Well, the last rap was too high brow for my kids, so I decided to write something else that would be more at their level. But, what, exactly, is on the minds of 6th graders?
According to one note: "Hey, let's both get bathroom passes, then hang out till we meet some hot girls and ask them out."
Yep. Sounds about right.
Anyhow, since love seems to be the topic at hand, what better way to describe the movement of plate tectonics? Converging plates? Diverging plates? Laterally moving plates? Sounds JUST like young relationships to ME!
Now, to find the voice of an 11 year old..... Thinking insipid... thinking... horrible rhyming schemes.... GOT IT!
She:
Converging we come together
Earth is changing course forever
Mountains forming and I wonder
If this is love, then I hope it never
Fades from sight like silken rainbows
I see him, boom, boom my heart goes
A tingle sent straight down to my toes
Friends are all raising their eyebrows
So, throw me down to a volcano
Pele waits for me far below
Converging, always with me in tow
We’ll be together always I know.
He:
Ever since the day we met I’m
Breaking out into a cold sweat
Never having a peaceful moment
Always together, she’s never silent.
Love, love, love, its all that I hear
Sweet nothings whispered in my ear
Can’t wait to get her out of here
Go out with my boys when it’s clear
Let me divulge the divergent
Thoughts that I think and sentiment
Like the sea floor spreading sediment
She’s gotta go this very moment.
They:
Earthquake sliding them apart
Two different minds, one broken heart
What was so sweet is now so tart
A painted over piece of art
They see each other from a distance
She wonders if he ever misses
Her, he doesn’t need a missus
‘Fore he gets his driver’s license
Walk quickly avoiding glances
Always on these lateral dances
New girl on his arm, and she prances
On and on, so many new romances.
We'll try it out tomorrow.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Ahh, the Smell of Prepubescent Love
Teeny, tiny, 6th grade boy: "What's your boyfriend do, Miss J?"
Me:"He's an artist."
Boy: "Yeah? You should have him come here one time, and when he does, I'll beat him up and take you for my own!"
Boys in group: Erupt with frantic, red-faced laughter.
Oh, dear sweet violets.
Taken from one journal entry.
"Miss J, you are the best. I wish I could see you every day. Even on Saturday and Sundays. Those days are sad without you."
From another journal entry.
"Well, Miss J. You don't totally suck."
Ahh, young love.
Me:"He's an artist."
Boy: "Yeah? You should have him come here one time, and when he does, I'll beat him up and take you for my own!"
Boys in group: Erupt with frantic, red-faced laughter.
Oh, dear sweet violets.
Taken from one journal entry.
"Miss J, you are the best. I wish I could see you every day. Even on Saturday and Sundays. Those days are sad without you."
From another journal entry.
"Well, Miss J. You don't totally suck."
Ahh, young love.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
On the Dot
I usually hate these stupid things, but they were so darn accurate...
You're Anne of Green Gables!
by L.M. Montgomery
Bright, chipper, vivid, but with the emotional fortitude of cottage
cheese, you make quite an impression on everyone you meet. You're impulsive, rash,
honest, and probably don't have a great relationship with your parents. People hurt
your feelings constantly, but your brazen honestly doesn't exactly treat others with
kid gloves. Ultimately, though, you win the hearts and minds of everyone that matters.
You spell your name with an E and you want everyone to know about it.
Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
You're a Gorilla!
Highly social and group-oriented, you like hanging out with the same
people constantly. Sleep is a big part of your daily
routine and you like to either make very loud noise or no noise at all. You have
more skills with language than most, however. One of your absolute favorite drinks
is hot cocoa.
Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.
You're Madagascar!
Lots of people don't really know anything about you, making you
buried treasure of the rarest kind. You love nature, and could get lost in it
whenever possible. You're remote and exotic, and the few people who know you
value whatever they share with you a great deal. For some reason, you really
like the word "lemur".
Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid
Monday, August 13, 2007
An Actual Conversation with a Parent on the First Day
"Good morning! Can I help you?"
"Yes. We are looking for the teacher."
"In 615? That's me. I'm Miss J. Welcome!"
"What? Oh no, sweetie! I thought you were the student helper! You can't be more than 17!"
"Ha. No, I'm 24. Not even my first year of teaching. Your son is in good hands, I promise."
"I thought you were an eighth grader!"
"Well, I'll be very happy to hear that again when I'm 40."
"Well, dear, if you're sure..."
"Yes. We are looking for the teacher."
"In 615? That's me. I'm Miss J. Welcome!"
"What? Oh no, sweetie! I thought you were the student helper! You can't be more than 17!"
"Ha. No, I'm 24. Not even my first year of teaching. Your son is in good hands, I promise."
"I thought you were an eighth grader!"
"Well, I'll be very happy to hear that again when I'm 40."
"Well, dear, if you're sure..."
Sigh.
I miss my class from last year.
Even the kids that made me crazy.
Why? My new homeroom... is sadly without personality. Most of the girls are sweet, but without any moxie. The rest are just flirtatious but without any creativity. I have no faux nephews or Professors. I also have no glinting eyed mischevious instigators. Just... a group of weirdos that whisper to each other but don't participate. What IS that?!
Luckily, my second class is full of energy and craziness. They come in shouting raucous greetings but INSTANTLY settle down when I need them to. They participate and ask good questions and MOST of them actually do their homework. AMAZING! With the exception of a couple of girls that seem to have their Bitch Highlighters on... they're fabulous. I miss them when they leave.
A handful of my old students visit me... but a couple of my favorites don't! Its heartbreaking. Sigh. I feel like a mom whose kids went off to school. Only, I'm still at school with them.
