of looked up at him like, "Why are you talking to this poorly dressed white man?". He was right, though, and they both talked to me for a while even though they had never had my class.
It was a good reminder to (a) look a little more presentable when I leave the house, because you never know who you'll run into; (b) I like living in the same area as my students; and (c) I love the fact that I've sort of set up these kind of roots in the city and at my job. It makes me feel part of the greater school community.
*****
A great day with the 9th graders today. I'm teaching them text-marking and analysis for theme, and tomorrow we're going to turn it into an Observation / Effect thesis statement. You know, stuff like, Cisneros uses olfactory imagery and child-like similes to demonstrate the theme that a mother's love is the only thing that can keep you safe in a tough world. That's for "Hairs." One of my ninth graders, working ahead, came up with that one today. Not bad, for a ninth grader, eh? So far, we've only learned about four or five literary devices (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, and today, the five kinds of imagery - visual, olfactory, auditory, gustatory, and tactile), but it's a start. We start Fences next week. I'm just running off some vignettes from Cisneros.
The first week of school can be frustrating a bit, because you feel like a paper pusher. So much paperwork that I just wish teachers weren't in charge of - emergency cards, textbook contracts (ironically, I haven't had textbooks for my class in six years), acceptable use policy sheets, syllabi, free and reduced lunch forms. I didn't get enough of any of them, and still don't have enough free and reduced lunch forms. So this year, I tried to be really tough, and say that I was only accepting these things the next day, and counting it for a grade, but, you know what? The kids still forgot them, and I still need them, and now I have to convince them other ways. And call home. And hope they bring them in. And then check them off. And then alphabetize them. And all I want to do is teach!
Today, I felt like I did, and didn't give up any of the time to do that BS. It felt awesome.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Fans and funny kids
1. So, the Superintendent of schools visits three bloggers in the BCPSS on the same day? It's not like the system is teeming with bloggers; in fact, we might be the only three regular updaters. Is Dr. Alonso trying to tell us he's a fan? Or is this a strange coincidence?
2. Day 3 was the Summer Reading Quiz day for the 9th graders. Pretty boring day, instruction-wise, but I'm starting to know the students better. At this point, I know the funny kids, the unique ones, the participatory ones, and, in one occasion, an overly talkative one. Yes, I have the kid who identified his name as "Wu Tang" at Summer Bridge, and now he sits in my classroom, constantly talking. Nothing rude, and he's a little bit funny - "Dag, (my last name), why couldntya sit me next to any females?" he asked me yesterday. I had to chuckle.
3. My Juniors will be okay. They just need to work really hard this year. I did something really stupid in my lesson today. We were discussing the Observation-Effect-Larger Implication thesis statement, where the observation is the writer's observation of a literary technique that a writer uses. Techniques are nearly limitless, and I had a list of about twenty on the paper. I didn't feel like the kids were listening very well as we were reading through the handout, so I asked them to read the list silently and mark any they were not familiar with. Then, I answered any questions they had. Well, they had tons of them, and we took way too long with them, and I didn't have nearly enough time to explain homework or complete the class activity that led up to it. I think confusion is okay, and that this struggle often leads to education, but I didn't want this much tonight on this assignment. I got a facebook message from an older brother of a student in my class. He's off at Georgetown now, and the younger brother had asked the older brother for help with the homework. "Dang, (my last name), are you already working them so hard on the second day of school?," he asked, softening it with a "LOL." Yup, I guess so. Hopefully they all do their best and come with something. Pretty abstract concept.
2. Day 3 was the Summer Reading Quiz day for the 9th graders. Pretty boring day, instruction-wise, but I'm starting to know the students better. At this point, I know the funny kids, the unique ones, the participatory ones, and, in one occasion, an overly talkative one. Yes, I have the kid who identified his name as "Wu Tang" at Summer Bridge, and now he sits in my classroom, constantly talking. Nothing rude, and he's a little bit funny - "Dag, (my last name), why couldntya sit me next to any females?" he asked me yesterday. I had to chuckle.
3. My Juniors will be okay. They just need to work really hard this year. I did something really stupid in my lesson today. We were discussing the Observation-Effect-Larger Implication thesis statement, where the observation is the writer's observation of a literary technique that a writer uses. Techniques are nearly limitless, and I had a list of about twenty on the paper. I didn't feel like the kids were listening very well as we were reading through the handout, so I asked them to read the list silently and mark any they were not familiar with. Then, I answered any questions they had. Well, they had tons of them, and we took way too long with them, and I didn't have nearly enough time to explain homework or complete the class activity that led up to it. I think confusion is okay, and that this struggle often leads to education, but I didn't want this much tonight on this assignment. I got a facebook message from an older brother of a student in my class. He's off at Georgetown now, and the younger brother had asked the older brother for help with the homework. "Dang, (my last name), are you already working them so hard on the second day of school?," he asked, softening it with a "LOL." Yup, I guess so. Hopefully they all do their best and come with something. Pretty abstract concept.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Day 2, Year 8
Day two was much cooler in the classroom. Even though my digital thermometer only read three degrees or so cooler than yesterday, I wasn't sweating profusely all day, and it felt a lot better. I think it was a combination of less humidity and a cooler breeze. Also, I think that my blue Oxford just makes me sweat more. Or something.
