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Tag Archives: teaching


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Shut Up and Listen

I felt it coming on, but didn’t know how to prevent it. About twice a year this happens. For some unknown reason I develop an unpleasant and irritating malady that leaves me without much of a voice. I rasp and scratch and my top volume is barely audible. It’s easier to just clam up and not say a word.silent+smiley

This, of course, wouldn’t be much of a problem if I were a monk who had taken a vow of silence. Or anyone who had taken a vow of silence. I, however, have taken no such vow. In fact, I am bound to do the opposite. My job is to teach, and in teaching I generally use my voice. During these times, though, I have to think of something else.

Fortunately for me I have access to technology. My lessons this week have been delivered with the support of  powerpoint presentations, and in those presentations I have shared the voices of others. Poets, athletes, entertainers, and ordinary people have shared their voices with my students this week. They have learned through not only my voice, but the voices of many others, from around the globe. There have been voices of the able bodies and physically challenged, the wealthy and the poor, the successful and the downtrodden.

In class we listen to music, get lost in poetry, and think about our place in the world. We challenge ourselves to be our best, and by doing so to make a positive impact on our world.

Sometimes losing our own voice allows us to really listen to others, and in so doing to learn from them and make our own message more clear.


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Hummingbirds and Home Sales

Hummingbird-1Wednesday morning I was greeted by one of my favorite sights as I left home to teach my summer writing workshop. Just as I raised the garage door and prepared to enter the car, a hummingbird swooped into my yard for a long sip of nectar from one of my obliging plants.

I love those little guys. I love how they hover and dart about from place to place. I love their tiny bodies and their brilliant colors, and I love their impossibly long narrow beaks. I can’t help but smile when I see a hummingbird. I always feel as though they have chosen me personally to grace with their presence, and I take it as an honor.

I got in the car with my whole attitude changed. All of a sudden I was sure it was going to be a good day, and before I drove off I sent a text to my sweetheart saying so. He quickly fired one back stating that he was sure it would be too. I happily and safely drove off to campus, looking forward to the morning’s session with my  9 young writers. They have been a pleasure to work with because of their creativity and enthusiasm. I arrived on campus, and took the short walk to my classroom building, where I was greeted by… yes, another hummingbird. Wow, a two hummingbird morning. Life is good!hummingbird-male

The morning session went well and before long it was time for a break. When I glanced at my phone I saw a text message from my realtor. Really? He’s on vacation. In Hawai’i. It had to be something important. It was. It was an offer. A real offer from a real buyer.

So far everything seems to be moving forward. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but I do feel some pressure to find a new place soon. I feel good about the situation this time. Better than last time. I’m pretty sure it will all work out, because, after all, why would the hummingbirds lie?


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Score Two For Me!


Yesterday was the last day of school. Let me assure you, this is every bit as exciting for the teacher as it is for the students.

The last day of school is meant to be a time of reflection and of wrapping up a year spent together. We looked back over what we’ve achieved, and the experiences we’ve shared. After that we headed outside for the annual staff v. 5th grade kickball game.

Yes, I said kickball. And here’s the really amazing part… I not only played, but I scored. Twice. Now you know I’m not an athlete. I’m an extremely fat 47 year old woman whose idea of physical activity is splashing around in a pool for a while (preferably with a cold beverage waiting on the edge). KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAKickball was never really my sport. Oh sure, I played, Everyone played. But that was when I was 10! I don’t think I’ve played much since then. Still, I wanted to particiapate. I didn’t want to be on the sidelines, so I signed up. You know what? It was fun. Really fun. And I really tried. I kicked hard and ran as fast as I could. And, this is amazing, I actually got on base all three times I kicked, and scored TWICE! Needless to say, I actually enjoyed the game. Way more than my colleagues who didn’t play and were supervising all the students!

After that wrapped up, we put in a long movie and the teachers worked frantically to shut down the year. There were report cards to stuff, boxes to pack, bulletin boards to take down, papers to file, furniture to clean and move, and so much more.

Add to that general chaos the fact that our building is undergoing major construction during the summer, so EVERYTHING had to be boxed by the last day of school. The thing is, we couldn’t do too much of it early because 1. there’s no place to store boxes in a room crammed full of children and furniture, and 2. as soon as kids see you breaking down the room they check out. We needed them engaged until the very end.

I can honestly say that this has been the best year of my teaching career. My colleagues, my kids, and their parents have all be fantastic. I have rediscovered the joy that should be in every classroom in the world, but is sadly missing in far too many.

As much as I’ve enjoyed it, it’s been exhausting. Every year is. It seems to me that any teacher who isn’t ready for a break by the end of the school year hasn’t really given it their all. Like an athlete who leaves it all on the field, most of the teachers I know leave it all in the classroom. By the end of the year our batteries are drained and we need a rest.

imagesThe image that the general public has of teachers in the summer is quaint, but unrealistic for most of us.
 People think we send all summer in a beach chair catching up on our reading and sipping lemonade. While there’s some of that for many of us, most of us scramble around to find summer work.

Summer school, tutoring, and seasonal employment are all popular options for educators. I’ll be teaching a writing workshop over the summer through our local university. I’m happy to have the opportunity, but believe me, it’s work. Still, it doesn’t start for a few days, so I’ll enjoy the break while I can, with a good book in one hand, and a cold lemonade in the other.