Yesterday we saw snow flurries in the air around midday, the result of chilly winds mixed with the ends of precipitation from a departing weather front. Now, you'd think that would make the natives at my brain factory crazy wild, but no, not yesterday. For the first time this semester they were so intent on perusing the car and skateboard magazines they'd brought for SSR (silent sustained reading) that, even when someone quietly said, "Oh, there's snow in the air," they didn't lift their heads or make a comment.
Huh.
Now if I can capture that focused attention on something somewhat academic, we may get somewhere.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Just the usual
The clock moves faster than I do these days. I look at the clock and think, "Oh good, I have 20 minutes until X," and then I blink and discover that 19 minutes have flown past me without making a sound. It may almost be time for me to take a day for myself so I can break the string of days when I feel like I'm running but not quite able to catch up.
I have a great student teacher who's stronger than any other student teacher our department has had in years. Sometimes I forget that I need to ask her things like, "How's the class doing with the research papers?" or "How do you feel about how your classes are going?" She knows when to offer assistance, like getting down to first period study hall to take attendance while I'm talking with a student in the hallway, and when to step back as I read my email or have conversation with another staff member. My days are easier at school except for one thing: I still have my "class from hell" and most of my energy each day is spent on that class. It doesn't make me happy each morning to realize that's the focus of my day, not teaching my beloved Creative Writing class or conducting classes in which the conversations almost never include frequent cautions about inappropriate language or suggestions to refrain from poking each other with pens. (I keep saying this is the payback for having the luxury of teaching Canadian Studies for the past two years, and I'm annoyed when people laugh at that observation.) Granted, I've lost a few of the original miscreants, and I think this crew has made some progress since the first week of the school year (they're actually quiet for about 90% of the Silent Sustained Reading period), but they're so far behind the rest of the sophomores that I feel like we're in a different universe when I teach them. My sweet husband keeps praising my perseverance with them and he assures me that they'll get a lot more out of the class because there's plenty of structure and reasonable expectations, so I'm willing to hang in there if someone who's taught plenty of similar classes says that I'm doing a good job. Still, it's a challenge to my teacher psyche to face each day knowing I'll have direct contact only with students who are there reluctantly, and who see making others as miserable as they are as their daily goal. This too shall pass....this too shall pass....
My friend Lori and I drove an hour south of here to watch her daughter run in the final cross-country meet of her high school career. The weather held cloudy and not as chilly as predicted which made it perfect for the runners. Lori's daughter cut off a chunk of time, the whole girls' team improved their performances, and our #1 girl placed 18th, making her eligible to compete next week in the Meet of Champions. Our whole boys' team also qualified for next week's meet because they placed 3rd overall. A couple of individual runners weren't happy with their times or relative finishing positions, but they have another week and another race so they can do something about it. Lori, her daughter and I, however, celebrated the end of the season for her by going shopping at the mall. I ended up with a quilted, flannel-lined vest, a scarf and matching gloves, some hoop earrings, a cute pair of school shoes, and some Ug-like boots, a purchase I may regret. They are indeed comfortable, but they are also ugly, as the name implies. I'll wear them only in certain situations, probably when the snow is deep or the lighting dark enough that people can't see them.
I did feel useful yesterday and today as I began to renew the collaboration with a friend on the writing of a book. It's migrated a little from the first described intention of it but it's still based on a set of different perspectives of a significant event in a well-known piece of literature. It's not as in-your-face-different as the John Gardner book Grendel is as it expresses the monster's view of the Beowulf story, but it'll expand the variety of points of view from the original story which is one I've taught on numerous occasions. I offer pearls of wisdom gleaned from my own experience teaching writing and from professional writers who've revealed some of their planning techniques, and he does the writing, following the vision in his mind. I listen to his interpretation of the story and give him feedback, and he accepts and rejects it as he justifies doing it. This is his project, so the decisions are his, but we both enjoy the intellectual give and take as we discuss where the story lines are going and how best to tell them.
Let's see....which day this week will I be feeling poorly enough to stay home?
