Change of mind

This morning I am going to the funeral of my former student, killed in a single car accident in the early hours of December 31st.  I wanted to go pay my respects, but didn't think the district would be able to find enough substitutes for all the elementary teachers who would want to attend.  (She has daughters in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade.)

Originally, I thought I would go to the evening visitation, but the family opted not to have one.  I truly understand.  I can't imagine how hard that would be on all of them.  But, that left me the option of sending a sympathy letter and donating to her memorial.  It didn't seem like enough, but it was going to have to do.  Until...

A 6'4" young man stopped by my room yesterday.  My former student's oldest child is a freshman in college this year.  He stopped in to talk about his mom, her death, and to find out if I was going to be at the funeral.  He knew I loved his mom when she was my student, and I loved having her son in class just a few years ago.

The top of my head doesn't even come close to his chin, and yet I felt like I was looking at a lost little boy.  His first semester in college has been tough.  He came home a lot because he missed his family and hometown friends.

And now when he comes home... she won't be there. She may have been my cheerleader at Tiny Town High for a few years, but she has been his cheerleader and biggest fan all of his life. 

When you're holding an 18 year old boy who just lost his mom, his best friend-- you figure that you will find a way to be there for her, for him, for all of them.  (I made a few calls.)



And so today, I will be right where I should be.   

Nothing Like It

There can't possibly be anything more fun than being a teacher at Christmastime when there is a full moon.

Yeah, right.  Combine the full moon, the excitement of the season, and the energy drinks these dears seem to inhale and you have the makings for a disaster.

The inmates are running the joint, and this warden has a headache.

Beating My Head Against A Stone Wall

I've been grading "Our Town" tests.  An essay question asks about the theme of "Our Town."  A student writes:

"Don't take life for granite." 

So life isn't a rock?  Really? 

And I saw that answer more than once.  More than twice.  More than three times.

*sigh* 

Spelling lesson on tap for today!

Cell Phones at School

Our students use cell phones between every class at Trailer High.  They are walking a block between classes, and obviously-- it is impossible to control. 

But what about when the new school opens?  Administration is thinking of allowing cell phone usage between classes, but not in class or at lunch.   

Are we doing students a disservice by allowing cell phone usage during passing periods?  Many businesses will fire employees who use their cell phones on work time.  Hospitals don't allow them.  A local car dealership has banned them for their employees.  A teacher can't or shouldn't use their cell phone during the work day.  No service industry can allow them.  (Is it possible to wait on customers and talk or text at the same time?)  High school students on internships for a nearby school, often lose their internships due to having cell phones out on the job. 

It seems a bit silly to think that high school students would need to use their cell phone every 50 minutes or so.  How much important business are they conducting during the day?  Do parents need an hourly update?  Will they lose their boyfriend/girlfriend if they can't text them once an hour?  In the future it might be impossible for them to make it through a five or six hour shift without using their phone. 

Right now, students try to text during class, in the restrooms, and even during in-school suspensions.  The other day a cell phone went off in my class, and the girl blamed it on "butt dialing."  Her exact words.  *sigh*  Her cell phone was in her back pocket and when she moved it brought up her voice mail on speaker phone.  (You can double that sigh!)  Yeah, and she wasn't happy when I took the phone hostage for the remainder of the day.  It was a whopping two hours left, and her withdrawl shaking started almost immediately. 

Are we discouraging cell phone usage or making it acceptable in an environment that should be treated as a training ground for the work place? 

I have no answers-- just a lot of questions.  Feel free to chime in.

It's A First

I'm still working on my reception post.  There are some cute dance pictures I am putting into a collage, etc.  Thanks to my brother-in-law, I now know how to save the pictures in smaller pixels so my post doesn't take as long to load.  Those of you with slower computers know what I mean!  It is nice to get computer advice all the way from California! In the meantime... 

I've never had this happen before.  Ever.

When the students in my trailer classroom write essays, I always have them turn the desks around so that their backs are to me.  Since they compose their writings on laptops, I can monitor their computer screens. They can't see when I'm watching them, so they stay on task.  It is easy for me to check to see that they aren't playing solitaire or messing around on the internet. 

The other day I happened to notice that one girl had typed her name, date, and hour on the heading and seemed to be spending a great deal of time thinking about what she was going to write next.  I looked at her screen from time to time and nothing changed.  Ever.  No progress. Nothing. 

