Vocabulary Lesson

About a week ago I overheard an unusual conversation between two sixth grade boys. "What are these?" one asked the other, holding up a pair of scissors.

"Shears!" proclaimed the other boy definitively, and they both laughed uproariously.

Such events are hardly uncommon, and I let it pass, but I was curious when I heard another student say, "Shears!" a few days later.

Not curious enough to ask though, until today. "What are these?" the first boy asked brandishing the scissors once again.

"Shears!" I answered.

He paused. "You know about that?"

"No," I shrugged, "I've just heard you say it several times recently. What are you talking about?"

If I expected something naughty, I couldn't have been further from the truth. "We learned about it in Family and Consumer Science," he told me. "These are scissors," he held out a pair with matching thumb and finger hole, "and these are shears!" He showed me a pair with a round thumb hole and a larger opening for more than just one finger.

"Ohhhhh," I said, impressed. "I did not know that."

I turned to the student intern who started today. "See, Maddy? This is what life-long learning looks like!"

Stranger in a Strange Land

As they challenge themselves to write every day, my students reveal all sorts of interesting details about their lives. "I've never been to the movies before," one wrote this morning. "What's it like?"

This particular kid is not underprivileged, not going to the local cineplex seems like more of a parenting choice for her. She has written extensively of her piano lessons and day trips to museums and hands-on educational expos. I'm not sure they watch TV either.

The other students are often shocked by her lack of familiarity with video games, social media, and other pop cultural experiences, and they never hesitate to try and fill in the gaps for her. Like this morning: "Movies are like going to our school theater with a giant smart board in the front," Another student helpfully replied.

"AND you can get popcorn!" I added.

Uncoordinated

"We'll meet you at the new waterfront," we told Josh, but after paying 20 dollars to park, he was no where to be found.

"I'm down by the water," he texted and then sent his location. He was by the water at the other new waterfront a mile and a half away. After some debate, we sent an Uber, because his account was unfunded since he was robbed at knifepoint a couple weeks ago. (Yes. That's another story.)

"I'll put Hank's Oysters as the destination," I told him, looking up at the big sign to my left, "and we'll meet you in front."

"I'm here!" he texted, except he wasn't. I checked the app. He had been dropped off at the restaurant's other location on Capital Hill.

I sent another Uber. 

A Breath of Fresh Air

It's official-- the middle schoolers have

lost.
their.
minds!

It's May; it's Friday; testing has started; there was an assembly after lunch; it's been raining all week, and I cannot count the number of ridiculous redirections I was forced to make today. Even the kids who are usually super-compliant are pushing the limits. For example, I confiscated the iPad of a straight-A student for showing a picture of a yawning bulldog to anyone who would have a look after three explicit warnings.

After lunch she stopped by my room. "I forgot my iPad here," she told me.

"Forgot?" I repeated skeptically. "You didn't actually have your iPad when the bell rang."

"Oh, yes," she said. "About that? I'm sorry."

I accepted her apology and handed her the device.

She looked me in the eye. "It will never happen again," she promised.

And I believed her. As she walked out of the room, it occurred to me how rare a conversation we had just had. Usually kids want to sulk or argue about how whatever they did was fine in the given situation, but she accepted responsibility for a mistake and promised not to repeat it.

Wow!
Middle school
educator
mind
blown!

Come Again Another Day

It started raining Saturday night and it hasn't really stopped since. With wet weather predicted at least through next Wednesday, my tolerance for drizzle and drench is draining. I'm sure there must be a silver lining somewhere, though, if only because there are so many dang clouds. I'll let you know when I spot it.

Validation

In a week filled with family drama, household catastrophes, and oh, yes, standardized tests, Heidi headed reluctantly to the obedience class that she and Lucy are taking. An hour and a half later she arrived home with bright eyes and a big smile. Seems like both of my girls were at the top of the class today-- each received plenty of praise and positive feed back. Hooray for them!

And really? That's usually all it takes to turn a tough time around, at least for a little while.

Noted.

What a Drip

"Your washer's not leaking, Ma'am," the technician informed me. "The spring is broken and water is splashing over the top." As he spoke, he gestured toward the washer, stripped of its outside panels, the tub swishing nakedly along.

"Are you sure it's not any of the hoses?" I asked dubiously. "There's some water on the floor right there."

"All the hoses are fine," he assured me.

"There's water coming through the ceiling down here again!" Heidi called up.

He went down to check and returned looking alarmed. He turned back to the washer with the flashlight on his phone. "Ma'am," he said, "I have some bad news for you. The whole tub is cracked."

I looked at him and at the washer. "That's a lot of water in there," I said.

And...

it's
still
dripping.