That's Not Exactly What I Meant

In my classroom it is important to me to build trust and an open dialogue. I want my students to feel like they can contribute to class discussions without worrying about being teased and laughed at. I try to build that trust early on and have a lot of dialogue that first week of school. I also, along with every other teacher, reach into my teacher bag of tricks and find an opening activity that will provide an atmosphere of ownership. This year I chose an activity wherein my students could make nameplates. Inside their large block letters they were to write words using the letters of their name, that describe them. For instance - my daughter is Brooklyn and B could be bossy, bubbly and bold. I was showing the students the one I made for an example. I told them that not every trait had to be positive. For instance, for my 'O' I wrote obstinate. I asked them in anyone knew what obstinate meant. One boy's hand shot right up and I called on him (by name, I was so proud of myself for remembering). He proudly and loudly said, "It's a word for someone who waits until they are married to have sex." Giggles erupted and I must admit I joined them. I try so hard to never laugh at a student, unless they want me to. I couldn't keep the grin off my face though. "No," I explained calmly and seriously, "that would be abstinent. My word is obstinate. Does anyone else want to try that one?" Of course by then no one was going to answer. I went on to explain that I was stubborn but could not used that word with no 'S' in my name and I had to choose obstinate instead. I feel that after my initial giggle, I saved it well and we moved on. Can I just add here, this example is one of the many reasons I love teaching middle school? These kids crack me up.

I'm Ready?

This is the night. All summer we dread it. We try to make those hot days stretch out as long as possible without dragging. How is that for a conundrum? But Labor Day comes and goes with good food, time with friends and family and one last day to soak up the sun before we go back to school.

I celebrated this day by doing things a great mom, readying her children for school, would do. I made them do chores, had them fix dinner and clean up, they showered and laid out their clothes. They fought with each other. They fought with me. They fought with themselves. This is a great way to end my summer because it allows me to look forward to school starting. Thank you kids. I do love you.

I did, however, take them to the playground and had a special back to school dinner for them complete with treats. It made me feel like a great mom. I had to relish it, it's so rare I feel like a great mom.

I do feel like a great teacher though. It's not hard when the students have yet to arrive. The wall of my room looks fantastic, I have the first three weeks of the 8th grade English class planned and a teacher that was leaving to stay home with her baby gave me a lot of neat crap! Teachery kind of crap. I can't wait to use it. Wish me luck!

Those Crazy Kids

Do you have kids? Do you work with kids? Do your friends have kids? Do you sometimes behave like a kid? If you can say yes to any of those questions you really have to read on. I am going to reveal something that may surprise some of you. Now, some of you may have surmised this at some point on your own, but perhaps I will enlighten a few. If, in fact, a few people even know this blog exists, which I doubt. Here it is: If your kids are acting crazier, moodier and louder than normal look at the moon. It will probably be full and if it is not full that night, it was the night before or will be the next night. Seriously. Now, I am not a Wiccan and I do not worship mother earth; however, everything in nature revolves around cycles and, dear reader, we are a part of nature. If the moon is not the culprit pay attention to weather forecasts. Whenever the weather changes, the kids go wild. Usually it is from hot to cold where we, as teachers, observe the most extreme behavior. And it really does get extreme. Those of you not in the school system would be shocked at the havoc a cold snap can wreak on a middle school. Which really makes me think of what happens in the spring, but  I won't even go into the whole twitterpated thing now. I'll save that for a spring post. Suffice it to say - blame it on the moon. That crazy moon.

Mom of a Middle School Kid

Not only am I a teacher of middle school children, but I am also the mother of one. Next year I will be the mother of two and, with five kids, it will just snowball from there. 'Raising kids today is harder than it was when my parents raised me", I hear this phrase often. I'm sure it's been said since the dawn of time because raising kids is indeed more difficult than being one. And, in this world of constant change we can not rely simply on our own experiences as a child to raise our own children, though that can enhance it. There are things out there today that my parents did not have to worry about - internet being the main one. However, I prefer to look at these things as tools to make my job easier instead of seeing them as making my job more difficult.

My parents were pretty naive. They were oblivious about the movies I watched, the music I listened to, and the books I read. I don't think they considered the impact it was having on the person I was becoming. I don't blame them really. They are great parents. I just think that, with their fond memories of childhood, they were not aware of what I was doing. There was no PG-13. There was no parental advisory tag on my music. Books were not labeled YA.

Now, when my children express interest in a song I can google a line, any line and all of the lyrics magically appear on my screen. I love it! Then I can say, and do often say, we won't be listening to that song again and no, you can't buy it. When my children beg to watch the newest movie out in theaters I hop on to imdb.com and read through the parental advisory section before I give a yes or no. I love it! With Netflix movies that download I can see everything they have watched and with Netnanny I can keep them from as many unsavory websites as possible. I feel like there are many safety nets in place to help me do my job as mother. I suppose this is my 'glass is half full' thinking on a subject that I know worries so many parents. There are tools and people out there to help parents raise their children in today's world. Get out there and educate yourself so you can be their anchor!

It's Summer

Not only did I forget I started this blog, but it's summer so not much teacher stuff is going down. I blame it on feeling brain scrambled from teaching said middle schoolers.

New topic: Should I stay or should I go now?
We moved to Virginia from Texas two summers ago. My husband's family lived in Virignia and he was very homesick. He also said Texas was way too hot but guess what? Yeah, it's hot as heck here too. Anyway... a month or so after we moved here is when the economy plummeted. So, not only has my husband had a hard time finding a decent job, but my school district decided we get no pay raises and no steps. Where I used to work in Texas is getting both pay raises and steps. Great. Not only that, but housing is cheaper there as is gas and my husband's parents moved to Kentucky. So... why are we here? I have no idea, but I'm working on it!