Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The Bad Day
It was not a happy time in Schoolville today.
First, my dear baby 6th grader Ricardo, had a problem. One of the other teachers does not like him, and she sent him out of class. He was walking up the stairs, and somebody threw something and hit him in the face. He was already angry and he punched the kid in the face and gave him a bloody nose. He got suspended for 3 days. He also is to be taken out of the advanced class. I am very, very upset about it. This is not the first time they have decided that smart kids can't make any mistakes. I went to the principal and begged and even cried a little. I really don't want to lose him. She said we'll see.
Third period. 3 students are working and they call me over to their table. Desean says, "Mr. Y is a rapist." I told her that was a pretty huge accusation. She said, "it's not about me. it's about tytrese. tell her, tytrese." Tytrese just cast her eyes down. Desean said, "You really need to tell somebody what he did." I told them that it wasn't appropriate to talk about this in the middle of class and we would talk about it after class was over.
After class, I went to the principal and told her what the girls had said. She called them in and spoke with them and then scheduled a meeting with Tytrese's mother.
Today, Mr. Y confronted me in the hallway and yelled at me because I didn't warn him. He kept saying that I know he didn't do it and this is his career that is on the line.
I'm very upset about this. Mr. Y is my friend and I feel bad, but at the same time, what else was I supposed to do? I tried to stay as uninvolved as possible BECAUSE he is my friend.
First, my dear baby 6th grader Ricardo, had a problem. One of the other teachers does not like him, and she sent him out of class. He was walking up the stairs, and somebody threw something and hit him in the face. He was already angry and he punched the kid in the face and gave him a bloody nose. He got suspended for 3 days. He also is to be taken out of the advanced class. I am very, very upset about it. This is not the first time they have decided that smart kids can't make any mistakes. I went to the principal and begged and even cried a little. I really don't want to lose him. She said we'll see.
Third period. 3 students are working and they call me over to their table. Desean says, "Mr. Y is a rapist." I told her that was a pretty huge accusation. She said, "it's not about me. it's about tytrese. tell her, tytrese." Tytrese just cast her eyes down. Desean said, "You really need to tell somebody what he did." I told them that it wasn't appropriate to talk about this in the middle of class and we would talk about it after class was over.
After class, I went to the principal and told her what the girls had said. She called them in and spoke with them and then scheduled a meeting with Tytrese's mother.
Today, Mr. Y confronted me in the hallway and yelled at me because I didn't warn him. He kept saying that I know he didn't do it and this is his career that is on the line.
I'm very upset about this. Mr. Y is my friend and I feel bad, but at the same time, what else was I supposed to do? I tried to stay as uninvolved as possible BECAUSE he is my friend.
Monday, November 2, 2009
I Don't Even Want To Know Why They Know How To Do That
On Friday, my 6th graders were taking a test. Another teacher came into my room to give me something, walked out of the room and closed the door.
For some unexplainable reason, the door wouldn't open again. It was unlocked, the handle would move, the door wouldn't budge. An administrator was walking by, I tried to alert her without telling the kids. Maybe she could open it from the other side and no one would ever know that the door wouldn't open.
No such luck.
It was only 8:15a.m., so 6 of my kids were coming in late--they had to go sit in another teacher's room. I had the administrator, an office worker and another teacher on the other side of the door trying to get in. I was on my side trying to get out.
This went on FOR AN HOUR. Meanwhile, the kids are freaking out.
WHAT IF WE STARVE TO DEATH?
BUT MS VINSON I HAVE TO GO TRICK OR TREATING TOMORROW!
I CAN'T BREATHE, WE'RE LOSING AIR!
WE CAN'T MISS LUNCH!
I would literally spend 30 seconds working on the door and then a minute telling every one to take deep breaths and calm down. over and over again.
About half an hour in, I just gave up and left it up to the people on the other side so I could make sure nobody hyperventilated. After another 15 minutes, Tyrin and Ricardo asked me if they could try to get the door open.
They spent a good 5 minutes assembling their supplies; they had a little committee meeting about their plan of action; they then had the door open in about 10 minutes.
I'm not asking any questions.
For some unexplainable reason, the door wouldn't open again. It was unlocked, the handle would move, the door wouldn't budge. An administrator was walking by, I tried to alert her without telling the kids. Maybe she could open it from the other side and no one would ever know that the door wouldn't open.
