Soooo, I got talked to about classroom control again last week. It was a blow because I thought I was doing so much better. I was pretty discouraged for awhile, making wild threats about quitting and such (in my head only, of course... and maybe to Mama too). Of course, simultaneous with the threats was the knowledge that I'd be over it in a little bit, and right back to loving teaching.
I tightened things up a bit, and got comments from my students about being mean and such ("hey, can you say that a little louder so the headmaster can hear?"), but the end result was that I was able to lead some interruption-free, awesome discussions in class this week!
In British Literature I had one of those rare and treasured moments where one of my kids will suddenly be in awe of the writing, after we've unearthed an underlying meaning or something. "Why don't people write books like that anymore?" he asked. I agreed with the sentiment.
In Classical Literature we had a class-long debate about whether Achilles is really changed at the end of The Iliad, or if he's the same old heartless being. They were really into the debate, pulling in all kinds of evidence from the text. I had three things on the agenda that day, and we didn't even get through the first one. This made my teacherly heart sing for joy (to adapt a Sarah-ism).
In Algebra, it came to light that my most advanced student had caught up to the lower level of the grade above. He got moved up. I was really happy about this because the lower level of the grade above consists of kids I'd had the year before, and I felt a bit on the spot in light of the fact that they're struggling so badly. So I was glad that at least I hadn't failed with this kid (let's not talk about the fact that he's naturally really good at math). However, this kid, who has a fabulous sense of humor, decided that I'd moved him because I didn't like him, and he went on and on about it. He stood at my podium and said, in a high-pitched voice, "Oh students, you're so wonderful! Oh. Except you, Josh. Just leave."
And then, in journalism, when I had them write a story about how Miss Murray beat up a burglar attempting to steal something from her apartment, he wrote the following:
"Last night, at approximately 10:30pm, Miss Murray mercilessly attacked and pummeled a burglar in her apartment using only a mag light, because the thief was trying to [recover] a lost valuable. The burglar, a Mr. Josh W___ was found by police after Miss Murray fled the scene. Following a three hour car chase during which the suspect used a jet ski, a motorcycle, and eventually a helicopter, she was brought into custody. [During questioning] the information she reported was shocking.
Miss Murray was at her apartment to stow a treasure of incredible value: Josh's joy. She had stolen it earlier that day by sending him to a different algebra class, straining his joy into a physical entity which she placed in a box. Josh had broken in to recover his lost joy, but was beaten, and lost his Random spirit to Miss Murray's box that contains his still missing joy..."
Haha. I love teaching:) Full of great learning moments and great humor moments. So the downs ended in ups galore, and I will refrain from submitting my resignation... Until next time I get talked to... At which time other things will again remind me how much I love it... More ellipses... The end...
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
I'm Teaching Again
It's been far too long. Time for a blogging renaissance!
How about some amusing blips from my school days recently:
*Yesterday one of my students made a very clever pun on a word that I don't use... Which he very well knows. I said, "See, that was really funny, but now I can never repeat it!" And he said, "Miss Murray, you make conservatives look like wack-o liberals." Hahahaha.
*This week a student was reading a passage and cleverly switching words to their opposites, or to the opposite of a related word. He gave just the right amount of pause before he did it, and suddenly I was laughing... and laughing... and laughing... and crying... and laughing. When I'd finally regained control, I discovered one student had captured the whole thing on video on his digital camera. The reading student asked me what that was all about and I responded, "That was a combination of a leeetle bit of humor and a looooot of fatigue."
*The students were discussing the rare phenomenon of one of the teachers being in a realllly good mood. Then one of them said, "Hey! That was the day Miss Murray was being evil!" "Yeah, we switched," I said. By "evil," he meant "telling them their behavior was abysmal, and they'd better sharpen up and start taking their education seriously." Whew. Serious evil-osity.
*My 7th grade boys have an uncanny fascination with violence. I had them re-write a passage from Jane Eyre using a different perspective, and he wrote about Jane's friend's child. The child and his mother went to visit Jane (that took about 1 paragraph) and on the way home they were attacked by wild Indians (a rare phenomenon in Victorian England) and killed. Nice.
*Now I want to go eat breakfast and enjoy Katie's company. Tata! :)
How about some amusing blips from my school days recently:
*Yesterday one of my students made a very clever pun on a word that I don't use... Which he very well knows. I said, "See, that was really funny, but now I can never repeat it!" And he said, "Miss Murray, you make conservatives look like wack-o liberals." Hahahaha.
*This week a student was reading a passage and cleverly switching words to their opposites, or to the opposite of a related word. He gave just the right amount of pause before he did it, and suddenly I was laughing... and laughing... and laughing... and crying... and laughing. When I'd finally regained control, I discovered one student had captured the whole thing on video on his digital camera. The reading student asked me what that was all about and I responded, "That was a combination of a leeetle bit of humor and a looooot of fatigue."
*The students were discussing the rare phenomenon of one of the teachers being in a realllly good mood. Then one of them said, "Hey! That was the day Miss Murray was being evil!" "Yeah, we switched," I said. By "evil," he meant "telling them their behavior was abysmal, and they'd better sharpen up and start taking their education seriously." Whew. Serious evil-osity.
*My 7th grade boys have an uncanny fascination with violence. I had them re-write a passage from Jane Eyre using a different perspective, and he wrote about Jane's friend's child. The child and his mother went to visit Jane (that took about 1 paragraph) and on the way home they were attacked by wild Indians (a rare phenomenon in Victorian England) and killed. Nice.
*Now I want to go eat breakfast and enjoy Katie's company. Tata! :)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
The Michael Phelps - 19th c American Lit Connection
I have been enjoying the Olympics immensely, as I do every time. My sleeping habits are ridiculous, but hey, they only happen every 4 years! (Well, every 2, but you know what I mean.) I've found the Michael Phelps story the most exciting - especially with the 4X1 relay and last night's 100 Butterfly. Oy vay!! It's awesome to see someone going after excellence the way he is - and it's awesome that he seems like a nice person instead of some show-off that you secretly hope will fail. Go Phelps!
But you know what I think is the coolest? I love that in order to break the Mark Spitz record he has to depend, to some degree, on his teammates. He couldn't have tied it without Lezak and that incredible come-back against the French. And he won't be able to break it without the help of his teammates in tonight's relay. I think that's awesome.
Instead of the individual doing it completely on his own, there is a dependence on his fellow man.
It brings back American Lit class with Dr. Barbour. Franklin and Emerson had this exalted idea of the individual, and how he could do anything he wanted to, and be as perfect as he wanted to, on his own strength.
Melville, Poe, and Hawthorne begged to differ. Their writing shows the weaknesses and sin of the individual, highlighting the need for fellowship and for something beyond himself to save him.
As I sat in class, and heard that some people believed you could never really connect with your fellow man, I was scared. I decided to side with the Melville, Poe and Hawthorne school of thought because I desperately wanted it to be true that "We are connected to our fellow man by a thousand natural fibers" (Melville).
But then I realized that I didn't have to wish they were right... they were right! God created us for fellowship as part of the Body of Christ! I was so relieved.
And in Phelps' quest for the most gold medals in a single Olympics there is a picture of that.
Man cannot make it on his own. He needs God most of all, obviously (which, after the butterfly last night, I'm inclined to think Phelps has! Haha). But he also needs his fellow man. Coooool!
As I was saying this in a condensed and unrelated-to-American-Lit form to Gretchen, she said, "Andrea, you're cute." I was indignant.
"I am NOT cute!" I protested. "I'm..." and I searched for the right philosophical/literary term to describe my insight.
"Adorable!" Michael piped up.
Hee hee hee. Yeah. That's right.
But you know what I think is the coolest? I love that in order to break the Mark Spitz record he has to depend, to some degree, on his teammates. He couldn't have tied it without Lezak and that incredible come-back against the French. And he won't be able to break it without the help of his teammates in tonight's relay. I think that's awesome.
Instead of the individual doing it completely on his own, there is a dependence on his fellow man.
It brings back American Lit class with Dr. Barbour. Franklin and Emerson had this exalted idea of the individual, and how he could do anything he wanted to, and be as perfect as he wanted to, on his own strength.
