In a few weeks my kids have a big project due. They have to interview a person of their choice and write a narrative from the interview. Naturally we've been practicing this in class with their classmates and I must say that I've been impressed with their work. My kids can write! I made them interview a classmate that they wouldn't normally talk to. I wanted them to step outside of their comfort zones and possibly form new friendships. In some classes, it's difficult to do that because the classes are small or everybody in the class knows everybody. When that happens, the interview usually goes south. Here's an excerpt from one such interview.
"I decided to ask her some questions so she could express her thoughts on certain topics, which brings us to our first question. I asked her what are her thoughts on being a light skinned in today's world. Well, what she said is that she doesn't like the stereotypes people put on her breed. Like they don't text back, or they think their all that. Judging by how she spoke on this, she isn't team light skin not team dark skin. She's just team skinned. I think asked her what is her favorite TV show? Fortunately, it wasn't something stupid and feminine like most girls watch, she said it was Adventure Time." She like it because it is weird and random. So this shows that Miss Light Skin has a good sense of humor and doesn't embrace the light skin demon inside of her."
Uuuuhhh... What?! And that wasn't even all of his interview! The sad part about it is that he was so serious. When I was telling the next class what not to do in the interview, they knew exactly who wrote the interview. Apparently he got his little heart broken by a light skin and he never recovered. Bless him. This is the same kid that said that said cute teachers aren't mean, unless they're light skinned. Then they're evil. Then he said that I don't count and I must be a mutant. I'm not a typical light skin. I mean, who raised this kid?!
I'm beginning to think my kids do stuff just so I can blog about them. Whenever one of them does/says something totally ridiculous, they ask if I'm going to blog about it. I ain't mad though. It makes for interesting classes.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Monday, September 8, 2014
WJTV Player of the Week
One of my precious babies is in the running for WJTV's High School Player of the Week! Go to www.wjtv.com and vote for Donovan Lewis. He kicked butt Friday night against Ridgeland! Vote everyday from multiple browsers. We want him to win!
Throwback story of the day:
Last year one of our kids failed to eat lunch before he took his medication. This wasn't one of his better ideas (he didn't have many to begin with) and he fell ill shortly thereafter. I'm known for fixing kids sandwiches when they don't eat or have lunch, so I fixed him a sandwich. You'd think I would have gotten a thank you or some other expression of gratitude. No. He said, "I knew I'd have Mrs. Scott making me sandwiches one day." Like, seriously kid? Next time it happened he didn't get a sandwich from me.
This year, I have the sweetest kids ever. They always want to hug and love on you. It's really weird because I have 9th and 12th graders. I don't think I've ever experienced anything like it. One day was particularly rough for me because the story we were reading reminded me of the day that my brother died. Naturally, I cried in class. Do you know that every class cried with me and told stories to make me feel better? It was almost like they understood where I was coming from. I've had many moments like that where my thoughts would trail off and I'd miss my brother and my kids would be right there with me making sure that I was ok. Of course, I start crying more because I get all choked up because they care about me and what's going on in my world. It's a never ending cycle. LOL
In the midst of the tears and story telling, I normally have that one kid that wants to relate but can't quite make it.
Me: "Right now Lizabeth is feeling lost and confused because her dad is crying and she just doesn't understand what's happening in her world. Has anybody ever experienced what our narrator is feeling right now?"
Kid: "I have. When my dad died, my uncle was crying and I had never seen a man cry before. I mean, he's a mitch (read male b*tch) anyway so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised."
Me: *blank stare* "You don't get to talk anymore."
I mean, I was with him up until the end. He really didn't think anything was wrong with what he said.
I have a few classes that are mostly boy classes. This would be ok if they weren't so gross. I'm at my desk getting ready for the next activity when this kid stood up in the middle of my class and blew snot on my floor. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently the tissue was busy and he had no alternative. I almost cussed. That's disgusting. Another thing they do is poot. I have to get on to them all the time about acting like gentlemen in front of a lady. They don't care. They're boys. It grosses me out.
Don't forget to vote for Donovan Lewis as WJTV's High School Player of the Week!
