Fooling With Words

An Ode on Returning to Work after Ike... (Sorry for the cumbersome title!)

laurann — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 01:23:00 GMT

Today we returned to work and school, two weeks after Ike. I'm still unsure what to call those days, so choose what name you like : Trying not to step on tender toes of those who worked each day, One must proceed with caution in the words they choose to say! Some call them "bad weather days", others a 'hiatus" prefer, So to your collective judgment I respectfully defer! Good humor and mirth inspire this post, No need for ire and indignation: The price we've paid far outweighs the benefits of an early fall hurrication!

You're Going to Love This - -Really: You Have Got To Read This Post!

laurann — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:02:00 GMT

Well, the kids return to school tomorrow after a hurricane-induced hiatus. Since September 11 we have been homebound, preparing for, riding out, cleaning up after, and adjusting to life in the wake of Ike. I ,for one, am ready to go back! However, that may not be true for all of the teachers in our district, especially one group in particular... Are you curious? Really, you've got to hear this! Although many of our schools are not "fully operational," all but one will be open to students tomorrow. And the teachers at the one school that remains closed? Brace yourselves, folks: they are going to be the substitutes for the district tomorrow. That's right, substitutes. The automated system that usually phones our designated subs in the wee hours of the morning will remain silent; instead, those teachers who teach at the closed school will be shuttled off to different district locales. Now if Miss Betty is reading this post, she probably thinks this is a great idea, but I can hear others of your groaning... I don't know how many of you have ever subbed, but I served a brief stint between student-teaching and being hired as a full-time employee. As my student-teaching experience was with juniors and seniors, nothing prepared me for my first day's work as a substitute in kindergarten class. Boy was I surprised when one little guy cut the sleeve off of his t-shirt with (supposed) safety scissors! We were making Mother's Day cards, and I guess he got a little carried away... Anyway, lacking a better plan, I put his little sleeve in a zip-lock baggy and slipped it in his backpack at the day's end. I figured my career as a substitute was over, but guess what? They asked me back the next day! And so did other schools - elementary, middle, and high schools alike requested my services. Well, actually they requested a warm body, and I was glad to comply. The job offered invaluable experience and even oriented me in the direction of the alternative school where I would eventually teach for the first eight years of my career. No matter where we teach, we get used to our working conditions: the kids, the principal, the building... We understand how things operate. So can you imagine how those teachers who are being pressed into service must feel? They normally work at a very upscale elementary school, and I can only presume that they will be sent all over our district. Even to the "less desirable" locations. Can you imagine what that faculty meeting must have been like?? Yipes! Yeah, yeah: I know it is "fair" that everyone should work, and I know that our district has lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 36 million dollars over the last three years due to the plan, and I know that teachers are free (I mean under contract) and that subs cost additional money, but really I feel so bad for them... I'm curious to hear your responses. Have any of you ever subbed? What do you think of this idea? As always, I anxiously await your responses...

Ike? Ick!