Melville, Poe, and Hawthorne begged to differ. Their writing shows the weaknesses and sin of the individual, highlighting the need for fellowship and for something beyond himself to save him.
As I sat in class, and heard that some people believed you could never really connect with your fellow man, I was scared. I decided to side with the Melville, Poe and Hawthorne school of thought because I desperately wanted it to be true that "We are connected to our fellow man by a thousand natural fibers" (Melville).
But then I realized that I didn't have to wish they were right... they were right! God created us for fellowship as part of the Body of Christ! I was so relieved.
And in Phelps' quest for the most gold medals in a single Olympics there is a picture of that.
Man cannot make it on his own. He needs God most of all, obviously (which, after the butterfly last night, I'm inclined to think Phelps has! Haha). But he also needs his fellow man. Coooool!
As I was saying this in a condensed and unrelated-to-American-Lit form to Gretchen, she said, "Andrea, you're cute." I was indignant.
"I am NOT cute!" I protested. "I'm..." and I searched for the right philosophical/literary term to describe my insight.
"Adorable!" Michael piped up.
Hee hee hee. Yeah. That's right.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
We Went to Maine
This year's family vacation was to Maine! We spent three days up there, sightseeing and yardsaling. Way fun!
Wednesday was Pike's Island day. We went to Casco Bay, and took a ferry out to the island. We then started gallivanting about on foot. Yes, foot. It turns out the island is a lot bigger in real life than it was on the piece of paper. We were mighty weary by the end. But it was well worth it, and we saw some beeeooootiful views.
That night we stayed in a wicked nice hotel that Mom had somehow secured for free (some credit card points thing?). She's amazing. We were very impressed with it. And had fun relaxing there that evening.
Thursday we saw some sweet lighthouses and Longfellow's childhood home! It was awesome! My favorite lighthouse name was definitely Bug Light. Haha.
But Longfellow's home was my favorite part. I learned lots, and officially love Longfellow. I enjoyed celebrating his two hundredth birthday last year with my students, and I can't wait to tell them I saw his house!
Friday was yardsaling day and I made out like a bandit! I found everything from school supplies, to lit books, to brand new JJill clothes, to a wastebasket for the living room in our apartment. Yahoooo! Also fun was meeting the Randalls, who were also yardsaling:) Yay!
Maine was officially great! (Which reminds me of a conversation Craig and I just had, which reminds me to rejoice all over again that CRAIG IS HOME!!!!!)
Wednesday was Pike's Island day. We went to Casco Bay, and took a ferry out to the island. We then started gallivanting about on foot. Yes, foot. It turns out the island is a lot bigger in real life than it was on the piece of paper. We were mighty weary by the end. But it was well worth it, and we saw some beeeooootiful views.
That night we stayed in a wicked nice hotel that Mom had somehow secured for free (some credit card points thing?). She's amazing. We were very impressed with it. And had fun relaxing there that evening.
Thursday we saw some sweet lighthouses and Longfellow's childhood home! It was awesome! My favorite lighthouse name was definitely Bug Light. Haha.
But Longfellow's home was my favorite part. I learned lots, and officially love Longfellow. I enjoyed celebrating his two hundredth birthday last year with my students, and I can't wait to tell them I saw his house!
Friday was yardsaling day and I made out like a bandit! I found everything from school supplies, to lit books, to brand new JJill clothes, to a wastebasket for the living room in our apartment. Yahoooo! Also fun was meeting the Randalls, who were also yardsaling:) Yay!
Maine was officially great! (Which reminds me of a conversation Craig and I just had, which reminds me to rejoice all over again that CRAIG IS HOME!!!!!)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Another Humorous Murray Moment
The other night Gretchen was down again, looking through home school stuff, and getting me to write out a copy of the poem listing the kings of England that I'd made my Brit Lit students memorize.
Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three,
Edward One, Two, Three, Dick Two,
Harry Four, Five, Six, then who?
Etc.
Dad and Mom were reading, meanwhile, and Kimberly was working on a summer assignment for her ESL course. She interrupted our various reveries to say that she was supposed to give a report of how she liked the course, and she was just going to say it was good, even though she hated it and they were a bunch of liberal nitwits (to borrow a phrase from Karen's husband).
We all shrieked in protest and said that she should raise the issues that she had with the class. Suddenly, Dad broke out into Shakespearean poetry.
"Stiffen the sinews! Summon up the blood! Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect."
Gretchen, in full agreement, chimed in with "Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel!"
Mama, not to be outdone, cried, "Listen my children and you shall hear!"
And I, saving the best for last, bleated, "Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve!"
I think Kimberly was very inspired, and found the courage to raise the issues after all. A day well spent. Poetry rocks.
Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three,
Edward One, Two, Three, Dick Two,
Harry Four, Five, Six, then who?
Etc.
Dad and Mom were reading, meanwhile, and Kimberly was working on a summer assignment for her ESL course. She interrupted our various reveries to say that she was supposed to give a report of how she liked the course, and she was just going to say it was good, even though she hated it and they were a bunch of liberal nitwits (to borrow a phrase from Karen's husband).
We all shrieked in protest and said that she should raise the issues that she had with the class. Suddenly, Dad broke out into Shakespearean poetry.
"Stiffen the sinews! Summon up the blood! Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect."
Gretchen, in full agreement, chimed in with "Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel!"
Mama, not to be outdone, cried, "Listen my children and you shall hear!"
And I, saving the best for last, bleated, "Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve!"
I think Kimberly was very inspired, and found the courage to raise the issues after all. A day well spent. Poetry rocks.
Monday, July 21, 2008
The Long-Awaited Tale of How Gretchen is the Hero of the (my) Universe
If you will, please recall the post I wrote concerning the computer store. Place yourself back in that environment, and hear my voice breaking into the largeness to say that I was not exactly rolling in wealth, and would like an assessment before any work was done.
Now move forward several days to my phone ringing in the living room. I pick it up to hear that my computer is ready, the problem sort of fixed, and the bill $120.
Gulp.
I drove into Keene already frustrated with some plans that had fallen through, and had an annoying time running a couple of errands. Needless to say I was not in the best frame of mind for arriving at the computer store. I walked in to find only the little man. That was one break, anyway. He proceeded to tell me that my computer was fixed, and would no longer randomly blink off... unless I tipped it sideways or picked it up from underneath.
??
He then wanted to demonstrate that it would still work when I picked it up from the sides. He booted it up, picked it up, and all was well. Well that was good - at least something was working right.
But then he also felt it necessary to show me that it would freeze/blink off if I tipped it. He tipped it. Sure enough it froze. Greeeat. But THEN he wanted to show me that it would also do that if picked up from underneath.
In case you aren't keeping track, that meant that I was standing there over the course of THREE boot-ups of the computer. And mine doesn't exactly zip through the speed up process. So all I want to do is get out of there, and instead I'm standing there watching my problematic computer have clock-work-like problems.
FINally, after carefully writing down FOUR possible anti-virus/anti-spyware programs I might want to look into, he released me.
I trudged to my car and went home. I stopped by Gretchen's to drop off a gallon of milk, and told her what had happened. She was very annoyed on my behalf. It is good to have siblings who will support you in your angst.
Then I popped by the garage to drop off Kimberly's car (I'd borrowed it to take, but Gerry was going to be doing some work on it), and met Gerry coming down the hill. We were about to carry on a conversation when my hair got stuck in Kimberly's rear-view mirror decor, and I absolutely blew up in one long roared "THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER!!!!!!"
Gerry said something along the lines of "Hmmm, maybe this isn't the best time to ask you if you'll do the children's part of 9:00 hour tomorrow..." Hahahahaha :)
Then Gretchen came along and explained that I'd just paid a lot of money for not really getting my computer fixed, and without an assessment ahead of time. Gerry looked properly shocked and horrified. He's the best!
I went home and decided to read my troubles away in the hammock (that will cover a multitude of sins!).
But then I heard Gretchen call from her house to Shawn, who was in the garden, "I'm going to save the day!" Or something like that. And suddenly I looked at the leaves above me with a wild surmise. Was it possible?!
