Sunday, September 30, 2018

Dark Skies

Soul crushing is how a friend described the month-long rain storm that was September, and I had to agree. In general, the weather doesn't bother me, but 26 days and 9 inches of rain were an exception to that rule.

The politics of the moment do nothing to lift my mood. I'm from the DC area; I went to private school and college in the 70s and 80s; I know how the parties were and what the yearbook codes meant. In addition, the nasty polarization and high stakes of every situation, and this one in particular, takes it toll.

I believe the pervasive national climate of hatred and distrust are beginning to show up in my students, although my evidence is purely anecdotal. It feels like there is much less courtesy toward peers and respect for authority in the group of sixth graders I have now, along with more anger and more needs. Even in our wealthy district, our students can simply not escape the dark clouds immigration concerns, police violence, economic uncertainty, and the opioid crisis, and so of course there will be storms in school.

The sun was out this weekend, and I spent time outside with my dog. I played with my kittens, cooked some good food,  and this morning I laughed out loud at a silly skit from Saturday Night Live that had nothing to do with politics.

I guess the best way to cope with the storm is to put up your umbrella, keep going, and keep a lookout for blue skies ahead.

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Serial Advice

Serial, the granddaddy of all podcasts for me, is finally back for a third season. I must confess that I was a little disappointed with the premise at first: rather than examine a questionable murder conviction, or even a high-profile military desertion, this season is focused on the criminal court system in...

Cleveland.

I needn't have worry, though, in less than 5 minutes of the first episode, I was totally on board, and after episode 2? I am hooked. 

To begin with, I had almost forgotten what a fantastic writer and amazing reporter Sarah Koenig is, but more importantly, using Cleveland Criminal Court (mostly because they allow recording) as a microcosm for the American court system turns out to be genius. Race, age, class, and gender all collide in a provocative and sometimes disturbing portrait.

On a personal note, the second episode reminded me that scolding is usually no more than a catharsis for the scolder; such lectures seldom benefit the scoldee. As a 6th grade teacher, that is a lesson I learned many years ago, but seems extremely timely this school year, when scolding a few kids for some of the more egregious antics has seemed pretty tempting in the moment. But venting frustration and building constructive relationships are not usually compatible, and anyone in authority should know that it's the second that is necessary for lasting change.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Breaking Bird

I knew it was out there.

On my way into the building yesterday a couple of sixth graders careened down the sidewalk toward me on a... scooter!

"Boys!" I said sharply, stepping in front of them with my hand raised, the very image of the fun scooter police.

To their credit? They stopped immediately.

"First," I said, "you should be wearing helmets. Secondly? Riding double is not allowed. And finally-- you have to be 18 with a driver's license to get one of these! Where did this come from?"

"My brother got it for me," answered one.

"Well, all I'm saying is that if the resource officer caught you guys riding this, you could get in some trouble," I told them.

"Thank you for the warning," the same student answered, and they walked the scooter slowly away.

Later that afternoon, I told my friend Mary the story.

"I still haven't ridden one of those!" she said.

I pulled out my phone and launched the app. "Now's your chance! It's still outside! And out we went.

A few fat drops of rain were splashing on the pavement as we pushed our way through the heavy glass doors. It took us a minute to find the scooter, because the boys had evidently tossed it to the ground after our conversation. Fortunately the app has a locator chirp, and although it was drizzling, we picked it up, and Mary took a quick spin. "Wheeeeeeeee," she called as she zoomed past, and I knew that she got it. A few minutes later, we locked the Bird, and propped it against the school.

It was on the sidewalk again when I left yesterday evening in the pouring rain, and still there when I walked in this morning. At 1 pm, after a long day of teaching, and before a long afternoon of planning and paperwork and meeting, it occurred to me that it was probably still there.

Brain break! I thought.

20 minutes and 2 miles later, I re-entered the building with a smile on my face, good to go for another 4 hours.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Office Hours

A few years ago our school did away with team-based study halls. There are a lot of pros and cons to that decision, but one benefit was more unencumbered teacher time after school. In order to encourage students to seek help voluntarily, the teachers on my team instituted "office hours", scheduling a 30 minute time once a week when we would be in our room for drop ins.

That information goes home in our weekly newsletter, but to be honest, not many kids take advantage of the opportunity. Earlier this week, I received an email from a parent who wondered if office hours were only for students, or if she might stop by, too. I had never considered such an option, but I couldn't really think of any reason why not, and so I said sure.

