An Inspiration

I recently read a newspaper article about Khadijah Williams, the homeless girl who got into Harvard. This girl has been to 12 schools in 12 years because she, her mother and little sister have moved from shelter to shelter or street to street for most of her life. She graduated last week, 4th in her class, with honors. Her story is quite a story and it got me thinking about my own students.

My school is primarily a low income, English as a second language school. A lot of our kids have issues that they deal with; issues that are way more pressing than school. Most are economically disadvantaged, many live in apartments with several other families, some have parents who have committed suicide and others have parents in jail. Our transiency rate is very high. In fact, this year I had 5 out of 16 kids who came mid-year or later and for a few of them, we were their 3rd school this year. We are always trying to find ways to motivate and make our kids do well in school so they have more opportunities. But for some of them, nothing we do inspires them. They still come to school everyday; we are a place of consistency and safety to a lot of them, but they don't live up their potential. Khadijah Williams did. She was motivated to make her situation better. She is a role model.

Even though my summer just started, the new school year is right around the corner. Every summer is a time to regroup and rest, but it is also a time to think of ways to make more of an impact than I did the year before. I want all my kids to be like Khadijah Williams. I don't mean I want them all to go to Harvard, but I want them all to think of their education as more than
something we make them do. Each year that is my goal. Each year I always feel like I've failed with some of them.

A Smelly Story

A week or so ago, Happy Wife posted about a smelly situation at her new job. That got me thinking about a smelly story of my own. Let me just say that the main story is not funny

at all. How I handles the situation was the funny part.

During my second year of teaching, it was just before recess and there was a faint, but bad smell in my classroom. During some student work time I wandered around the room, sniffing trying to locate the it. I found that it was coming from one of my little girls who I will call B. Now, B's mother was dying of cancer and that was all B's father could possibly deal with so B and her brother's hygiene hadn't been as good as it should have been. During recess time, I went to the health assistant to get some advice on how I should handle this. She said that it could be halitosis, or really bad breath, if brushing her teeth hadn't been a priority. So I asked around the office for some gum or mints to take back. The other kids had started commenting about the smell so I wanted to nip it in the bud as to not embarrass B. We scrounged up some peppermints and I picked up the kids to bring them back to class.

After recess, I played a game and handed out mints. I didn't want to embarrass her by just giving her one. So a few students "won" mints including B. The smell didn't completely go away, but at least everyone around B also "won" a mint, so we masked the smell as much as we could until we left for lunch.

During lunch my assistant principal found me in the staff room and laughingly told me the health assistant was ranting and raving. Apparently, one of the yard supervisors found B in the bathroom and somehow realized that she had actually had an accident and the smell was not halitosis, but rather "number 2". The health assistant was running around the office telling everyone, "The girl pooped her pants and Pumpkin Delight gave her mint!"

And the Muppets Win By A Landslide!

Last week my 2nd graders earned a "Marble Party" by accumulating 100 marbles in a jar for outstanding classroom behavior since August. I told them that it was their party and they could democratically plan the party according to the majority's votes. After a short discussion, three choices were agreed upon - A Pizza Party, A "Potluck" Party, and A Rootbeer Float Party - I know how cute is that? Then we took a vote and the "Potluck" Party and the Rootbeer Float Party tied. Collectively we decided that we could do both. I would provide the rootbeer floats and if students wanted to bring in treats to share with the class, they were allowed to to do that. This year's class is sooo easy going that I could have just given them all a hug or high-five for the "Marble Party" and they would be thrilled, so a combination "Potluck"/Rootbeer Float Party is so fantastic they can hardly stand it. "I'm so excited!" one student exclaimed waving his hands, fanning his face.

I promised the kids that during the party I would show them a movie as well. I found a few movies that I could access to show on my "magic" whiteboard, and the next day we voted on them. Their choices were Madagascar, Meet the Robinsons (which I kept referring to as Mrs. Robinson), Ratatouille, and the Muppet Movie. I added the Muppets to the list at the last minute because in December I showed them the Muppet Christmas Carol after studding families/traditions in England. They really enjoyed it so I thought, "What the heck, this will give them another choice."

Much to my surprise, the Muppet Movie took all but a couple of the votes. The kids were thrilled with the choice. Now, as someone who grew up in the 80s, I love the Muppets. They are a hoot! I was really surprised though that the kids would be so excited about them. The Muppets aren't sleek and sassy (except for Miss Piggy of course) and the shows and movies certainly aren't fast paced. As a teacher, every year I see attention spans reduce and expectations increase as our world's technology advances. More of my kids have video games than books, so this vote threw me for a loop. I'm thrilled that my kids want to see a movie that's not popular and trendy and not only did they vote for it, they can't stop talking about it. The Marble Party is this Friday and all week they've reminded me that it is this Friday. "Don't forget the movie," they tell me. "I think that movie is going to be so funny," they tell each other. It's really very sweet.

Did you watch the Muppets (shows or movies) when they were popular? Who were your favorites? I think all the characters were very funny, but the two old guys who heckled in the theatre crack me up!

I'm Old!

I'm taking a break from trip posts to tell about an event that happened this afternoon.

After work today, I came home, changed into my jammies, and started making dinner. During dinner prep my doorbell rang. It was about 5:00 and since I was in my PJs, I decided not to answer the door. I never answer the door if I am not expecting someone. Who comes to the door at 5:00 in the evening? Solicitors, that's who. Important people in my life don't just show up at my door unannounced.

The doorbell rang. Then there were knocks on the door. Koho, my dog, of course went nuts; barking and running around the house. I still ignored it.

After a few moments, I heard noises in my backyard (which is really the side yard - I'm on a corner lot). I looked out the window and saw a boy, of about 12, running in my backyard and then back out again. After getting over the shock of seeing someone back there, I got upset. I marched to the front door, opened it, and yelled, "What are you doing?"

Three boys who stood at my side gate looked at me and froze. After a moment, one of the boys walked away shrugging, while I yelled, "Come here," to the other two. They walked over to my half open door (still in my jammies) and stood looking at me. Koho continued to run around the house barking so I couldn't open the door all the way. This is how the rest of the conversation went...

Me: What are you doing? (shrieking)
Boy 1,2: Uh, uh
Me: What are you doing in my backyard? (still shrieking)
Boy 1: Uh, we had to get this (holding up something that was shot out of a big toy gun)
Me: So you just decided to go in my backyard? (no longer shrieking, but talking in my stern teacher voice)
Boy 2: We knocked on your door.
Me: I don't care. You went in my backyard! (shrieking again)
Boy 1, 2: (stare)
Me: Where do you live? (shrieking continues)
Boy 1, 2: (points behind my house)
Me: How would you feel if you found me in your backyard and I wasn't supposed to be there? (Back to the teacher voice)
Boy 1: Pretty mad.
Me: Yah, pretty mad is right!
Boy 1, 2: (stare)
Me: I don't want to ever see you in my backyard again. That is not ok!
Boy 1, 2: OK
Me: Never again! (almost shrieking)
Boy 1, 2: OK
Me: Sheesh (closes the door)

So, let me ask you, did I behave like the old, scary cat lady that lives in the neighborhood? Did I react like the cranky, old neighbor who says, "Stay outta my yard ya young whipper snappers." I think so. In my defense however isn't that breaking and entering? I'm just saying. Anyways, now if my house gets T-Pd, or egged, or I get murdered in my sleep we will know why.