Throwback story of the day:
Last year one of our kids failed to eat lunch before he took his medication. This wasn't one of his better ideas (he didn't have many to begin with) and he fell ill shortly thereafter. I'm known for fixing kids sandwiches when they don't eat or have lunch, so I fixed him a sandwich. You'd think I would have gotten a thank you or some other expression of gratitude. No. He said, "I knew I'd have Mrs. Scott making me sandwiches one day." Like, seriously kid? Next time it happened he didn't get a sandwich from me.
This year, I have the sweetest kids ever. They always want to hug and love on you. It's really weird because I have 9th and 12th graders. I don't think I've ever experienced anything like it. One day was particularly rough for me because the story we were reading reminded me of the day that my brother died. Naturally, I cried in class. Do you know that every class cried with me and told stories to make me feel better? It was almost like they understood where I was coming from. I've had many moments like that where my thoughts would trail off and I'd miss my brother and my kids would be right there with me making sure that I was ok. Of course, I start crying more because I get all choked up because they care about me and what's going on in my world. It's a never ending cycle. LOL
In the midst of the tears and story telling, I normally have that one kid that wants to relate but can't quite make it.
Me: "Right now Lizabeth is feeling lost and confused because her dad is crying and she just doesn't understand what's happening in her world. Has anybody ever experienced what our narrator is feeling right now?"
Kid: "I have. When my dad died, my uncle was crying and I had never seen a man cry before. I mean, he's a mitch (read male b*tch) anyway so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised."
Me: *blank stare* "You don't get to talk anymore."
I mean, I was with him up until the end. He really didn't think anything was wrong with what he said.
I have a few classes that are mostly boy classes. This would be ok if they weren't so gross. I'm at my desk getting ready for the next activity when this kid stood up in the middle of my class and blew snot on my floor. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently the tissue was busy and he had no alternative. I almost cussed. That's disgusting. Another thing they do is poot. I have to get on to them all the time about acting like gentlemen in front of a lady. They don't care. They're boys. It grosses me out.
Don't forget to vote for Donovan Lewis as WJTV's High School Player of the Week!
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Being short sucks
One of the perks of being married to the boys basketball coach is that I get to teach all of the freshmen basketball players. It's always loads of fun because they all want to impress coach's wife. Of course they're mischievous but once I threaten to tell Coach they straighten right on up. They also like to crack on each other quite often which is pretty hilarious. They don't hold back either.
Me: "I'll read this passage because some of the language is difficult and I don't want you to get discouraged or frustrated and not want to read. Now, I'm not going stop you from reading if you want to try it, but it is difficult."
Very short basketball player: "Mrs. Scott, I'll try to read it."
Me: "Ok, great! Go for it!"
*VSBP reads through the passage beautifully*
Me: "Very good! You read that passage like it was nothing! Good job!"
Teammate (whispering to VSBP): "Man, the words in that passage are bigger than you are."
VSBP: "Uh, Mrs. Scott, I think we need to have a class talk on bullying because Teammate is talking about me."
Me: "What'd he say?"
VSBP: "He said that the words were bigger than I was."
Me: *falls out laughing*
VSBP: *stares in disbelief*
Me: "Oh, my bad... You didn't think that was funny?"
He eventually laughed and we moved on.
Something fun that I enjoy doing is scaring the new teachers a little with how I talk to my kids. New teachers are fresh out of school with their lofty ideals and textbook discipline plans and they often get burned out because that stuff doesn't work and they can't adjust. I'm not knocking new teachers. I was a new teacher once. I'm just saying... Never mind. It really doesn't matter. If you're a teacher, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, a kid came over to the teacher table during lunch which is a no no unless you're dying.
Kid (rocking and fidgeting the whole time): "Mrs. Scott, I drank a lot of milk and now I gotta lot of energy and I can't control it. I need some more milk though. Can you buy me another milk?"
Me: "What?!"
Kid (still fidgeting): "I need some more milk. I got too much energy."
Me: "Boy, if you don't get out my face and go sit at your table! You are not about to worry me today. Go on now!"
