8th grade graduation??

Today was a brand new experience.  My kids graduated this morning at Roosevelt University Auditorium Theater down on Michigan Avenue.  It was HUGE.  There were 477 graduates, and each of them brought up to 5 guests.  All in all, probably 1500 people in the audience.  There were caps and gowns and diploma covers and valedictorian speeches; the works.  It was incredibly odd to have all this hoopla for 8th grade, yet strangely exciting.  Michigan doesn't do 8th grade graduation, and I have never seen this much investment into a graduation.  However,most of the students are going to an incredibly good high school and honestly have a chance of making it all the way through high school.  This fact alone probably warrants the show.  They want to make sure the students know how important it is that they are going off to high school and entering the next phase of their lives.  For the first time in five years, I was so proud of, and hopeful for, each and every one of my students.  This year challenged them beyond anything they were accustomed to, and they rose to the challenge. 

It's interesting because in the past I have always worked hard because that's just what I do.  However, it has been very difficult to go above and beyond due to the fact that I knew statistically that only 1/2 of my kids would graduate high school.  That's a little discouraging to someone who sinks their heart and soul into what they do.  Be that person me, or any teacher out there.  Knowing that half of your kids are being set up to fail is frustrating.  This year, on the other hand, the high schools that they are attending have 80% or higher graduation rates, so there is a near guarantee that each one of them will graduate in four years.  This alone makes me want to put in the extra time to give them that extra edge.  I was truly a proud mama today. 

I told my "difficult" boys today that if they brought me their first quarter report cards with all A's that I would take them out for dinner.  We'll see how that goes :-)  Honestly, I'm pretty excited to see how things are different next year now that Jessica and I have figured out what we're doing.  What a great end to a challenging year!

Reflecting . . .

I want to be as amazing as Robin Williams' is in Dead Poets' Society.  I want to be that teacher.  How does this happen?  What must I do?

Bus Rides

The total number of bus rides I have had to take this week with the kids is getting a bit ridiculous.  AND I have to get on another bus with them this morning. 

Tuesday:  To and from 8th grade luncheon
Thursday: To and from McCormick place for "Summer Reading Kick-Off"
Friday:  To and from the soccer field for their weekly indoor Soccer class

I woke up with a stress headache just thinking about this.  Probably doesn't help that buses give me motion sickness.  12 more hours until I am home and relaxing. 

Fainting and teenagers

My teaching partner fainted today.  In the middle of class.  This, was a completely new experience for me, and apparently one that happens somewhat regularly for her.  Would have been nice to know a little earlier this year, Jess!  :-)

So, my kids and I were having a nice, calm conversation about their dress code at the luncheon this coming Tuesday, when Norma BURST into my room yelling, "Ms. Forster!  Ms. Hanzlik just fainted and is laying on the ground!"  Instantly, 8 of my boys jump out of their desk and started running toward the door.
"SIT DOWN NOW!"  I said to them as forcefully as I could.  The class was in their seat and quiet within 3 seconds.  I turned back toward Norma, and with a look of sheer terror in her eyes, she followed me back into the other room where I found10 kids standing around Jessica freaking out.  Suddenly I realized that I have no idea what to do.  64 horrified students and Jessica laying on the floor, white as a ghost . . what the hell do I do?     Calmly, yet sternly, I ordered everyone back to their seats and knelt down beside her.  I toldone of the girls to call the office, and after 2 or 3 tries, they somehow could not get the phone to work and came back out into the room.  "Go.  Run down to the office and tell Ms. Perez,"  and they took off sprinting down the hallway.  I looked straight at Danna and told her to go get Mr. Denneen.  Suddenly I hear shouting coming from my own classroom, in the form of what sounded like them telling each other to shutup.  I stopped what I was doing, walked over, threatened them with silent work for all of next week if I had to come back in there again.  They were instantaneously quiet.  Stupid kids.  :-)

 After what seemed like an eternity (in reality about 30 seconds) of stroking her hair and calling her name, she opened her eyes.  Face still white as a ghost, she said "Yeah, I'm okay," and closed her eyes again.  I was fully expecting her to sit up, or at least attempt to, but no. She closed her eyes again and just laid there.  About a week later, she started to stir and moved her hands and legs a bit.  At this point, I look up to find Sandra and Jenny standing in the classroom, while Jessica is trying to sit up.  Thankfully, she didn't hit her head when she fell.  By the time I go outside to talk to Nubia and Tom, she was sitting up and talking.  She didn't want to take the day off, she just went in the office and sat for a while.

Apparently the last time this happened was the first day of grad school in Oxford.  Yikes.  At least this time she had friends around her!  After everything was said and done, I had my kids read for a few minutes and I just sat down at my table, laughed and cried at the same time. 

Survival Mode

Survival mode.  Looking for things to take my mind off the task at hand.  Is that bad of me?

Going up to Grand Traverse Bay is by far my favorite thing in the world to do.  At this very moment I can picture driving down the hill to the house with my windows open.  I can smell the water before I even see it.  As I get closer, the air becomes cooler and the waves become louder.  My car is barely in park before I jump out of it and get as quickly as I can to the front of the deck.  The sun is just beginning to set and I take a deep breath and close my eyes, letting the serenity wash over me.  This is my happy place.  Those moments when I need a scrap of peace, this is exactly where I go.  Interestingly enough, this scene has been repeated over and over throughout my life, and is one of the very few things that never seems to change.  It always gives me a sense of solidarity.  I love knowing that there are somethings in this crazy world that don't change.  I don't have a picture with me, but the one posted above is incredibly close to the image I keep in my mind of our own beach.