I have a great student teacher who's stronger than any other student teacher our department has had in years. Sometimes I forget that I need to ask her things like, "How's the class doing with the research papers?" or "How do you feel about how your classes are going?" She knows when to offer assistance, like getting down to first period study hall to take attendance while I'm talking with a student in the hallway, and when to step back as I read my email or have conversation with another staff member. My days are easier at school except for one thing: I still have my "class from hell" and most of my energy each day is spent on that class. It doesn't make me happy each morning to realize that's the focus of my day, not teaching my beloved Creative Writing class or conducting classes in which the conversations almost never include frequent cautions about inappropriate language or suggestions to refrain from poking each other with pens. (I keep saying this is the payback for having the luxury of teaching Canadian Studies for the past two years, and I'm annoyed when people laugh at that observation.) Granted, I've lost a few of the original miscreants, and I think this crew has made some progress since the first week of the school year (they're actually quiet for about 90% of the Silent Sustained Reading period), but they're so far behind the rest of the sophomores that I feel like we're in a different universe when I teach them. My sweet husband keeps praising my perseverance with them and he assures me that they'll get a lot more out of the class because there's plenty of structure and reasonable expectations, so I'm willing to hang in there if someone who's taught plenty of similar classes says that I'm doing a good job. Still, it's a challenge to my teacher psyche to face each day knowing I'll have direct contact only with students who are there reluctantly, and who see making others as miserable as they are as their daily goal. This too shall pass....this too shall pass....
My friend Lori and I drove an hour south of here to watch her daughter run in the final cross-country meet of her high school career. The weather held cloudy and not as chilly as predicted which made it perfect for the runners. Lori's daughter cut off a chunk of time, the whole girls' team improved their performances, and our #1 girl placed 18th, making her eligible to compete next week in the Meet of Champions. Our whole boys' team also qualified for next week's meet because they placed 3rd overall. A couple of individual runners weren't happy with their times or relative finishing positions, but they have another week and another race so they can do something about it. Lori, her daughter and I, however, celebrated the end of the season for her by going shopping at the mall. I ended up with a quilted, flannel-lined vest, a scarf and matching gloves, some hoop earrings, a cute pair of school shoes, and some Ug-like boots, a purchase I may regret. They are indeed comfortable, but they are also ugly, as the name implies. I'll wear them only in certain situations, probably when the snow is deep or the lighting dark enough that people can't see them.
I did feel useful yesterday and today as I began to renew the collaboration with a friend on the writing of a book. It's migrated a little from the first described intention of it but it's still based on a set of different perspectives of a significant event in a well-known piece of literature. It's not as in-your-face-different as the John Gardner book Grendel is as it expresses the monster's view of the Beowulf story, but it'll expand the variety of points of view from the original story which is one I've taught on numerous occasions. I offer pearls of wisdom gleaned from my own experience teaching writing and from professional writers who've revealed some of their planning techniques, and he does the writing, following the vision in his mind. I listen to his interpretation of the story and give him feedback, and he accepts and rejects it as he justifies doing it. This is his project, so the decisions are his, but we both enjoy the intellectual give and take as we discuss where the story lines are going and how best to tell them.
Let's see....which day this week will I be feeling poorly enough to stay home?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ouch
Ten bucks. That's all I made at the last two craft fairs. That's right, two craft fairs, $5 each. The first was 4 miles from home, and it was a social event to spend time with Sis3 and see people from the area picking up their apple pies. This past Saturday was a different matter. More than a 50 mile round trip added a dent to my gasoline budget, and the extra travel time took a little larger bite out of my weekend. Although I've had a table at this fair for eight or nine years, I've made a few friendships with some of the others who also have tables on a regular basis, but otherwise I know no one there so it's not the same social event for me as the ones closer to home. A few people sold some things, but the crowds aren't as large this year, and people are more carefully considering each purchase. When the decision comes down to earrings vs. cough medicine, or a necklace vs. topping off their gas tank, the jewelry loses out much more often. I'm tempted to work on some cheaper items just to capture some business, but doing that would go against the standards I've set for myself and my products. I'll just hope that, now that gas prices seem to be dropping daily, people will feel they have a little more cash to spend on some pretty things for themselves and for gifts.
