I was teaching a lesson on figurative language and poetic devices. Every time I teach a poetry unit of any sort, I always use music because that's what kids know without realizing music is chock full of poetic elements. As an assignment, students were assigned to go home, listen to their own music, and find lyrics that contain figurative language of some sort. I told them that while I am very well aware that most songs these days have some type of inappropriate reference or language, that the portion of the lyrics turned in as their work must be clean of such things.
I then made the mistake of saying, "I know what music is like...I probably listen to a lot of the same music as you guys."
Laughter erupted.
Either I'm starting to look really old, or being a teacher automatically makes me an alien that doesn't do or like "normal" human things...
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Thank You
8 letters. 2 words. Within them, so much meaning.
"Thank You" can evoke powerful emotion within its two syllables, and yet, it sometimes just don't seem quite enough. From acts as small as a stranger holding the door open for you, to those of great valor like all those who serve in our military...regardless of the type of act that warrants gratitude, we still use the same two words.
I will say one thing, though. As a teacher, there are few greater moments in life than when a student says thank you.. Even better when that thank you is followed up with, "I really needed help on that, now I get it". Oh, be still my heart! Small moments. Big picture. Two small words. One giant feeling of happiness.
"Thank You" can evoke powerful emotion within its two syllables, and yet, it sometimes just don't seem quite enough. From acts as small as a stranger holding the door open for you, to those of great valor like all those who serve in our military...regardless of the type of act that warrants gratitude, we still use the same two words.
I will say one thing, though. As a teacher, there are few greater moments in life than when a student says thank you.. Even better when that thank you is followed up with, "I really needed help on that, now I get it". Oh, be still my heart! Small moments. Big picture. Two small words. One giant feeling of happiness.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Love Is All Around
I apologize for the lack of a more witty blog post title. I'm not even sure who I'm apologizing to since nobody reads this but me at the moment. Anyhow. I'm stealing from the movie "Love, Actually" because my brain's creative light has been dimmed down for the evening.
The school I now work at serves a very different demographic of students than my previous school. While I've worked with students who come from various backgrounds, this is my first time working with students where the majority of them have endured great trauma and tragedy in their short lives. This baggage is a part of who they are and they carry it with them into school every day. While this may seem as a challenge (and you're right, it is), it is also an incredible opportunity disguised by layers of unfortunate circumstances, lack of a foundation, and hardship. As their teachers, we have the meticulous job of peeling each layer and carefully revealing the real student underneath. The student who maybe has never had a positive role model, the student who maybe has never had a permanent place to call "home", the student who has been taught to keep people out rather than allow them in, the student who has always been made aware of every wrong-doing in his life, but not the good, the student who has been told that there wasn't much hope for them -- underneath the tough exterior, they are young, sensitive, and craving for structure and positive attention. What a special job we have.
In my short time at this school, I have already encountered situations and students that I would have never experienced at my previous school. In just observing them, these students have already taught me so much. I thought I was in tune with my surroundings and what was going on in my communities, but I have learned that I live in somewhat of a bubble. If I had been through what some of these kids have at their age, I'm not sure that school would have been a high priority in my life either. The sheer fact that they wake up every day and get to school is an achievement in and of itself, and for the ones who don't quite make it every single day...well, we're working on it.
I don't use this term loosely because I feel like society abuses it with overuse, but they really truly are inspiring. One of our seniors is 17 years old, has a 2 year old baby, and takes 2 public buses to get to school. She hasn't missed a day all year and will be graduating this May. She's been accepted to CSULB, where she will be attending in the Fall. Her attitude is empowering and makes me take a step back and evaluate my own attitude about life's short comings. She refuses to be a victim of circumstance, and I surely can take a thing or two away from her example.
So the title of this blog post...I guess what I really should say is that Inspiration is all around. We often look for the easy-to-spot kids who have tangible forms of achievement, and we label them as inspirational. Granted, those kids who have worked hard for their GPAs, awards, and scholarships all deserve their recognition as well, but we cannot forget about the ones who seem more reluctant or hostile...the "at-risk" kids that schools often try to bury underneath all their success by numbers. These kids also have so much to share, and they often come paired with an incredible story, and an openness that just needs a little TLC.
The school I now work at serves a very different demographic of students than my previous school. While I've worked with students who come from various backgrounds, this is my first time working with students where the majority of them have endured great trauma and tragedy in their short lives. This baggage is a part of who they are and they carry it with them into school every day. While this may seem as a challenge (and you're right, it is), it is also an incredible opportunity disguised by layers of unfortunate circumstances, lack of a foundation, and hardship. As their teachers, we have the meticulous job of peeling each layer and carefully revealing the real student underneath. The student who maybe has never had a positive role model, the student who maybe has never had a permanent place to call "home", the student who has been taught to keep people out rather than allow them in, the student who has always been made aware of every wrong-doing in his life, but not the good, the student who has been told that there wasn't much hope for them -- underneath the tough exterior, they are young, sensitive, and craving for structure and positive attention. What a special job we have.
In my short time at this school, I have already encountered situations and students that I would have never experienced at my previous school. In just observing them, these students have already taught me so much. I thought I was in tune with my surroundings and what was going on in my communities, but I have learned that I live in somewhat of a bubble. If I had been through what some of these kids have at their age, I'm not sure that school would have been a high priority in my life either. The sheer fact that they wake up every day and get to school is an achievement in and of itself, and for the ones who don't quite make it every single day...well, we're working on it.
I don't use this term loosely because I feel like society abuses it with overuse, but they really truly are inspiring. One of our seniors is 17 years old, has a 2 year old baby, and takes 2 public buses to get to school. She hasn't missed a day all year and will be graduating this May. She's been accepted to CSULB, where she will be attending in the Fall. Her attitude is empowering and makes me take a step back and evaluate my own attitude about life's short comings. She refuses to be a victim of circumstance, and I surely can take a thing or two away from her example.
So the title of this blog post...I guess what I really should say is that Inspiration is all around. We often look for the easy-to-spot kids who have tangible forms of achievement, and we label them as inspirational. Granted, those kids who have worked hard for their GPAs, awards, and scholarships all deserve their recognition as well, but we cannot forget about the ones who seem more reluctant or hostile...the "at-risk" kids that schools often try to bury underneath all their success by numbers. These kids also have so much to share, and they often come paired with an incredible story, and an openness that just needs a little TLC.
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