No such luck.
It was only 8:15a.m., so 6 of my kids were coming in late--they had to go sit in another teacher's room. I had the administrator, an office worker and another teacher on the other side of the door trying to get in. I was on my side trying to get out.
This went on FOR AN HOUR. Meanwhile, the kids are freaking out.
WHAT IF WE STARVE TO DEATH?
BUT MS VINSON I HAVE TO GO TRICK OR TREATING TOMORROW!
I CAN'T BREATHE, WE'RE LOSING AIR!
WE CAN'T MISS LUNCH!
I would literally spend 30 seconds working on the door and then a minute telling every one to take deep breaths and calm down. over and over again.
About half an hour in, I just gave up and left it up to the people on the other side so I could make sure nobody hyperventilated. After another 15 minutes, Tyrin and Ricardo asked me if they could try to get the door open.
They spent a good 5 minutes assembling their supplies; they had a little committee meeting about their plan of action; they then had the door open in about 10 minutes.
I'm not asking any questions.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
"Some people march to a different drummer--and some people polka."
This sums up Marcus more than any words I could use.
If every single other kid turns in this:
Then Marcus will turn in this:
He followed directions (he folded, he cut), but he followed them in his own little way. The point of the activity was to find a country, put the country on the first flap, the climate of that country on the inside and a description of the climate on the back of the flap. 79 other kids got it done. Marcus crammed all the information on the back flap. And he didn't finish.
Oh, by the way, Marcus is pretty much a super genius.
If every single other kid turns in this:
Then Marcus will turn in this:
He followed directions (he folded, he cut), but he followed them in his own little way. The point of the activity was to find a country, put the country on the first flap, the climate of that country on the inside and a description of the climate on the back of the flap. 79 other kids got it done. Marcus crammed all the information on the back flap. And he didn't finish.
Oh, by the way, Marcus is pretty much a super genius.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Lexicon Artist
In a world with the "yo's" and the "wassups" and the u 2 and the b4, I would like to take a moment to recognize a special young man in my 3rd period for attempting to single-handedly bring back the phrase "doodly-squat."
Thank you, Quamonta, for repeating the phrase approximately 302,984,320,948,329 times today and some how finding a way to make it almost every single part of speech. Congratulations!
Thank you, Quamonta, for repeating the phrase approximately 302,984,320,948,329 times today and some how finding a way to make it almost every single part of speech. Congratulations!
Monday, October 26, 2009
An Open Letter To Parents
Man, parents. I love you people. I've never birthed a child, so I don't know exactly how it would make me feel. I mean, I have students (students!) who I've only known for a few years and I would stab somebody in the face before I let them hurt my babies. So I can't even imagine that same feeling multiplied into something that came out of me, looks like me and is part of every waking moment of my life.
So, anyway. I get that having a kid makes you a little psycho. It's fine. And as a teacher who rarely sees parents, I'm even more excited that you care enough to come talk to the teachers about your precious baby. I'm even MORE excited when you have showered, are not high, and don't threaten the lives of either me or your child.
However, the following are a few things I've heard over the years...oh, no, wait, they were all said just today by the same woman...that maybe aren't really appropriate to bring up in the parent/teacher conference...or really maybe at all:
(all of these were said to the Language Arts teacher. He's super tough and loud and mean, but totally fabulous. And, I heard all of this even though I was two classrooms down the hall.)
"Your work is too hard. It is not your job to prepare her for high school. It is MY job."
"I will defend her no matter if she is right or wrong. No matter what she says, I will come up here and defend her to you. [30 seconds later] Well, if she is not doing her work, then why aren't you calling me every day to tell me these things?"
[screaming] "The whole problem is your tone! She can't learn because you make her angry with your voice!"
"So Chelsea said you pick on her, but she wasn't telling the truth? It doesn't matter if she was telling the truth or not---she is not a liar! Don't call her a liar even if she's lying!"
"You don't TELL my daughter what to do! She will do what she needs to when she's ready!"
and finally...
"I just don't understand why you teachers don't try to communicate with me more."