It was an interesting half hour: I answered several questions about some of the technology and my objectives for certain activities and assignments. She was very nice, just genuinely curious and confused by some things. At the end of the meeting, she thanked me for my time, and I was happy to help, because I understood we had a common objective.

The beginning of the year is crazy, and it is tempting to push things like that back. But honestly? I am busy from September to June, and any time spent filling in the gaps for any stakeholders-- students, parents, colleagues, community-- who are interested, is well-spent indeed.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

A Story to Show What They're Like

We were doing an activity to help the students find possible topics for their personal narratives. Randomly generated questions appeared on the screen, and the kids were supposed to answer them in their small groups. What stories show what my family and I are like? popped up. I looked at the three boys at my table.

"My family likes guns!" said one of them right away, misreading the question. "We love hunting!"

The other boys were wide-eyed.

"What's a story from a time you and your family were hunting?" I asked, trying to refocus him.

"Wait!" one of the other boys said. "Have you really shot a gun?"

"Yes!" the first guy said. "It is really awesome!"

"What about a story, though?" I pressed. "Like a memorable time you were shooting or hunting?"

"My family hates guns!" said the second kid. "We like playing charades, though. Except we always pick the same thing and then it's no fun."

"My family doesn't like guns either," said the third boy. "My parents talk really loud on the phone, though!"

The next question popped up, What was a time you were embarrassed? and off they went on another tangent.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Usy-Bay and Ired-Tay

I was busy all day at school yesterday, from 7:20 to 5:30 with only a 15 minute break for lunch. I dreamed all night last night about the classes and meetings I had just lived through, as well as the classes and meetings I would have today. I woke this morning weary and feeling unready for the day.

BUT, the work I did yesterday paid off a little today, and although I was still busy all day, when 4:15 rolled around and Heidi was ready to go home, I was surprised to find that I was ready, too.

(Then I ran errands and went to the garden and picked a bunch of soggy produce and gotten eaten by mosquitoes. That's a different blog post, though, and now I won't dream about those things tonight.)

Monday, September 24, 2018

That Could've Gone Better

"So before we go on," I said to my homeroom this morning, "why don't you tell me something you already know about IB?"

Crickets.

Finally one boy's hand flailed into the air, so I called on him.

"I was just stretching," he told me.

"Well, what do you know about IB?" I asked again.

"It has an 'I' and a 'B' in it," he answered.

"What does the I and B stand for?" I probed.

"No one knows," he responded crossly.

"Some people know," I said.

"Correction:" he replied, "no one cares."

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Chronometry

We had a lovely dinner last night at my brother's house. "Can you believe we've lived here almost thirty years?" he asked at one point in the conversation.

This morning we all gathered at a favorite brunch spot. "Can you believe we've been coming here almost 30 years?" it was me who asked this time.

Later in the afternoon, I drove my mom out to my aunt's house, where she's lived for the last 58 years. There was no need to ask the question.

Such permanence in our lives anchors us. It allows us to rock gently off to sleep while all around us every drop of water is rushing past on its way to somewhere else. The ocean changes and stays the same.

Can you believe that?


Saturday, September 22, 2018

Six Word Movie Reviews

Over the years we’ve enjoyed several installments of the six word memoir post. Today I’ve come up with a similar challenge that combines the six word limitation with my love of the movies.

Here’s my first six word review:

At least no bunnies got boiled.

Think you know the film? Have a six word review of your own? Go ahead and reply!

Friday, September 21, 2018

Friday at Last

The morning after Back-to-school Night everyone’s dragging. A colleague stopped by my room before the bell to ask a question, pausing as he entered. “Wow! You look as tired as everyone feels!” he said.

I raised my eyebrows and let it go. It wasn’t the most sensitive remark, but I knew that he was tired, too.

Hopefully we’ll all get some rest this weekend. 

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Just Hit Play

Because of the parking shortage at our school while they build another school in the, where else?, parking lot, last year and this year our administration asked us to make videos for the parents who might not be able to make it. What could we do, but comply?

And once they were all done, almost everyone had the same question: What do you need me for?

