| It is hard to demand control in a middle school classroom. Those who know me, I'm an incessantly tough loving kind of teacher. However I've been known over time to do things a bit unconventionally. Yes, I have had a yo' mama battle in my class and yes, I have lied to my students and told them I'm an undercover cop, but recently, I think I reached a pinnacle of hilarity.
It was just like any other Wednesday. After weeks of battle, I had finally gotten my children to work and sadly, this meant a little boredom. Now that they were quiet and actually working, it got a little uneventful. On this particular Wednesday a little less than half the class was missing in preparations for a performance. The remaining 9 students were working well, but I could see the heads bobbing and mouths yawning. Feeling a little bad for their boredom, I told them, "We should do like a Chinese Fire Drill!"
Crusty-eyed and half-peering over their books, they looked up at me with crazy eyes. "Miss, what is that?" -Now, let me be very clear that I do not condone this kind of behavior in the streets of LA and assured them such actions were life endangering and an automatic "Go Straight to Jail!"
Since half the class was gone, I decided we'd play a little trick on the missing students. We practiced and prepared for our normal class on Friday. After our normal time of reading, I told the students I'd scream, "CHINESE FIRE DRILL!" at that time all the kids were to run in the same direction around the classroom and find a new seat. Upon finding their new seats they were to go straight back to work and pretend like nothing happened.
Well, today was game day and let's just say, it was a total success. Two girls sat in utter disbelief and one boy was so frightened, he automatically jumped out of his seat and ran to another chair. When a student asked me what happend, I said, "What are you talking about?" She went on to say, "MISS! Everyone just got out of their chairs and ran." I simply shrugged and went back to teaching. We, perhaps I hehehe, decided this would be our on-going joke of the year and I'd randomly do it on Fridays at the same time of the day until the rest of the caught on. We'll see how it goes~ ;) Oh the joys of teaching middle school!
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| As I walk out of my car in the school parking lot a fellow teacher says to me.
"Aww... a girl like you should be driving a car more like that (BMW 325i)"
I laugh. "What?"
"Come on. You deserve to drive a car like that (another BMW) or that (an Audi)... or at least a Lexus?"
Still laughing and smiling. "But I love my car!"
"You shouldn't be driving around in an old grandma car like that!"
"MY COROLLA!?!"
"Yeah, you should be driving in style."
offended? or flattered? I was too tired to care.
True story. 7:20 am 10/01/09.
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| I've been thinking a lot about how I try to preserve myself. I normally don't think of myself in that way, but lately I've been challenged when asked to move outside of what I am willing or expected. I recognize the limitations that self preservation carries. I know that it shackles our understandings and stunts our growth. Still, there is an element of fear that stems out of the reality of past disappointments. Reopening wounds to deep scars, you're forced to make a decision. Will you play it safe and take no risks in an attempt to keep reality right where you are? Or will you be willing to open yourself up to hardships and sacrifices that will require the most of you? Both choices have a cost, it all just depends on the way you look at it.
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| I can't say that all students love me. I can't say that they all think I'm nice. But the one thing that I hope that all of them will remember about me is that I am fair.
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| UHH? LAUSD? You call me at 7am for a job at 7:15? That's a fail. Click.
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