Otherwise, though, I'm still trying to get into the swing of things. Teaching really is exhausting, and it's hard to get into shape at first. I might hit the sack really early tonight, even before Hillary comes on. I'll be able to watch the clips in the morning at the Y on the eliptical, I suppose.
Things are gelling nicely so far. Good kids. Still the honeymoon stage. I stayed until nearly 6:00 tonight finishing summer reading quizzes, though, so I'm beat. G'night.
Otherwise, though, I'm still trying to get into the swing of things. Teaching really is exhausting, and it's hard to get into shape at first. I might hit the sack really early tonight, even before Hillary comes on. I'll be able to watch the clips in the morning at the Y on the eliptical, I suppose.
Things are gelling nicely so far. Good kids. Still the honeymoon stage. I stayed until nearly 6:00 tonight finishing summer reading quizzes, though, so I'm beat. G'night.
Monday, August 25, 2008
87.8 degrees and Dr. Alonso visiting my classroom
A couple of Christmases ago, my parents got me a digital wall clock that also tells the temperature, both inside and out. I used it for a bit, but I have a thermostat, so am never really wondering what the temperature is. I got the idea this year to bring it into my classroom, figuring the large digital features might help with timing, on occasion, and kind of totally forgetting about the temperature gauge.
Today, though, I concentrated on that little number every period. At 7:45 am, I had come from a decent workout (6:00-7:30) at the YMCA, and, despite my shower, was still sweating a bit. Taking two loads of crap up the four flights of stairs to my classroom didn't help matters, and, by 8 am, the time the students arrived, I was pretty much drenched in sweat.
That's sort of my m.o., though; I'm always sweating when I teach, especially in September and October. Last year, one young man, when doing a parody of 9th grade teachers in his drama class, portrayed me by running across the hall to the drinking fountain, drenching himself with water, and then teaching. I try to embrace it, I guess, knowing there's nothing I can really do about being high-energy and naturally sweaty in a 90-degree environment. I wear tons of antiperspirant and carry around a sweat towel and drink tons of cold water but I'm still a hot mofo.
The thermometer didn't help matters. Every hour, I saw it inching upwards. 83 degrees at 8am. 85 by 10am. It did not go above 90, but hit a high of 87.8 degree sometime in the early afternoon. It felt hotter, though - no breeze through the windows, considerable humidity.
I was drenched in sweat, then, when Dr. Alonso, the Superintendent of schools, stepped into my classroom at around 1:15 pm today. We had heard rumors over the last few days that he was going to visit, but I thought the rumors had passed, so certainly was not expecting him. I just looked over, and, all of a sudden, there he was - shorter than I'd imagined him, a little thinner, smiling at me in the doorway. With him was an entourage - my principal, an older woman who I didn't recognize, my department head, another adult figure I didn't know - and, as always when something like that happens, I didn't quite know what to do. Go over and shake the hand of a man I'd come to respect quite a bit over his year running the schools? Ignore them? I decided on a nod and a smile, and continued with the students, who were busily finishing up their summer reading quizzes.
I don't know why they were there, other than to check out the first day of schools. I have gained some considerable interior decorating skills in the years that I've been part of these dog-and-pony shows, and definitely made sure to have my "Core Learning Goals" up, but, beyond that, I'm pretty proud of my classroom anyway - barely an inch of wallspace is uncovered, with posters of authors and literary terms and Negro League baseball players alluded to in Fences and "words to use when writing about literature" and "transitions" and calendars and just about anything else you can think of - and only heard good things later when my department head recounted the "Thank you for being ready to go" praise we later received.
Otherwise, he first day of school was as it always was - exhausting, with equal parts dullness ("Oh, let me read through this syllabus for the 5th time while my students sit in a heat-induced coma") and excitement ("Oh! All my new students! And all my old students shouting 'Hey!' down the hall!"). Thank goodness the Charles Village Coldstone Creamery seems to be employing about half of the female seniors at our school; they always hook us up with deeply discounted ice cream and today was definitely a day for ice cream after work.
Today, though, I concentrated on that little number every period. At 7:45 am, I had come from a decent workout (6:00-7:30) at the YMCA, and, despite my shower, was still sweating a bit. Taking two loads of crap up the four flights of stairs to my classroom didn't help matters, and, by 8 am, the time the students arrived, I was pretty much drenched in sweat.
That's sort of my m.o., though; I'm always sweating when I teach, especially in September and October. Last year, one young man, when doing a parody of 9th grade teachers in his drama class, portrayed me by running across the hall to the drinking fountain, drenching himself with water, and then teaching. I try to embrace it, I guess, knowing there's nothing I can really do about being high-energy and naturally sweaty in a 90-degree environment. I wear tons of antiperspirant and carry around a sweat towel and drink tons of cold water but I'm still a hot mofo.
