But December has its issues, too. Today included the following (remember, this is out of 22 students): V. was assigned In School Suspension for defying another teacher on Friday and laughing, talking, and climbing a fence. ISS at our school means the student has to sit off to the side of the rest of the…
This caped teacher does not know the strength of her powers. Earlier this week I said this: “Our kids this year are not your typical punk kids. We have many fewer gun-totin’, teacher-hitting, drug-using turkey-butts than in the past. This year our kids border on sweet (key word–border), just don’t fit in, and just… need.”…
Well my dears, school started nigh on three weeks ago and I have been… mum. “Seal up your lips and give no words but mum.” –Bill Shakespeare It’s not that it’s a secret exactly. It’s just that if you were to ask me how it is going, I would say, “Mmmmm” and then lose track…
Amid the hurley-burley of the new school year each little Lovie shakes out their feathers, stands up on their wobbly legs and knobby knees, and begins to explore their newest nest. We watch them. Let them try out their squawks and their chirps. Let them tear through the day or tiptoe. Let them push…
I received an email from a former student this morning. She is a-maze-ing. I told her I will be taking credit for that. Just to ease the minds of folks who might think I actually think I mean that, I don’t. In reality, I will only take credit for realizing she is amazing. In my…
Today is the last day of school. There are many things I would like to post–photos, the end-of-the-year slideshow, the quilt. Most of it I can’t show because it has identifying information on it. Instead, I will wish my little 8th Grade turkey-butts success and joy on their next adventure. It is bittersweet to…
The Scene: A classroom of middle school trouble-makers working on computers. All is quiet (Really! It was! It was freetime so they were plugged-in and all quiet-like!), Except, for R. He has the hiccups… Ms. M: Who has the hiccups? Various Voices: R… It’s R… R. has the hiccups. R.: Me… hiccup Various Voices: You…
M. is crying. I am pretty sure it is my fault. Before you get your knickers in a bunch, though, I will tell you that he is upset because I held him responsible for his actions (or lack of action, to be more specific). He is sitting in the center of the room, at his…
This week was tough. TOUGH, I tell you. This caped teacher doesn’t know how to explain it without taking hours and hours, but suffice it to say that the hat-trick of rampant Eighth-Grade Disease, one very troubled child, and shared issues of the foster care and education systems, had me beat down to a pulp…
As I sit here watching these little turkey-butts take their state-mandated tests, I am reflecting on the various issues that have brought them to me. Here I will list phrases used on our placement information sheet and the number of times each is used if more than once, or if privacy allows. This is out…
Wear The Cape 