#sol23 May16 Not a "Regular Teacher"

 

These days, my students are older, but they still speak from the heart as each semester comes to a close. Some have perspectives about teaching and learning that grow from struggling in school.  Others have ideas born from watching their own students.  As the old saying goes, "Kids say the darnedest things!"

"You are a different kind of teacher," one student wrote in her exit ticket, "because you don't lecture so much and you make us do the stuff.  Like that night you made us do the Means and Standard Deviation math!  I wanted to just get up and leave because I can't do math.  But, you said, everybody can do it.  I was so proud of myself! 

"You are not a regular teacher," another student wrote, "every single class you ask us questions about what we are supposed to read and so we try to divide up the reading and talk about it before class because we don't want you to think we're stupid."  

"You are not a normal teacher," another student shared "you made us write all the PLAAFPs, Goals, and Benchmarks in class in front of you while you were watching and then you made everyone share even if they didn't want to do so!" 

I was grateful for my own review as different, not regular, and not even normal; however, i was really sad to think what these almost master teachers  perceive as regular and normal!

#sol23 May 9 Orange Stripes Spur Disjointed Feelings

 

A few doors away,

A group of men and women

Flanked by uniformed supervisors,

Are building a ramp that will allow

 A wheelchair to enter the front door.

I am not sure

If I am appalled

By the orange shirts and orange striped pants

That scream, "I am a criminal, watch me work," or

If I am angry 

About the sheriff's vehicle

With lights flashing for 10 hours a day, or

If I am happy

By the work program that might provide skills

That might promote futures outside, or 

If I am grateful 

For the support

 Of people in our community,

Including my neighbor

#sol23 What Goes Around Comes Back Around

 

🎓It's that time of year when my "students" are not going to be students much longer, they are going to be the teachers!

🎓I know I can't "teach" them everything they will need to know, but like all teachers, I want my "students" to be prepared to be life long learners who look eagerly but critically at new ideas and theories they will clearly face in the years ahead. 

🎓I find myself trying to hook them onto all the professional growth options, resources, and links they will need to stay on top of our profession.  

🎓I encourage them to ask questions and to discuss controversial issues.  

🎓So, when my students asked me about the Science of Reading, I did a quick review which grew into a historical perspective on learning to read. They listened with rapt attention.  They asked questions.  It was all new to them, even though it was the story of my life.  

🎓"We sure hit a hot topic," one student said as she left.

🎓"I can't believe there is such a controversy," said another, "because it all makes sense to me."

🎓"Can you teach us about phonics next week?" several asked as they left.

🎓"What goes around comes back around," I thought as I drove home wondering if one of my students might someday be the teacher-turned-professor having this same conversation about the long standing reading debates with a new generation of teachers!  

#sol23 April 18 I Breathed Deeply

 

We sat there, waiting

Women of a certain age

Awaiting the results of an assessment.

Squeezing into a refrigerator door

Waiting with baited breath

Hoping you will be cleared to leave.

Someone called my name

Greeted me warmly

Escorted me to her room.

I held my breath

I smiled as she introduced herself,

I breathed as she described her journey

A former student, a struggling reader,

Now a radiologist.

#sol23 Learning to Sign Up

There was the obligatory plastic-egg hunt

Followed by the expected separating and sorting.

There was the obligatory deviled eggs

Along with the expected shrimp and antipasto.

Then, there was an unexpected activity

Created by creative emerging writers

Partnering young cousins with adults

Who "sighned up" 

Not in scrip" please

For an adult egg hunt.

That sign up is special in

Learning to be writers ways.

The memories are special in

Post pandemic ways.

 

#SOL23 April 4 Promise of Good Eats

 

.

Deer were a recurring theme 

When a I lived deep in the woods.

Admittedly, "I" was in their territory.

Now, I live 10 feet from my neighbors

Not far from busy highways.

Deer were a recurring theme

As I wrote every day in March

Leaving babies for "day care"

Crossing highways for "better eats."

Deer seem to be a recurring theme

As this new month begins

With a promise of new life, good eats,

Family gatherings and celebrations

"Keep hope alive," as she samples

Golden forsythia blossoms?

#sol23 March 31 That Last Day of School Feeling

 

At this finish line,

Feeling a little 

Empowered to write regularly, 

Proud that looked into my daily life

To find each post. 

Happy that I wrote every day,

Stronger in my ability

To reflect on my experiences.

Encouraged by comments,

Pleased to have commented more than ever.

Grateful for this amazing community,

The new Slicers with new-to-me stances

The overseas Slicers with amazing journeys

The old familiar Slicers, sharing their families,

Pets, children and even grandchildren,

Thankful for Two Writing Teachers for

Administrating this Challenge.

Wondering if I will do it again?

"Of course," I answer this morning!

I'm sad that it is over, yet

Celebrating the journey

In a last day of school sort of way.

#sol30 March 30 When Dreams Go

 

Greek salad sprinkled with Feta,

A delicious treat, lunch with leftovers.

It's been a long time

Yet, the oily, lemony taste was familiar

Those grape leaves memorable.

Conversation sprinkled with sadness,

A chance to catch up with life.

It's been a long time

Yet, the tone, tenor were familiar

Even if strained. 

Long drive with time to reflect,

Of days, weeks, years, lost time

A chance to think of dreams lost

Of lives altered,

Even if caring remains.

"Hold fast to your dreams,"

I wanted to scream to the passing car

As my leftover Greek salad 

Slid to the floor.

 Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go,

Life is a barren field.

#sol23 March 29 Is There a Message?

 

Traffic came to a complete stop 

As I entered the highway

I assumed an accident.

Wondered if I would be late

Wondered about frustrated drivers

Cars began moving, slowly

To avoid an injured deer

I assumed an accident

Wondered if it was my backyard deer,

Wondered about her fawn

Driving resumed with a vengeance

Thought about deer

Impacting my life and slices

Wondered if there was a message?

#sol23 March28 No, No, No, No, No!

 

This month, I am writing my thoughts

Based on real slices of my life and thought

With Two Writing Teachers  

I really do not want to write this slice. 

On a day when every nearby forsythia emerged from hibernation as if needed.  

On a day when the rain held off just long enough for outdoor recess and runs across the courtyard,  

On a day when worries and concerns were stacked vertically in order to find enough space.

On a day when a struggling economy and a shaky diplomacy infused our news.

On a day when the promise of spring was clear in the morning sky and the need for a light jacket.

On a day when some children were learning to read and others were learning to write.

On a day when politics and power attempted to be news.

There was yet another school under attack.

There were children who lost their lives, their future, their story.

There were educators who lost their lives, their future, their story.

I cannot and will not ever understand how anyone, anywhere could ever attack innocent children.

I cannot and will not ever understand how anyone, anywhere could ever attack educators.

I do not want to write this post.

I do not want to believe this has happened again.

In my head, I am screaming No, No, No, No.....