The thermometer didn't help matters. Every hour, I saw it inching upwards. 83 degrees at 8am. 85 by 10am. It did not go above 90, but hit a high of 87.8 degree sometime in the early afternoon. It felt hotter, though - no breeze through the windows, considerable humidity.
I was drenched in sweat, then, when Dr. Alonso, the Superintendent of schools, stepped into my classroom at around 1:15 pm today. We had heard rumors over the last few days that he was going to visit, but I thought the rumors had passed, so certainly was not expecting him. I just looked over, and, all of a sudden, there he was - shorter than I'd imagined him, a little thinner, smiling at me in the doorway. With him was an entourage - my principal, an older woman who I didn't recognize, my department head, another adult figure I didn't know - and, as always when something like that happens, I didn't quite know what to do. Go over and shake the hand of a man I'd come to respect quite a bit over his year running the schools? Ignore them? I decided on a nod and a smile, and continued with the students, who were busily finishing up their summer reading quizzes.
I don't know why they were there, other than to check out the first day of schools. I have gained some considerable interior decorating skills in the years that I've been part of these dog-and-pony shows, and definitely made sure to have my "Core Learning Goals" up, but, beyond that, I'm pretty proud of my classroom anyway - barely an inch of wallspace is uncovered, with posters of authors and literary terms and Negro League baseball players alluded to in Fences and "words to use when writing about literature" and "transitions" and calendars and just about anything else you can think of - and only heard good things later when my department head recounted the "Thank you for being ready to go" praise we later received.
Otherwise, he first day of school was as it always was - exhausting, with equal parts dullness ("Oh, let me read through this syllabus for the 5th time while my students sit in a heat-induced coma") and excitement ("Oh! All my new students! And all my old students shouting 'Hey!' down the hall!"). Thank goodness the Charles Village Coldstone Creamery seems to be employing about half of the female seniors at our school; they always hook us up with deeply discounted ice cream and today was definitely a day for ice cream after work.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
First day school eve
Tomorrow is the first day of school.
I still get that nervous, jittery feeling. I still lay out my clothes (or, at least, pack my gym bag full of them, something I don't generally do other days, which is why I sometimes end up at school wearing sneakers or without an undershirt, because I forget them in my morning mad dash).
When I first started teaching, my department head - who, at the time, doubled as the Advanced Studies Coordinator, the Assistant Principal, and the Scheduler, and now is pretty high up in the BCPSS, and who, in a way, taught me how to teach - said that on the first day, that you should go over policies and such, but that it's important to have some sort of learning activity, and some sort of homework. I've subscribed to that every year. My 9th graders tomorrow are getting about a 10-minute run-through of the syllabus, but then we're taking some notes on the literary term theme, then listening to a 9-minute tape of Langston Hughes' "Thank You, Ma'am," then discussing the theme of that story, and then starting a handout on the theme of the summer reading texts that they'll finish for homework. My Juniors will actually take their summer reading quizzes, then get started on their group presentations for said summer reading. The first day of school is paradoxically both exciting (because you get to see all your friends, because you meet all your teachers) and dull (because every class is listening to rules and regulations), so I'm trying to jump right in without the dull part.
I'm excited.
I still get that nervous, jittery feeling. I still lay out my clothes (or, at least, pack my gym bag full of them, something I don't generally do other days, which is why I sometimes end up at school wearing sneakers or without an undershirt, because I forget them in my morning mad dash).
When I first started teaching, my department head - who, at the time, doubled as the Advanced Studies Coordinator, the Assistant Principal, and the Scheduler, and now is pretty high up in the BCPSS, and who, in a way, taught me how to teach - said that on the first day, that you should go over policies and such, but that it's important to have some sort of learning activity, and some sort of homework. I've subscribed to that every year. My 9th graders tomorrow are getting about a 10-minute run-through of the syllabus, but then we're taking some notes on the literary term theme, then listening to a 9-minute tape of Langston Hughes' "Thank You, Ma'am," then discussing the theme of that story, and then starting a handout on the theme of the summer reading texts that they'll finish for homework. My Juniors will actually take their summer reading quizzes, then get started on their group presentations for said summer reading. The first day of school is paradoxically both exciting (because you get to see all your friends, because you meet all your teachers) and dull (because every class is listening to rules and regulations), so I'm trying to jump right in without the dull part.
I'm excited.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Saturday in the classroom
The classrooms are set up, but the copies are not yet made. Our department copier has been used by every department in the school, it seems; Science apparently has no copier, so they've been coming down, and Foreign Language has as well. Now we have no toner, and I'm not sure how we can make the copies today. Maybe we'll have to get ourselves over to Social Studies, if they're still stocked up.
I'm pretty excited about today, when I'll head into school and get as much forward planning done as I can. They're opening the building from 9 to 4, and I'm excited by it. Working all week has been great, but also full of distractions and capped with a 2.5 hour-meeting in a sweltering libraries yesterday.
I'm pretty excited about today, when I'll head into school and get as much forward planning done as I can. They're opening the building from 9 to 4, and I'm excited by it. Working all week has been great, but also full of distractions and capped with a 2.5 hour-meeting in a sweltering libraries yesterday.
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