Sure enough, my phone rang. It was Gretchen. "I'm going in to Keene to get your money back. Want to come?" I leapt from the hammock in amazement and ran into the house for my shoes.
As I got into the car my interrogation began. She explained. She'd called the computer store and asked for the (loud) boss, but discovered he wasn't there. It was still the small man by himself. So she said, "Well, we have a problem... " and explained how things were and said "I think we need to come get her money back." And he said, "I'll be here until 5:30."
WOWZER!
As we zipped in I said I did NOT want to go in, I was just along for the ride. My non-confrontational nature wanted nothing to do with going in there and accusing him (more or less) of robbing me blind (is that the expression? I wonder why? Why blind? Anyway...). I even mentioned the possibility of being dropped off a block down the road in case he should see me out the window. It was, after all, besides being a confrontational situation, a little embarrassing that I needed my sister to do my dirty work for me...
I ended up sitting in the parking lot after all, while Gretchen went in. Imagine my incredible consternation when all of a sudden I heard Gretchen's voice calling from the door "We're having a great time in here! You should come in!"
WHAT?!?! She had just revealed my presence in the car to the very man I was hiding from! What was she thinking! I slinked down a little in my seat in horror, and hoped she wouldn't be too much longer.
About 10 minutes later she called out AGAIN. "Andrea, you really should come in - we're having a great time!" OH MY WORD. I called up Kimberly in my desperation. "What is she doing?!?" She pointed out that she was probably just in social mode, which I saw was probably true. But oh my word. Then I saw her come out of the store WITH HIM. I thought I would melt away and die on the spot. I slunk down realllly low, and she got into the car as I was saying to Kimberly "Stay on the line with me in case he comes over!" hoping that he would see I was engaged in conversation and couldn't chat. Fortunately there was no need, the man was just coming out to remove the open sign.
So as I said goodbye to KJ and we cleared the parking lot I said "What in the world were you doing?!?!" She was horrified to find out how mad I was, and hastened to explain. She thought I didn't want to come in because I didn't want to embarrass him (which was true, partly), and when she saw how well the conversation was going, and that he was a Christian, and that he insisted upon our taking all the money, even though were were willing to leave some (she finally did talk him into taking a little), and that the random call I got from the loud boss requesting me to remind him of the problem (um, it clicks off every two seconds, pal, didn't you notice that?) was supposed to be the call giving me the estimate, and that he felt terrible about it, she realized that the coast was clear and amicable should I desire to come in for reconciliation. By the time I heard all of that all was well in my soul, I was giggling, and I didn't even mind that she'd invited him to church:)
PHEW!
So let's recap: I got totally gypped, just like all girls are supposed to be in mechanical situations, and my big sister jumped into the fray and got me my money back! Hurrah for HER! She already was my hero - but now I have even more evidence of her heroism.
Now move forward several days to my phone ringing in the living room. I pick it up to hear that my computer is ready, the problem sort of fixed, and the bill $120.
Gulp.
I drove into Keene already frustrated with some plans that had fallen through, and had an annoying time running a couple of errands. Needless to say I was not in the best frame of mind for arriving at the computer store. I walked in to find only the little man. That was one break, anyway. He proceeded to tell me that my computer was fixed, and would no longer randomly blink off... unless I tipped it sideways or picked it up from underneath.
??
He then wanted to demonstrate that it would still work when I picked it up from the sides. He booted it up, picked it up, and all was well. Well that was good - at least something was working right.
But then he also felt it necessary to show me that it would freeze/blink off if I tipped it. He tipped it. Sure enough it froze. Greeeat. But THEN he wanted to show me that it would also do that if picked up from underneath.
In case you aren't keeping track, that meant that I was standing there over the course of THREE boot-ups of the computer. And mine doesn't exactly zip through the speed up process. So all I want to do is get out of there, and instead I'm standing there watching my problematic computer have clock-work-like problems.
FINally, after carefully writing down FOUR possible anti-virus/anti-spyware programs I might want to look into, he released me.
I trudged to my car and went home. I stopped by Gretchen's to drop off a gallon of milk, and told her what had happened. She was very annoyed on my behalf. It is good to have siblings who will support you in your angst.
Then I popped by the garage to drop off Kimberly's car (I'd borrowed it to take, but Gerry was going to be doing some work on it), and met Gerry coming down the hill. We were about to carry on a conversation when my hair got stuck in Kimberly's rear-view mirror decor, and I absolutely blew up in one long roared "THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER!!!!!!"
Gerry said something along the lines of "Hmmm, maybe this isn't the best time to ask you if you'll do the children's part of 9:00 hour tomorrow..." Hahahahaha :)
Then Gretchen came along and explained that I'd just paid a lot of money for not really getting my computer fixed, and without an assessment ahead of time. Gerry looked properly shocked and horrified. He's the best!
I went home and decided to read my troubles away in the hammock (that will cover a multitude of sins!).
But then I heard Gretchen call from her house to Shawn, who was in the garden, "I'm going to save the day!" Or something like that. And suddenly I looked at the leaves above me with a wild surmise. Was it possible?!
Sure enough, my phone rang. It was Gretchen. "I'm going in to Keene to get your money back. Want to come?" I leapt from the hammock in amazement and ran into the house for my shoes.
As I got into the car my interrogation began. She explained. She'd called the computer store and asked for the (loud) boss, but discovered he wasn't there. It was still the small man by himself. So she said, "Well, we have a problem... " and explained how things were and said "I think we need to come get her money back." And he said, "I'll be here until 5:30."
WOWZER!
As we zipped in I said I did NOT want to go in, I was just along for the ride. My non-confrontational nature wanted nothing to do with going in there and accusing him (more or less) of robbing me blind (is that the expression? I wonder why? Why blind? Anyway...). I even mentioned the possibility of being dropped off a block down the road in case he should see me out the window. It was, after all, besides being a confrontational situation, a little embarrassing that I needed my sister to do my dirty work for me...
I ended up sitting in the parking lot after all, while Gretchen went in. Imagine my incredible consternation when all of a sudden I heard Gretchen's voice calling from the door "We're having a great time in here! You should come in!"
WHAT?!?! She had just revealed my presence in the car to the very man I was hiding from! What was she thinking! I slinked down a little in my seat in horror, and hoped she wouldn't be too much longer.
About 10 minutes later she called out AGAIN. "Andrea, you really should come in - we're having a great time!" OH MY WORD. I called up Kimberly in my desperation. "What is she doing?!?" She pointed out that she was probably just in social mode, which I saw was probably true. But oh my word. Then I saw her come out of the store WITH HIM. I thought I would melt away and die on the spot. I slunk down realllly low, and she got into the car as I was saying to Kimberly "Stay on the line with me in case he comes over!" hoping that he would see I was engaged in conversation and couldn't chat. Fortunately there was no need, the man was just coming out to remove the open sign.
So as I said goodbye to KJ and we cleared the parking lot I said "What in the world were you doing?!?!" She was horrified to find out how mad I was, and hastened to explain. She thought I didn't want to come in because I didn't want to embarrass him (which was true, partly), and when she saw how well the conversation was going, and that he was a Christian, and that he insisted upon our taking all the money, even though were were willing to leave some (she finally did talk him into taking a little), and that the random call I got from the loud boss requesting me to remind him of the problem (um, it clicks off every two seconds, pal, didn't you notice that?) was supposed to be the call giving me the estimate, and that he felt terrible about it, she realized that the coast was clear and amicable should I desire to come in for reconciliation. By the time I heard all of that all was well in my soul, I was giggling, and I didn't even mind that she'd invited him to church:)
PHEW!
So let's recap: I got totally gypped, just like all girls are supposed to be in mechanical situations, and my big sister jumped into the fray and got me my money back! Hurrah for HER! She already was my hero - but now I have even more evidence of her heroism.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
From "The Mill on the Floss" by George Eliot (who was a woman)
He had small opinion of Saladin, whose scimitar could cut a cushion in two in an instant; who wanted to cut cushions? That was a stupid story, and he didn't care to hear it again. But when Robert Bruce, on the black pony, rose in his stirrups, and lifting his good battle-axe, cracked at once the helmet and the skull of the too hasty knight at Bannockburn, then Tom felt all the exaltation of sympathy, and if he had had a cocoa-nut at hand, he would have cracked it at once with the poker.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Just a Quickie
Today I was home alone, and had home-owners paranoia. I was about to drive out with Katie, but asked if we could swing by my house just to make sure I turned the fan off... Anyway, this paranoia lingered a bit into the night. I was just sitting at my desk when I caught something strange out of the corner of my eye. A glowing thing on the lawn. FIRE?! Noooo, not moving. (phew) OH! It was the orange-y moon, reflecting in the swamp! Very cool.