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Required Course

One of my students left his iPad behind today after 6th period. I knew he was in Heidi's Social Skills class next, so I walked down there to return it. The class had already started, so I knocked on the door and waited politely until Mr. T, the assistant opened it. When my student saw me, his eyes grew wide and he gasped; my presence was unexpected. I made eye contact and held up the iPad, and he knew that it was his. Rising from his seat he came over to the door. "Give it to me!" he said as he reached for the device.

"Oh no!" Heidi said, "Give it to me!" and I did.

He scoffed and stomped back to his seat.

"Is that how you should treat a teacher who brings you something?" Heidi asked him.

"Fine!" he said and looked at me. "Please?"

"I don't have your iPad anymore," I told him, "but I did walk down here to bring it to you after you forgot it. What could you say to me?"

"Thank you for my iPad," he said.

Heidi smiled and held it out.

"You're welcome," I said. "I thought you would probably really want to have it this afternoon."

He took the iPad from Heidi. "Not really," he said.

I laughed and turned toward the door.

"We are working on it," Heidi said.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Moisture

Many folks dream of retiring to a tropical island, but not me.

Even as I get older, I am still predisposed to cooler weather. And although the heat doesn't bother me? The proverb holds true: after 10 straight days of gray skies and rain, a little monsoon season of our own, with warped boards, perma-slick pavement, giant mud puddles, flooded yards, and air that hits you like a warm wash rag every time you step out the door,

I can definitely confirm that, yes, it is the humidity.

Monday, September 17, 2018

The Gift of Necessity

Years ago I worked in the flight kitchen for United Airline. The main job of our brigade of cooks and chefs was to prepare the meals for first class, business, and transatlantic coach, but as in any food service place, someone had to cook for the staff. In restaurants they often call it family meal, but we just called it lunch, no matter what shift you were on.

It was a privilege to have lunch on your job list-- everyone else was cooking prescribed recipes for thousands of anonymous travelers, but those 2 cooks had the freedom to put their own stamp on food that their friends and colleagues would be eating. Because of my seniority, I did not get to cook lunch very often, but when I did I like to think I stepped up.

I remember one day when the chef told us they had over-ordered frozen beans. "Make them for lunch," he told our lead, Jimmy, as I listened.

"I know just what to do," I said, and a few pounds of bacon, onions, garlic, and tomatoes later, we had a steam kettle full of southern-style green beans.

That day at lunch, I basked in the compliments of my co-workers. "Those beans!" one ramp guy told me. "Mm Mm! Salty, smoky, tomatoey? You really put the flavor to it!" That was one of the best compliments I ever received as a professional cook.

I thought of that guy today when Heidi said, "Tracey?" as she was unpacking her lunch bag. "I only want to eat frittata for lunch from now on."

"Oh you liked that, did you?" I laughed.

The frittata was really only the result of too many eggs. I love the farm fresh eggs we can get in our CSA-- I honestly believe I can taste the difference-- but a dozen a week can be too many for a couple of middle-aged ladies. Fortunately they are very fresh and the keep exceptionally well, but over the weekend I decided to make a mushroom and spinach frittata that we could warm up for breakfast or lunch.

And that's what my wife was raving about. With no leftovers from last night's dinner, she had frittata for lunch.

"It was mushroomy, vegetably, salty, and proteiny, right?" I boasted. "I guess I really put the flavor to it!"

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Cativersary

The kittens that we adopted one year ago today have grown into cats, but they are no less cute and loveable, which, considering that they are gangly young adults, is rather a compliment!

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Peter Piper, Inc

"Wow! You're kitchen is a lot bigger than you'd think" one of our neighbors said yesterday at the open house. She looked around. "And really full of produce."

She was right. There was a half bushel of tomatoes, 3 eggplant, and a big container of banana peppers that I had picked to rescue from the rain, along with the usual onions, garlic, potatoes, avocados, lemons, and limes. "I know!" I agreed, "but I have plans for all of it."

Part one of my plan was having my banana pepper pesto on the table, and the offer of as many peppers as our guests would like to take home with them as parting gifts.

"You gotta try the pesto," I told everyone. "It tastes like a hoagie!"

"What's gahogi?" someone asked in confusion.

I laughed. "I said like. a, hoa. gie," I repeated slowly. "Y'know what they call subs in Philly?"

"Oooooh," she laughed, too. "I thought it was like the sixth taste-- the one after Umami."

"It should be!" I answered. "How many peppers would you like?"