New teacher: *wide eyes staring in astonishment*
Me: "Girl, sometimes you have to talk rough to these kids for them to get it."
All that take them in the hall and conference with them privately for 30 minutes to discuss what they did wrong and what they need to do to fix it just doesn't work. I wish I would stop my instruction to deal with you because you're acting out. Child... I don't have time.
Have any of y'all seen my teacher body? It hasn't come in yet and I was wondering if y'all had seen it. I'm pooped! There's no tired like beginning of school year tired. The struggle is real for real.
Me: "I'll read this passage because some of the language is difficult and I don't want you to get discouraged or frustrated and not want to read. Now, I'm not going stop you from reading if you want to try it, but it is difficult."
Very short basketball player: "Mrs. Scott, I'll try to read it."
Me: "Ok, great! Go for it!"
*VSBP reads through the passage beautifully*
Me: "Very good! You read that passage like it was nothing! Good job!"
Teammate (whispering to VSBP): "Man, the words in that passage are bigger than you are."
VSBP: "Uh, Mrs. Scott, I think we need to have a class talk on bullying because Teammate is talking about me."
Me: "What'd he say?"
VSBP: "He said that the words were bigger than I was."
Me: *falls out laughing*
VSBP: *stares in disbelief*
Me: "Oh, my bad... You didn't think that was funny?"
He eventually laughed and we moved on.
Something fun that I enjoy doing is scaring the new teachers a little with how I talk to my kids. New teachers are fresh out of school with their lofty ideals and textbook discipline plans and they often get burned out because that stuff doesn't work and they can't adjust. I'm not knocking new teachers. I was a new teacher once. I'm just saying... Never mind. It really doesn't matter. If you're a teacher, you know what I'm talking about. Anyway, a kid came over to the teacher table during lunch which is a no no unless you're dying.
Kid (rocking and fidgeting the whole time): "Mrs. Scott, I drank a lot of milk and now I gotta lot of energy and I can't control it. I need some more milk though. Can you buy me another milk?"
Me: "What?!"
Kid (still fidgeting): "I need some more milk. I got too much energy."
Me: "Boy, if you don't get out my face and go sit at your table! You are not about to worry me today. Go on now!"
New teacher: *wide eyes staring in astonishment*
Me: "Girl, sometimes you have to talk rough to these kids for them to get it."
All that take them in the hall and conference with them privately for 30 minutes to discuss what they did wrong and what they need to do to fix it just doesn't work. I wish I would stop my instruction to deal with you because you're acting out. Child... I don't have time.
Have any of y'all seen my teacher body? It hasn't come in yet and I was wondering if y'all had seen it. I'm pooped! There's no tired like beginning of school year tired. The struggle is real for real.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Because geography is hard
On the first day of school, I was going through my powerpoint presentation that introduced me to my kids. I had slides that talked about my family and what I liked to do. One slide talked about my love for traveling and listed all of the places I had traveled.
Me: "Has anybody in here ever been out of the country?"
Kid: "I have!"
Me: "Cool! Where have you been?"
Kid: "New Orleans!"
Me: *blank stare* "Uh, New Orleans is in Louisiana. That's, like, the next state over."
Kid: *gets up and looks out the window* "Where?"
Me: *face palm*
I know New Orleans has its own culture and can appear to be a foreign place, but it is still in the United States of America. Bless his little heart...
The first day of school is the time for all of those cheesy get to know you activities and to sit around and sing "Kumbaya" with your kids so y'all can get to know each other and bond. *eye roll* Anyway, over the last few years I've been having my kids tell me what animal they would be and why. Most of my kids understood the assignment, but there were those that just didn't get it. At all.
"I'd be a kangaroo."
"Why?"
"Because they jump."
"Do you jump like a kangaroo?"
"No."
"I'd be a bird because they fly all over the place and they get to see everything."
"But what does that have to do with you?"
"I'd be a panda bear because they're cuddly. I don't like cuddling or people in my personal space. Unless it's my momma. She can hug me."
Then of course there are those that are quite interesting.