So I bet you're wondering where Katie and I were going, aren't you? Well, I will tell you. We went to a free concert at the Dublin School! It was given by tenor vocalist Issachah Savage, a ha-UGE black man (all good tenors are huge, aren't they?) who, we discovered, is the possessor of an incredible voice. We heard Greek folk songs and Elizabethan songs and Spirituals (never have I heard a Spiritual so authentically sung), and he ended with an encore of Amazing Grace, inviting the audience to join in. A fabulous Sabbath evening! It reminded me a little of the concerts we went to in Jerusalem... minus the view. Anyway, we went on a chance, and discovered a gem.
And I bet you're still wondering about Gretchen's heroism, aren't you! But this is to be a quickie, so you'll have to just wait a leeeeeetle longer.
So I bet you're wondering where Katie and I were going, aren't you? Well, I will tell you. We went to a free concert at the Dublin School! It was given by tenor vocalist Issachah Savage, a ha-UGE black man (all good tenors are huge, aren't they?) who, we discovered, is the possessor of an incredible voice. We heard Greek folk songs and Elizabethan songs and Spirituals (never have I heard a Spiritual so authentically sung), and he ended with an encore of Amazing Grace, inviting the audience to join in. A fabulous Sabbath evening! It reminded me a little of the concerts we went to in Jerusalem... minus the view. Anyway, we went on a chance, and discovered a gem.
And I bet you're still wondering about Gretchen's heroism, aren't you! But this is to be a quickie, so you'll have to just wait a leeeeeetle longer.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Computer Store: A Character Study
Soooooo, my computer has been very sketchy lately - randomly popping off in the middle of my work and such. At first it just turned itself off if I moved it, but then it started doing it with disturbing regularity whether I moved it or not. So I decided it was time for drastic measures. I drove it to the computer store in Keene. Katie (oh joy! oh delight!) accompanied me (I'm really glad she's home from Israel!).
We walked in and found ourselves in a small, dark room, strewn with computers and partial-computers. The walls had various computer articles, comic strips, and strange cartoon/anime type figures.
As our eyes adjusted to the dim interior we discovered two men to be present. The one closest to the door boomed out a greeting of some kind. He did not stop booming for the next 20 minutes or so, until we had safely retreated to our car. He was a large man, with a large mouth, and very large opinions that he largely expressed to the world. He should live in Brooklyn, methinks. He bellowed on about hating Mondays (due to how well the margaritas went down the night before...), his wife's finally being off crutches, his tomato wine recipe, and a little about computers and how honest he is.
The other man took a little noticing, because he was, in comparison, small. He was a little shorter than I am, and much, much quieter. He puttered about looking for parts for Katie's computer while the large man roared about how much more cheaply he could sell it than other people. The small man couldn't find the part, and retired to the corner of the shop to quietly see what he could discover online.
Meanwhile, the large man got a phone call. Ahhh, a reprieve, thought Katie and I. Not so. It was a telemarketer, and our large subject is not a fan of telemarketers. I have never heard a person so very abused by another person. Sworn at, yes. Yelled at, yes. But thoroughly scalded in such a manner? Wow. Katie and I vainly pretended to be carrying on a conversation about Turkey, but there was still a very awkward pause when the large man ceased his venomous attack and slammed the phone down.
The quiet man, reluctant to break into our pretend conversation, for fear of asserting himself where he was not wanted, waited for a pause in our discourse to let us know the approximate price of the part she needed.
The large man then burst in with his opinion on the part, and of the allusion to ebay, and we thanked everyone (several times, because they were loath to let us go - the large man sad to lose his captive audience, the small man sad to lose anyone who free him from being the captive audience), and sidled out the door as fast as we could without being too abrupt.
We got back to the car laughing to ourselves, and I thought, "This would be great to blog about." Thank goodness for small men, no matter what their size, is what I have to say!
And I need to blog soon about how Gretchen is the HERO OF THE UNIVERSE! (Or at least of my universe!)
We walked in and found ourselves in a small, dark room, strewn with computers and partial-computers. The walls had various computer articles, comic strips, and strange cartoon/anime type figures.
As our eyes adjusted to the dim interior we discovered two men to be present. The one closest to the door boomed out a greeting of some kind. He did not stop booming for the next 20 minutes or so, until we had safely retreated to our car. He was a large man, with a large mouth, and very large opinions that he largely expressed to the world. He should live in Brooklyn, methinks. He bellowed on about hating Mondays (due to how well the margaritas went down the night before...), his wife's finally being off crutches, his tomato wine recipe, and a little about computers and how honest he is.
The other man took a little noticing, because he was, in comparison, small. He was a little shorter than I am, and much, much quieter. He puttered about looking for parts for Katie's computer while the large man roared about how much more cheaply he could sell it than other people. The small man couldn't find the part, and retired to the corner of the shop to quietly see what he could discover online.
Meanwhile, the large man got a phone call. Ahhh, a reprieve, thought Katie and I. Not so. It was a telemarketer, and our large subject is not a fan of telemarketers. I have never heard a person so very abused by another person. Sworn at, yes. Yelled at, yes. But thoroughly scalded in such a manner? Wow. Katie and I vainly pretended to be carrying on a conversation about Turkey, but there was still a very awkward pause when the large man ceased his venomous attack and slammed the phone down.
The quiet man, reluctant to break into our pretend conversation, for fear of asserting himself where he was not wanted, waited for a pause in our discourse to let us know the approximate price of the part she needed.
The large man then burst in with his opinion on the part, and of the allusion to ebay, and we thanked everyone (several times, because they were loath to let us go - the large man sad to lose his captive audience, the small man sad to lose anyone who free him from being the captive audience), and sidled out the door as fast as we could without being too abrupt.
We got back to the car laughing to ourselves, and I thought, "This would be great to blog about." Thank goodness for small men, no matter what their size, is what I have to say!
And I need to blog soon about how Gretchen is the HERO OF THE UNIVERSE! (Or at least of my universe!)
Monday, July 14, 2008
LOOK! I'M BLOGGING!
However, I did have to ask Kimberly how to get to the place where you write on your blog because I couldn't remember. That's sad. Also sad is that my last post was on MAY 7! Oy vay. Gretchen said she doesn't even check it anymore, but Daddy said he checks it repeatedly. "I keep seeing the funniest thing you've ever heard, or whatever it was."
"Which was funny!" Gretchen affirmed.
Anyway, I'm starting small here, as I get back into this... I'm just going to report three funny quotes that were uttered in our house recently.
The first came when Danny came down to pick up his boys who'd been playing at our house. There was a softball game scheduled for the evening, but thunder clouds were fast building.
"It's going to be a great softball game!" I said.
"Yeah. Struck by lightning in centerfield," he replied. "He's going back... back... ZAP! He's GONE!"
The second came last night when I came traipsing down the stairs from my room, and told my family "You lucky people, you! I have been smitten with the desire to sing!" As I was sailing on by to go downstairs to the piano, Mama said, "That's nice, dear! Can you shut the door as you go by?"
(She actually meant the door to the porch, but it certainly was great timing.)
The third came this evening when Mama came in wondering where her duster was. "Do you girls have it upstairs?" "Ha!" I responded. "I haven't dusted since the Fall! ...of man, that is."
So really I'm just posting this to show the world that I was funny. But other people's funniness preceded it, and I was reading Ann Coulter, so I was well prepped.
In fact, Daddy, KJ, Gretchen and I are all here reading (well, I was right before I got onto blogger), and we keep reading favorite lines to each other.