laurann — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:47:00 GMT

Well, I'm home from school today, anxiously awaiting the advent of Ike. Why is it that danger always waits until the wee hours of the morning to strike? Ole' Ike isn't expected to make landfall until about 1 a.m., and although Galveston is already seeing high tides from the storm surge, things are quiet here on the west side of Houston. Ironically, it was a bright and sunny morning, quite hot as well. I managed to get in an eight mile run in hopes that Ike wouldn't wreak havoc with my fall training schedule... Anyway, the phones have been ringing as my family from North Texas, Oklahoma, and on up into Indiana and Michigan have checked in. It is weird to think that within a few hours communication may be cut off. (Our mayor has suggested that we could be without power for up to two weeks. Yipes!) Locally, all of our relatives have prepared to "hunker down." (At present, we simply squat and wait...) My mother-in-law arrived yesterday afternoon, laden with a stack of People magazines and a suitcase full of pharmaceuticals. Niiiice... I am wondering how long I will find charm in her habit of reading the newspaper aloud: "Oh, look: Sears is having a sale; Oh, look: Jessica Simpson was on Letterman last night! Did you know that Matthew McConoughey is from Austin? What do you think of Sarah Palin? Did you know she has four pairs of glasses?" I'm not sure what we'll talk about if we don't get a paper tomorrow... I did bring home my copy of Crime and Punishment, hoping to find some time over the next few days to reread it. My 12th grade AP students were assigned it for summer reading, and I need to review a bit before we begin our discussions next week... If we have school next week... I sure hope that we will! As much as I complain about my high student count (still around 180), and even though I actually scoffed "Duty-Schmuty!" in response to one person's vain attempt to justify our scheduling inequalities, I'd much rather be at work, teaching my juniors about quality commentary or examining motifs with my seniors. I'd even rather grade essays... No, that's not true: I have a stack waiting in my book bag, and they have gone untouched as of yet! Maybe I could accidentally leave my bag on the front porch and the papers would be swirled off into eternity by Ike's torrents? I'm just teasing - the quality of my students' work has improved so much just in a few short weeks. (Their dilligence, not my teaching, by the way.) Maybe when I'm done here I'll take a look at a few of them -- maybe. Or maybe I'll just enjoy the luxuries of power, air conditioning, icy-cold beverages, and cable tv for a few minutes more. Those of you experiencing Ike, I look forward to hearing from you soon... those of you who are not, as well!

My name is Tater, as in the tot!

laurann — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:47:00 GMT

Week 3: Some progress is being made. Although conditions remain crowded, I have managed to acquire 2 more desks and now have to import only three for use during first and second periods. It is amazing what you get when you offer a kidney, half a liver, or one fully functioning ovary to the highest bidder! I had hoped that something would happen to lessen class size, but it doesn't look like that will happen. The logic behind our class assignments and scheduling is fuzzy at best, and I can't even begin to explain why things happen the way they do, so I will just bypass that subject completely. You all will just have to believe me when I predict that nothing is going to change... Anyway, one of the problems associated with having so many students is the difficulty of learning all of their names. I have long prided myself on knowing the kids' names by the first week's end, but this year I find myself scrambling for names even at the end of the second week. I finally realized that Emily in first period was not Ashley (and never would be for that matter), that the unnamed boy in second period is Kyle (who'd have thought? he doesn't look like a Kyle, that's for sure!), that Erin wears braces and Emma doesn't, and that the boy in seventh period is called...wait...it will come to me in a second... Oh, names! Living in an international, multicultural environment like Houston, I've grown accustomed to a wide variety of names; however, this year I've discovered a few new ones...Vaiphav, Atul, Aremy, Pranav, Jordi, and Dianjun are just a few I can remember off the top of my head. Of course, there are always the Texas favorites to include: Austin, Tyler, Dallas... and as for the girls, it is the year of Rachel. I have three in 5th period alone... Jessica and Sydney are popular as well. There aren't many Laura's out there. Someone recently asked me what name I would choose if I could select another. I can't imagine choosing another name, but I would be happier if people would pronounce my name properly: La-La-La-Laura, not Lora. It amazes me that some people can't even hear the distinction, but to me it is as different as Tad and Ted, Jane and June -- completely different names, right? Anyway, I'd keep Laura, but if I were on the lam or in the witness protection program I'd probably choose Caroline. I've always liked the ring of that name -- Either that or I'd have to go way to the other extreme and choose my favorite nickname, Tater (Yes, as in tots!) Who couldn't love a girl called Tater? How about you all? What kinds of names have you encountered? What would you like to be called? As always, I wait in breathless anticipation for your responses...

My life in six short words...