"I'd be a killer."
*blank stare*
"I'd be a cockroach."
"Why?"
"Cuz you know how y'all leave food out and stuff and cockroaches come behind you and eat the left out food? I do that. I eat the leftovers."
*blank stare*
I was going through my introductory powerpoint and I started talking about my friends and how awesome they are. *Shout out to Bria, Cynt, Keetra, Kaley, Maranda, Mandy, and Robyn* I told my kids that it's important to have good friends in your life because they make life's difficult times a little easier. My friends have been there through 3 of the hardest times in my life: the death of my granny, my ectopic pregnancy, and the death of my little brother. I didn't use the term ectopic pregnancy when I was talking to my kids. I said that Coach Scott and I had lost our baby. One of my inclusion kids was confused by this phrasing. He raised his hand very politely and asked, "Mrs. Scott? How did y'all lose the baby? Did it get lost?" Bless his little heart! He didn't get it. I explained it to him, so I hope he understands now.
We've only been in school 3 days and all of that has happened! Looks like this will be a blog worthy year!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
It's been a while!
Hey guys! It's been a long time (read almost a year) since I've blogged. I'm sorry! I've been so busy lately that I just haven't really taken the time to sit down and blog. Lucky for y'all we now have to turn in lesson plans, so I get all my planning done a whole week in advance. Now all I have to do in the evenings is whatever I so desire to do. Yay! Any hoo, a new school year has started and that means I got all new kids. I've only met about half of them but I can already tell that my kids are going to be pretty awesome. I get awesome kids every year though:)
Today marked the 1st day of the 2014-2015 and I'm really excited about it! I'm teaching a new class, I FINALLY got a Smartboard, and we have a new administrator. A lot of new things are happening! One thing that isn't new is my homeroom. I have the seniors again. Nobody ever understands my enthusiasm for teaching that group of kids and I don't expect them to. Teaching that group of kids makes you learn a few things about yourself.
I know today's post wasn't my normal funny, but trust me. I'll have your funny tomorrow. It won't be a year before I blog again. I promise. It's going to be a GREAT year!
Today marked the 1st day of the 2014-2015 and I'm really excited about it! I'm teaching a new class, I FINALLY got a Smartboard, and we have a new administrator. A lot of new things are happening! One thing that isn't new is my homeroom. I have the seniors again. Nobody ever understands my enthusiasm for teaching that group of kids and I don't expect them to. Teaching that group of kids makes you learn a few things about yourself.
- You learn whether or not teaching is your real passion or calling.
This is my 9th year teaching and last year was the 1st year that I actually felt like a teacher. Yeah, I've always loved my kids and tried my best to take care of them, but having to give a group of kids your all like I had to give last year made me realize that as a teacher I'm called to do more than just teach English. I'm supposed to impact lives. Those kids looked to me for guidance, peace, encouragement, and support. They became my children. If you aren't passionate about teaching or it's "just a job" then you have no idea what I'm talking about. For you, impacting lives isn't important. - You learned how to not be selfish.
There were several times where I had to sacrifice some things to make sure that my kids got the help that they needed. I've had to sacrifice time with my 9th graders, time with my husband, vacation time, and sleep. I would have rather been teaching my classes, spending time with my husband, spending more time out of town, and sleeping. My kids needed me so I was there. - You learn how to act.
Let me explain. When working in such a high pressure situation, I couldn't let the kids know that I was nervous, afraid, or unsure. They looked to me for assurance and stability and I had to lie. I lied a lot. A lot of days I didn't believe what I was saying, but I couldn't let on. I should be nominated for an Oscar or something. LOL - You learn how to REALLY trust God. I mean really trust Him.
I prayed a lot during the year. A whole lot. A heck of a whole lot. Because of it all but 2 graduated from high school. Of the 2, one is working on his. The other dropped out before the final scores came back. When I tell y'all that God is in the prayer answering business... HE IS!
I know today's post wasn't my normal funny, but trust me. I'll have your funny tomorrow. It won't be a year before I blog again. I promise. It's going to be a GREAT year!
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