Gretchen is reading "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization," which I just picked up with Dad at Borders today. We went together so he could pick out his birthday present and that was what he selected. I was in the store looking at the cover, and reading down the list of things "your college professor didn't tell you." I was reading along and thinking, "MINE told me that!" when I got to the bottom of the list and saw the author's name: Anthony Esolen. Wait a minute! That WAS my college professor!! Sure enough, I flipped it over and saw "An English Professor at Providence College..." I started squeaking and jumping up and down in Borders I was so excited. Fortunately Dad recommended that I take it easy before I made a complete spectacle of myself:) It was SO COOL! Now everyone go buy the book - it's AWESOME. Gretchen has read aloud some very funny things already, and Katie was reading it out loud to me earlier while she was waiting for me to finish up so we could go to Keene and get our computers fixed together... But that's a story for another day. I'm supposed to be starting small here!
Yay! That was fun! I should post more often. I love summertime!
"Which was funny!" Gretchen affirmed.
Anyway, I'm starting small here, as I get back into this... I'm just going to report three funny quotes that were uttered in our house recently.
The first came when Danny came down to pick up his boys who'd been playing at our house. There was a softball game scheduled for the evening, but thunder clouds were fast building.
"It's going to be a great softball game!" I said.
"Yeah. Struck by lightning in centerfield," he replied. "He's going back... back... ZAP! He's GONE!"
The second came last night when I came traipsing down the stairs from my room, and told my family "You lucky people, you! I have been smitten with the desire to sing!" As I was sailing on by to go downstairs to the piano, Mama said, "That's nice, dear! Can you shut the door as you go by?"
(She actually meant the door to the porch, but it certainly was great timing.)
The third came this evening when Mama came in wondering where her duster was. "Do you girls have it upstairs?" "Ha!" I responded. "I haven't dusted since the Fall! ...of man, that is."
So really I'm just posting this to show the world that I was funny. But other people's funniness preceded it, and I was reading Ann Coulter, so I was well prepped.
In fact, Daddy, KJ, Gretchen and I are all here reading (well, I was right before I got onto blogger), and we keep reading favorite lines to each other.
Gretchen is reading "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization," which I just picked up with Dad at Borders today. We went together so he could pick out his birthday present and that was what he selected. I was in the store looking at the cover, and reading down the list of things "your college professor didn't tell you." I was reading along and thinking, "MINE told me that!" when I got to the bottom of the list and saw the author's name: Anthony Esolen. Wait a minute! That WAS my college professor!! Sure enough, I flipped it over and saw "An English Professor at Providence College..." I started squeaking and jumping up and down in Borders I was so excited. Fortunately Dad recommended that I take it easy before I made a complete spectacle of myself:) It was SO COOL! Now everyone go buy the book - it's AWESOME. Gretchen has read aloud some very funny things already, and Katie was reading it out loud to me earlier while she was waiting for me to finish up so we could go to Keene and get our computers fixed together... But that's a story for another day. I'm supposed to be starting small here!
Yay! That was fun! I should post more often. I love summertime!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Pretty Much the Funniest Thing I've Heard All Year
"We Brits like to laugh at ourselves. By 'laugh' I mean 'conquer.' And by 'ourselves' I mean 'everyone else.'"
Saturday, May 03, 2008
When Teachers Get Sick...
So Tuesday I started getting sniffly and sneezy during school, and when I got home things progressed from bad to worse. Nonetheless, I persevered and worked on cleaning my room and doing laundry until I headed for bed. In the night, there was no more persevering. I was sick, sick, sick.
I hate it when I have to call in sick.
The biggest pain is that I have to think up creative things for my students to do while I'm not there - things that can be overseen by our longsuffering headmaster or his longsuffering wife. (We do not have a substitute teacher system for these occasions, you see...) And when one is sick, one is not inclined to much creativity. I was unusually sick, what's more, and could hardly bear the thought of getting out of bed to access my school materials across the room. And that's only 4 steps or so. Oy vay. But time was ticking, there were only about 10 minutes left before school would start, and I neeeeeded to get those lesson plans in. So up I got, and retrieved the materials. I sent in instructions for silent reading, picture drawing (oy vay), and such, and collapsed back onto my pillow. OY VAY I was sick! (Why do I love talking about how sick I was when nobody really wants to know? Typical human self-centeredness, I suppose. But hey, I was reallllly sick.)
That first day I could function about zero. I just slept and listened to the radio. At one point I flipped the radio on and heard this: "When teachers are sick, their students suffer. They sit in school getting dumber by the minute while their teachers are home doing nothing. It's totally evil when teachers get sick. How dare they." Okay, that wasn't it exactly, but it DID talk about how it hurts the students when teachers get sick. I was WRACKED with GUILT. I tried to stand and hobble to my car, but fell down in a dead faint by the door. When I came to, I went back to bed. Oh my word, what is my problem? That wasn't true either. The only true part was a tad bit of guilt. Anyway, it was some health care commercial or something... As if I could have avoided the flu if I'd had a blue cross blue shield card in my wallet...
By day 2 I could actually check email and such, and what I found warmed the cockles of my heart. An email from one of my girls was full of well-wishing and advice ("Drink lots of fluids and get lots of rest. I don't know why, but that's what my Dad tells me when I'm sick"). Awwww! And then there was a priceless text from one of my boys, "This school is dysfunctional without you." In the evening I got a book report turned in via email, and the boy's admonishment was "If you don't watch The Office tonight, don't even bother coming in tomorrow." Haha! I giggled, and refused to leave my bed even for him...
And I DID bother coming in the next day. I was so relieved and happy to be driving to school again! No more commanding my students to engage in semi-pointless activities while they awaited my return... I had at my side a trusty glass of ginger ale as I drove. I couldn't find a closed lid container, so it was a wide glass. But all was well, it was a smooth ride. Until the last stretch, that is. I hit the brakes, and my cell phone, which was resting on the console (I just learned that word in recent years, by the way), went "sliiiiide, sploop!" RIGHT INTO THE GLASS! Oh my word. I fetched it out with great rapidity, and then just kept giggling as I dried it off with Dunkin Donuts napkins (of which I have about 4000 - why do they all look at me in the drive-though and determine that I look like a girl who needs at least 4 napkins with my every single order?!) and tried to avoid hitting other cars. The phone seemed to work alright after that, but now it's having issues recharging, so it will only work when actually plugged in. Sigh. Hopefully that will right itself when it gets sufficiently dried off.
Then I got to school, where my students cheered at my return (except for a couple of 7th grade boys who boooed affectionately) in assembly. I found get well and welcome back cards as well as small gifts (three black jelly beans wrapped in a napkin) on my desk. I was practically giddy in Algebra, it was so good to be back amongst them. It took us a little while to get started, since they wanted to fill me in on things that had happened in my absence, and I had to tell them (because they definitely wanted to know) how very, very sick I had been.
I hate it when I have to call in sick.
The biggest pain is that I have to think up creative things for my students to do while I'm not there - things that can be overseen by our longsuffering headmaster or his longsuffering wife. (We do not have a substitute teacher system for these occasions, you see...) And when one is sick, one is not inclined to much creativity. I was unusually sick, what's more, and could hardly bear the thought of getting out of bed to access my school materials across the room. And that's only 4 steps or so. Oy vay. But time was ticking, there were only about 10 minutes left before school would start, and I neeeeeded to get those lesson plans in. So up I got, and retrieved the materials. I sent in instructions for silent reading, picture drawing (oy vay), and such, and collapsed back onto my pillow. OY VAY I was sick! (Why do I love talking about how sick I was when nobody really wants to know? Typical human self-centeredness, I suppose. But hey, I was reallllly sick.)
That first day I could function about zero. I just slept and listened to the radio. At one point I flipped the radio on and heard this: "When teachers are sick, their students suffer. They sit in school getting dumber by the minute while their teachers are home doing nothing. It's totally evil when teachers get sick. How dare they." Okay, that wasn't it exactly, but it DID talk about how it hurts the students when teachers get sick. I was WRACKED with GUILT. I tried to stand and hobble to my car, but fell down in a dead faint by the door. When I came to, I went back to bed. Oh my word, what is my problem? That wasn't true either. The only true part was a tad bit of guilt. Anyway, it was some health care commercial or something... As if I could have avoided the flu if I'd had a blue cross blue shield card in my wallet...
