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.

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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
  4. 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! 
Last year was an eye opening year for me not only with my seniors but also with my 9th graders and coworkers.  My brother was killed in May and I was surrounded by so much love and support during that time that it was overwhelming.  I'd run out of breath trying to thank everybody for all of the love, cards, gifts, calls, texts, visits, meals, and time that was given to me during that extremely difficult time in my life.  It amazing to see kids care as much as they did.  There are some who still check on me.  That just goes to show that when you truly love and care for your kids, they'll always love and care for you.  It's an awesome thing!

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!