Yesterday I went to a rally in support of our school district's two levies which are currently on the ballot. We met downtown in front of one of the middle schools. It was a deja vu experience, since we had a few rallies there back in September during the strike. I might add that the turnout was better for the strike, as well as the enthusiasm of supporting horn honks from cars during the strike...This levy rally was poorly attended. I hope it isn't an indication of a bad voting result...
Anyway, while I was holding a sign and waving to cars, a former student of mine came over. I had her as a 6th grader three years ago. I really liked her, and it was great seeing her. She is now a ninth grader at one of the high schools, and is on the basketball team. As luck would have it, she was selling coupon books for $10.00. And so yes, I dug through my purse to find enough cash, and bought one.
Then I said to her, "See that well-dressed man over there? He is our school district's Superintendant, and he makes about $240,000.00 a year. More than our vice-president of the United States. Go ask him to buy a coupon book or two."
So she headed off to hit him up. I remember that she was never shy...He didn't buy one, though, as he said he didn't have any cash on him, but that she should email his office on Monday.
Then I also told her, "See that short man over there with the tan? A nice tan for February...He is a member of our school board. He owns a restaurant in town. He has money, too. Go ask him to buy a coupon book."
She did, but I'm not sure if he bought one or not. I just thought it was interesting that the poor teacher digs through her purse to gather $10, but two people to whom money is no object could not even buy one $10 coupon book from a student in a district they represent. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Joys of Teaching
My kids this year are just so danged cute! Here are some stories:
*I had had the kids in literature groups of 3 or 4 reading various books by Bill Wallace. Since I want the kids to do an author study involving reading a second book by the same author, I was going to have the kids choose their second book. I knew that at least one student in the room has read each book there was to choose from, so I decided to let the kids do the "book talks." However, they weren't to reveal plot, since that is like going to the movies and having the person behind you reveal the ending. All the kids were to do was to say if it was a good book, if they'd recommend it, if it was funny, sad, etc.
Anyway, Eduard raises his hand to do the book talk for one of the books. He begins by saying he really liked the book. Then he says, "The main character, Tom, goes..." I stopped him, and reminded him that he wasn't supposed to reveal the plot. So he says, "This guy goes..."
I said, "You mean Tom?"
"Yeah," Eduard replied, and continued to tell us what the book was about. I guess since he wasn't using the main character's name anymore, we wouldn't know what was happening.
*Today my kids were coming back from music choice. They come back from three different places: band, orchestra, and general music. I meet them outside like I do at recess, and when they are all lined up, we go into the classroom. I went outside, and some kids came over. Anas was in front, and said to me, "Let's just forget about the others and go in."
"I can't do that," I replied, "because in my classroom there is no child left behind!"
He didn't get it, but I laughed inside...But then he points to this button I bought last summer at the NEA convention in San Diego. It is bright red and says, "No teacher left behind!" I wear it on my lanyard.
He said, "Hey! Your button says No Teacher Left Behind!"
"Really!" I asked, very surprised..."Wow! I didn't know that!"
Anas turned to the kid behind him, and informed him that I was wearing a button that said something and I didn't even know I was wearing it! Then he turned back to me and said, "Did you really not know you were wearing it?"
"I had no idea," I said. Then I said, "Anas, now do you really think I didn't know I was wearing this button?"
He paused, and said, "Maybe..."
"Anas, I know I'm wearing this button. I bought it." He thought for a minute. "Oh, were you being sarcastic?"
"Maybe a little bit, Anas..." I said.
And in my mind I'm hearing Charlie Brown yelling, "Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it??"
*I had had the kids in literature groups of 3 or 4 reading various books by Bill Wallace. Since I want the kids to do an author study involving reading a second book by the same author, I was going to have the kids choose their second book. I knew that at least one student in the room has read each book there was to choose from, so I decided to let the kids do the "book talks." However, they weren't to reveal plot, since that is like going to the movies and having the person behind you reveal the ending. All the kids were to do was to say if it was a good book, if they'd recommend it, if it was funny, sad, etc.
Anyway, Eduard raises his hand to do the book talk for one of the books. He begins by saying he really liked the book. Then he says, "The main character, Tom, goes..." I stopped him, and reminded him that he wasn't supposed to reveal the plot. So he says, "This guy goes..."
I said, "You mean Tom?"
"Yeah," Eduard replied, and continued to tell us what the book was about. I guess since he wasn't using the main character's name anymore, we wouldn't know what was happening.
*Today my kids were coming back from music choice. They come back from three different places: band, orchestra, and general music. I meet them outside like I do at recess, and when they are all lined up, we go into the classroom. I went outside, and some kids came over. Anas was in front, and said to me, "Let's just forget about the others and go in."
"I can't do that," I replied, "because in my classroom there is no child left behind!"
He didn't get it, but I laughed inside...But then he points to this button I bought last summer at the NEA convention in San Diego. It is bright red and says, "No teacher left behind!" I wear it on my lanyard.
He said, "Hey! Your button says No Teacher Left Behind!"
"Really!" I asked, very surprised..."Wow! I didn't know that!"
Anas turned to the kid behind him, and informed him that I was wearing a button that said something and I didn't even know I was wearing it! Then he turned back to me and said, "Did you really not know you were wearing it?"
"I had no idea," I said. Then I said, "Anas, now do you really think I didn't know I was wearing this button?"
He paused, and said, "Maybe..."
"Anas, I know I'm wearing this button. I bought it." He thought for a minute. "Oh, were you being sarcastic?"
"Maybe a little bit, Anas..." I said.
And in my mind I'm hearing Charlie Brown yelling, "Don't you know sarcasm when you hear it??"
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