laurann — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:40:00 GMT

Life is good here in Houston: we successfully dodged another hurricane (no offense meant to Louisiana) and had a holiday all in the same week! Yes, week two started under auspicious circumstances, indeed! My classes are rocking right along, and although I still see an estimated 180 students a day (who has time for an exact count?), the days pass quickly. This is a fun time of the year: I love getting to know the kids and watching as the insights and epiphanies begin... One great assignment we gave our seniors was the six-word memoir. In an move toward concise expression, an important quality considering the 500 word limits imposed by many colleges on their application essays, we discussed the idea of the six word memoir. Given one sentence and six words, what can you say about yourself? This wasn't my idea; no, I found it on a link from Daniel Pink's website to a book on amazon.com. I believe the title is Not Quite What I Was Expecting: Six Word Memoirs of the Famous and Not-So Famous. (Or something like that. I really should look up the exact title, but it is 9 p.m. and bedtime is growing near...) Anyway, what a cool idea! I highly suggest that you look at the amazon link: there is a really neat video embedded within it. Some of the names you will recognize (Yanni, Joan Rivers, Mario Batali, Nora Ephron) and others will be unknown. Again, the basic premise: given one sentence and six words, what can you say about yourself? For example, I might say "Not as nice as I seem" or "I'm not a typical trophy wife" (that one ought to leave you wondering) or "I love to fiddle with language" or " Thoreau had it all figured out." My kids had a great time with this assignment. It really helped them to crystallize what they wanted to say about themselves. I wish I could remember all that they came up with, but one of my favorites was "Dream job: Ellen Degeneres, only straight." Another was " The coolest nerd you'll ever meet." Then there were the random ones: "I make a mean taco salad" and "I can't think of six words." See, isn't it fun? Give it a whirl - try responding with your own six-word memoir. I'd love to see your creativity in action! I'll sign out with this thought - 35 students, 30 desks: no problem.

Word Play

laurann — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:35:00 GMT

As a teacher of AP Language and Composition, I'm offered ample opportunity to talk about an author's choice of words and the concept of connotation. Today my classes spent the majority of the period discussing Nathaniel Hawthorne's depiction of Judge Pyncheon in The House of Seven Gables , and you wouldn't believe how much time we spent just talking about the worth, weight, and value of words! Really, those moments are the ones that keep me teaching... We talked about the implied meanings behind words like integrity, unimpeachable, fastidious, zeal, etc. (If you've read the novel you know that there is really a dark side to J.P. and that Hawthorne is actually just setting him up as a straw man and is preparing to cast doubt about his supposedly sterling character!) Anyway, that got me thinking about words I might like to hear or see used in conjunction with myself. A friend recently described me as "slight," a term at which I took moderate offense. She didn't mean it in a negative fashion; quite to the contrary, but to me it implied a certain weakness! Even though I am small-framed (note the difference in verbiage), I see myself as strong and capable -- just the opposite of slight. In fact, when someone offers to carry or do something for me, I often refer to myself as " a big ole' strappin thang"! (Don't you just love the image???) I don't think my students see me as "slight", although in comparison to their somewhat imposing statures, I might seem smaller - but in size only! I like to think that my candor, direct eye contact and willingness to challenge their intellectual passivity reflects a fortitude belied by my physical frame. I learned this stance from my mother, by the way. Talk about small but mighty! (Nancy, do you care to chime in on that point?) So, to continue, I'm compiling a list of words I'd like to see associated with my name and/or character. I'm striking the word "slight" from the list and beginning with... MOXIE! I love that word! Who doesn't want to have moxie ? Note: moxie is often used in conjunction with the word "gal", one that I dislike. It's so... cheap? No, coarse. No, crude. No, no, I've got it this time... it is so brassy! Anyway, so I'd like to have moxie but not be a gal! I'm going to continue developing my list as I get ready for bed. I'll be curious to read which words you associate with yourself...

A trip down memory lane...

laurann — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:46:00 GMT

Well, I haven't heard from many (ok any) of you lately. Perhaps you're just too busy with back to school business... Or perhaps you're a little brain-weary by the day's end, as am I. Whichever or whatever the case, I do hope that you'll read on and reply! I've just finished day two of my 18th year of teaching. And, despite the fact that I still have about 180 kids and too few desks to go 'round, I'm just loving every minute of it! I've found an unexpected joy with my seniors -- a sharp contrast to my experience last year, but that's fodder for another post... The start of school always makes me nostalgiac and inspires a bit of reflection. So, today I offer something simple, a trip down memory lane. I can't wait to read your responses! 1. Do you remember the name of your first grade teacher? 2. Where you a kid who brought lunch or bought lunch? If you brought your lunch, what was your usual fare? If you purchased lunch, which was your favorite menu offering? 3. If you had a lunchbox, what did it look like? 4. Did you get a new back to school outfit each year? 5. What the name of your principal, and did you every have occassion to visit him/her? 6. Did you ride the bus, walk, or get a ride to school? 7. Tell us a bit about your favorite classroom... 8. Who was the biggest trouble-maker in your class? 9. With whom did you either sit at lunch or play with at recess? 10. In choosing teams for physical education, where you the first or last to be picked?

