Engage

"When we write essays," I told my students, "we read essays."

They nodded.

"When we write fiction?" I continued.

"We read fiction?" a student volunteered.

"Yes!" I said. "Those are models! It always helps to see how the pros do it!"

More nods.

"And in this media literacy unit? We are making commercials, so--"

"--we have to watch commercials?!"

"Right!" I agreed. "Let's see how the pros do it!"

The students plugged in their earbuds and clicked on the links. And the rest of the class passed in near silence.

All is Found

After my doctor's appointment this morning we decided to see a movie. It was early enough that the only shows playing were out at a mall about 10 miles from our house, but that was fine because it was late enough to miss traffic, and so off we went.

Heidi's choice was Frozen II, and I went with it because I totally enjoyed the girl power sing along of the first one. Buying our tickets, I noted that the theater was not very full, and I expected it to remain that way on Monday of a school week. Boy was I wrong! We saw the movie with at least 50 toddlers and their caretakers.

As you can imagine, there was a lot of back and forth to the restroom, some talking, and even a few tears completely unrelated to the action on the screen. I didn't mind a bit though, especially because a big theme of the movie was about how everything must change. The preview of the new Scooby Doo movie had left me a bit nostalgic for those days when my nephews were much younger and we enjoyed a lot of kid films together.

Soon enough, these kids would be in school, and then out, and then taking their own little ones to a movie, so I just leaned back in my seat and enjoyed the show and the company.

No Bloodwork Necessary

I'm reclining in our new chair reading by our new lamp with a cozy new blanket over my lap. My feet are up, there is a fire in the fireplace, and I'm off tomorrow for my annual physical. If the current situation is any indication, I'm sure I am quite well!

Out with the Not-so-old

"They closed the grocery store down by the target," Heidi told me yesterday. "Did you know that was happening?"

I did not, and so curious, I did a little quick research. There was no news about what was going to replace it, but there was an article about the property behind it. The 20 theater cinema was going to be torn down to make way for some Virginia Tech buildings, retail and office space, as well as the new Metro stop, all in response to the impending presence of Amazon's HQ2 campus a mile or so away.

I can't say I was sad that the movies were going; it wasn't a theater we enjoyed very often. But it did strike me that I remembered when they first built it on land that had once been an old railroad yard. The whole shopping center was shiny and brand new just a little over 20 years ago, and although it's definitely aged, it sure made me feel kind of old that part of it was already being replaced by something even newer.

Infectious Enthusiasm

"Good morning!" I hailed a colleague before school started. "How are you?"

"Great!" she said.

"Great!?" I raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Wow. Good for you!"

She laughed, too, and shrugged. "Well, you know. It's Friday."

"Yeah it is," I agreed. "I should totally be great, too!"

That Same Old Place

A colleague is retiring next week after exactly 30 years of teaching in the district. Such mid-year departures have been more common over the last few years; in fact I've been to three such retirement  celebrations since last February.

Each one has been a delight, though. The end of the school year is hectic, and a retirement party often gets lost in all the good-byes: to kids, to colleagues moving on, to everyone for a couple months of well deserved R&R. And so these Thursday or Friday afternoon events have been lovely gatherings. Without as many competing activities, lots of staff members are able to put in an appearance, and in a sweet tribute to the service of those who are departing, lots of already-retired colleagues attend as well.

That was the case today when ten former teachers and another dozen who are working elsewhere in the system (including the acting superintendent) joined 50 or so of the current staff to wish our retiring co-worker well.

Having taught in this school since 1993, they were all familiar faces to me, and I was soundly hugged quite a few times. I leaned right into the joy of each, even though I am not a hugger, and I was glad I did.

"I'm seeing so many people I haven't seen in so long, I forgot I missed 'em!" I remarked to the guy next to me, who left our school 15 years ago for a job at the Ed Center. "Welcome back!"

Attention! Part 2

"How're you doing?" asked the teacher.

"Fine," the student shrugged. "Why?"

"Well, you know, your niece?" the teacher replied.

The students eyes widened. "Oh. I'm okay, but I don't want to talk about it."

"But your parents," the teacher continued, "how are they? I think the school should reach out to them."

"Oh, no," answered the student. "They're over it."

"But it was just Thursday," said the teacher, "what about the funeral?"

The student waved her hand. "We had that already."

I shook my head as my colleague repeated this conversation at lunch.

"I know she's probably lying, but part of me wonders, what if it's true?," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. "Which part?"

She laughed. "I guess the crazy gullible part."