By day 2 I could actually check email and such, and what I found warmed the cockles of my heart. An email from one of my girls was full of well-wishing and advice ("Drink lots of fluids and get lots of rest. I don't know why, but that's what my Dad tells me when I'm sick"). Awwww! And then there was a priceless text from one of my boys, "This school is dysfunctional without you." In the evening I got a book report turned in via email, and the boy's admonishment was "If you don't watch The Office tonight, don't even bother coming in tomorrow." Haha! I giggled, and refused to leave my bed even for him...
And I DID bother coming in the next day. I was so relieved and happy to be driving to school again! No more commanding my students to engage in semi-pointless activities while they awaited my return... I had at my side a trusty glass of ginger ale as I drove. I couldn't find a closed lid container, so it was a wide glass. But all was well, it was a smooth ride. Until the last stretch, that is. I hit the brakes, and my cell phone, which was resting on the console (I just learned that word in recent years, by the way), went "sliiiiide, sploop!" RIGHT INTO THE GLASS! Oh my word. I fetched it out with great rapidity, and then just kept giggling as I dried it off with Dunkin Donuts napkins (of which I have about 4000 - why do they all look at me in the drive-though and determine that I look like a girl who needs at least 4 napkins with my every single order?!) and tried to avoid hitting other cars. The phone seemed to work alright after that, but now it's having issues recharging, so it will only work when actually plugged in. Sigh. Hopefully that will right itself when it gets sufficiently dried off.
Then I got to school, where my students cheered at my return (except for a couple of 7th grade boys who boooed affectionately) in assembly. I found get well and welcome back cards as well as small gifts (three black jelly beans wrapped in a napkin) on my desk. I was practically giddy in Algebra, it was so good to be back amongst them. It took us a little while to get started, since they wanted to fill me in on things that had happened in my absence, and I had to tell them (because they definitely wanted to know) how very, very sick I had been.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Descriptive Paper on "Miss Murray" by Anonymous Student in 9th Grade
There is a teacher at the school of AICA. She is bright, beautiful, kind, caring and understanding. She has long, brown hair which she keeps long and pretty down to just above her waist. She wears exquisite skirts which vary in length. She has a normal face which consists of: ears, eyes, a nose, and a smile. You never see her without a smile except when you mess with her regulations which are: NO TALKING WHATSOEVER. NO SAYING "MISS MURRAY" UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. NO TOUCHING ANYONE ELSE'S DESK, BELONGINGS, BEING, OR PERIMETER OF SPACE AROUND THEM. NO GETTING OUT OF YOUR SEAT WITHOUT PERMISSION. NO THROWING THINGS WHILE CLASS IS IN SESSION. KEEP ALL LEGS OF ANY SORT ON THE FLOOR. NO MAKING ANY NOISES. NO SAYING THE 4 LETTER WORDS INCLUDING THE WORD CR*P. NO CONVERSING TO YOUR EVIL COHORTS IN ANY WAY. NO INFLICTING PAIN ON ANY OF YOUR CLASSMATES. NO NAME CALLING. So basically, if you don't speak or move in any way, you're good. But anyway, back to Miss Murray. She has a joyful spirit that, even when she's down in the "depths of despair," seems to soar on the wings of EAGLES. Oh! That's another thing. She loves her home team. She is the most loyal fan. That describes Miss Murray.
Monday, March 31, 2008
The Age Gap Increases...
Every once in awhile I'm reminded that there really is a significant gap between age 28 and age 14. I feel almost like I'm twice as old as they are... (yes, that was a joke - no need to point anything out in the comments section).
Generally this age gap is felt during the times when they're all laughing about something I don't think is funny, or stressing out about clothes. You know, general issues of interests.
The gap between myself and the other teachers is most often a gap in knowledge. They'll sing snatches of songs and look at me expectantly, or drop a name or something, and then laugh that I have no clue what they're talking about.
But today there was a bit of a switch in gap types. I was teaching my 8th grade Algebra class, and we got to talking about celebrities who shared our birthdays (yes, this is very relevant to solving two-placeholder problems by substitution). The only celebrity I know of who shares my birthday is Amy, and I didn't expect their knowledge of NH politics to extend very far. So instead I dropped the bombshell that my Dad shares a birthday (the exact day, too!) with Harrison Ford.
"Who's Harrison Ford?" one of my students asked. I looked at her dumbfounded. I appealed to the other for help. "Do you know who Harrison Ford is?" I asked. "Wasn't he a president?" he responded. "I know there was a president named Ford."
WHA.... ??? Neither one of them knew who Harrison Ford was!!! Oy vay. I brought up Indiana Jones and Hans Solo, and at least one of them looked at me with comprehension. The other turned back to her folder covered with the names of ridiculous 16 year old tv stars, and moved on.
Truly I feel twice as old as they are today. Thank goodness...
Generally this age gap is felt during the times when they're all laughing about something I don't think is funny, or stressing out about clothes. You know, general issues of interests.
The gap between myself and the other teachers is most often a gap in knowledge. They'll sing snatches of songs and look at me expectantly, or drop a name or something, and then laugh that I have no clue what they're talking about.
But today there was a bit of a switch in gap types. I was teaching my 8th grade Algebra class, and we got to talking about celebrities who shared our birthdays (yes, this is very relevant to solving two-placeholder problems by substitution). The only celebrity I know of who shares my birthday is Amy, and I didn't expect their knowledge of NH politics to extend very far. So instead I dropped the bombshell that my Dad shares a birthday (the exact day, too!) with Harrison Ford.
"Who's Harrison Ford?" one of my students asked. I looked at her dumbfounded. I appealed to the other for help. "Do you know who Harrison Ford is?" I asked. "Wasn't he a president?" he responded. "I know there was a president named Ford."
WHA.... ??? Neither one of them knew who Harrison Ford was!!! Oy vay. I brought up Indiana Jones and Hans Solo, and at least one of them looked at me with comprehension. The other turned back to her folder covered with the names of ridiculous 16 year old tv stars, and moved on.
Truly I feel twice as old as they are today. Thank goodness...
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Glimpses of My Life
I'm waiting for my laundry to dry... Clearly that means it's time to blog. My Lit lesson tomorrow is one of those that can easily be winged.
*Today I said "She sounds like Edmund [from King Lear]" about one student, and the other knew what I meant! I was so proud of her. There's nothing like sharing a quick literature joke with someone...
*I sent my second kid to the principal's office. The principal was there. I felt kind of sickly...
*In Composition class I had a student hand in a paper that made me laugh so hard I was crying. Don't worry - it was supposed to be funny. He is definitely on my top 10 funny people list. What an honor for him! (This is the one I sent to the principal the first time...)
*I wonder who else is on my top 10 funny list. Danny, definitely. Also Brandon. And, um, 7 other people too... OH! Amy, for sure. Okay, enough. I'll write myself into a corner.
*Bobby makes me laugh a lot, too, but his is a different brand of funny. Mostly I just laugh AT him. Hee hee hee - just kidding:) He actually is wicked funny.
*One of my student's dads, ahem, the father of one of my students, I mean, came in yesterday and thanked me for inspiring his son to write. Apparently his son never wrote much at all before attending our school this year, and his parents have noticed a definite change. This came right after a blow to my, um, sense of accomplishment, so I was especially thankful for the encouragement!
*I told said dad that that was the whole reason I'd become a teacher - to inspire others to a love for literature. Well, writing is a little different, I guess, but hey... close enough!
*My students have challenged me (a challenge I attempted to take up while leading music in chapel this morning) to play the guitar without resting my pinkie (why not pinkey? or even pinky?) finger on the instrument. I have this weirdest habit ever of anchoring my pinkie while I strum with my remaining fingers. Weird. And of course they picked up on it instantly. I found that I could strum okay without the anchored fingers, but when I was picking it was harder to stay where I wanted to be on the strings. And again I say weird.
*I think rhetoric class rocks. It inspires me to be more careful with my words. For example, the word "rocks." Hmmmm.
*There are three weddings on my agenda for this summer! Yay! Time to go SHOPPING!
*Speaking of clothes, maybe my laundry is done drying now...
