GRADUATION!

Today was the happiest and saddest day of my year. While we have three throw-away days to go, today truly marked the end of my first year of teaching. More importantly, my seniors, whom I have loved and nurtured and worked so hard for this year, graduated. My kids graduated! I was so proud of them as they stood on line and waited to process into the arena. When the valedictorian gave his speech, I nearly broke down (and I NEVER cry; even coming close is a major accomplishment for me). Their names were called, they flipped their tassels from right to left. They are my seniors... my graduates.

Bloop Bloop

In 2009, high school students took a record 2.9 million AP exams. (For my readers who have been hiding in a cave for the past 50 years, AP exams are comprehensive subject-centered exams that are intended to determine college readiness.) Students take the exams in early May, and AP teachers converge in June to grade their essays.

Several of my students took the AP US History exam last month. I certainly hope they did not pen some of these hilarious lines, sifted through by this year's AP readers:

Question 2: about the factors that led to America's victory in the Revolutionary War.

-- At the time, America had the most advanced communication system in the world -- Paul Revere.

-- England viewed the colonies as nothing more than a back-talking teenager that needed to be smacked.

Question 3: about the role of slavery in causing the Civil War

-- With the end of Reconstruction, the Civil War was not far ahead.

-- Slavery was like the crazy uncle in every family - everyone acknowledges the problem, but no one wants to confront it.

-- Most western states are in the South.

-- The Misery Compromise only delayed the Civil War.

Read more at Betsy's Page.

Walking Companion

I was taking a walk across my neighborhood on Saturday night when I saw a familiar face: a student in one of my coworker's classes. Since she is not my student, I didn't know anything about her, except that I knew her to have a sweet and generous nature. She giggled when she saw me and asked if I lived in the neighborhood. I answered in the affirmative and asked the same of her. She hesitated, giggled some more, and then told me that she had recently been placed in a battered women's shelter two blocks north of the street corner on which we were standing. She said she was out exploring the neighborhood. I invited her to take a walk with me.

As we talked, she confirmed my preconceived impression of her in every way. Finally, I asked her why she was living in the shelter. She said that she had gotten into a fight with her father and stepmother. The fight had gotten physical, and her parents eventually called the police on her. The powers that be immediately pulled her from her parents and placed her in the shelter in which she is currently living. I asked if she wanted to go home after her sojourn in the shelter, and she shook her head vigorously. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she didn't feel safe with her parents.

Throughout our entire walk, I was so impressed by the grace and maturity she exhibited. I am still amazed at what my students go through, and how well some of them handle it. Even after a year of teaching, I can't quite fathom how such young people shoulder such large burdens.

I really hope everything works out for her. With any luck, I'll see her around the neighborhood again, and we'll get to take another walk.

Chameleon

Has a Hugging Problem gave me her tshirt today. It's a pretty cute Hollister shirt. So I'm wearing it and looking all neon and sparkly and blending in with the students more than ever.

Proof? I've been yelled at 5 times today for cutting class.

To Fail or To Pass

I'm having a horrible day at school. There is a lot of pressure to graduate students, and.... well, as one counselor said, "_______ won't be needing Environmental Science for whatever she does after high school, so you might as well pass her."

Ugh! Nevertheless, it's Friday, and I'm managing to maintain a cheerful attitude.

Broken Window

Today's Do Now question was, "Who is the most important person in your life? What can you do to improve your relationship with that person?"

Nucleus, who is normally incredibly disruptive and averse to doing work, asked me to read his Do Now:

I say the most important person in my life is my mom. I say my mom because she is always their [sic] for me and now I have to take care of her. I have to take care of her because my mom has AIDS and I was sad when I found out. I wanted to kill myself. She had AIDS for six years. Every time I am in school I think of her, and hope she is alright at home. That's why my mom is the most important person in my life.

Wow. Just when you think a kid is just plain obnoxious, he open a window into his life and makes you wonder, if only I had known this before.

Focus on Positivity

Lately, I have noticed a deluge of news articles, opinion pieces, and blog posts about optimism, forgiveness, and making the most of life (and much of it related to dogs).

Some tidbits of wisdom...

...From Can Pets Improve Your Relationship?

-- Even when pets drive us crazy by wrecking the furniture or soiling the floor, we don't stay angry at them. Similarly, we shouldn't hold grudges with our friends and family.

-- Even on bad days, we greet our pets cheerfully. After all, they probably had nothing to do with why our day went wrong and therefore shouldn't bear the burden of our rotten mood....

...From Patrick Moburg's Lessons from a Dog

-- Always be curious about the world around you, especially when new people come into it.

-- Give and accept affection, freely and often.

...From Nick Kristof's most recent New York Times column, about dealing with a cancer scare

-- Spend more time with family.

-- Appreciate the world around you, despite its imperfection.

And I think so much of this relates to teaching...