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.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
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!
Saturday, July 25, 2009
It Begins
Busy week! The students don't arrive for a while still but there is a library to assemble and catalog, a debate team to organize and lesson plans and lesson plans and lesson plans.
I feel very lucky to have so many friends in NOLA who are all going through the same stuff as me right now. It is awesome to be able to share experiences, challenges and successes with people.
I am bummed that I won't be able to make it up north before the school year starts but will be back soon enough. This new place, new job, new everything has been so good for me...I found the cross on Bourbon Street last night...it looks like "Christ climbed down" but unlike in the Ferlinghetti poem I think instead of slipping off into "some anonymous Mary's womb" he might have wondered into a strip club...
I feel very lucky to have so many friends in NOLA who are all going through the same stuff as me right now. It is awesome to be able to share experiences, challenges and successes with people.
I am bummed that I won't be able to make it up north before the school year starts but will be back soon enough. This new place, new job, new everything has been so good for me...I found the cross on Bourbon Street last night...it looks like "Christ climbed down" but unlike in the Ferlinghetti poem I think instead of slipping off into "some anonymous Mary's womb" he might have wondered into a strip club...
Monday, July 20, 2009
Being Tourist in My New Home Town
Had a great weekend! Martha, Larry, Laura and Colleen came down to the Big Easy and gave me a great opportunity to be a tourist in my new home town.
We had a great time eating Beignets at Cafe Du Monde, walking around the quarter and eating lots of good Cajun food.
While there have been lots of little things I have been doing over the last few days, it feels really nice to have a little down time before school starts. Official meetings start tomorrow when I will meet with my literacy team and pick books for the upcoming year. I am very excited to have the opportunity to play a real role in the curriculum development of my students!
Had a great day today walking around the city with a friend and drinking wine at Fritzels...am thinking cheese steak and daiquiris to go for dinner...I really love this town!
We had a great time eating Beignets at Cafe Du Monde, walking around the quarter and eating lots of good Cajun food.
While there have been lots of little things I have been doing over the last few days, it feels really nice to have a little down time before school starts. Official meetings start tomorrow when I will meet with my literacy team and pick books for the upcoming year. I am very excited to have the opportunity to play a real role in the curriculum development of my students!
Had a great day today walking around the city with a friend and drinking wine at Fritzels...am thinking cheese steak and daiquiris to go for dinner...I really love this town!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Part 1: Complete
We finished institute today! It feels so good to be preparing for the next stage of my life down here...actually teaching kids!
Our official graduation is on Wednesday but no more classes, books, teachers dirty looks...It has been a great experience so far. Much has been learned and the people I have met, just wow. I never thought I would be lucky enough to be surrounded by such kind, smart, generous people. I feel very lucky to have been chosen for this program.
I start school on the 22nd. We will spend sometime getting the school ready for the new year and then then have a week of training before we are joined by the kids on August 3rd. There is much to be done, but somehow I don't mind doing any of it. No, really what I mean is that I am enjoying doing all of it. What a change from my life in Boston.
I ran into the devil on Bourbon Street the other night and he smiled at me. My friend turned to me and said "its the only place in the world where sinners can be saints." I think he is right, and dare I say it, I think I am home...
Our official graduation is on Wednesday but no more classes, books, teachers dirty looks...It has been a great experience so far. Much has been learned and the people I have met, just wow. I never thought I would be lucky enough to be surrounded by such kind, smart, generous people. I feel very lucky to have been chosen for this program.
I start school on the 22nd. We will spend sometime getting the school ready for the new year and then then have a week of training before we are joined by the kids on August 3rd. There is much to be done, but somehow I don't mind doing any of it. No, really what I mean is that I am enjoying doing all of it. What a change from my life in Boston.
I ran into the devil on Bourbon Street the other night and he smiled at me. My friend turned to me and said "its the only place in the world where sinners can be saints." I think he is right, and dare I say it, I think I am home...
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