Friday, September 14, 2018

Many Happy Hour Returns

On a whim, we invited several neighbors over for a Friday happy hour today. It was a little stressful wrapping up as many loose ends as I could at school before dashing off to the store to buy some fun adult beverages and ice, and then rushing home to pick up, vacuum, and put some hors-d'oeuvres on the table. And did I mention that most people were bringing their dogs?

But it was genuinely all good. Everyone brought something for the beverage cooler and the table; the dogs had a wonderful time, and so did we. At 9:15, when the last guest walked home, there were still a lot of cans and bottles in the melting ice, but that just means we'll have to have another get-together soon.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

That Sinking Feeling

The message was as astonishing as it was unexpected: our street was closed because of a sinkhole. Soon someone sent a picture of a gaping hole in the asphalt. we were on the way home from school when we received the news. "Siri! What causes a sinkhole??" Heidi asked, and read the internet article out loud as we drove.

As soon as we got home, we leashed up the dog and walked down to take a look. On the way, we were joined by a dozen neighbors, and we could see several more down by the yellow caution tape. "It's the biggest tourist attraction in the neighborhood!" I said.

And to be honest? It was pretty amazing. 4 feet in diameter and probably at least ten feet deep, it widened out, cave-like from the opening. The cause was impossible to determine by looking at it-- there were no water main breaks or fallen trees. Inside, the soil was perfectly dry, as if this little grotto had been hidden there for years, just below the surface of the street.

And maybe it had.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Second Week Slump

The first week of school is exciting and novel-- everything is new, and the possibilities seem unlimited.

Reality casts a bit of a shadow over the second week of school; things get real pretty quickly, and there are standardized tests, homework, and less forgiveness for failure to follow the procedures and rules. And just as we are testing the students, some of them are testing us, because we still don't know each other.

It helps to remember that most people who give you a hard time are probably having a hard time themselves.


Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Go with the Flo

Fifteen years ago school was closed to allow people to hunker down in the face of Hurricane Isabel. We were lucky back then; the power never even flickered, but other folks in our small county were not as fortunate, and we had a couple days off to allow everyone to get back on their feet.

Heidi and I took advantage of our unexpected holiday to go get a puppy, and she was our first dog, Isabel.

Since then, storms have threatened but never actually closed down the schools. This weekend that may change, though, Hurricane Florence is on her way. Today all the models seem to agree that Florence will be a minor event in this area, but I guess a monster storm like that can never be completely predictable.

Could there be a canine Florence in our future? Let me double check the European model.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Winning Combination

Today was locker day, which is a really big deal in sixth grade. The students look forward to receiving their lockers with a mixture of glee and trepidation-- they desperately want a small piece of real estate in our crowded and cavernous building, but the concept of a combination lock is completely new to most of them.

We do our best to prepare them for the experience of standing shoulder to shoulder with the rest of their classmates, spinning their dials precisely to align the levers and free the shackle from its latch. There are printed directions and verbal reminders, like left to the second number and stop the second time and right to the third number right away. We also do individual tutorials, calling out the exact movements and numbers to the student as he or she attempts to open the lock.

Even so, they have to be able to tell left from right for our coaching to be meaningful in the least. "You're left-handed? Cradle your lock in your right hand," I told a student this morning. "Now spin it to the right several times."

"Which way is that?" she asked, and I knew we had a challenge.

"Toward your thumb," I improvised. She followed my direction. "Now turn it toward your pinky," I said, "and then back to your thumb. With a satisfying click, she pulled her lock open.

Later in the day she came back to me. "I can do my lock!" she reported breathlessly. "It's easy-- thumb, pinky, thumb!"

I gave her a thumbs up.

Despite such successes, there are always tears of frustration and panic on locker day, too, but the sixth grade teachers are well-prepared to help the kids through, mostly because we know something they do not: In a week? They will all be opening their locks as if they had done it all their lives. And in a month? They'll forget that there was ever time when they couldn't.

Sunday, September 9, 2018

Wet Weekend

And on the first weekend of the school year:

The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in our house
both those windy wet days.

All we could do was to

Sit!
      Sit!
             Sit!
                     Sit!

And we did not like it.
Not one little bit.

Well, okay. I liked it a little bit, because I was so tired from the first week back.

But a Cat in the Hat would have been cool, too.



Saturday, September 8, 2018

Howdy, Neighbor

After running into my former students on Monday, I saw them again at the grocery store later in the week. "Here you are again!" I said. "I guess it's amazing that we never bumped into each other last year, when you were actually in my class."

