Updates, Conversations With Students, and Awesomeness

Saturday, January 21, 2012

 It's been a while since I've really posted.  I have been reading a lot, as you can tell by the reviewettes that I've been adding the lazy way by just clicking "post to blog" at Goodreads.  I've been really lackadaisical and have added most of those via my smartphone.  Today, I actually fired up the laptop.

• Poor Lucy's sweet dog that she has had for almost 14 years passed away the other day.  Obviously, she was devastated.  I'll miss the little goober, too.  I used to dogsit him all the time.
• Life has been hectic for me as we ended one semester with state tests and are starting second semester.  I'm looking forward to getting all new kids; however, several of them I recognize from the suspension lists that get sent out.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.  I tend to get along with a lot of the hard-to-love kids, but these kids are pretty tough.  I have high expectations, and I'll let them know them know that on the very first day.
• I've been reading so much because January is just a sucky month.  I needed the escape.  It has really helped the month go by.

Conversations with students:

Pencils

Bobby: How do they get lead in pencils?

Me: Actually, it isn't lead.  It's graphite, and they do it by magic. (Okay, I wasn't really sure.  I assumed it had something to do with gluing two pieces of wood together, but I was feeling facetious.  Bobby, unfortunately, doesn't get sarcasm."

Bobby: (thinking for a minute) I bet they melt the wood.

Me: Wood doesn't melt.

Bobby: Yes, it does.

Me: *shakes head sadly*

If he said to jump off a bridge . . .

As I was helping a student at her desk, I heard a loud thunk.  I turned to see Timmy sitting at his desk with a big red mark on his forhead.

Me: Okay, what happened?

Timmy, pointing to Allen: He said he'd slam his forehead into his desk on the count of 3 if I'd do it. He didn't though!

Allen: *laughs* Dude, I can't believe you did that.

Timmy, looking ticked off: You lied!

Me: If you fell for that, you deserve a concussion.  Here, go to the nurse. 

Honestly, this child doesn't have too many functioning brain cells.  He really needs to protect the few he does have.

What does Nickelodeon have to do with it?

There's a senior whom I taught as a freshman who comes to visit me a couple of times a week.  He's going to be an English teacher, and I've scheduled him to be a student TA during the new semester.  He's one of my favorite kids of all time, and he's out and proud.  I think he came out in fifth grade.  Here's a recent conversation:

Me: I'm worried about Mark.  He seems to be giving up on calculus.

Adam: I wish he'd just admit he's gay.

Me: What? He's straight, I thought.  He's dating Brenda.

Adam: Puhlease! Everybody has seen Brenda's boobs except Mark.  He's gay. 

Me: Have you talked to him about this?

Adam: Yeah, I asked.  He said he's straight.

Me: Then that's what you have to go with.  If he is or isn't, that's his business. 

Adam: *sighs* I know.

Me: Plus, if he isn't, you know coming out isn't easy for a lot of people.  Just take him at his word.  Don't pester him.

Adam: But he watches too much Nickelodeon to be straight!

Me: *stares, speechless*

Awesomeness

Why I adore my coworker A.:

A. has kids, and her youngest, Connor, is almost four.  She took him with her when she was picking up donations for one of our local charities the other day.  A. stopped at one family's house to pick up a donation of used clothing.  When she put them in the van, one of the bags fell open, and Connor saw a purse with a rhinestone crown on it.  He looked and said, "How pretty!"  Later, A. and Connor stopped at the supermarket to pick up a few things, and as they were getting out of the car, A. saw that her son had the purse on his little shoulder.  A. asked, "Connor, are you taking that in?"  Connor said, "This is my prince purse.  See the crown? I need some money to put in it for the store."  Rather than telling him boys don't carry purses, etc., A. gave him two dollars, and they went in the store.  If her kid wants to carry the prince purse, then he can carry the prince purse.  Isn't she an awesome mom?