There's a Mouse in the House (Part 1)

 Our cat, Tibby, leapt to the top of the TV stand and pounced over to the mantle. "Don't you do it!" I warned her, for she has a history of jumping to places she shouldn't be and knocking stuff around. But there was something in her alert posture and intent gaze that suggested she had more in her sights than mayhem. Did I bring a bug in with the firewood? I guessed, and leaned over to peer at the underside of the mantle. Seeing nothing at first, my attention was drawn to a flick of a movement to my right. Something long and thin hung from the wrought iron bracket supporting the mantle. Is it a lizard? I thought, but then I saw the creature clearly-- it was a fat little field mouse! When it was clear that I saw it, the mouse dove back behind the TV, and that is where it still is. We have been telling both Tibby and Milo that this is the moment they were born for! But so far? They seem unconvinced.

Somewhere Out There

It was my friend Mary's idea to have our students create micro video presentations to celebrate the end of the essay unit. Using a popular education platform, the kids were tasked with making videos between 60 and 90 seconds showcasing their writing and ideas. Sharing their video with the group was optional, but showing their faces on it was not.

Until I hit play on the first video, I don't think I realized how much I longed to see these kids with whom I have worked so closely and yet never met in person. But after five months of faceless interaction, watching their recordings and hearing those familiar voices come from real people in real places? 

Well, it kind of choked me up a bit. 

Not Quite Camera Ready

When I checked my camera image this morning before my first class of the day, I thought I looked a bit rough. My a.m. routine has been rearranged to make time for a live yoga and meditation class, and so I have been showering at night. All well and good, but sometimes? Well, let's just say my hair doesn't always look as peaceful as I may feel after chanting. 

The kids won't care, I shrugged as I brushed my bangs back and hit admit all on the call. Imagine my surprise when the assistant principal appeared on the screen. As my evaluator, she was there to observe the class. 

Fortunately? Her focus was on my teaching and not my hair, and we spent an enjoyable 10 minutes going through the chat snap together with the kids.

Comment Cards

As part of the second quarter reflection I asked the kids in my English class the following: Tell me something about your learning style. How does our class fit you? How could our class be better for you?

As always, the insights of the students are telling. Notably, they seem generally satisfied, despite the challenges of distance learning. My colleagues and I are working hard to provide a productive learning environment, and for the most part, it seems to be working for most of the kids. 

Here's what they have to say so far:

I honestly love this class. It has a supportive writing community. I love how we get to know each other. I feel like I fit in here and nothing could make the class better.

This class fits well. The chat snaps are my favorite. But it would be better if we learned to write stories.

I learn by listening. This class fits me.

Well, I am an in person learner. I lose focus sometimes in my home because my environment distracts me.

One thing that helps me learn is music, and I work efficiently by myself. Our class fits me perfectly, I feel comfortable and happy.

My learning style is just adapting to how the teacher teaches me. I think this class fits me because I love writing.

My learning style is visual. Class would be better for me if there were more visuals, like videos.

I like this class, because my teacher gives me a lot of time and we get to pick what we want to write.

This class kind of fits my learning style, although I would like to not use breakout rooms.

Give us more time to work.

Our class is good for me because we go at the right class. It would be better if it were not virtual.

My learning style is kind of weird. I lose focus easily, but this class fits me well. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I like to work in different ways. Sometimes I like groups and sometimes not. In this class I feel like I can work alone, because I can ask a lot of questions when I need to.

I learn better when there is an example. It helps me a lot. This class would be better if we had a fun activity at the end.

I'm a good listener. This class is good.

I like our class. It's calm and fun to work in.

This class is very fun and easy, considering how much I like to write.

My learning style is to just look and listen and write stuff down. This class fits me because I'm having fun learning. The people here are nice, and there's a good balance between fun and learning.

My learning style is I just listen and if I have a question I ask it. I think how you're teaching the class is fine.

This class is calm, but at the same time noisy. I love the chat snap, it gets us to communicate together, and reply at times.

I like talking a lot. Maybe we could have more group activities.

This class stresses me out.

I think our class is fun to come to because I like writing.

I like to work on paper, and this class fits me well like that. We also practice certain stuff I need to learn.

I'm more of a visual learner. I sometimes can't understand things if I don't see an example.

I usually like to do stuff on my own. I don't like to be slowed down. This class works like that.

I am a visual learner and you provide a lot of images to help with work.

First of all I would like this class to be a little easier, please!

I work best alone.

This class helps me by giving me things to look at instead of just instructions, since it makes it a bit easier to come up with ideas.

My learning style is solo. I like working alone or 1:1 with a teacher. This class fits me because I always have that option.

I enjoy working alone, but I don't mind groups. Screenshots help me take notes.

I learn with pictures. This class fits me good.

I prefer talking to writing.

I usually record the lesson so I can take good notes later.

This is my favorite class because I love writing and I want to become an author someday. 

Would Eat Again

You gotta cook what you have, so on the menu this evening?

Bratwurst, sauerkraut, cabbage, onions, and cheese on sourdough pastry.

It was a little iffy, but the fresh oregano really pulled it all together.

And the beer didn't hurt either!

Not Optional

"May I have your ID?" the masked young woman at the health department asked. I was at one of the many many checkpoints on my way to receiving a COVID vaccine, and I was prepared, I handed her my drivers license without hesitation. "Oh!" she said. "Hello!"

I cocked my head. She looked familiar, but the mask--

"I'm Molly," she told me. "I took your class a long time ago."

I knew who she was then, and I giggled at her choice of verbs. "Sixth graders don't usually "take" English, though, do they?" I teased her. "It's more like they're forced!"

"Right," she shrugged, "but I liked it!"

Germination

At this time of year our mailbox fills up with seed catalogs and visions of warmer weather and garden bounty float through our fireside dreams. I spent some time yesterday afternoon circling seed descriptions and dog-earring their pages to organize my orders, but when I went online, company after company had a disclaimer about how delayed shipping would be on account of how high the demand for their products are this year. It seems that early seed starting is yet another pandemic-driven craze. I can hardly get upset about the appreciation our culture is recently showing for slowing down and doing things the old-fashioned way; I just hope my seeds get here in time!