flat tire

Yesterday was one of my best teaching days yet! I nipped discipline problems in the bud while remaining chipper. The kids wrote page long journals about their life in 20 years. They engaged in conversation about oxymorons and paradoxes. The classes were quick paced. The students and I were amazed at our efficiency.

Today was okay. I'm learning how to relax in the disfunction and chaos. Things are never as they should be. The copier is always jammed or busy with 10 page packets when I'm working with tight margins. My planning-period ward needed much one on one work with prepositional phrases. Today as we were writing down literary terms to play bingo, I could see the kids get excited about how much they learned. They wouldn't stop spouting terms even though it meant more work. They were having fun. But, the natives are restless with the weather gorgeous.

But, the highlight of this teaching week has come during Walk and Talk. My 12 and 13 year olds are enthralled by the catepillars. They pick them up and play with them: they have the critters crawl up sticks. So, there are a couple of boys we had to say, "Don't step on them." But, for the most part they're gentle and curious with them. Seeing my little punks play with catepillars makes me appreciate them more. It reminds me that there's more to them than bravado, whining, body humor and sexual innuendo. I got to see them as precious little kids delighting in fuzzy worms.

This afternoon as I was hurrying to meet the Chief in order to meet my sister for dinner, I realized I had a flat. I could hear and feel it. Thankfully, the custodian was out dealing with trash. He fixed it with only a few comments about how dang hot it was. I gave him the towel I had in my gym bag, which helped a little.

I went to the place I bought the tires with the donut. They replaced the tire; whatever metal I ran over tore up the inside of the tire. Yay, for warranties and good customer service. I need to get Triple A for my car. It's common sense when your car has over 254k miles on it one might think.

I finished Jean Ferris's Bad tonight. I felt a large part of the book was about the power of literature in a reader's life. I got a list of books I'd like to read from it (Road to Oz). The protagonist's teacher assigns her books, which she falls in love with in juvie hall. I enjoyed it, and, more importantly, I think my kids will. I now have to create a Reading Guide. Then, I've started Sebestyen's Word by Heart. It's a powerful story, but I wonder if the setting and diction will mess with my kids.

Slated for tomorrow: long run and sewing. Don't I sound like a hip 60 year old-- not to mention I ordered something from Talbot's this week. And, I'm so ready for bed. Note to self: I hang out with the Chief and her sister altogether too much.