So, anyway. I get that having a kid makes you a little psycho. It's fine. And as a teacher who rarely sees parents, I'm even more excited that you care enough to come talk to the teachers about your precious baby. I'm even MORE excited when you have showered, are not high, and don't threaten the lives of either me or your child.
However, the following are a few things I've heard over the years...oh, no, wait, they were all said just today by the same woman...that maybe aren't really appropriate to bring up in the parent/teacher conference...or really maybe at all:
(all of these were said to the Language Arts teacher. He's super tough and loud and mean, but totally fabulous. And, I heard all of this even though I was two classrooms down the hall.)
"Your work is too hard. It is not your job to prepare her for high school. It is MY job."
"I will defend her no matter if she is right or wrong. No matter what she says, I will come up here and defend her to you. [30 seconds later] Well, if she is not doing her work, then why aren't you calling me every day to tell me these things?"
[screaming] "The whole problem is your tone! She can't learn because you make her angry with your voice!"
"So Chelsea said you pick on her, but she wasn't telling the truth? It doesn't matter if she was telling the truth or not---she is not a liar! Don't call her a liar even if she's lying!"
"You don't TELL my daughter what to do! She will do what she needs to when she's ready!"
and finally...
"I just don't understand why you teachers don't try to communicate with me more."
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Day I Disrupted An Entire High School
So Ultimate Favorite of All Time child, Taurus, is in 9th grade now. He comes to visit me sometimes, and he asked me to come to his football games. So, me and a few 8th graders and maybe a teacher or two will drive over after-school on Thursdays to watch him and a couple of my other former students play for the high school down the road. Usually the games start at 3:45.
Well, last Thursday, the game started at 3pm. I did not know this, but the high school doesn't get out of school until 3:30. I pulled into the parking lot around 3:10. I got out and so did the two girls who came with me. Well, it was a very nice day and this high school doesn't have air-conditioning. All the windows facing the parking lot were open. All three stories of them.
I start walking towards the field when I hear, from a third floor window, "I LOVE YOU MISS VINSON!" Well, everyone else heard it too...because all the windows were open. I know about 25-30 kids in that school, and apparently all of them took that opportunity to run to the open windows and yell out at me. I'm pretty sure some kids I don't know were yelling too.
Here I am, standing in the parking lot, telling three floors of screaming high schoolers to "Shh!" Finally I just scurried over to the bleachers and tried to hide.
I hope I don't run into one of their teachers around town anywhere. Sorry 'bout that.
Well, last Thursday, the game started at 3pm. I did not know this, but the high school doesn't get out of school until 3:30. I pulled into the parking lot around 3:10. I got out and so did the two girls who came with me. Well, it was a very nice day and this high school doesn't have air-conditioning. All the windows facing the parking lot were open. All three stories of them.
I start walking towards the field when I hear, from a third floor window, "I LOVE YOU MISS VINSON!" Well, everyone else heard it too...because all the windows were open. I know about 25-30 kids in that school, and apparently all of them took that opportunity to run to the open windows and yell out at me. I'm pretty sure some kids I don't know were yelling too.
Here I am, standing in the parking lot, telling three floors of screaming high schoolers to "Shh!" Finally I just scurried over to the bleachers and tried to hide.
I hope I don't run into one of their teachers around town anywhere. Sorry 'bout that.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Double Double Toil and Trouble
My class of 8th graders is a fabulous little group of people. I've always thought so. This class has been roughly the same faces since they were sixth graders together. Over the past three years, we've lost a few and gained a few due to transfers, but the majority of them have been around the whole time. They are and will always be the best class I have ever taught.
Anyway. Today we were talking about the Salem Witch Trials. To prove my point about how ridiculous it all was, I told one half of the class to try and prove I was a witch and the other half of the class to prove I wasn't.
Johnny says, "Of course she's not a witch. If she was a witch, she would have done something to us for getting on her nerves for all these years."
I slowly turned around and said, "And how do you know I haven't? Anybody seen Jamal since sixth grade?"
Chelsea screams, "Oh My God Miss Vinson What Did You Do To Xavier?!"
then Shazmira, "And Arias!"
Tyonna, "She IS wearing black today."
"Tyonna, you're on the side that is supposed to prove I'm NOT a witch."
Tyonna: "Well...can I move?"