Next time I am there, I will be celebrating my nephew's birthday, playing with the kids in the water, knitting on the porch and reading in front of the fire place.  My own little slice of heaven. 

Summer Reading List.

Summer goes closer and closer with each passing day.  So close I can taste the freedom. 

However, the stark reality is that I still have 12 days left of school.  Twelve.  Long.  Days.  SO, in order to keep my sanity in tact I have started blogging regularly.  Hopefully this will not stop when the summer actually arrives, but I need this life raft for the time being. 

Today I have been thinking about my Summer Reading List.  In my class I will be discussing this very soon with my students, so I thought I would get a head start.  Granted, I only have 5 weeks this summer to read, but might as well shoot for the stars.  Here it goes.

For Myself
Infidel - recommended by my amazing teaching partner Jessica Hanzlik along with . . .
A Border Passage
Kite Runner - has been sitting on my shelf for years (yes, one of thoooose books)
Alice, I have been - sent to me by my dear friend Carrie Smith, whose opinion I trust implicitly

For my Literature Circles
Black Like Me - recommended by Jenny Knol for my higher level kids next year
Warriors Don't Cry - I put this on my shelf this year to see how the kids would respond to it and I've gotten positive feedback so far . . . I think it's a keeper
A Long Way Gone - recommended by Jenn Lundin, and again, I put it on my shelf for the kids and they have loved it!
I am the Cheese - a book used by Nancie Atwell in her reading workshop.  If she approves it, I'll try it.
That was Then, This is Now - recommended by Sandra Medina as an alternative to The Outsiders

Instructional Books
Teach Like a Champion - I just have to see what all the hype is about
Teaching Adolescent Writers - I need to work on my writing workshop and I'll take all the help I can get!
So, What Do they Really Now? - I found this book by Cris Tovani about assessments, and thought it might have some good information.  I do love her other stuff. . .

I know, I know.  This is a pretty lofty list for only having 5 weeks, but I think I may put the books on my Ipod for when I'm driving back and forth to up north.  
 

Snake juice and The Flu

On really tough days the only thing I want when I come home are a glass of wine, tasty food, Snake Juice and The Flu.  Let me explain. 

Eric and I have recently discovered Parks and Rec, and to be honest, are completely in love.  He claims that the reason he finds the show so funny is because I am Leslie Knope.  Strangely enough, when I watch it, I find myself connecting to her in a way that I rarely connect to female characters in any media.  My two favorite episodes are Snake Juice (technically called "The Fight") and The Flu (technically called "The Flu").  Every single time I see Ron Swanson drunk-dancing with a teeny little french hat on his head, I lose it.  I think I have now watched that episode ten times, and it still makes me laugh out loud during the last 15 minutes.  "The Flu" on the other hand gives me hope because Leslie is such a badass.  Giving a 10 minute speech to all the business owners in Pawnee, while burning up with 104 degree temperature, gives me the kick in the butt that I need.

Having said all that, today was a Snake Juice and Flu day.  I needed to laugh out loud and I needed a shot in the arm of encouragement. A moment to forget everything, and a moment to realize that I am a badass and can do anything I put my mind to.  The thing is, the kids were not awful today, as I have seen them be in the past, but they were just getting on my last nerve.  Jessica was gone today and I was not only trying to fight my own class' laziness, but I was also trying to keep hers under control.  Sometimes I wonder why it is that they cannot just chill out and make good decisions.  Can anyone answer that question?  Why can't they just do the right thing because it's the right thing to do?

For example, I have a student named Ricky who has earned himself two days of working in the office alone.  This all came after he earned 4 detentions last week, and has earned 3 more this week.  He simply refuses to think about ANYTHING besides his own immediate gratification.  At one point today, I look up to see him sneaking out of the office and kneeling next to a desk at one of the stations, hoping I would not see him.  Seriously?  That earned him an additional day of solitude.  

As raw as my nerves were when I came home, I have realized, after a dose of my own home remedies, that I must live to fight another day.  This is not personal, their just junior highers.  They need more structure now than they did a month ago, and I'm just going to have to push them in order to get the results I need.  It's not personal, it's business.  Strange how these things so often do become personal . . .

At least I know that I have Snake Juice and The Flu waiting for me tomorrow.  And only 13 days left of school.

Barrel of Monkeys

I learned something new today.  A group of monkeys is called a troop or a barrel.  I was trying to think of a way to describe my kids this afternoon, and this phrase is what popped into my head.  Little did I know, it is the literal term.

Three weeks left of school.  The kids know this.  The teachers know this.  Everyone knows this.  What we also know is that the majority of the schools in the neighborhood are already finished and their 8th graders graduated this weekend.  Try motivating 64 eighth graders to complete research on a Chicago history topic while their peers are running around enjoying their summer vacation.  Needless to say today was not entirely successful.

I have really grown to love these kids.  They have worked harder for Jessica (my amazing teaching partner) and I than I could have ever imagined and they've got the scores to prove it.  They're goofy, loveable and hard-working.  They're turning into snarky 9th graders, which normally, I think is hysterical.  Today was not that day.  My wonderful afternoon class (whom I NEVER have problems with) came into my room this afternoon like a barrel of monkeys, and despite my absolute best efforts I COULD NOT GET THEM ON TASK.  That is, until I threatened to take away their specials this week if they didn't get their work done.  They quieted down for a while, so I turned on a little music in the background (I despise a silent classroom).  Before I know it, the monkeys returned.  I turned off the music and made them work in silence.  It was an unbelievably boring afternoon.

Like I said, a love-hate relationship.