Sis3 has a new puppy, one rescued from Georgia, a 3 month old terrier/poodle mix who looks cute as a button. Just like a new mama, she's begun taking photos and sharing them with family. I'm glad she's found a new companion, one that will give her unconditional love and who will thrive on the love she'll give.
The poor Red Sox didn't make it to the World Series again this time. They just didn't have the heart that they did last year. It had nothing to do with Manny migrating to the west coast, but the difficulties that the mainstays had this season - Big Papi, Varitek and Ellsbury with their lack of hits, Lowell's hip troubles - all chipped away at their confidence. They did well to hang in there through the American League Championship Series as far as they did. In upcoming days I'll watch and hope that the Phillies win so my friend Jack will be happy, and so Tampa Bay is still left hungry for the big trophy.
My student teacher will be observed again tomorrow without any notice to me from her observer. It seems so slap-dash the way things are done. I'm supposed to fill out two lengthy evaluation sheets on my student teacher and to take part in a conference with the two of them.....but that won't be happening tomorrow because the observer has someone else to go visit right after she observes Gina. Okay. So when will we get to talk about the class that was observed? Wouldn't it make sense to discuss it on the same day? The observer told Gina that any other day would be fine...oh, but not Mondays or Wednesdays. Huh. So I guess it's Thursday? I'm just glad that Gina's doing a good job so the forms will be easy to complete, and because she's certainly not getting much support from her college so it's a good thing she's a natural and we're on the same page.
The good point for the day was looking at the price of gas on the way home to see that it had dropped 30¢ a gallon in one day. Of course that means they've been gouging us until today, and I wonder how much lower it'll go before it's truly a reasonable price representing less of a profit for the middle men, but I'll take the lower prices without complaint.
Sis3 has a new puppy, one rescued from Georgia, a 3 month old terrier/poodle mix who looks cute as a button. Just like a new mama, she's begun taking photos and sharing them with family. I'm glad she's found a new companion, one that will give her unconditional love and who will thrive on the love she'll give.
The poor Red Sox didn't make it to the World Series again this time. They just didn't have the heart that they did last year. It had nothing to do with Manny migrating to the west coast, but the difficulties that the mainstays had this season - Big Papi, Varitek and Ellsbury with their lack of hits, Lowell's hip troubles - all chipped away at their confidence. They did well to hang in there through the American League Championship Series as far as they did. In upcoming days I'll watch and hope that the Phillies win so my friend Jack will be happy, and so Tampa Bay is still left hungry for the big trophy.
My student teacher will be observed again tomorrow without any notice to me from her observer. It seems so slap-dash the way things are done. I'm supposed to fill out two lengthy evaluation sheets on my student teacher and to take part in a conference with the two of them.....but that won't be happening tomorrow because the observer has someone else to go visit right after she observes Gina. Okay. So when will we get to talk about the class that was observed? Wouldn't it make sense to discuss it on the same day? The observer told Gina that any other day would be fine...oh, but not Mondays or Wednesdays. Huh. So I guess it's Thursday? I'm just glad that Gina's doing a good job so the forms will be easy to complete, and because she's certainly not getting much support from her college so it's a good thing she's a natural and we're on the same page.
The good point for the day was looking at the price of gas on the way home to see that it had dropped 30¢ a gallon in one day. Of course that means they've been gouging us until today, and I wonder how much lower it'll go before it's truly a reasonable price representing less of a profit for the middle men, but I'll take the lower prices without complaint.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
This group attended first grade together.The reunion was fun. Despite the number of years passed, most of us recognized each other eventually, but for a few I needed to check the name tag or ask. Of course I'd studied the yearbook over the past months, but we've all matured since we were 18 years old, wearing glasses, carrying a few more pounds, or sporting gray or much less hair than we did back then.