And then on Friday morning when I was heading home from walking Lucy, who should I see bounding up the steps in my complex just as I started down? I bet you can guess.

"Well!" scoffed the first twin, "This is just getting awkward!"

Friday, September 7, 2018

The Time You Enjoy Wasting Is Not Wasted Time

One of the students in my homeroom had literally nothing to say this morning as we waited to be called to an assembly. The rest of the group was having a jolly conversation about vegetables that we either loved or hated, but he sat unsmiling, arms crossed tightly. "You know what," I told him, "I know your social skills teacher (it's Heidi), and she says you talk all the time in that class! Why won't you talk to us?"

I smiled and winked. He clenched his arms even more tightly across his chest and grimaced. "Because this class," he started with a sneer and took a deep breath.

"Whoa!" I took advantage of the pause and held up my hands. "I think you might be getting ready to say something that could hurt my feelings. Take a minute to think about it."

He did not follow my advice. "Because this class is uselessly boring!" he proclaimed.

The other students froze and looked from him to me.

"All you people do is talk, talk, talk, about stupid stuff," he finished.

"Hey!" said another student. "It is not stupid! We are just trying to get to know each other!"

"I'm so sorry you feel that way," I told him. "But next week I'm going to give you a locker and an iPad-- I don't think you'll find either of those useless or boring." I paused and shrugged.  "And give the rest of us a chance, too!"

Thursday, September 6, 2018

My Life as a Book

To help my students make the connection between reading and writing and to also gather ideas for the short personal narratives they will soon write, I give them the following prompt: If your life were a novel, what would the plot be?

The exercise also helps with the skill of synopsizing (which my family will tell you I learned a little late in life!), and, as a bonus, the kids' answers can be very revealing.

As usual, I did the assignment, too. This is not what I wrote, but I sure could have.

It's about a sixth grade English teacher who has a lot of students, but she still wants to do a really, really good job, and lots of people say to "work smarter not harder" but she's not sure what that means, and since it's just the third day of school she's just trying to learn 137 new names and make sure she has enough chairs for everyone.

(Spoiler Alert: I'm sure it will have a happy ending!)

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Cut to the Chase, Lady!

I asked a disruptive student to step outside for a moment.

"What did I do?" he asked belligerently.

"Who said you did anything?" I replied.

He scowled. I shrugged.

"I noticed that you weren't following the directions," I told him, "and it's noisy in our classroom. I wanted to see if you had any questions."

"They were talking to me!" he said about the other students at his table.

"It looked like there was a lot of conversation going on," I agreed, "between everybody," I added.

"That's why I don't know the directions," he said.

"Did you notice that I put your seat right near where I usually stand?" I asked him. "That's so if you have any questions, you can ask me and I will help you."

He gave a small nod.

"There are a lot of kids in our class," I told him, "and I need you to be doing what you're supposed to..."

I took a breath and he looked a little alarmed. We both knew I was winding up for the pep talk. He reached out and patted my shoulder.

"I get it!" he told me. "I'll pay attention!"

I laughed in surprise.

"Say, I promise," I said.

"I promise!" he answered. "Now what were we supposed to do?"

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Heard in the Hallways

"I don't need need a nametag-- my name is unforgettable!" ~one of 137 new students

"Will I breathe fire?" ~Z when I told him his classroom was near the Dragon Team.

"What can I do to help with that class? It was unlike anything else I saw today!" ~my co-teacher after our 6th period, 28 student inclusion class

"It's time to go home already? Well, that was a fast day!" ~new 6th grader after the final bell

"1 down, 179 to go!" ~principal in our "quick stand-up faculty meeting debrief"

Monday, September 3, 2018

Brace Yourself

The bills are paid; the errands are run; the house is clean; the pool is closed; the alarms are set for zero dark thirty; and my writing notebook has a fancy new cover.

I guess I'm ready to start school.

Sunday, September 2, 2018

No Sour Grapes

When life gives you bland cantaloupes?

Make cantaloupe vinegar!

Let it ferment a bit reader and get back to me.

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Two Minds

I ran into a pair of former students when I was walking the dog this afternoon. "Hey twins!" I hailed them. "Are you ready for seventh grade?"

They answered simultaneously:
"NO!"
"Yes!"

I laughed, unsurprised.

They are fraternal twins.