Thanksgiving has once again come and gone. This year I used the break to clean up the mess I left behind in Boston. Rather then relive it and type it here, I have included my status updates to document the holiday. Thanks to mom and Rob for a great Thanksgiving and the storage space in their basement. To Dierdre for helping me move out (again). To Cami, Paul and everyone at EMI who made it feel like coming home instead of coming for a visit. And to my brother. Who sat with me at the court house, went with me to rent the truck, did more then his share of moving my stuff and kept me laughing.
11/24 (2:15pm) - Getting ready to go back north...and wishing she could just sit on her ass down here instead...
11/24 (6:06pm) - Traffic. long term parking. no first class on the first leg. but thanks to Jen for keeping me company remotely! Charlotte NC here I come.
11/24 (8:41pm) - In Charlotte. Amazing how I get angrier as I get closer to Boston.
11/24 (11:23pm) - In Boston. Cab driver didn't try to rip me off. Still want to throw up. Maybe morning will be better.
11/25 (5:25am) - Nope.
11/25 (6:15am) - Outside 63 Mt Vernon. that is all.
11/25 (7:21am) - Feels like someone coming home from war to find the Yankees raided her house. or I've been watching too much Gone with the Wind.
11/25 (10:42am) - Thank you EMI! and thank you Edward. the best brother ever.
11/25 (12:11pm) - Meleena is filing for divorce.
11/25 (2:59pm) - Packing the Penske. Again. Thank you Edward and Deirdre. Again.
11/25 (7:54pm) - Parent's house. steak. fire. wine. good end to a long day.
11/27 (11:44am) - Headed home. good turkey. great people. thanks to all who made a hard trip fun and enjoyable!
11/27 (4:35pm) - Last leg of the trip. wish you were going to be there when I got home.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
You Can't Go Home Again
Well maybe you can...but it's never the same. As the countdown clock ticks down to my first trip North since leaving last May, I feel as though I am going to a foreign place, instead of to a place I lived for 13 years.
New Orleans has so quickly become home. The city, the language (yes it is different here), the job, the weather, the people.
I am much delayed in posting photos and of talking about my job. It sometimes feels like there is so much to say that it is silly to post it all and so little to say since what seems so "new" to me is just life for the people that are from here.
I will try to use the upcoming (brief) break - ok the plane rides (all four of them in 3 days) to write up some of the more interesting anecdotes...but will start with this one as a set-up. The kids here (teenagers really) have a very unique set of slang and jargon that they use all the time. It is often hard to tell if they are mocking you, insulting you or just talking to you...for example, if you ask someone how they are they are likely to respond "I'm Gucci".
So after getting to know some of my new 10th grade students I asked one of them what some of the words meant. In addition to being entertained at the idea of getting to explain all of his slang to his teacher he also said the following comment:
"Alright Ms. Eaton, I'll make you a deal. You teach me how to read and I'll be your Hood Dictionary."
My very own Hood Dictionary...I am a lucky girl...
New Orleans has so quickly become home. The city, the language (yes it is different here), the job, the weather, the people.
I am much delayed in posting photos and of talking about my job. It sometimes feels like there is so much to say that it is silly to post it all and so little to say since what seems so "new" to me is just life for the people that are from here.
I will try to use the upcoming (brief) break - ok the plane rides (all four of them in 3 days) to write up some of the more interesting anecdotes...but will start with this one as a set-up. The kids here (teenagers really) have a very unique set of slang and jargon that they use all the time. It is often hard to tell if they are mocking you, insulting you or just talking to you...for example, if you ask someone how they are they are likely to respond "I'm Gucci".
So after getting to know some of my new 10th grade students I asked one of them what some of the words meant. In addition to being entertained at the idea of getting to explain all of his slang to his teacher he also said the following comment:
"Alright Ms. Eaton, I'll make you a deal. You teach me how to read and I'll be your Hood Dictionary."
My very own Hood Dictionary...I am a lucky girl...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Round the Rampant Rugged Rocks...
Fall break is upon us. Unit 1 is in the books and Unit 2 is underway. Time is picking up speed. Lesson plans, IEPs, parent conferences, training, students, oil changes, grocery shopping. I am grateful I am a multitasker. Grateful to be surrounded by people who understand what I am dealing with everyday.
We launched a new reading program at school this week. So far it is off to a great start. we have already helped two kids raise their reading level by one full grade level. If we keep up this pace we will have everyone close to grade level by the end of the year.
Had a great time with my friend Deirdre a few weeks ago when she came down to the Big Easy. We balanced some touristy things with just hanging out and it was so good to have a piece of home down here.
The city continues to amaze me. The streets, the people, the food. So much still to be explored. To be learned.
I have 4 days off this weekend. I am not sure what I am going to do with myself. Except I know I am going to get a cat. So many animals here have been and continue to be abandoned. It is the least I can do on that front.
My best wishes to everyone...I miss you all...
We launched a new reading program at school this week. So far it is off to a great start. we have already helped two kids raise their reading level by one full grade level. If we keep up this pace we will have everyone close to grade level by the end of the year.
Had a great time with my friend Deirdre a few weeks ago when she came down to the Big Easy. We balanced some touristy things with just hanging out and it was so good to have a piece of home down here.
The city continues to amaze me. The streets, the people, the food. So much still to be explored. To be learned.
I have 4 days off this weekend. I am not sure what I am going to do with myself. Except I know I am going to get a cat. So many animals here have been and continue to be abandoned. It is the least I can do on that front.
My best wishes to everyone...I miss you all...
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Ode to Labor Day
As many of you know I have for years (well since 1997 anyway) kept a book of quotes and poems and ads and articles that I thought were interesting or funny or thought provoking. A few years ago an editorial ran in the New York Times that has stuck with me and I think would have even if I hadn't written it down. I don't know who wrote it, but it is below. May this year will be the year.