For me, this gathering was a delight because I was able to reconnect with a part of my life that had virtually disappeared, but it had been a huge part of forming the adult that I've become. I'd attended reunions with my graduating class at the other high school, but since I'd been with them for only two years, I wasn't part of the core of the class and I couldn't related to their reminiscences of grade school, junior high, and early high school. I didn't realize how much I missed that until this reunion.
Since this was my first time back with these childhood friends, I had a lot of catching up to do, and I only scratched the surface in the 5 1/2 hours we were there at the Legion hall. Some had come from as far away as Florida and Arkansas, and - as usual - some locals chose not to attend which I think is a shame. Two of our teachers were there, one who looked younger even now than some of my classmates whom he was mistaken to be on more than one occasion. Three majorettes strutted their stuff and showed they still know how to twirl a mean baton. The gal who first contacted me was welcoming, but she was so busy making sure that everyone was having a good time that, other than standing outside with her as she had a cigarette and explained to me stories about how smoking has long been a part of her life, we didn't have a lot of time to just talk. I had enough time with some of them to find out where they lived (some not far from me now) and what they were doing, and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next year or so as we make plans for get-togethers.
I was amused to realize how many people recognized my face so easily after 42 years but that many couldn't really remember me. I wasn't one of the class stand-outs, never really making my mark in sports (I played on the intermural volleyball team) or government (I ran for Student Council secretary against Virginia Something and lost miserably) or music (I was part of the huge chorus), but I had fun building homecoming floats and trick-or-treating for UNICEF, acting a minor part in a one-act play (The Lottery) and attending football and basketball games. The fashion shows when students in home ec. class modeled the clothing we'd made, and buying vanilla cokes at Lord's Store in the center of town, and the 9 p.m. town curfew, and more came flooding back Saturday night and as I drove around town on Sunday taking photos to share with my sisters. I realized I had a pretty darn good childhood in a nice town that, in some ways, hasn't changed all that much over the years.
For me, this gathering was a delight because I was able to reconnect with a part of my life that had virtually disappeared, but it had been a huge part of forming the adult that I've become. I'd attended reunions with my graduating class at the other high school, but since I'd been with them for only two years, I wasn't part of the core of the class and I couldn't related to their reminiscences of grade school, junior high, and early high school. I didn't realize how much I missed that until this reunion.
Since this was my first time back with these childhood friends, I had a lot of catching up to do, and I only scratched the surface in the 5 1/2 hours we were there at the Legion hall. Some had come from as far away as Florida and Arkansas, and - as usual - some locals chose not to attend which I think is a shame. Two of our teachers were there, one who looked younger even now than some of my classmates whom he was mistaken to be on more than one occasion. Three majorettes strutted their stuff and showed they still know how to twirl a mean baton. The gal who first contacted me was welcoming, but she was so busy making sure that everyone was having a good time that, other than standing outside with her as she had a cigarette and explained to me stories about how smoking has long been a part of her life, we didn't have a lot of time to just talk. I had enough time with some of them to find out where they lived (some not far from me now) and what they were doing, and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next year or so as we make plans for get-togethers.
I was amused to realize how many people recognized my face so easily after 42 years but that many couldn't really remember me. I wasn't one of the class stand-outs, never really making my mark in sports (I played on the intermural volleyball team) or government (I ran for Student Council secretary against Virginia Something and lost miserably) or music (I was part of the huge chorus), but I had fun building homecoming floats and trick-or-treating for UNICEF, acting a minor part in a one-act play (The Lottery) and attending football and basketball games. The fashion shows when students in home ec. class modeled the clothing we'd made, and buying vanilla cokes at Lord's Store in the center of town, and the 9 p.m. town curfew, and more came flooding back Saturday night and as I drove around town on Sunday taking photos to share with my sisters. I realized I had a pretty darn good childhood in a nice town that, in some ways, hasn't changed all that much over the years.
Friday, October 10, 2008
40
Actually that number should be 42 to reflect the number of years it's been since I last saw the people with whom I'll be spending most of this weekend. That's a long time! When I moved away from Medfield, Massachusetts in the summer of 1966, I thought people who'd been my friends would continue to communicate with me because they'd miss me so much. A few of us exchanged phone calls and then we all moved forward with our lives, and all this time I've assumed that my connection with the boys and girls - now men and women - with whom I'd gone through grade school, junior high, and two years of high school was gone except for three moldy yearbooks I had tucked away in boxes. I was wrong.