When the screen on her computer finally went to sleep, I waited for her to "wake" it.  When she didn't, it occurred to me that she was asleep, too.  Yep.  Sitting straight up in her desk, she was sound asleep.  She didn't wake her screen until I woke her.  *sigh* 

It was one of those moments when I really should have been irritated, but all I could do was laugh.  It still makes me chuckle every time I think of it. (By the way, it's kind of hard to discipline students effectively when all I can do is laugh.) The whole class got a good laugh out of it.

Funny.  She doesn't appreciate my sense of humor as much I do.  It may have to do with me (and the whole class, for that matter) having a laugh at her expense. 

I can't wait for Parent/Teacher conferences.  Her mom is a former student.  I have a hunch we'll have a lot to talk about.

DUH

My students were typing essays this past week.  We talked about the format required like double spaced, 12 point font, etc.  During 1st hour a student asked, wait for it...

 "Do you mean we have to hit the space bar twice between every word?" 

Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!  These are sophomores.  It scares me.

"I teach, therefore I drink."

Tuesday Tune- "Only In America"

This is an old song and an old video by Brooks and Dunn.  (2003)  I like the song and think it is perfect for the 4th of July weekend ahead.

"Only In Amercia-  where we dream as big as we want to!"



I've always identified with the bus driver in the lyrics of the first verse:
Sun coming up over New York City
School bus driver in a traffic jam
Starin' at the faces in her rearview mirror
Looking at the promise of the Promised Land
One kid dreams of fame and fortune
One kid helps pay the rent
One could end up going to prison
One just might be president

Every school year there is one moment toward the end of the year where I sit looking at the faces of my students, wondering what they will end up doing with their lives and praying that life will be good to them and that they each will reach the best of their potential. 

And yes, I've taught students who worked part-time jobs to help their parents pay the rent or the electric bill-- while their classmates were working to pay for clothes, dates, or their car insurance.  I've taught students who have dreamed of fame and fortune-- several are still trying to make a go of it in Hollywood or New York City.  And I just had a student who is probably headed to Nashville in a year or two.

Unfortunately, I've also taught students who have gone to prison.  (In 31 years of teaching--you see it all.) 

I haven't taught a president, though there was a student I used to tell that he needed to keep his nose clean.  When he ran for president, I didn't want to have to tell any embarrassing stories to National Enquirer.  (It's always the sophomore English teacher who gets interviewed!  Well, at least that is what I told him!) 

Every year I feel like I'm looking at the "promise of the Promised Land."  Yep, teaching is a great job!  And I sure like this song--"Only in America."  I'll be humming it for the rest of the day.

Students and Send Offs

I guess I should know the eye looks bad when a boy from the back row of the room raises his hand and says, "What's with the eye, Mrs. E?"  Don't I wish I knew!  I may go to walk-in at the Dr. office today to see if there is anything medical magic can do for me. 

Yesterday was the last day for the seniors.  My trailer colleague and I were really surprised by the number of seniors who came by with a senior picture and to tell us good-bye.  It was incredibly sweet.  If they hadn't stopped by, we never would have seen them. 

Maybe the fact that we all weathered the tornado and trailer school together made the students and staff bond in a way that we hadn't before.  We've had to be there for each other.  It was the only way to survive.

For a school that is incredibly spread out, we have become closer in all the ways that really count. 

Best comment of the day?  One senior boy as he was leaving said, "Be sure and let me know when you are moving into the new building next year.  I'll come back and help you move."  And that from a student who will never get to go to school in our new building.  It made me tear up and gave me a lump in my throat. 

The best part of my job:  the students.  Always the students.

April Fools

A colleague teaches Huckleberry Finn to her Freshmen.  They've been discussing what happened to runaway slaves.  A student asked if the teacher had seen "Roots" where the runaway slave had his foot chopped off as punishment for leaving.  Another student said, "Ewwww. Would the foot grow back?" 

Seriously??  Yep.  Just flat out scary, isn't it?!!

What a Difference a Day Makes

Wednesday was one of those days that the kids at Trailer High dread:  it poured.  We had our own Tiny Town Lake just outside my trailer.  (Seriously, the next time it rains like that we are finding a snorkel, mask, and fins for a photo op!)

