Name Game

We have the students' legal names in front of us on the first day of school, but kids frequently go by other names, either middle or nick, and I always ask for guidance in pronunciation. In addition to the Abbies, Jack, and Maddie, and Ike, this year it seemed like there were a whole lot of kids with non-Anglo-Saxon names that had already thrown up their hands at the way native English speakers have mangled their names: Abidi was Abdi, Rayan was Ryan, Dibora was Debra, and Chinkhuslen asked to be called Charlie. (Coincidentally, he was sitting next to Charles, who wanted to be called Austin, not his middle name.) We also have a Zakary who is a girl, and in a quick write where she was asked to write something she wondered about, she wrote, I wonder where my dad came up with my name.

Relativity

In all my years of teaching so far, last year was definitely the toughest. A combination of large class sizes and many high-need students really kept us on our toes. Some days were definitely more challenging than others, but I tried to stay positive. These kids are making me a better teacher, I said to anyone who would listen, and I meant it.

A few years ago, I lost a lot of weight. I had put on the pounds gradually in my forties and early fifties, and a combination of calorie counting and extra activity helped me shed the extra weight over a year and a half. That summer, I was amazed at how much energy I had and how easy anything physical seemed. It was like I was skipping and sliding through every day.

After one day, this school year? Seems like that summer. Smaller classes and kids who seem a bit quieter made me feel like super teacher today. I could move through the room, reach every student, pivot when something wasn't quite right, and it all seemed effortless.

I have kept the weight I lost off, but everything isn't as light and easy as it was when I first lost it. I'm sure there will come a point in this year, too, when I feel the full weight of being the teacher that each student in my class needs and deserves. But for now? I'm enjoying the glide.

Pushing the Deadline

On the last day of summer, the minute I rolled out of bed I made a list of everything I wanted to accomplish. Usually? Crossing a few things off the list and chalking the rest up to over-ambition is enough, but today?

Today I completed my list, which was a mix of home and school and personal obligations.

And now, learning management courses set up, rosters created, lesson planned and written, meeting agendas composed, shelves and drawers organized, donations documented and packed for drop off, and new furniture ordered, we're off to the Doggie Dip. Then it's home for some shrimp tacos before turning in early to be sure we are well rested tomorrow--

not on the list, but I'll check them off anyway.

Stressless

A friend out in Minnesota was telling us about the Stressless chair she had ordered for her husband. "It's really the only chair I can use," she said, "and he needs one, too." A little research revealed that the oh-so-comfortable chair and ottoman furnishing our airBnB was actually a knock-off of the Norwegian brand she spoke so highly of.

Heidi and I have been in the market to replace our 20+ year old armchair for sometime (after thanking it for its service, though; I really love that chair), so when I sat on it in black shorts yesterday and stood up, stiff in the knees and hips and covered in cat hair from the upholstery, a leather Stressless chair seemed like a grand idea.

Turns out there is a store that carries the line not even 10 minutes from our home. The shopping experience there was lovely, and although we didn't buy? Chances are good that we will purchase a chair AND a couch tomorrow, because hey!

It's time for an upgrade.

Labor Days

Being back at school returns definition to the weekends. Coming off a week at work, Saturday morning feels like something special, and the beginning of a three day weekend bursts with promise. I spent the early hours of my day reducing blackberries to jelly with rosemary and pink peppercorns, stewing the last of the fresh shell beans from the garden, and simmering down a batch of rainbow cherry tomato sauce. Rather pleased with myself, I turned my attention to rigging up that dishwasher rack to last just two more weeks until the new dishwasher arrives. Then I read the paper and did a little online research into some new furniture. And next? Blog written and fueled by blackberry jelly and black eyed peas with tomato I am headed to the gym, after which I will shower and dress for an evening with family.

And there are still two more days left of the holiday weekend!

I Hope that Someone Gets My...

Mindful that once I left this afternoon I wouldn't be back until the first morning of school, I was tidying up my classroom and going through a few things that were on the bookshelf by my desk. A small wooden box from Guatemala caught my eye. I couldn't remember who had given it to me or when, and it seemed like the kind of item I could part with.

I picked it up, perhaps to thank it for its service, perhaps to toss it, and gave it a shake. It was empty, but still I flipped the colorful lid open on its little leather hinges. There inside was a folded piece of bright pink paper. It was entirely possible that I had put it in there myself maybe a few or maybe many years ago, so I pried it from the rough interior and unfolded it.

Eldana was here! was scrawled in pencil on what turned out to be a post-it note.

Eldana! She was a kid with a big personality who I spent a lot of time with last year. Turns out, the note hadn't been in there too long at all: who knows when that rascal waited until my attention was turned to pinch a post-it and stow it away for another day like a message in a bottle? The find was bittersweet, though, because Eldana is going to another school for 7th grade, and it's not too likely that I will see her again.

On the other hand? That kid is full of surprises, so again, who knows? Oh, and I decided to keep the box.

Tabula Rasa

I had to rush to get the last of the posters on the wall before the 2 PM start of our annual open house, but the room looked pretty presentable when the new sixth graders and their families started to arrive. The next two hours passed in a blur of shy smiles, handshakes, and slightly awkward conversations.

Of 110 kids, I only have 2 siblings of former students, and after 27 years, that's unusual enough to make me scratch my chin. Maybe it's because we have had three teams instead of two for seven years now? Perhaps the boundary changes made an impact?

Hard to say, but whatever the cause? I'd call this year a pretty clean slate.