Some months ago, Gayle, one of my classmates and the host of some of our summer evening get-togethers, searched for and found me via the internet, and she let me know that I had not, indeed, been forgotten. As a result I'll be going to the MHS Class of 1968 40-year reunion this weekend. Of course I'll bring my yearbooks because that's What You Do when you attend one of these events and see your classmates for the first time in ages. Another nice thing that's occurred as the weekend has approached is the renewed communications among the classmates. Not everyone is on Classmates.com, so it's nice to be back in touch with some of the people so much a part of my first 16 years. While the ones who've shared photos do look different, the essential person I knew well so many years ago is still there, and as I'd found with the class I graduated with in Westborough, the concern for social position and all that teenage stuff is dead and gone.
I'll be going to a local craft fair Saturday morning and spending a little time with Sis3 who'll keep me company there. Then I'm off to Medfield. Dinner and reminiscing Saturday night and brunch with the ones who care to join us Sunday morning will be fascinating experiences. (Yes, the camera will travel with me, so some photos in this space may appear early next week.)
Some months ago, Gayle, one of my classmates and the host of some of our summer evening get-togethers, searched for and found me via the internet, and she let me know that I had not, indeed, been forgotten. As a result I'll be going to the MHS Class of 1968 40-year reunion this weekend. Of course I'll bring my yearbooks because that's What You Do when you attend one of these events and see your classmates for the first time in ages. Another nice thing that's occurred as the weekend has approached is the renewed communications among the classmates. Not everyone is on Classmates.com, so it's nice to be back in touch with some of the people so much a part of my first 16 years. While the ones who've shared photos do look different, the essential person I knew well so many years ago is still there, and as I'd found with the class I graduated with in Westborough, the concern for social position and all that teenage stuff is dead and gone.
I'll be going to a local craft fair Saturday morning and spending a little time with Sis3 who'll keep me company there. Then I'm off to Medfield. Dinner and reminiscing Saturday night and brunch with the ones who care to join us Sunday morning will be fascinating experiences. (Yes, the camera will travel with me, so some photos in this space may appear early next week.)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
going through a phase...
This is one of those times when I'm in a little slump. I ache because I'm out of shape and yoga is reminding me how much. The bags and dark smudges under my eyes from being tired aren't very flattering so I feel homely. Friends are busy and family seems distant, although I admit that's a good thing in some ways. The clock moves a little faster than I'd like....except during my 4th period class. I can't figure out why the 7-port hub that connects my printers and external hard drive to my computer is suddenly balky at unpredictable times...but usually when I'm short on time and I need to print something. The fall foliage calls out to have its picture taken, but my free time doesn't seem to coincide with decent light so I'm losing enthusiasm for the task. I'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other until this gray area slips away and I'm back to my sunny self.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Weather report
Today's forecast for our area: sunny, no wind, 60º
Today's weather: mostly cloudy, windy, 52º
This matters because I was instrumental in locating today's craft fair outdoors rather than in a gym based on the weather forecast, and no one was happy about us being outdoors.
Yes, I know that weather forecasting is an imprecise science, and it's only a best guess about what weather will actually occur, so I should have known better than to bank on the meteorologist's predictions. Instead, nineteen crafters (including me) sat outdoors along the edge of a soccer field that served as the finishing chute for a marathon and suffered in the very breezy, chilly conditions. Believe me, I was sufferering as much as anyone. Three hours after I packed up my jewelry, table covers, tables and tent and headed home, I finally began to feel truly warm. The decision has already been made to hold next year's fair in a nearby school gymnasium and to step up the advertising so people will know we're there. That was the main problem in previous years when we'd set up in the gym: the number of customers was minimal. Other concerns, like 1/3 of the vendors selling jewelry and vendors near the doorways being cold, pale in comparison to the advertising of the event not being effective. Despite ads in local freebie newspapers, on the radio and the local cable channel, in front of the school and in the town square, people "stumbled on" the craft fair, and that's not good enough. I'm now on the committee that runs this craft fair, so I take it as my job to try to solve this problem, even without a budget. At least I have some months before I have to put any plans into action.