Adorable rain boots were out in force.  Who could resist this pink polka dot fun?  Unfortunately, some of the kids who weren't in boots had water wicking up their jeans.  I think we had about an inch of rain over the course of the day.  There were some wet, miserable students begging for me to turn up the heat to take the chill away.

Then this adorable outfit showed up in a downpour to tell me she had a meeting.  (Obviously, she isn't superstitious!)  I made her stick around long enough for a photo.  She was definitely a bright spot in a dreary day.

Then Thursday:  sunshine and 60 degree temperatures!  We might have had pretty cold breezes, but we had sunshine!!  Ahhhh....

I caught this deck lounger texting on her cell phone and waiting for her teacher to return from lunch.  If there is sunshine, the students are finding a way to enjoy it.  (Notice the boots though--we have plenty of mud to make boots necessary for several days!)

We've had two days of sunshine this week, so that means the return of "sunset services" on Easy Street. (Sitting outside, enjoying a drink, and watching the sunset.)  Baxter and I play. I find sticks for Baxter to fetch or throw his little baseball to amuse him, and what does he do?  He pounces on leaves and tries to eat them.  Argh! The pup is obsessed! When the Mr. gets home from work, we'll sit and talk and watch Baxter attack leaves.  Sometimes we go for a walk and try to wear Mr. B out so he will sleep all night.

We like it when the sun shines down on us.  That means construction can continue and keep us on schedule to be in our new building by next January.  We are more than ready.  Tiny Town has needed the sunshine. 

Though the moonlight is nice, too.  It's been a long winter.

Trailer High After Snow

You know what happens when snow melts.   Trailer High has been dealing with a lot of slushy water, ice, and mud the consistency of runny gravy.  UGH!  But it is all expected when you go to school in the midst of a construction site. 

The other day I needed to walk the block long cattle chute to the trailer classrooms on the other side.  I got to the entrance of the chute, and this was my choice:  4 inches of water or 4 inches of sludge.  There was no way to jump over it and no way around it.  Did I want to be soaking wet or ruin my shoes in the mud?  It was the end of the day.  The kids had been dealing with this all day long, AND NO ONE HAD SAID A WORD! 

I chose the water, soaked my good shoes, and then reported it to administration.  Repairs were being discussed. 

Kids have fallen on the sidewalk ice.  One girl fell on the frosty deck outside my room.  Not a word.  No one even came in to tell me.   

One boy came in yesterday after falling in the mud.  I know think he had help with that.  The smiling, tardy boy said, "See, Mrs. E.  I really couldn't help it this time."  He headed into the bathroom to clean off.   He wiped off as much as he could, though his jeans were a mess.  After he left, I went into the bathroom and remembered that my paper towel dispenser had been jammed since noon, and the custodian hadn't come by yet.  He didn't even have paper towels to use.  Not a word.  

The kids don't complain or even alert the office when there are mud holes to dodge or bad conditions to deal with.   

So, this is Trailer High:

They have very little parking so they are parking several blocks away from the school.  Using their car for a locker is no longer an option. 

They have no lockers.  They carry it all in their backpacks.  

Mud and water puddles are everywhere.  (Strangest moment of the week: Two boys with incredibly muddy boots volunteered to "power wash" them so they wouldn't track in mud.   Scarier?  I let them!) 

Athletic teams have been struggling in just about every sport this year. We have very few wins to boast.

And yet--the sophomores are happy, smiling, and cheerful every day when they enter my classroom.  They joke.  They mess around.  They always have a story to tell me.  Morale is surprisingly good. 

No one is more amazed that I am...and their attitudes and cheerfulness are contagious.  

I keep wanting to ask: "Who are these people and what have you done with the students of Tiny Town ?"

So now I'm just wondering: Did someone put an antidepressant in the town's water supply??!! 

Friday Favorites

Coming off vacation, school got off to a rough start. I think this teacher underestimated how much my students had missed each other over break and how much talking they had to get out of their systems. By Wednesday, school life was returning to normal. (And then we take a 4 day weekend.  I'm guessing there is a repeat in my future!)

Here are some of the top moments of my week. 

1.  The cold weather accessories are always fun!

I loved these colorful gloves and the Kitty Kat stocking cap.

Furry hoods and hats were worn by both girls and guys.

