it's been a while since i've been called "a *@*&$ white piece of trailer trash."
i still think it's a remarkable piece of cultural awareness that i rarely see from my class.
this time, though, i looked at the kid and said, "what would you do if i said i grew up in a trailer? i didn't, but what if i did?"
the kid looked at me and cursed some more, but i think he thought about it, just a little.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
assembly
we had an assembly today.
it was a pep rally for the PSSAs.
of all bizarre experiences, this tops so many of them.
so we have this random beautiful old auditorium that never gets used. today it was all decorated in black and gold (apparently our school colors, which i was supposed to wear today. oops. my brown sweater caught some flack). then we go in there and they're handing out those little streamer/pompoms on a stick. then i look over and see a dj (who happens to be one of our long term subs).
then the asst. principal gets on stage and is the mc. and some students come out and start ... rapping. then a few more come out and breakdance. then the front of the auditorium turned into a dance floor. then the dancing spills on to the stage.
but all the while, all the words people are rapping and singing are ... about the PSSAs (state tests).
it was so bizarre.
oh, and my kids called me out on "bustin' moves" (i may or may not have danced through one of the aisles on my way to reprimand an unsuspecting student for hitting another kid with the pompoms).
like i said, very bizarre.
it was a pep rally for the PSSAs.
of all bizarre experiences, this tops so many of them.
so we have this random beautiful old auditorium that never gets used. today it was all decorated in black and gold (apparently our school colors, which i was supposed to wear today. oops. my brown sweater caught some flack). then we go in there and they're handing out those little streamer/pompoms on a stick. then i look over and see a dj (who happens to be one of our long term subs).
then the asst. principal gets on stage and is the mc. and some students come out and start ... rapping. then a few more come out and breakdance. then the front of the auditorium turned into a dance floor. then the dancing spills on to the stage.
but all the while, all the words people are rapping and singing are ... about the PSSAs (state tests).
it was so bizarre.
oh, and my kids called me out on "bustin' moves" (i may or may not have danced through one of the aisles on my way to reprimand an unsuspecting student for hitting another kid with the pompoms).
like i said, very bizarre.
fights this morning
abounded.
between kids in my class. i hate it when this happens, because inevitably, they all get thrown back in the room and i have to deal with the simmering anger. ugh.
between kids in my class. i hate it when this happens, because inevitably, they all get thrown back in the room and i have to deal with the simmering anger. ugh.
happy birthday to his face
it was a student's birthday today.
unfortunately, he has told me a bunch of times this year that "today's my birthday."
so when i found out at like 2:30 (when i looked in his file) that february 9 is, in fact, his date of birth, i felt terrible.
i told him the story of the boy who cries wolf and gave him some reese's cups.
unfortunately, he has told me a bunch of times this year that "today's my birthday."
so when i found out at like 2:30 (when i looked in his file) that february 9 is, in fact, his date of birth, i felt terrible.
i told him the story of the boy who cries wolf and gave him some reese's cups.
the window
one of my kids has taken a liking to trying to climb through the small, broken window that is above my classroom door. when i won't let him in before school starts (when he has snuck into the building), he'll try to climb through. then i will open the door so he falls. is that bad?
moms
one kid told me he was going to see his mom on valentine's day. i asked where she lives. he said no where. then i remembered that his mom's in jail. oops.
then i asked another kid when he saw his mom last (lives with an older step-sister - has been acting up lately so i thought maybe something to do w/ his mom). he said a few weeks. so i asked him more questions. his answers include the following: i don't remember what she looks like, things she likes to do ... lay around all day, at her house we don't play games, she has a couple books, but not many, he doesn't know how old his brothers who live there are ...
sad.
then i asked another kid when he saw his mom last (lives with an older step-sister - has been acting up lately so i thought maybe something to do w/ his mom). he said a few weeks. so i asked him more questions. his answers include the following: i don't remember what she looks like, things she likes to do ... lay around all day, at her house we don't play games, she has a couple books, but not many, he doesn't know how old his brothers who live there are ...
sad.
being mean
two of my kids told me on tuesday i needed to be meaner and yell more.
today i laid into a kid for locking me out of the classroom.
then i got a thumbs-up from those two for my 'performance.'
today i laid into a kid for locking me out of the classroom.
then i got a thumbs-up from those two for my 'performance.'