*Today I said "She sounds like Edmund [from King Lear]" about one student, and the other knew what I meant! I was so proud of her. There's nothing like sharing a quick literature joke with someone...
*I sent my second kid to the principal's office. The principal was there. I felt kind of sickly...
*In Composition class I had a student hand in a paper that made me laugh so hard I was crying. Don't worry - it was supposed to be funny. He is definitely on my top 10 funny people list. What an honor for him! (This is the one I sent to the principal the first time...)
*I wonder who else is on my top 10 funny list. Danny, definitely. Also Brandon. And, um, 7 other people too... OH! Amy, for sure. Okay, enough. I'll write myself into a corner.
*Bobby makes me laugh a lot, too, but his is a different brand of funny. Mostly I just laugh AT him. Hee hee hee - just kidding:) He actually is wicked funny.
*One of my student's dads, ahem, the father of one of my students, I mean, came in yesterday and thanked me for inspiring his son to write. Apparently his son never wrote much at all before attending our school this year, and his parents have noticed a definite change. This came right after a blow to my, um, sense of accomplishment, so I was especially thankful for the encouragement!
*I told said dad that that was the whole reason I'd become a teacher - to inspire others to a love for literature. Well, writing is a little different, I guess, but hey... close enough!
*My students have challenged me (a challenge I attempted to take up while leading music in chapel this morning) to play the guitar without resting my pinkie (why not pinkey? or even pinky?) finger on the instrument. I have this weirdest habit ever of anchoring my pinkie while I strum with my remaining fingers. Weird. And of course they picked up on it instantly. I found that I could strum okay without the anchored fingers, but when I was picking it was harder to stay where I wanted to be on the strings. And again I say weird.
*I think rhetoric class rocks. It inspires me to be more careful with my words. For example, the word "rocks." Hmmmm.
*There are three weddings on my agenda for this summer! Yay! Time to go SHOPPING!
*Speaking of clothes, maybe my laundry is done drying now...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A BIG Day!
Sooo, today I sent a kid to the principal's office for the first time in my entire career! The ironic thing is that he really didn't deserve it this time as much as he has in the past. The other ironic thing is that he's one of my favorite students - he makes me laugh every day.
Anyway, after hearing repeated talks about the need for good discipline in my classroom, I finally instituted a new policy. If I have to talk to a student about poor behavior (talking without raising his hand, throwing something, etc), his name goes on the board. Next time is a check, next time is a trip to the principal's office.
This particular student was actually being quite good, but happened to talk without raising his hand three times. Oy vay. I looked at him with a kind of shocked face and said, "Um... you have to go see the principal." This happened to be a class of all boys, all very competitive, and they were pretty psyched about this turn of events.
Part of their joy stems from a dream I shared with them a couple of months ago (probably unwisely - but it was so funny!), in which someone totally acted up, I was about to send him to the principal, and then I realized it was this particular boy and changed my mind, sending him to the hall, instead. Thus it became the running joke that I would never send him, no matter what. When they realized I was really doing it, there was quite a to-do.
My poor student was shocked. I told him I would go with him:) You see, I wanted to explain to the principal that he wasn't really being all that bad... it was just this new policy. (I know, I know.) So I headed out the door, and he followed about 10 feet behind, making lamenting noises and comments all the way.
But when we got to the office, lo! the principal wasn't there! Ahhhh, phew! I was so relieved. I had followed through, but my students hadn't gotten in more trouble than he deserved:)
We headed back into the classroom, which was in an uproar to see us both return. They accused me of just peeking around the corner and zipping away again with an "oh well! He's not here! Let's go quick!" Hee hee. I protested that I had really looked for the principal. But they were right in spirit:)
Another red letter teaching day in the history of Andrea.
Anyway, after hearing repeated talks about the need for good discipline in my classroom, I finally instituted a new policy. If I have to talk to a student about poor behavior (talking without raising his hand, throwing something, etc), his name goes on the board. Next time is a check, next time is a trip to the principal's office.
This particular student was actually being quite good, but happened to talk without raising his hand three times. Oy vay. I looked at him with a kind of shocked face and said, "Um... you have to go see the principal." This happened to be a class of all boys, all very competitive, and they were pretty psyched about this turn of events.
Part of their joy stems from a dream I shared with them a couple of months ago (probably unwisely - but it was so funny!), in which someone totally acted up, I was about to send him to the principal, and then I realized it was this particular boy and changed my mind, sending him to the hall, instead. Thus it became the running joke that I would never send him, no matter what. When they realized I was really doing it, there was quite a to-do.
My poor student was shocked. I told him I would go with him:) You see, I wanted to explain to the principal that he wasn't really being all that bad... it was just this new policy. (I know, I know.) So I headed out the door, and he followed about 10 feet behind, making lamenting noises and comments all the way.
But when we got to the office, lo! the principal wasn't there! Ahhhh, phew! I was so relieved. I had followed through, but my students hadn't gotten in more trouble than he deserved:)
We headed back into the classroom, which was in an uproar to see us both return. They accused me of just peeking around the corner and zipping away again with an "oh well! He's not here! Let's go quick!" Hee hee. I protested that I had really looked for the principal. But they were right in spirit:)
Another red letter teaching day in the history of Andrea.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
The Dunkin Lady
So when I first moved into this beautiful apartment, I was pretty psyched that there was a Dunkin Donuts two seconds away. But it turns out they make really bad coffee. This is something I don't understand. How are there some shops that are so good, and others that are lousy? Don't they all have the same coffee? I don't know. And it's immaterial at this point. So I'll move along.
There's another DD in Swansea, MA that makes awesome coffee. Consequently I am there rather frequently of a morning (but not too frequently! don't want to get addicted! and yes, I'm adding this parenthetical comment to ease my guilt) - frequently enough that the cashier recognizes me now. I love that! And I love her.
She's an older lady than most who work at the establishment. I'd guess 50's, perhaps. She is heavily ringed and nail polished, and she calls me "darlin," "sweetie," "dear," and you get the point. The first couple of times I was taken aback. Instead of the "do you know who I am?" line, I wanted to give the "do you know how OLD I am?" line. I assumed she thought me about 15 to be using such titles. But now I love it every time:) So I drive away feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, ready for another day teaching. We're becoming fast friends.
The kicker was during the last Christmas season. I was heading through the drive-through, feeling a little blue as I recall (yes, it happens... I was kind of stressed out, I think), and I drove up to the window to receive my food, only to see a Christmas card come popping out of the window with the bag! "I just got a Christmas card from the Dunkin Donuts lady!" I reflected, totally amused with the fact that it was the only Christmas card I'd received (um, not that I really expect to receive any, since I never give any! Except to my church family, from whom I also receive cards. But that hadn't happened yet, you see. Oh my word, get out of these parentheses immediately!). It made my day. We are definitely becoming fast friends.
Long live the Dunkin Lady!
There's another DD in Swansea, MA that makes awesome coffee. Consequently I am there rather frequently of a morning (but not too frequently! don't want to get addicted! and yes, I'm adding this parenthetical comment to ease my guilt) - frequently enough that the cashier recognizes me now. I love that! And I love her.
She's an older lady than most who work at the establishment. I'd guess 50's, perhaps. She is heavily ringed and nail polished, and she calls me "darlin," "sweetie," "dear," and you get the point. The first couple of times I was taken aback. Instead of the "do you know who I am?" line, I wanted to give the "do you know how OLD I am?" line. I assumed she thought me about 15 to be using such titles. But now I love it every time:) So I drive away feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, ready for another day teaching. We're becoming fast friends.
The kicker was during the last Christmas season. I was heading through the drive-through, feeling a little blue as I recall (yes, it happens... I was kind of stressed out, I think), and I drove up to the window to receive my food, only to see a Christmas card come popping out of the window with the bag! "I just got a Christmas card from the Dunkin Donuts lady!" I reflected, totally amused with the fact that it was the only Christmas card I'd received (um, not that I really expect to receive any, since I never give any! Except to my church family, from whom I also receive cards. But that hadn't happened yet, you see. Oh my word, get out of these parentheses immediately!). It made my day. We are definitely becoming fast friends.