New York Times editorial
September 4, 2006
So August was busier then you meant it to be and September is already overbooked and spilling into October.
It's not too early to buy plane tickets home for Thanksgiving and whose turn is it to have Christmas anyway?
Meanwhile there is today, Labor Day. It isn't much except of course, that it's everything.
Perhaps this will be the Monday that refuses to admit the existence of Tuesday.
New York Times editorial
September 4, 2006
So August was busier then you meant it to be and September is already overbooked and spilling into October.
It's not too early to buy plane tickets home for Thanksgiving and whose turn is it to have Christmas anyway?
Meanwhile there is today, Labor Day. It isn't much except of course, that it's everything.
Perhaps this will be the Monday that refuses to admit the existence of Tuesday.
This City
So things have been hectic - work is busy and learning to wake up at 5am is a hard lesson at my age! The city is in full swing however. Mid-summer Mardi Gras was last weekend and let me just say if it is any indication of what we are in for in February best to strap in now and start looking for a costume...or at least some body paint and glitter as that seems to be the costume of choice.
This weekend is Summer Decadence which is basically the gay Mardi Gras which would have been cooler to experience if I had known that was going on. Instead I just spent most of yesterday afternoon being confused about the number of shirtless men in assless chaps. It's always something in this town I tell you.
Time is moving faster now, with each day marked with the sound of my heals walking down the metal ramp of the Middle School's trailer on my way to the cafeteria to oversee 200 6th and 7th graders eat eggs and tator tots and some sort of weird biscuit with meat cooked inside. The sun has only been up for an hour or so and the morning air is starting to feel cool. The summer feels like eons ago and as another Labor Day passes by I am filled with regret for all the days and months I wished away. For all the time I wasted. Not anymore.
This weekend is Summer Decadence which is basically the gay Mardi Gras which would have been cooler to experience if I had known that was going on. Instead I just spent most of yesterday afternoon being confused about the number of shirtless men in assless chaps. It's always something in this town I tell you.
Time is moving faster now, with each day marked with the sound of my heals walking down the metal ramp of the Middle School's trailer on my way to the cafeteria to oversee 200 6th and 7th graders eat eggs and tator tots and some sort of weird biscuit with meat cooked inside. The sun has only been up for an hour or so and the morning air is starting to feel cool. The summer feels like eons ago and as another Labor Day passes by I am filled with regret for all the days and months I wished away. For all the time I wasted. Not anymore.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Bow Ties and Haikus
Great week. Just great! We had all of our new students for orientation this week at school. 33 new 7th graders (with another 90 or so joining on 8/17). We got them acclimated to the school culture, taught them the schools core value and got to know them.
I taught them how to write Haiku's and have been blown away by the thoughtfulness and eagerness with which they approached an activity I had expected them to reject outright. 7th grade boys writing poetry right? But in between the Haiku's about video games and Pizza Hut (which were pretty good in their own right) were some amazing ones full of imagery and emotion. It made me feel lucky to have the opportunity to teach them.
Today we had our tie ceremony where all of the students receive the ties that are part of their uniforms. One of our school leaders gave a wonderful speech about the importance of the ties and what they symbolized and then the teachers helped all the students to put on their bow ties. What an amazing 1/2 hour. These boys who all walked into school Monday with this tough exterior were humbled by the prospect of putting on a tie. We got to witnessed the beginning of their transformation into the men that they are starting to believe they can become.
Oh and nothing is cuter then 7th graders in bow ties. Seriously. Nothing. And I owned a bunny once.
Next week we have more professional development and then school starts on 8/17...Here is hoping for a weekend with plenty of time to relax, hang out with friends and make plans about what is to come. I never doubted that I made the right choice in coming here. But it was this week that I finally got to experience why.
I taught them how to write Haiku's and have been blown away by the thoughtfulness and eagerness with which they approached an activity I had expected them to reject outright. 7th grade boys writing poetry right? But in between the Haiku's about video games and Pizza Hut (which were pretty good in their own right) were some amazing ones full of imagery and emotion. It made me feel lucky to have the opportunity to teach them.
Today we had our tie ceremony where all of the students receive the ties that are part of their uniforms. One of our school leaders gave a wonderful speech about the importance of the ties and what they symbolized and then the teachers helped all the students to put on their bow ties. What an amazing 1/2 hour. These boys who all walked into school Monday with this tough exterior were humbled by the prospect of putting on a tie. We got to witnessed the beginning of their transformation into the men that they are starting to believe they can become.
Oh and nothing is cuter then 7th graders in bow ties. Seriously. Nothing. And I owned a bunny once.
Next week we have more professional development and then school starts on 8/17...Here is hoping for a weekend with plenty of time to relax, hang out with friends and make plans about what is to come. I never doubted that I made the right choice in coming here. But it was this week that I finally got to experience why.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Running on Empty...
But at least I'm running. no really actually running. again.
A result of the great people around me, their constant inspiration and kind words and of course modeling good behavior (there is my one shot out to TeachNOLA for this email.)
Had a great (busy) week with professional development at school. We have been getting acclimated to the school culture, learning about their assessments and plans for the year and decorating our classrooms. I have provided a photo below that is my reading corner...it is still missing 2 beanbags but I am really happy how it came out!
The new students join us next week for orientation and then everyone starts on August 17th so there is a little more time to prepare and get everything ready to go. i feel really lucky to be at such a great supportive school, as a new teacher I couldn't have hoped for anything better.
So with the first week in the bag, I am looking forward to a fun (busy) weekend with friends, finishing my classroom, lesson planning and doing all the start up work for my debate team! love to everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)