November 4, 2007

Happy Next to the Last Month of 2007

A beautiful day outside, people in shirt sleeves. Again. We did have some cold air, but flowers still blooming and tomatoes still growing. Crazy.

Not nearly as crazy at the weather Ryan and Mike have been experiencing in CT. We'll be checking later today to find out how they fared with Noel.

Halloween is done. Candy was passed out, our trees were t. p. ed, and the kids were adorable. It was actually cold on that night.

Bob has been at home this week and he spent a couple of days at his parents'. Toni is doing better, but did have another fall. Bob did get a really nice of nice restored photo of his mom when she was young. His dad is well.

I have been teaching as always. Kids have really changed. They don't do homework anymore. I really mean that. It isn't just one or two kids who forgot, it is common for 40 or 50 kids out of a 100 to just not do anything at home. It makes it hard. I gave an assignment to read a story and gave them time in class to read and then read the rest at home. I let them take notes and use them on the quiz the next day. Most of my students failed the simple content quiz. Then I had 8 different students in different classes tell me my class was gay or retarded or stupid. My class...not the fact that they chose not to prepare for the class. That is what is frustrating because they choose not to see that their lack of action might have contributed.

I thought about everything for a couple of days and then took action. What I did was this. I told them that sports were stupid. Then we went to play a quick game of basketball. I didn't bring a ball. I told them to use a paper wad. They protested and then we had to waste time to get the ball. Then my team didn't follow the rules. We did our own thing and ran a football play with the basketball. Then I argued with the other teacher about the rules and kept interrupting the game with useless comments. Then I got mad and told the other teacher that the game was stupid and he was too. Then I got sent to the office and the principal made me apologize.

Then I took the students back to class and we discussed how hard my inappropriate behavior made the game. I think that most of them got that the whole thing was a set-up to show how hard it was to have class when they didn't come to class with their supplies, got off task, argued about everything, and chose to call something stupid or gay or retarded.


I guess it was innovative, but it is disheartening when the kids don't come ready or willing to learn. I will tell you this. After 21 years of teaching, I am working harder than I ever have before. I tell them they are lucky to have a teacher willing to do that.

Drew made us a new computer this week. It is shiny blue.

Rachel keeps on working at Sonic. She is doing some management activities and is doing a lot of the hiring. I have become an asset as I know most of the students. She is also continuing with her on-line classes.

Veronica was just thrilled to be Velma for Halloween because, "I have my hair cut like Velma's, I wear glasses, I am smart like her, and I love to figure out clues." She went trick or treating with Rach and Cash and then with Jeremy and she cleaned up.

Cash was just adorable as Scooby. Bob and I bought him a soft sided book with pages that crinkles and he adores it. He can sit up sometimes, is scooting but not quite crawling, and is trying to develop his hand to eye coordination. He has a blanket with little bears on it and he spends hours trying to pick up those little bears.

Saturday night Bob and I went down the street to our old house where my co-worker and our friends Pat and Cindy held the annual adult Halloween party. We had a good time and sang really bad karekoe. Obviously cannot spell that.

Have a fabulous Week!