There was good news today: I sold well over my "it was an okay day" point, and I handed out half a dozen cards to people who expressed interest in visiting my shop. Of course that means I can't neglect to open the shop on Sunday now, but that's what I'm supposed to be doing anyway, so it's all good.
My AirPort Extreme came in on Friday, and after some scrambling to get it from the post office and some puzzlement in setting up the software, it works like a charm. The previously weak and inconsistent wireless signal out to the shop has become a nice strong three bars out of four, so I can work out there in the company of the internet and all it brings to me. Tomorrow I'll be able to do the two restringing jobs that my cold hands weren't able to accomplish today in the company of some of my online pals who check in on Sunday afternoons. Sweet!
And one more piece of good news: Sis3 is home. I'll call her tomorrow to reconnect.
Today's weather: mostly cloudy, windy, 52º
This matters because I was instrumental in locating today's craft fair outdoors rather than in a gym based on the weather forecast, and no one was happy about us being outdoors.
Yes, I know that weather forecasting is an imprecise science, and it's only a best guess about what weather will actually occur, so I should have known better than to bank on the meteorologist's predictions. Instead, nineteen crafters (including me) sat outdoors along the edge of a soccer field that served as the finishing chute for a marathon and suffered in the very breezy, chilly conditions. Believe me, I was sufferering as much as anyone. Three hours after I packed up my jewelry, table covers, tables and tent and headed home, I finally began to feel truly warm. The decision has already been made to hold next year's fair in a nearby school gymnasium and to step up the advertising so people will know we're there. That was the main problem in previous years when we'd set up in the gym: the number of customers was minimal. Other concerns, like 1/3 of the vendors selling jewelry and vendors near the doorways being cold, pale in comparison to the advertising of the event not being effective. Despite ads in local freebie newspapers, on the radio and the local cable channel, in front of the school and in the town square, people "stumbled on" the craft fair, and that's not good enough. I'm now on the committee that runs this craft fair, so I take it as my job to try to solve this problem, even without a budget. At least I have some months before I have to put any plans into action.
There was good news today: I sold well over my "it was an okay day" point, and I handed out half a dozen cards to people who expressed interest in visiting my shop. Of course that means I can't neglect to open the shop on Sunday now, but that's what I'm supposed to be doing anyway, so it's all good.
My AirPort Extreme came in on Friday, and after some scrambling to get it from the post office and some puzzlement in setting up the software, it works like a charm. The previously weak and inconsistent wireless signal out to the shop has become a nice strong three bars out of four, so I can work out there in the company of the internet and all it brings to me. Tomorrow I'll be able to do the two restringing jobs that my cold hands weren't able to accomplish today in the company of some of my online pals who check in on Sunday afternoons. Sweet!
And one more piece of good news: Sis3 is home. I'll call her tomorrow to reconnect.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Paying It Forward
There's a movie starring Helen Hunt, Kevin Spacey, and Haley Joel Osment (of "Sixth Sense" fame) entitled "Pay It Forward" in which a teacher challenges his students to do something nice (pay forward, not pay back) for three people who then will each feel the urge to do nice things for three people, and so on. My difficult class watched the film because its message is related to a book they were reading. I wasn't sure if this immature, self-absorbed, lazy bunch of teenagers would really get the message when I chose to show it to them, but I have to admit they surprised me. I'd prepared for the day following the movie by buying stems of mini carnations enough that they each had one to give intact or to separate the flowers to give more, printing small thank-you cards on my home printer, and bringing crayons, markers, and decorative edge scissors so they could embellish the cards. They were to think of some adult (which I defined for them as teacher, administrator, aide, custodian, kitchen worker, etc. and not a student) who deserved thanks or recognition, write to them in the card explaining what they'd done to earn this recognition, and then they were to deliver it to that person.