Long live the Dunkin Lady!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
From Alpha Centauri
One of my students recently recommended (and loaned me) the book Alpha Centauri. It was a great story, along the lines of the Narnia stories (though not as masterful, of course...). There were some beautiful moments in the story, and some quotes I really liked. So now I share one with you.
This is one of the First Ones discussing "the problem of pain" with the main character. I loved the simplicity and truth in his words.
"'But why does the Shaper allow all this to happen?'
'That is known only to the Shaper,' Menos replied. 'Sometimes we think we have a glimpse of why. Sometimes the Shaper may take what the Warper has twisted and make from it a thing more beautiful than before. Sometimes good is better for having overcome evil. But finally, only the Shaper knows the "why," and finally only he shapes good out of all.'"
This is one of the First Ones discussing "the problem of pain" with the main character. I loved the simplicity and truth in his words.
"'But why does the Shaper allow all this to happen?'
'That is known only to the Shaper,' Menos replied. 'Sometimes we think we have a glimpse of why. Sometimes the Shaper may take what the Warper has twisted and make from it a thing more beautiful than before. Sometimes good is better for having overcome evil. But finally, only the Shaper knows the "why," and finally only he shapes good out of all.'"
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Longing for Home
Whatever book I'm having my students study usually spills over into my everyday life in lots of ways. Right now my Classical Literature class is nearing the end of "The Odyssey." What a great story! As you're probably aware, its basic plot has to do with a man coming home after the battle of Troy. It takes him ten years. Throughout the book his longing for home is emphasized and reemphasized. So it's gotten me thinking about home and attachment to home, and when I run across other things pertaining, they jump right out at me.
One such "other thing" is the songs I've run across about longing for home. There's Charlie Zahm's "Caledonia and Me," Robert Burns' "My Heart's in the Highlands," Dougie MacLean's "Caledonia." Of course, these are all having to do with Scotland, but there are numerous other examples having to do with other people's homes.
And then I was wondering whether today we have the same kind of attachment to home as people have had in the past. We are a much more transient society, as I am regularly reminded, being a teacher in a school with a large population of military families.
Although it's not to the same degree, I think there definitely remains that loyalty to home that the ancients knew so well. I feel it for Fairwood, I know! There's nowhere else on earth that I belong so thoroughly as I belong at Fairwood. Part of that is the people, no doubt, but it's more than that, too. And of course I feel a lot of patriotism for the US. I love my country!
But I also feel it for Scotland. While I was there I felt an indescribable and deep connection to the land. And I know many of us have felt it for the land of Israel, as well. I've heard Grace talk about this bond with Armenia. Not just an "oh cool, this is where my ancestors lived," but something much more profound (not that Grace would ever say "oh cool"). There's more to this love for home than meets the eye, I think. There's something about it that goes beyond reason and intellect. "There's more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophies..."
Perhaps the reason this idea of home is such a compelling and poignant theme in literature, and something we find so strong in our own experiences, is that it flows from the inborn desire in each of us to reach our real Home. Our lives are our odysseys to the place we most truly and deeply belong.
One such "other thing" is the songs I've run across about longing for home. There's Charlie Zahm's "Caledonia and Me," Robert Burns' "My Heart's in the Highlands," Dougie MacLean's "Caledonia." Of course, these are all having to do with Scotland, but there are numerous other examples having to do with other people's homes.
And then I was wondering whether today we have the same kind of attachment to home as people have had in the past. We are a much more transient society, as I am regularly reminded, being a teacher in a school with a large population of military families.
Although it's not to the same degree, I think there definitely remains that loyalty to home that the ancients knew so well. I feel it for Fairwood, I know! There's nowhere else on earth that I belong so thoroughly as I belong at Fairwood. Part of that is the people, no doubt, but it's more than that, too. And of course I feel a lot of patriotism for the US. I love my country!
But I also feel it for Scotland. While I was there I felt an indescribable and deep connection to the land. And I know many of us have felt it for the land of Israel, as well. I've heard Grace talk about this bond with Armenia. Not just an "oh cool, this is where my ancestors lived," but something much more profound (not that Grace would ever say "oh cool"). There's more to this love for home than meets the eye, I think. There's something about it that goes beyond reason and intellect. "There's more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophies..."
Perhaps the reason this idea of home is such a compelling and poignant theme in literature, and something we find so strong in our own experiences, is that it flows from the inborn desire in each of us to reach our real Home. Our lives are our odysseys to the place we most truly and deeply belong.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Thesis Projects
I am sick. So is Melissa. We seem to have the same bug. Poor us. But that means I can totally veg alllll day! I'm so thankful for the good timing of being sick on a Saturday. It's such a pain to miss school days. Anyway, I'm not annoyingly sick, just kind of sick, so I'm well enough to read and blog! What a great sickness.
So we've plunged into Thesis Projects at school. Every year the juniors and seniors must do an extensive thesis on some controversial topic or other, write it up in 10-15 pages, and present it to a panel of scary folk (like me). Last year was the first year we did it, and I ended up being the main advisor (much to my horror), but we muddled through. This year I have that much more experience and am kind of excited about it.
As I often found in college, the hardest part is choosing the topic. I had one student who had an immediate idea, but two who were waffling. Thursday we took a field trip to the Newport Library (what a great place!) and started plunging in. I got a teacher high from helping one of my students come up with a really good idea after a bit of floundering about in the history section and the online card catalogue.
So as of right now the topics are:
Ethics of the genome project (eeek!)
Effects of the 60's
Media Bias
Should be good papers! I get excited about this kind of thing - there are so many things I'd love to really dig into. Many times in my schooling career I was presented with controversial material and longed to be able to really investigate it and find out the truth. I suppose some things will have to wait until Heaven, but who knows, perhaps someday I'll have the time and motivation to explore...
Some topics I'd like to research: Israeli/Palestinian issues, the Crusades, treatment of American Indians, and probably more that aren't at the tip of my brain right now. Wouldn't that be fun? And of course there is so much to learn in the field of Literature... So much to learn if I would just do it! But for now I content myself with the fact that I have broken into the world of scholarly non-fiction with these Louis Markos books (Achilles to Christ and the FANTASTIC book I got for Christmas - thanks Dan and Ruth - Pressing Forward: Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the Victorian World. Woooooooo!). That's a big step forward for the usually totally un-self-motivated me. The next big step is to finish reading them! :)
Whew, this is a lot of teacher-y stuff for a Saturday. I better get right back to vegging.
So we've plunged into Thesis Projects at school. Every year the juniors and seniors must do an extensive thesis on some controversial topic or other, write it up in 10-15 pages, and present it to a panel of scary folk (like me). Last year was the first year we did it, and I ended up being the main advisor (much to my horror), but we muddled through. This year I have that much more experience and am kind of excited about it.
As I often found in college, the hardest part is choosing the topic. I had one student who had an immediate idea, but two who were waffling. Thursday we took a field trip to the Newport Library (what a great place!) and started plunging in. I got a teacher high from helping one of my students come up with a really good idea after a bit of floundering about in the history section and the online card catalogue.
So as of right now the topics are:
Ethics of the genome project (eeek!)
Effects of the 60's
Media Bias
Should be good papers! I get excited about this kind of thing - there are so many things I'd love to really dig into. Many times in my schooling career I was presented with controversial material and longed to be able to really investigate it and find out the truth. I suppose some things will have to wait until Heaven, but who knows, perhaps someday I'll have the time and motivation to explore...
Some topics I'd like to research: Israeli/Palestinian issues, the Crusades, treatment of American Indians, and probably more that aren't at the tip of my brain right now. Wouldn't that be fun? And of course there is so much to learn in the field of Literature... So much to learn if I would just do it! But for now I content myself with the fact that I have broken into the world of scholarly non-fiction with these Louis Markos books (Achilles to Christ and the FANTASTIC book I got for Christmas - thanks Dan and Ruth - Pressing Forward: Alfred, Lord Tennyson and the Victorian World. Woooooooo!). That's a big step forward for the usually totally un-self-motivated me. The next big step is to finish reading them! :)
Whew, this is a lot of teacher-y stuff for a Saturday. I better get right back to vegging.
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