Even the kids that made me crazy.
Why? My new homeroom... is sadly without personality. Most of the girls are sweet, but without any moxie. The rest are just flirtatious but without any creativity. I have no faux nephews or Professors. I also have no glinting eyed mischevious instigators. Just... a group of weirdos that whisper to each other but don't participate. What IS that?!
Luckily, my second class is full of energy and craziness. They come in shouting raucous greetings but INSTANTLY settle down when I need them to. They participate and ask good questions and MOST of them actually do their homework. AMAZING! With the exception of a couple of girls that seem to have their Bitch Highlighters on... they're fabulous. I miss them when they leave.
A handful of my old students visit me... but a couple of my favorites don't! Its heartbreaking. Sigh. I feel like a mom whose kids went off to school. Only, I'm still at school with them.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
The Water Cycle, Yo.
Kids don't get as much poetry as they should. Also, they think they don't like poetry. BUT, they like rap.
So, to build their vocabularies, and to enhance their poetry analyzing skillz (yes, with a z), I used a water cycle "rap" to knock their socks off. You ready for this?
Ah-hem.
Kids were pounding out beats on their desks and cracking up at this white girl from the midwest rhyming fast and furious. One kid actually shouted out "Daaaaaaaamn, Miss J!"
That's RIGHT.
Of course, another had to pipe in "Rap artists don't use such big words." YEAH WELL, they do if they're INTELLIGENT. Shoot. Now I have to go find some intelligent hip hop to prove them wrong....
Later, as I read some of my kids water cycle booklets, I saw one kid had written condensation as "condomsation". Well, just can't beat that, can ya?
So, to build their vocabularies, and to enhance their poetry analyzing skillz (yes, with a z), I used a water cycle "rap" to knock their socks off. You ready for this?
Ah-hem.
Precipitation births every nation
Warm, wet rain without consternation
Flora and fauna, bursting with elation
While the people rain dance
Below the constellations
For sleet, snow, hail there’s no occupation
See the rain come down like liquid lamination
While the cacti expand in slow animation
Turns wetness to a vapory creation
Till the cool clouds come and
End their vacations
Creating dew & droplet unification
Where the heat meets cold in great determination
Think of it as steam simplification
Yeah, the mist clumps up in great harmonization
Water falls fast without coordination
And it all cycles on without discrimination
To the water cycle, I make this dedication.
Kids were pounding out beats on their desks and cracking up at this white girl from the midwest rhyming fast and furious. One kid actually shouted out "Daaaaaaaamn, Miss J!"
That's RIGHT.
Of course, another had to pipe in "Rap artists don't use such big words." YEAH WELL, they do if they're INTELLIGENT. Shoot. Now I have to go find some intelligent hip hop to prove them wrong....
Later, as I read some of my kids water cycle booklets, I saw one kid had written condensation as "condomsation". Well, just can't beat that, can ya?
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
P.p.s. Freedom Writers
Last thing, I swear.
Yesterday, Erin Gruwell (sp?), the teacher behind the Freedom Writer's fame, came to speak to our entire district! Woah! How crazy is that?
She was totally inspiring and a surprisingly hilarious speaker. I sat there thinking.... I could do what she did. I could do something incredible and have my story made into books and movies.
Now I just have to figure out what that thing IS.
Any ideas?
Yesterday, Erin Gruwell (sp?), the teacher behind the Freedom Writer's fame, came to speak to our entire district! Woah! How crazy is that?
She was totally inspiring and a surprisingly hilarious speaker. I sat there thinking.... I could do what she did. I could do something incredible and have my story made into books and movies.
Now I just have to figure out what that thing IS.
Any ideas?
P.s.
Also, I don't know if I mentioned... but for the 200 multiple choice questions I had to answer for my Arizona State testing....
I got a perfect score.
BOOYAH!
I think even Yoda would be proud.
I got a perfect score.
BOOYAH!
I think even Yoda would be proud.
Mucho Dinero
For the last three days, I've been attending meetings, setting up my classroom, and going insane. School starts... MONDAY!
The upside? My classroom looks fricken gorgeous. Pictures will soon follow, I promise.
The other good news? I'm 98% sure I'm going to be the sole team leader next year. That means... MORE MONEY! (And...more responsibility... but how great is it that I can put that on my resume already?)
Also, I'm on the school improvement/leadership team. That means.... MORE MONEY!
AND, I'm running student council (which, ironically, I know nothing about. But it is better than running *cough* cheerleading) with a totally sweet 8th grade teacher (and by "sweet" I mean "cute" and "male"). And you know what that means....
MORE MONEY! (You better not be thinking anything pervy either.)
And lastly, while not related to monies... I get to teach SCIENCE, MATH and HISTORY!
Heck yes!
It is going to be a kick-ass year.
The upside? My classroom looks fricken gorgeous. Pictures will soon follow, I promise.
The other good news? I'm 98% sure I'm going to be the sole team leader next year. That means... MORE MONEY! (And...more responsibility... but how great is it that I can put that on my resume already?)
Also, I'm on the school improvement/leadership team. That means.... MORE MONEY!
AND, I'm running student council (which, ironically, I know nothing about. But it is better than running *cough* cheerleading) with a totally sweet 8th grade teacher (and by "sweet" I mean "cute" and "male"). And you know what that means....
MORE MONEY! (You better not be thinking anything pervy either.)
And lastly, while not related to monies... I get to teach SCIENCE, MATH and HISTORY!
Heck yes!
It is going to be a kick-ass year.
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