Of course there were glitches in the plan. Some of the kids are so clumsy with scissors that they cut poorly and thought that gave them the right to throw away their card and take another one; however, since I'd made extras, it wasn't a horrendous deal. Two overweight boys who hang around together because they suffer the same kind of discrimination plucked flowers off the stems to give to each other to wear behind their ears, clearly demonstrating a refusal to follow directions; since they'd also given a blossom off the stem to an adult, they felt that was enough to cover their butts. Three of the kids wandered off and circled the building a few times before being found and asked to return. Two teachers apparently vanish during 4th period because we couldn't find them to deliver the flowers, so they received theirs later. Two students were absent from class so they'll be paying it forward today instead which will cause a little uproar. So what else is new with that class, I ask.
But the heartening thing is that there was no hesitation whatsoever in wanting to participate in this project. Every one of the students in the class immediately had an adult in mind, and several had more than one right away, whom they thought were most deserving of thanks. They asked about correct spelling and somehow altered the plain cards that I'd provided to personalize them. And they were so proud and pleased when they were able to (eventually) deliver them and see the response of the recipient. When they revealed to me (and the class) who received their flowers, some students were asked why that person deserved thanks, and each giver could easily articulate sound reasons why they were deserving. Perhaps the kids in the class now have a little more expanded view of those recipients, and that's a fine thing in an environment where some of the kids say and feel that lots of people (mostly adults) are "against them."
Some of the kids said, "We should do this more often," and a few of them extended that idea to, "yeah, bring in more flowers/chocolates/gifts tomorrow" as though those items cost nothing (because to them there had been no financial cost for the flowers and cards), but instead I've challenged them for seven days to pay it forward at least once a day, in or out of school, and to write about it in their journals. My guess is that about a third of them will do it each of the seven days, a third will do it for four or five days, and the rest maybe once or twice. Even if I'm right about these students, I'll feel the project a success anyway because I've made them think about other people, recognize those people's efforts on their behalf, and see how much their small kindness in return means to them.
Of course there were glitches in the plan. Some of the kids are so clumsy with scissors that they cut poorly and thought that gave them the right to throw away their card and take another one; however, since I'd made extras, it wasn't a horrendous deal. Two overweight boys who hang around together because they suffer the same kind of discrimination plucked flowers off the stems to give to each other to wear behind their ears, clearly demonstrating a refusal to follow directions; since they'd also given a blossom off the stem to an adult, they felt that was enough to cover their butts. Three of the kids wandered off and circled the building a few times before being found and asked to return. Two teachers apparently vanish during 4th period because we couldn't find them to deliver the flowers, so they received theirs later. Two students were absent from class so they'll be paying it forward today instead which will cause a little uproar. So what else is new with that class, I ask.
But the heartening thing is that there was no hesitation whatsoever in wanting to participate in this project. Every one of the students in the class immediately had an adult in mind, and several had more than one right away, whom they thought were most deserving of thanks. They asked about correct spelling and somehow altered the plain cards that I'd provided to personalize them. And they were so proud and pleased when they were able to (eventually) deliver them and see the response of the recipient. When they revealed to me (and the class) who received their flowers, some students were asked why that person deserved thanks, and each giver could easily articulate sound reasons why they were deserving. Perhaps the kids in the class now have a little more expanded view of those recipients, and that's a fine thing in an environment where some of the kids say and feel that lots of people (mostly adults) are "against them."
Some of the kids said, "We should do this more often," and a few of them extended that idea to, "yeah, bring in more flowers/chocolates/gifts tomorrow" as though those items cost nothing (because to them there had been no financial cost for the flowers and cards), but instead I've challenged them for seven days to pay it forward at least once a day, in or out of school, and to write about it in their journals. My guess is that about a third of them will do it each of the seven days, a third will do it for four or five days, and the rest maybe once or twice. Even if I'm right about these students, I'll feel the project a success anyway because I've made them think about other people, recognize those people's efforts on their behalf, and see how much their small kindness in return means to them.
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