Yeah, my students are pretty good sports to let me focus my camera their way.

2.  And here is my student with the cheery mohawk:

He is so creative, and I have no idea how he gets it to stand up like that! Besides having hair that always delights, he is just one sweet soul.  He always has a smile and a kind word.  

3.  When the snow started Wednesday afternoon, we had an announcement that we would be out of school on Thursday and Friday due to the cold.  The kids were more relieved than excited.  They knew it was going to be miserable, if not downright dangerous, walking our "hallways." 

This was the view from the front door when I got home:  still snowing and the wind was picking up.

4.  Soups!  This week we have made chili, turkey rice vegetable, and Calico Bean soup.  I could eat soup for every meal; the Mr., not so much.  However, we knew he was going to be working the RV show and wouldn't be home for many meals, so meal preparation is now easy for me:  heat up a bowl of soup.  I've got a feeling that next week will be all about the meat and potatoes!

5.  The new blog project for 2010 kicked off.  Alicia of NYC and I are posting joint pictures of our distinct locales every Monday.  Our first post theme was New Year's Eve.  You'll have to wait until Monday to see what our next theme is.  I've had my camera fairly busy the last few days trying to get the perfect shot for Monday's post.  (I have to show off my Midwest!)  

We're ending the week with bitter cold and snow drifts on Easy Street, but home is pretty comfy and warm.  There really is no place like home, but I better be able to get out and around before the cabin fever sets in!

Some things you just don't forget

I've already written about how Mom died 19 years ago. She was only about 5 years older than I am right now. (That seems impossible for me to believe!)

Teaching + emotional turmoil has all the makings for a disaster. And yet...

I came back to a desk full of notes and cards. Early in the day, a local florist delivered flowers from a student and his dad. My sophomores were wonderful.

The topper of it all was from a student I had in class the year before. This junior boy had given me so much grief during his sophomore year. He was one of the youngest in his family and the only boy. He was too smart for his own good, a good athlete, and he was about 5'2" tall. He spent most of his HS years 'proving' himself and driving teachers and administrators crazy. Do you see where this is going?

When he was in my class, C would frequently say totally inappropriate things. This was during the Michael Jackson crotch grabbing days. Any time I wasn't looking, C would saunter down the aisle grabbing his crotch to entertain his classmates. Students complained. He and I had more than one heated discussion about his behavior. He pushed every button that I had. I was so relieved to make it through his sophomore year without strangling him!

About three days after Mom's funeral, his mom knocked on my door at home. She had a beautiful, fresh green Christmas wreath. She told me C had asked her to deliver it to me. He had told her, "Mom, it's Christmas. Mrs. E can't be feeling like doing anything for the holidays this year. Those two little girls (K & L were 10 & 8) need Christmas. It will be a start to her decorating." Yeah, his mom couldn't believe it either. She told me C so rarely showed his thoughtful side to others-- that when he did, she was going to act on it. I was so touched. Words failed me.

Who would have believed it?

Who would have believed C would ask me if he could be my aide his senior year? Was he nuts? I had barely kept from killing him his sophomore year; I didn't think we could chance another year together. I wanted my last memory of him as my student to be of that thoughtful gesture.

And I think of that ornery face every year when I hang the Christmas wreath. Some things you just don't forget.

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am grateful for students who work to get involved in the activities of the school.


Homecoming week is in full swing. Each class has been building floats for the parade tomorrow. It has also been spirit week. Watching the students enjoying themselves has been great fun. The excitement to join the hilarity seems to have grown day by day.

Monday was crazy day. There were some strange outfits. (The gentleman in the middle didn't really participate, but he just had to get in on the pictures.) I'm sure the construction guys have been amused when the students walk between classes. Besides crazy colors, a couple of guys had their jeans on backward. I hate to think of how uncomfortable that was!
Most kids figure out an outfit that involves comfortable shoes. However, there were a couple of tutu girls, who opted for heels instead. I have no idea how they survive walking the blocks between classes!
Tuesday was toga day. There were a lot of bedsheets around--and very few of them were white. I saw a flannel dinosaur sheet, some black and white striped, and a Hello Kitty. I'm not sure what the Romans would have thought!

These 1st hour girls were happy to pose for a picture. (Some of the togas were off as soon as they got to P.E. They said they were too hard to put on again. I think a lot of Moms had to help put them on before school.)