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
24
this weekend, one of my students caught a few episodes from season 1 on upn or something.
he was asking me all these questions about it - and was saying how much he likes david palmer and how he doesn't like his wife. right on, bro.
i didn't have the heart to tell him that palmer's dead.
he was asking me all these questions about it - and was saying how much he likes david palmer and how he doesn't like his wife. right on, bro.
i didn't have the heart to tell him that palmer's dead.
the G
one of my kids came into school at like 9:45 today.
after school i found out why he was late.
he fell asleep on the bus and woke up in south philly. haaahahahahahaha.
the G is the bus line that comes near here (which i didn't know until today - i thought the G was some slang term), which he got back on the other direction and got here almost 2 hours late.
sooo funny. funny enough that the girl staying after school with us spit out a mouthful of juice as he was telling the story (and then fell on the ground laughing, but it wasn't quite that funny).
after school i found out why he was late.
he fell asleep on the bus and woke up in south philly. haaahahahahahaha.
the G is the bus line that comes near here (which i didn't know until today - i thought the G was some slang term), which he got back on the other direction and got here almost 2 hours late.
sooo funny. funny enough that the girl staying after school with us spit out a mouthful of juice as he was telling the story (and then fell on the ground laughing, but it wasn't quite that funny).
the stars
we're having a conversation about climate and weather, and they started asking questions about the sun. i told them how the sun's a star, but it's really close, ya di ya di ya ...
of course, this prompted a ZILLION questions - what will happen if the sun stops shining? are there other earths and suns? does it rain on the sun? ... and ...
"if we flew up to the stars in a rocket ship, could we bring them back with us?"
(this from precious little dracula boy)
and then, "but could we tie a string to them and bring them down?"
of course, this prompted a ZILLION questions - what will happen if the sun stops shining? are there other earths and suns? does it rain on the sun? ... and ...
"if we flew up to the stars in a rocket ship, could we bring them back with us?"
(this from precious little dracula boy)
and then, "but could we tie a string to them and bring them down?"
my groove with the Lord
today two kids stayed after school to learn more math. i bought oreos and juice and we had a regular ol' party.
when i drove them home, i had my shawn mcdonald cd in. they always (usually) like listening to my music, i think because they're curious, and because i'll sing along and they think i should be on american idol. FUNNY.
track 1 on "simply nothing" lyrics: take my hand to the promised land, and on you oh God i want to stand cause i cannot do it on my own, you're what i need and i need to be right by your side cause i cannot hide Lord i know that i need you."
boy student LOVED the song - he's a believer and super cool. asked what cd it was, etc. etc.
girl student wanted to listen to R&B and was whining like crazy.
finally he said, mm mm, you're messin' up my groove with the Lord. but that's okay. ms. matthews you can switch it for her.
when i drove them home, i had my shawn mcdonald cd in. they always (usually) like listening to my music, i think because they're curious, and because i'll sing along and they think i should be on american idol. FUNNY.
track 1 on "simply nothing" lyrics: take my hand to the promised land, and on you oh God i want to stand cause i cannot do it on my own, you're what i need and i need to be right by your side cause i cannot hide Lord i know that i need you."
boy student LOVED the song - he's a believer and super cool. asked what cd it was, etc. etc.
girl student wanted to listen to R&B and was whining like crazy.
finally he said, mm mm, you're messin' up my groove with the Lord. but that's okay. ms. matthews you can switch it for her.
sigh
today was good. like, tears almost in my eyes, can't believe this is happening, thank you God, good.
we got so much done! and stuff that we never get to do - like have conversations about what we're learning.
we learned what valuable means and discussed why things like the earth and people are valuable - because we can't be replaced.
we learned what monotonous means (which meant i spoke as such for about 5 or so minutes until they started whining, ms. matthews we can't take it any more!!!)
and so much more. :D yay!
we got so much done! and stuff that we never get to do - like have conversations about what we're learning.
we learned what valuable means and discussed why things like the earth and people are valuable - because we can't be replaced.
we learned what monotonous means (which meant i spoke as such for about 5 or so minutes until they started whining, ms. matthews we can't take it any more!!!)
and so much more. :D yay!
Monday, January 30, 2006
praise Jesus
today was the first day since winter break that was reasonably decent.
i'm not sure if it was the kids or me. probably a little bit of both.
things are on the up swing :)
i'm not sure if it was the kids or me. probably a little bit of both.
things are on the up swing :)
Thursday, January 26, 2006
smiles
i have a kid who consistently makes me smile. he is just great. he jokes around with me, is respectful, doesn't curse (at all), and put letter stickers on his desk (which i started to reprimand him for, until i saw what it said ...) and he had spelled "god and jesus."
he's always asking me to sing disney songs with him.
but today, he told everyone that i stopped by the after school program where he goes on monday (i had, to talk to another parent). he says, with funny hand gestures and a huge grin, ms. matthews, it's just plain awkward, like, you know, to see you outside school. it's just weird.
he also told me today that he keeps meaning to watch 24 but he always (as in the last 2 weeks) remembers tuesday morning that he forgot to watch it. he did, however, ask me on tuesday how the episode was last night.
