She Cares...

So my new grade book has the option to send students emails to update them on their grades, what's going on in class, remind them of tests. So I sent an email to them last week reminding them that they needed to read and be prepared for a quiz we were going to take. I didn't think much of it. It was just a little email to get their brains in gear.

But the next day in class two girls stop by my desk and ask how I was able to send the emails. I tell them about this amazing new tool and they look at me then back at each other. The both of them say almost at the same moment "She cares! It made me feel like you really care about us"

I do care kiddos! I do care!!

dogs dogs everywhere

So a bunch of the teachers that I work with have made a book club. For the month of October we will be reading The Art of Racing in the Rain. I'm very happy to say that my copy came in the mail today. - Thank you Amazon (8.99) - I'm getting ready to go upstairs cuddle up in my nice warm bed, and read until my eyelids are heavy with sleep.

The book is written from the Dogs perspective. I am looking forward to the adventure of understanding the world from a dogs viewpoint.

On another note - last week we added a dog to the Parsons home. It has been a big change - always asking her if she needs to go potty. Trying to get all of the little pieces of paper, cords, socks, shoes, cat toys and other puppy 'no, nos' up and away. She is a funny little dog who is learning how to take walks and sit and lay down. I had forgotten what it's like to have a puppy. they are a lot of work - but it's fun work!

Voices - you must use voices

If there is one thing I know for sure about teenagers - they love voices.

There are a few that I use all the time and the kids always laugh. And I think they remember what we are discussing because I have heard the comment "remember when you said ... using that funny voice"

Here are some of the sure fire winners:
Teenage boy - think low voice, slow wording, and lots of rolling of the eyes.
Teenage girl - high pitched, lots of the word "like" and heaps of hair flips
Emu - this is my version of the teenager who is so bored by their life, I flip my hair into my eyes and slump my shoulders too.

I'm telling you start practicing in the car on the way to work and you will get their attention. That way when you do use your mean voice they will know you are being serious!

There is one of them in all of us

So many things to discuss! Amazing things have been happening.

First - I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing Where the Wild Things Are - this has to be one of my all time favorite books. It makes me remember my childhood, my brother's best friend went as Max one year for Halloween. And for a few years when my school taught Lord of the Flies to sophomores I would start my unit by reading them this piece of literature. It's very important to roar a terrible roar - gnash your terrible teeth - and roll your terrible eyes when there are moments of insanity in life.

I dream of being queen of all the wild things. I would love to have a wild rumpus and then be able to sail back over a year and a through a month and end up where someone loves me most of all. The smell of something delicious is always drawing me back. The familiar life that keeps me happy - yet there is that willingness to have the adventure.

How do we build that in students?

More over - how have I been able to build this in students, in the past I didn't know what effect I had had on these students of mine. I knew that they enjoyed my class - listened to what I had to say but I don't know if I thought that I was changing peoples lives. That is what I set out to do when I became a teacher. It was not for the money (everyone knows that) and it wasn't for the summers off (Although those are nice!) but I really wanted to change the world. I was one of those novice teachers who believed that I could. Well in the last few weeks I have come to find out that I may be adding to the beauty in the world.

I've been teaching a class this year - Intro to Education - and I have a student who is taking it so that she can be like me when she grows up. I feel like I don't even know what to think about this. I never thought that people would say "I want to be like you when I grow up" - I mean I think this is every teachers dream, but I know that not every kid wants to be an English teacher. Heck, Most kids don't even want to be in an English class! So when some shy student tells me that she wants to help people the way that I helped her - I am flabbergasted!

This is a picture of the quote on my door. I see it every day multiple times a day.

I want to be true to it. I want it to be a mantra that I never forget.

When we begin to allow education to be free and honest and true the walls of hatred will break down and beauty and love will flourish.

Today is Gandhi's Birthday. 140 - quite the mile stone. He is a man who wanted to better the world around him - to make his people worthy of support and a voice.

A voice that is now recognized around the world. So much so that people in a sleepy little town like Murrieta get to appreciate his legacy.

So what will be the legacy that is left behind by this generation? Will it be technology - war - peace - hope - destruction - madness - intelligence - beauty. I hope that it is something amazing. Something so profound that I can describe it in words.

And that is what I try to work on everyday in my little world, My Monday to Friday - It's in the little things. The "Have a good weekend, and don't do drugs" farewell that I give to my students. It's in the analysis of Fahrenheit 451 that I have with my Junior classes.

So wild things - I'll keep on keeping on. And I hope you do too.