This guy was the sophomore winner of the day. He was still in Julius Caesar gear 7th hour.

Wednesday was celebrity day. Betty Boop and Audrey Hepburn stopped by to see me. (This Audrey is a huge Hepburn fan.) We had Snow White, Hello Kitty, the Cat in the Hat, Larry the Cable Guy, several Miley Cyrus and Brittney Spears, and even a couple of students dressed as our principals. (I guess the principals are local celebrities!)

7th Hour, Gene Simmons of Kiss and the Energizer Bunny showed up for class. Kids are very creative. I was always lousy at Halloween costumes, let alone a different costume every day for a week!
.
Last year this week went by practically unnoticed. Trailer school was all too new and overwhelming, or we were all too numb--I'm not sure which. This year, it is obvious that we are adjusting and back in the swing.

.

We may not be winning a lot of games this fall, but you'd never know it by the laughter and joy of this week. School spirit is evident. What a difference a year makes!

.

Long live teenage enthusiasm! (And help me to remember that when they are driving me crazy!)

Big Night in the Small Town

Prom night 2009. A little different this year, thanks to the tornado. Bleachers were pulled up to a side door of the one school wing left standing. Family, friends, and townspeople gather. You wonder what they are watching?

You know you're in a small town, when crowds like this show up to watch the prom couples entering into our gym/cafeteria/auditorium. (The kids refer to it as the cafagymatorium.) Big schools host their proms in hotels, and this might have been a good year for us to do that, too. However, the tornado left our multipurpose room. (We have found it to be VERY aptly named this year.) Since this is where prom was held in the past, the tradition continued.

We used to have a beautiful circle drive and front hallway for the couples to enter. This year they had to maneuver steps and enter a side hall. However, Dads serve as valet parking and our principal announces couples as they enter. Who needs a big city hotel?

Seeing how the couples arrive for the big night is always fun. There are hot cars, hummers, and limousines.

Farm trucks are plentiful, and one couple showed up in a John Deere tractor. Another arrived in the local police car with the lights blazing.

My favorite this year-- these two lovely ladies were arriving in style. This isn't a motorized wagon. Their dates pulled the wagon for their grand entrance.

Even a tornado can't stop some traditions from continuing. Dressing up and having a memorable night is still a priority. I have a feeling that this will be both a year and a night to remember.

Small Town Sunday Snapshot

Celebrating Success

This calls for a toast. My sophomores did exceptionally well on the State Reading test. As my students were finishing session 3 of the test, I found myself refreshing the results page every 20 seconds or so. Our State site gives results immediately after the student finishes the 3rd session. My heart was racing in anticipation. I felt like a sports coach, watching a close ballgame go into overtime. And each time I refreshed--more good news. Many scored at the Exemplary Level. Ninety-nine percent reached the mastery level. This is, by far, our best performance.

Still, my heart aches for the few who didn't make it. I know how hard they worked: the practice tests they did outside of class time, computer game reviews they played, and the effort they put into it. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances--like when English is not the language spoken in your home. Bless their hearts. I couldn't ask for more than what they gave me--their all.

Saturday Blues

Normally, I love my Saturdays: reading, coffee, catching up on what I missed doing during the week. Today, I am grading research papers. Some are good. Some didn't pay attention. Some did the bare minimum. So, about 75% of them will be very dissatisfied when I return their papers. I'd like to say, "Live and Learn." They won't. So far, I've seen two "A" papers. *sigh*

14 papers to go = 4 hours of grading *bigger sigh*

Papers being returned on Monday = "Let the good times roll!" *groan*

Fashion Week

The miserable temperatures gripping the nation this week had a definite affect on the fashion look in our schools. Travel from modular to modular meant bundling up against wind chills at -10 degrees. Just to give you a glimpse of the fashionistas:

Pink hands and noses meant creative ways to keep warm and make it to class. Worst move of the week: forgetting your gloves for Construction Tech classes who were working outside. My favorite look of the week: Carhartts over a shirt and tie for game day.

Some days...

So our project in Sophomore English is to research a vacation place somewhere in the 50 United States. My favorite moment: At the beginning of the project one girl asks, "Now, I know Alaska isn't in the United States, but is Japan?" Seriously, you can't make this stuff up!