While some people have said that the week flew by, with Matt in the field, Amy and Em up to their eyes in work, and my kids being made of the crazy all week- it's been a long one. I mean there have been some high points, like our first day of 100% participation in every class (which just feels like a win as a teacher). But there have also been a ton of low points, like having to write up one of my best students for a technology violation- ("I hate that I have to do this, but you know better" "yea, I do").
But this morning was epic. I managed to lock my car keys, classroom keys, house keys (yes, I have a lot of keys), cell phone and school bag all in my car. Also, the car was running. Also it was 8:02- so class started in 28 minutes. What went from "running a little late" quickly became- MASSIVELY late. I was panicked. The staff is already short handed because of a death in the community and a bout of strep throat that is going around. I was already doubled up for classes in advisory and third block. I could not afford to be late.
At this moment, the neighbor also walked out of the house. I told her what happened and she laughed at me, but let me use her cell phone to call maintenance, who has the spare key to my apartment. They showed up at 8:24, and let me in. I ran in, grabbed my spare car keys, unlocked the car, grabbed my cell phone and called the high school at 8:28.
"Have security let my kids into my room, I'll be there in 3- 5 minutes."
8:33- went through the metal detectors with the fastest time ever
8:35- ran up the stairs near my classroom with visions of kids running around, throwing things, screaming, biting each other, and destroying the room flashing in my head.
8:36- walked into room 206 to find my entire first hour seated in their assigned seats with their binders, and a sheet of paper. The first thing I hear when I walk into the room "hey, that's yesterday's journal question on the board- where's today's?"
I wanted to cry. I wanted to hug each of them. Though there have been some low points this week, the realization that my kids will do what they need to do even when I'm not around- made this week entirely worth it.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Summer
It has been a long time since I’ve written here, and even longer if you dis-include my musings about the modern church (the endings of which are banked and will hopefully be posted soon.) It’s the middle of October and I’ve been in my second year of teaching for a month and a half. This seems strange to me… no way is Halloween in 2 weeks. No way is the semester a third over. No way has it been 2 whole months since I left Motown and the D. Just No way. So a life update seems in order.
*This summer, I worked for Motown Mission, while it was one of the greatest summers ever and I met some of the most amazing, fantastic people, it was also the point I think I finally realized how much weight I’d gained in my first teaching year. It was a sad, sad summer of avoiding having my picture taken.
*Steve broke up with me. There, I said it. There are a lot of things that broke that relationship, and a lot of hurtful things said and done. Some of them may be forgiven some day, but they won’t ever really be forgotten. But that’s part of growing up, and growing strong, is learning to move on when the people who weren’t supposed to hurt you- do.
*This year, I’m teaching 2 blocks of ninth grade English, with real live 14 year-old ninth graders. It’s been great. We started our year by drafting learning contracts. I wrote one for them, they wrote one for me, and both can be seen below. We started our year with a review unit affectionately called Unit ½ . Our Unit 1 followed the text of the Catcher in the Rye, which (save for a few students) has been an overwhelming success. Believe it or not kids like to read things that were meant for their grade level, even if it’s challenging.
*I’m also running a brand new program at TCHS called Media Arts and Studio Productions. It’s been a huge challenge to write my own curriculum for a program that is like and unlike any other program in the country. While I started with memories from Hepler’s media class at FHS, this quickly took on a life of it’s own as we started working in the block. The kids have been producing the news for exactly 2 weeks now, most of the time they do a really great job. Feel free to check them out at
*I’ve learned some things about myself in the last few weeks, and I secretly think I’ve known them all along, but didn’t realize it. First, I like to learn new things. Whether that’s figuring out how to use a green screen in the studio or learning about Rumspringa or great feuds of the Tudor family, in a really nerdy way, I enjoy the simple process of finding out something I didn’t know before. Second, I like a good challenge. I like taking on things that are hard, whether that be the impossible sock yarn blanket or baking a gingerbread caramel upside down cake that is made entirely from scratch. There’s something about setting up the odds and then persisting until it works that is deeply satisfying. And so here’s a picture of my cake.
That’s it for the life updates. I'm going to go eat some cake now.
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