Report Cards

First semester reports are going home this afternoon. I always loved report card day as a kid, but this isn't true for a lot of my kiddies. However, when I was looking at our team's report cards, I was humbled by how well some of the kids are doing in my class. We're talking the awkward, shy, "weird" kids-- they're rocking my class and failing the easier classes. Please don't get me wrong, other kids are failing my class. But, I find it so rewarding to have these social misfits trying and succeeding in my class. It feels like an A+.

Everytime this season comes around, I wish I had the power to issue report cards to more than my students. Say, some colleagues, bosses, businesses, family members and friends. Some cards would let them know what a great job they're doing: "you are so encouraging and kind-- you made my day three times in the past two months". Others would be a swift kick in the butt. Um, you're going to be an acquaintance a long time before you pass to friendship. Conduct needs improvement.

Plus, I'd like the no-nonsense feedback report cards for myself from loved ones, strangers, colleagues. I sometimes give into self-delusion. Apparently, lavendar isn't my color as my brother pointed out, and maybe I'm a little too free expressing my opinions and not so good at hearing others. A list of strengths and weaknesses is good. I always was strong at Language Arts and History but not so much in Math and Science. The trend continues.

classy

So, I'm going to my Freelance Journalism class tonight. I'm excited and tired. What kind of people sign up for this kind of class... besides me, of course? And, is it going to rock my world and alter my path OR is it going to be a waste of money and time? Sometimes, you just have tiptoe out on the limb. No hands, no hands.

And, I'm getting excited about this job I know nothing about in a Harlem magnet school. I'm perfecting my personal statement so everybody's going to die wanting me. I can already hear the Academic Deans panting and I'm not even to my rough draft.

Speaking of, my classes are going really well this week. I'm slowing things down-- adding five minutes more than instinct tells me. And, the kids seem more motivated. It's counterintuitive. Plus, I started a reading log with lots of columns (I'm going to institute graph paper next and let them make bar graphs of their pages and hours read. They're going to love it!)

I bought opera tickets on a whim Monday for Saturday as one is want to do. Yea, now they're forecasting for snow. Yikes. La Boheme. La Natural Disaster.

I need to study for my Praxis tests.

wacko, presto

Today was a wackfest from start to finish. I enjoyed my classes overall, but had way too many meetings about the impending doom that is the field trip on Friday. It has catastrophe stamped in huge red letters all over it-- but we cannot abort this mission. The kids are gung ho, the money collected, the arrangements made, the permission slips collected, etc.

Then I sat through a two-hour mandatory meeting about... I don't know what. It was colossal waste of a lot of people's time. I have no idea what the objective of the meeting was.

Then, I made the strategic mistake of browsing in the relationship section of the bookstore after finding the single copy of Zinser's On Writing Well for my class that begins tomorrow. My god, I was depressed and crestfallen after scanning some of those books. Not only that, but I'm forever branded a loser for even being seen in the self-help aisle. People should shop for those kind of books through the privacy of the internet.

But, then I ate a vat of leftover spaghetti and headed to the library to work on my personal statement. Writing is a mood enhancer as is running. More effective than most things actually. Now, if it weren't too late and dark for a run. I'd be fully recovered.

my pyramid

No, King Tut has not come back from the dead. Instead, the FDA has come out with a nifty website to tout their wares and justify all the tax money we spend on them. It is My Pyramid. I found this while coming up with a nutrition center for my Language Arts class. I thought it would be a fun project for my students to build a week's menu. You might too.

feeling motivated?

I'm having a hard time getting motivated. I need to start using To Do Lists or some form of task management. It's not as if I don't have work to do, goals, and need for self-improvement. Being a lump on a log floating down a river is just easier some days.

I've lessened the workload for my students in my classes in the hope that might motivate them. I've gotten feedback that I don't give them enough time to finish their activities. I'm just paranoid of free time in the hands of unruly seventh graders-- it's the stuff nightmares are made of. So, it's kind of working. And, I'm getting my centers ready, which I'm UBER excited about. They're creative and exciting-- interactive and outside the box. For example, I've collected loads of cartoons and I'm going to have the kids locate the figurative language: pun, personification, alliteration, etc. in them. Then, they are to design their own. I also have ones with maps and art. I have a passport from the Holocaust museum and some other material. Then, there's a matching game with the elements of story and a grouping game with parts of speech. And, today I'm putting together one with settings, characters, and plot (pictures from magazines and newspapers)that they write a story about. They're what school should be like but can't be when you have 28 children who don't know classroom protocol.

Maybe it's the weather. Cold and gray, dreary and listless.

But, I have had some manufactured sunshine: I received my interlinear Bibles from Cosy. I got in touch with N with whom I hadn't talked with since before Christmas. Had carrot soup with friends. I've had two solid runs. I signed up for a writing class for the next six weeks on Wednesdays 7-9pm.