Anyway. Today we were talking about the Salem Witch Trials. To prove my point about how ridiculous it all was, I told one half of the class to try and prove I was a witch and the other half of the class to prove I wasn't.
Johnny says, "Of course she's not a witch. If she was a witch, she would have done something to us for getting on her nerves for all these years."
I slowly turned around and said, "And how do you know I haven't? Anybody seen Jamal since sixth grade?"
Chelsea screams, "Oh My God Miss Vinson What Did You Do To Xavier?!"
then Shazmira, "And Arias!"
Tyonna, "She IS wearing black today."
"Tyonna, you're on the side that is supposed to prove I'm NOT a witch."
Tyonna: "Well...can I move?"
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Vh1 Divas Live: Teacher Edition
Some of the teachers in my school are the most amazing people I know. Some others, not so much.
There are two women who fall into the second category. For the most part, they are perfectly fine individuals if we're talking about the weather or what to have for lunch. But once we get into teacher territory, these ladies lose their damn minds.
Now, I'm not big on competition and I have no idea where someone would get the inclination that teaching is some sort of rivalry. If a kid likes me, that in no way shape or form means they don't like you. Oh, and if they like you, I DON'T CARE. Because, see, it's not a big deal. It's not even a small deal. It's not even a deal at all.
Maybe I got a big head after learning that literally fives of tens of people were reading this blog. Maybe I needed to be taken down a couple of pegs.
Anyway, these are things these women have said about/to me in the past week or so:
---"The reason you don't think she has bad behavior is because you don't have high enough standards and so you don't believe she's doing anything wrong." (It's actually because I don't get in her face and scream at her. Therefore, she has no reason to curse me out. But you know,whatever.)
---"Oh, he's good for you? Well, just you wait. Your time is coming. It's not because your special or anything. He's just biding his time." (What is he, a cartoon villian?)
---(To the 6th graders): "I know you just had lots of fun in Ms. Vinson's class, but it's time to learn now so you need to calm down." (Wow! Thanks!)
---(Some guy from the school board came and observed all our classes last week. I'm the only one who got an email from him saying that he enjoyed my class.) "Well, he probably used to be a Social Studies teacher or something and so your subject is what appeals to him."
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. My gift is ghetto middle schoolers. Some people have singing or acting or sports. I have none of those things. I don't get awards or prizes or a better salary. The only thing that comes from my gift is that some ghetto middle schoolers like me, and sometimes they learn stuff. This does not mean they are not allowed to like other people, or can't learn from other people. WHY ALL THE HATERATION?
There are two women who fall into the second category. For the most part, they are perfectly fine individuals if we're talking about the weather or what to have for lunch. But once we get into teacher territory, these ladies lose their damn minds.
Now, I'm not big on competition and I have no idea where someone would get the inclination that teaching is some sort of rivalry. If a kid likes me, that in no way shape or form means they don't like you. Oh, and if they like you, I DON'T CARE. Because, see, it's not a big deal. It's not even a small deal. It's not even a deal at all.
Maybe I got a big head after learning that literally fives of tens of people were reading this blog. Maybe I needed to be taken down a couple of pegs.
Anyway, these are things these women have said about/to me in the past week or so:
---"The reason you don't think she has bad behavior is because you don't have high enough standards and so you don't believe she's doing anything wrong." (It's actually because I don't get in her face and scream at her. Therefore, she has no reason to curse me out. But you know,whatever.)
---"Oh, he's good for you? Well, just you wait. Your time is coming. It's not because your special or anything. He's just biding his time." (What is he, a cartoon villian?)
---(To the 6th graders): "I know you just had lots of fun in Ms. Vinson's class, but it's time to learn now so you need to calm down." (Wow! Thanks!)
---(Some guy from the school board came and observed all our classes last week. I'm the only one who got an email from him saying that he enjoyed my class.) "Well, he probably used to be a Social Studies teacher or something and so your subject is what appeals to him."
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. My gift is ghetto middle schoolers. Some people have singing or acting or sports. I have none of those things. I don't get awards or prizes or a better salary. The only thing that comes from my gift is that some ghetto middle schoolers like me, and sometimes they learn stuff. This does not mean they are not allowed to like other people, or can't learn from other people. WHY ALL THE HATERATION?
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