17,000 Hour News Cycle

Today as part of the journalism unit my students are working on I showed a video clip of a journalist known for compelling interviews being interviewed about how to do a good interview.

"Does anyone know who Katie Couric is?" I asked.

Crickets.

I guess I wasn't really surprised. It's been 12 years since she left the Today Show and seven since she vacated the anchor chair at CBS. 

It was still a good interview, though.

A Modern Miracle

After the whole network outage situation yesterday, I decided to ask a timely question for the JoRaCha today. What was the best thing about having no WIFI? 

Their answers were revealing:

I played outside with my brother.

I read a lot more of my book than usual.

I had less homework.

I talked more with my friends.

I actually looked around the classroom yesterday-- we have a lot of books!

Nothing! It was awful! But when pressed, this student added, My phone battery actually lasted all day. It was nice not to worry about it.

Substitution Augmentation Modification Redefinition

Our entire school system's network was out today which meant no technology for students or teachers. Oh, I'm no Luddite, but in general? I've come to believe that we probably overuse our gadgets and devices, and I certainly recognize how addictive they can be. And yet, we have been encouraged to use technology as extensively as possible-- emptying our filing cabinets and text-bookshelves, tossing away our calendars, written lesson plans, and grade books in favor of online versions.

Without access to the majority of my materials, I spent the morning scrambling for pen and paper substitutes for the students. When at last the final bell rang, though, I realized there wasn't much more I could do there at school, and so I packed my things and headed home.

A little vacation from 24/7 access isn't such a bad thing after all.

May Checklist

Toenails? Check.

Flip flops? On!

Avengers movie? Seen it.

Summer 2018? Bring it!

Pink

"Don't kick that lady!" A little girl of perhaps six, issued the warning to a toddler in the shopping cart ahead of us in the checkout lane at Target.

"Oh no! Please don't kick me!" I said to the cute little girl.

She smiled and babbled a reply.

"Is your favorite color yellow?" I asked her, noting the pale yellow t-shirt and flowered leggings she was wearing.

Her big sister took charge. "No! It's light pink."

I nodded. "What about you? What's your favorite color?"

"Dark pink," she answered firmly.

"Like this?" I pointed to a package of gum.

"Yes," she told me seriously.

"What about this?" I pointed to a slightly paler package.

"That's hers." She jerked her thumb over her shoulder.

"Thank goodness you don't both like the same color," I told her. "That could be confusing!"

*That* Kind of a Day

A colleague stepped into the room about 10 minutes into my 3rd period class. "Do you remember a student named *insert alias here*?" she asked.

I stopped my lesson. "I think so," I answered with a squint of uncertainty.

"Well, I have a story to tell you at lunch!" she said and left the room.

"He was probably arrested!" one of the students called out.

I shrugged. "Why do you say that?" I asked him. "Maybe he just graduated with highest honors from Harvard."

"Did you see her face?" he asked me. "It's not good news."

"Well, I think he won the lottery, and he's going to give every teacher who remembers him a million dollars!" I said and continued on with my instruction.

Later at lunch, my friend told me what happened. "His mother called the office and asked if we keep permission forms from field trips. When they asked her why, she told them that in 2004 I took her son on a field trip to Mars, and she really needed to see that slip!"

"Why?" I asked. "Did you leave him there?"

No Spoilers

“Have you seen The Avengers yet?” a student asked us on the walk into school today.

“No!” I cried and stuffed my fingers in my ears. “Lalalalalalalala! No spoilers!”

“Oh, I would never do that!” he said. “But...”

“Lalalalalalala!” I answered.

“Okay, okay,” he laughed. “Wow! You. Are. Serious!”