and he watches american idol and has hilarious comments - he thought rhonetta could sing great. whoah boy. he says when he's 16, he's going to audition for it. go for it, man.
he's always asking me to sing disney songs with him.
but today, he told everyone that i stopped by the after school program where he goes on monday (i had, to talk to another parent). he says, with funny hand gestures and a huge grin, ms. matthews, it's just plain awkward, like, you know, to see you outside school. it's just weird.
he also told me today that he keeps meaning to watch 24 but he always (as in the last 2 weeks) remembers tuesday morning that he forgot to watch it. he did, however, ask me on tuesday how the episode was last night.
and he watches american idol and has hilarious comments - he thought rhonetta could sing great. whoah boy. he says when he's 16, he's going to audition for it. go for it, man.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
american idol
anyone watch tonight's episode?
do you recall rhonetta? (big attitude woman at the end)
she, aside from the outfit (thank God, seriously), reminded me of one of my student's mother.
yup.
do you recall rhonetta? (big attitude woman at the end)
she, aside from the outfit (thank God, seriously), reminded me of one of my student's mother.
yup.
Monday, January 23, 2006
the days
are not really getting better. i'm getting better at handling the bad days, i think.
today 2 of my students greeted me with these words (and some profanities mixed in there ...):
"you *%#@* old lady i'm gonna get you fired."
"you'll be sorry you ever came to this school."
"i'm gonna make your *@^# day miserable."
good morning sunshines.
today 2 of my students greeted me with these words (and some profanities mixed in there ...):
"you *%#@* old lady i'm gonna get you fired."
"you'll be sorry you ever came to this school."
"i'm gonna make your *@^# day miserable."
good morning sunshines.
calculus
last week my 2 brightest kids begged me to do some 12th grade math.
hmm. what calculus concepts would they understand??
so we learned limits. not technically, but how to draw the long S symbol with the numbers on top and bottom and the equation to the side and then plug in all the numbers and add up the answers ...
i don't even think that's really how you do them, but they felt SUPER smart.
they're staying after school tomorrow to learn more math. i think we'll do something a little bit more basic.
hmm. what calculus concepts would they understand??
so we learned limits. not technically, but how to draw the long S symbol with the numbers on top and bottom and the equation to the side and then plug in all the numbers and add up the answers ...
i don't even think that's really how you do them, but they felt SUPER smart.
they're staying after school tomorrow to learn more math. i think we'll do something a little bit more basic.
driving?!
i asked my little shrimp of a kid today how his weekend was. he smiled this bright ol' grin and said good. this is a rare response from him, so i pressed him ... what was good? what'd you do??!
"i went drivin'" (still with the grin) (he is a reaaalllly small kid. like comes up to *my* waist)
you what??!
went drivin'.
in a car??!
in my 4 wheeler.
is that legal?
"i went drivin'" (still with the grin) (he is a reaaalllly small kid. like comes up to *my* waist)
you what??!
went drivin'.
in a car??!
in my 4 wheeler.
is that legal?
shootings
1. last thursday or friday at 38th and sansom, near "the sev," more often known as 7-11 ... practically on penn's campus, right where i lived senior year ... over a fur coat. crazy.
2. last saturday at the rec center where my kids go to afterschool programs ... a teen dance was there sat. night and a guy came in with a gun. 2 people in critical condition. my kids tell me there are bullet holes all over the walls and they won't let anyone in there.
3. last week in my classroom - but that was with a stapler, not a gun. whew.
2. last saturday at the rec center where my kids go to afterschool programs ... a teen dance was there sat. night and a guy came in with a gun. 2 people in critical condition. my kids tell me there are bullet holes all over the walls and they won't let anyone in there.
3. last week in my classroom - but that was with a stapler, not a gun. whew.
sad stories
today after school i stopped by an afterschool program to talk to a kid's parent/guardian (actually his aunt) - and found out that he found out this weekend that his 15-year-old sister, who had been missing for over a week (who was on the news ... who knew this was my student's sister?!), got shot in the eye with a bebe gun. his sister has been living with his biological mother who is a drug addict (he was born addicted to crack cocaine). my student was all out of sorts today, but now i know why ...
he wants his aunt/mom to have custody of her too ... she said she had to sit him down and tell him that she can't take his sister too. She said he's really upset about it and taking it hard because he's afraid for his sister.
Can you imagine going through that at 11 years old?
he wants his aunt/mom to have custody of her too ... she said she had to sit him down and tell him that she can't take his sister too. She said he's really upset about it and taking it hard because he's afraid for his sister.
Can you imagine going through that at 11 years old?