Reflections on the first day back...

laurann — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 01:51:00 GMT

Wow: the first day of school always leaves me feeling as if I've spent the day in an airport, surrounded by a sea of unknown faces... I think my class count was about 180 over six periods, with 36 being my largest class. Yipes - standing room only! Good thing I have a few extra chairs scattered about the corners of my room. I started working on the students' names, and lo and behold, every other girl seems to be named Rachel. Last year's popular name was Katy, in all of its incarnations (Katy, Katie, Kati, Kat, Cat, etc.), so I guess Rachel is a nice change. As for the boys, their names aren't too remarkable, but they are HUGE. Oh my gosh, what are we feeding these kids? Yes, they are 11th and 12th graders, but geeze! Just imagine a classroom full of gigantic boys and gaggles of giggling girls, and repeat for six periods a day... But seriously, I do love the first day of school -- it always holds such promise. The school is squeaky clean, the hallways are clear, pencils are sharpened, books are neatly lined up as they wait for distribution... Everyone has an A on the first day, everyone is on equal footing, no one is ahead, no one is already behind (except those who haven't done their summer reading. But that is fodder for another post...). I was ready, too. Thanks to the nice long summer mandated by the Texas legislature, I felt rested and rejuvenated. I was awake at 4:30, ready to don my official first-day-of-school dress today, the same one that I have worn on the first day for the last eight years (Seriously. No, I'm not a candidate for What Not To Wear: the dress is a classic, a snappy little red number, crisp enough to withstand the sweltering heat and humidity of a the late summer in Houston. Really, its a great dress. You should see it!) Anyway, it is a "go-to" dress, one that I put on when I need to feel particularly confident. And it worked its magic again... What a great day. Class size, a slightly addled brain, and tired legs aside, I think I'll go back tomorrow. How about you guys?

Hello, Fellow Bloggers!

laurann — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:57:00 GMT

Well, now I know how the new kid in class feels: excited to be here but worried that I won't know anyone! Having participated in a summer technology program that required the creation and maintenance of a blog, I developed a fine appreciation of the camaraderie that develops across the expanse of cyberspace. The problem came when the class ended and all my summer friends disappeared - poof! I guess they were just in it for the 18 hours of staff development credit. (Go figure!) My sister, another summer blogger, got tired of the silence on our other blogs and emigrated over to teacherlingo. Despite her urging, I held on to my old blog, just sure that our old cyber-chums would return. So far they haven't... So, here I am at teacherlingo. Like any self-respecting English teacher, I like to write and find the blog a perfect vehicle for informal expression. I can usually come up with something interesting, witty, and/or controversial to stimulate conversation. (Well, except maybe on this particular post. So far it is pretty hum-drum, wouldn't you say?) My plan is to post several times a week, hopefully with a little vignette from my teaching experience. This is my 18th year (18.5 to be precise!), and I find that the world of education provides a myriad of stories for the telling. And I love to tell stories! I'll try not to complain too often, and I promise not to romanticize the classroom experience. I'll endeavor not to criticize, patronize, plagiarize, or any other"ize" that might rear its ugly head. Oh, by the way, I do have a fondness for Seinfeld quotes, the music of the 80's, and general silliness. That might be something to look forward to -- or maybe reason to run for the hills. Oh, I love Emerson and Thoreau, too. You'll find their words peppered here and there, as well. Let's see, what else? I've got considerable "numchuck skills, bow-hunting skills, computer hacking skills..." Oops - that's Napoleon Dynamite, not me. Well, I don't want to show all of my cards at once, so I'm going to sign off for now. I hope to hear from some of you before too long...