Today's resolutions: get my grades entered and to the secretary. Finish two centers. Get some exercise or go to a movie. Clean the house.

unexpected

So, I cooked Indian food today. I had planned on finishing Disgrace, working on my resume and personal statement, writing emails to international people about visiting and maybe teaching, writing in my journal and working on a story, and working out. But, instead, I cooked soup, and spinach,and pureed cauliflower. I figured out how to peel ginger root (with a teaspoon). And, I've been wanting to cook something "Indian" for awhile. The house that I'm dogsitting in has a great kitchen; so, it seemed the perfect opportunity.

I hesitate to call it "Indian". Firstly, I got the recipes off the internet and bought all the ingredients at the local Harris Teeter. Secondly, I was listening to Alison Krauss while cooking-- surely that messes with the ethnic mojo. Now if it were pintos, greens and cornbread-- we'd be golden. Thirdly, I was the cook-- um, I have some Indian friends. But, less face it, Butter Chicken is one of my favorite Indian dishes.

And, Maggie barfed three times tonight just before 10pm. Don't worry: she only threw up on carpet. Why barf on tile or wood when you can hurl on pale blue carpet? I started to use sarcasm on her, then I realized that it would be wasted.

I had an interesting lunch with my pastor today. We met to talk about my teaching a Sunday School class, but we spent a majority of the time talking theology and church dynamics.

Spring break: I need to decide between Philadelphia and Charleston & Savannah. I'm leaning towards C&S because of weather and apparently that's when a lot of the mansions are open to the public.

Internet is very tempting this weekend. I don't know if that means I should get internet at home as to build up my tolerance or use this weekend as a warning.

Influence

I don't read Runner's World for its profundity. Nonetheless, I happened upon it in the newbie article, "A Mile in His Shoes". It's a dad chatting about his 6 year-old wanted to run a mile with him. The author goes on to talk about how as herd animals we normalize behavior for each other. I found the article inspiring as a 7th grade teacher. Maybe, I have a bigger impact than subject-verb agreement even as important as good grammar is. And, I gained hope as a Christian: our lifestyle does impact people. Maybe my driving a jalopy of a car so that I have money for other things might normalize a certain thought pattern of generosity and wants vs needs. Who knows?
I agree with the author's thesis because I've experienced it. I have been deeply influenced by those around me for good and bad. My friends affect my interests. I know I read Runner's World to be surrounded by runners while I have no one to run with-- it reminds me that running an hour is completely normal and a good use of time.

phone calls

Kudos to Alexander Graham Bell! The phone is a wonderful invention. I had two lovely conversations last night: one with my sister and another with a friend in Vancouver. That couldn't have happened a hundred years ago. The connections were much needed after a rough day. Teaching is very relational.

I read half of trito-Isaiah (Isa 55-66 or thereabouts). It's pretty intense but very beautiful. Reading the Bible provides context for all the mundanity of life-- there is a big picture-- and our decisions do matter.

I'm in the midst of planning (classes, new jobs?, summer, teaching a class at church, vacations, etc). It's exciting and stressful. A good stress-- I want to make good decisions. I'm straying away from the concept of the right decision in these types of decisions.

S'wonderful

As I was driving my 89 yo friend home from church, Diana Krall's version of "S'Wonderful" started playing and Virg started singing along between complaining about all the jackasses on the road. I'd been mildly annoyed all morning, but that impromptu sing-a-long did way more for my soul than "Come Thou Font" and "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross". Whenever, I'm annoyed at church it always reminds me of The Screwtape Letters. I think my annoyance level is directly linked to the fact I haven't run in nearly two weeks. I've been sick, and it's been stinking cold. Yoga is not substitute for running. And, I need to journal.

You'll be relieved to know that I'm deliberating on what writing courses (and cooking) to take. Travel, writing for healing, entertainment and journalism. Dude, this blog might get good. Crazy. Don't hold your breath.

happy new year

Things are crazy hectic here. And, my mental climate is especially good. I'm really looking forward to this year. All the uncertainty feels kind of exciting. I'm trying to decide what trips to plan-- where to work-- what classes to take (cooking, writing, dance)-- what books to read-- what magazines to subscribe to. I feel like the 14 year old I used to be. Boisterous and silly. Unincumbered. I worked on some new slacks with Geneva today. I'm getting ready to meet AL for an early dinner.

School is going well. I got observed yesterday. It was no dog and pony show, but it went well. I'll see what the AP thinks soon enough.

I'm finishing up Elizabeth Strout's Abide With Me. It's quite good. Subtle and thought-provoking. A sneaky profound. I talked to some long lost friends, which always puts a spring in my step. I loaded up some holiday photos onto FB, which made me smile.