Cleaning Up

As I am sitting at school on Memorial Day, cleaning up the remnants of my first year of teaching, I came across a letter from one of my EXCEL students.  EXCEL is similar to a homeroom in which you have a small group of kids (12-14) every day for about 20 minutes.  This letter was one of the end of the year activities in which the 8th graders write a letter to a 7th grader telling them what will be different and important to know next year.  This letter made my day and appreciate the fact that I made a difference for one student.

Dear sevy,
  Hey there!  I'm writing you a letter about eighth grade.  There are a lot of things you are going to need to know in order to become an eighth grader.  Number one: Always respect your elders no matter how they act.
  Anyway being an eighth grader is a lot more fun than being a sevy!  Just trust me.  There are some really cool teachers.  Hopefully you'll be in the EXCEL of the most amazing teacher ever!  Ms. Huling...well she will be Mrs. Rahmiller.  Ms. Huling has inspired me the whole year.  She's like my hero.  I'm not even joking.  If you couldn't tell, she's my favorite teacher.
  Anyway, on with why being an eighth grader is amazing.  you can get seconds at lunch.  That's pretty cool.  Also you get better at sports.
  Every three weeks we change literacys with Ms. Huling, Ms. Kreb, and Mr. Karels.  If you ever have any questions just ask.  It's always better than just sitting there doing nothing.
  There is more homework in 8th grade but just deal with it and get it done.  Then if you do that you'll be fine.

This student has also decided to use her running talent and try cross country in the fall.  (Although I did put a bug in her ear she did make this decision by herself)  She is so excited about it and on the day of the meeting she ran around the halls trying to round people up.  I'm so glad I get to work with her in the fall! :)

Descriptive Frustrations

  I am currently plodding through 8th grade descriptive essays becoming more and more irritated by the minute.  After spending weeks (quite literally) working on making bare statements vivid, focusing essays on a very short period of time (30 minutes preferably), and journeying through the writing process, here are some excerpts of the good, the bad, the ugly, and just plain funny:

•  Topic:  Connor the Cow
  "We had good days that were good and bad days that were bad."  "All of my cows were different; that is what I liked most about cows.  This year will definitely be different; each year is always different." 

•  Topic:  Barnes and Noble bookstore
  "I was trudging down the modern literature aisle until my mom and dad came and showed me the books I've craved since I was 10 years old."  Wait for it...  "...a biography on Albert Einstein and a book on the evolution of organisms.  It was like a kid in a candy store, so many choices, yet you only have 25 cents."  Real kicker:  "Later that night I just realized that all those years ago when I first started reading science books, my mind passed through a doorway which I like to call the gateway of knowledge."  (Also, cleverly, the title of essay)

•  Topic:  Getting Attacked by a Fat Cat
  "At last, the cat impaled my arm by using his near razor-sharp claws, and even though I tried to pull him off, he wouldn't let go.  I tried hitting him on the house, but when one of his paws fell off, he just dug his claws back into my appendage."

•  Topic:  Falling Asleep After Waking up from Surgery
  "I now know that my family knows I am all right.  I just wish that I could convince myself that as the pain starts to make everything foggy.  The world looks more like an old worn out comic book, but that slowly fades too.  I can't control myself any longer as I start to drift.  I want to stay but I'm suddenly tired.  So tired.  I guess the world can wait.  I just want a tiny nap, just a tiny nap.  That is all I think as an uncontrollable wall of sleep comes and covers me and pushes reality away and takes the pain with it."