J45: Advice for Seniors

Dear Graduates,
This is the first year that I've really known and cared about the senior class. Though many memories fade, in my mind's eye I can still see you as squirming little freshmen in English I. My first piece of advice would be not to forget that youth. In every public act you seem to want to show yourself as older. The ever-growing wall of senior portraits behind my desk is a testament to that. I have to say that, for the most part, you don't look that grown up yet. Perhaps that is how you would like to be remembered by others and yourself, but I know better. You still have more of those squirmy qualities than you would like to admit. And that's a good thing as long as you don't take it too far. It is not a shame to, like Peter Pan, never quite grow up. I speak from experience on that one.

On the other hand, you will have to make a lot of changes. The universities and workplaces don't generally want adults who act like kids. It's a balancing act, but you can do it.

Most of all, be well always. I know you can't control everything that happens in life, but you can control your attitude about it.

Sincerely,
Bewls

P.S. Don't forget where you came from. Literally. It's okay to visit now and then.

J43: Personal Best

I haven't been as good this year about writing with you as I intended before all hell broke loose in the fall, thus my choices are a bit limited. I honestly think that my personal best of this year is an episodic piece of nonfiction I'm currently working on. I also think that some of my journal entries are worthy of note. Perhaps revising some of them would be a good thing to do.

J42: Character Sketch - Park

The cool water of the small man made lake was still and dim. This spring has been chilly, but today the warmth of coming summer flooding the park, the pond, and all their occupants.The great trees (some native to the park, others planted in the six decades since this place was named to the sacred honor of being Salem's only public green space) stood along the banks. The soft maples dropped their helicopter seeds across land and water. One by one the seeds that fell over the pond became waterlogged and sank in their twirling fashion. Benny had never seen such a thing. Swimming out from the shade near the banks and out to brighter waters, he chased what the maples had so kindly thrown his way. Before long other fish joined in and they developed a sort of a game of it. Soon it would be summer. The kids with their fishing poles would be about. But this year that is no worry for a playful fish so wee, only his mother would call him a keeper.

J41: Weekend or Summer Plans

My weekend was mostly on the unexciting side (what's new?!), so I guess I'll talk about my summer plans. First off, I plan to spend a couple of weeks sleeping late and watching late night television till one or two in the morning. Geez, I miss that quite a bit during the school year. By that point I'll probably be a bit more worn out from gardening/farmer's market. Sometime in mid-June I have to start making good on my commitment to the National Writing Project and start attending the Summer Institute of the OWP at MSU. That sounds like a lot of fun and work; I'm not sure yet which side will take the majority. I do know that I will have a nightly assignment of a solid hour of writing. I know you all are intimidated by such an idea, but I'm really anxious to get started. We'll see how long that ambition lasts. After the three or so weeks of SI, I have a bit of a break (which includes my birthday), and then (assuming my application is accepted) I'll have the Advanced Institute to complete so I'll be an official NWP Teacher Consultant...woot! So, to my kiddoes I'm sure this sounds like quite a drag, but I think it will be fun.

J40: Open Topic

Oh, how I wish we had the originally planned five day weekend. Usually the weeks fly by for me, but this one has dragged on. Perhaps it's MAP testing, or simply the fact we're not supposed to be here, but I'm ready for some rest.

Anywho...on the bright side, literally, the past couple days have been amazing weatherwise. It's about time we have some days that resemble Spring. With the possibility of showers today, I'm just delighted. How nice it would be to be at home this afternoon and catch a nap during a thunderstorm. Perfect it would be.

I've been having strange dreams recently. Of course I probably wouldn't even know this if I didn't wake up so often, but oh well. It makes life more interesting. For instance, during my afternoon nap the other day I met the pope. My subconscious is obviously insane. I'm not even Catholic! It was a good, brief visit though ;)

J38: Dream Spring Break

Well. If our school actually had spring break and I actually had the money to do anything, I would definitely want to get out of Missouri for a while. I'm not sure where I would want to go - a week sounds like too little time to leave the country. I think heading north would be good. That's one area I haven't been to, so it'd be nice to see somewhere different and nature-y. But New York would also be a good adventure. I'd love to see some shows that are a little higher class than the ones my troupe produces. Anyhow. Instead I guess I'll just hang out here and teach you guys. It'll be a pretty good adventure by itself.

J36: Spring, etc.

Ah, the first day of Spring. With all the rain we've had the past several days sure does make it feel like a new season is on its way (although the stark lack of warm temperatures makes me wonder!). I like Spring for several reasons (this sounds like the opening to a bad five-paragraph essay). First off, it is an obvious time of growth - trees getting leaves, grass greening up, people preparing gardens. Also it is my last set of hurdles - the spring play (OMG next weekend will come too soon!!!), mid-quarter grades, early finals for the seniors, a blessed week with only three classes in the building, graduation, and that's it - another year behind me. Here's to hoping they ask me back again. But the classic downfall of Spring is my chronic snot nose from allergies. All in all, a worthy trade for all the benefits.

J33: Poetry Conclusion

So. This is the end of the poetry unit. I'm kinda sad, but relieved as well. You see, I never quite feel successful when teaching poetry, whether as literature or writing. I'm not sure why; you'd think by now I would have it down. Perhaps it is just that I expect too much of myself and my students. I want to have that perfect unit where I recruit a great number of previous poetry haters to the appreciative side. But I think we've had some fun along the way. I'm curious to know what your views are, so let's talk.

J32: Open Topic

Right now I am eating a bagel pizza. Indeed it is interesting. But it makes me reflect on the delight of breakfast foods. As far as actual breakfast time goes, I prefer "real" food. Give me a bowl of spaghetti over a bowl of cereal any day. But when I do get to hankering for breakfast food (often this happens in the evening or late at night), I blame my grandparents. It was not uncommon as we were growing up to have pancakes and bacon for supper (or some other lovely "morning" food). But bagel pizza was never to be had (hell, I don't know if my grandmother has ever even eaten a bagel, much less made pizza of them). Here is the apparent recipe: take half of a bagel. Coat it in gravy (can't go wrong there!). Top it with some cheese (little odd with the gravy, but okay) and sausage. Not quite a gourmet dish, but if I see them again in the cafe someday, I will steal again.

J31: Election

I voted this morning. It was hard. I don't really like any of the candidates. I stood and contemplated even which party I wanted to vote for. Instead of finding a person who represents how I believe, I ended up choosing one that I didn't hate and probably doesn't have a snowball's chance of getting the nomination. The more I think about, I probably shouldn't have voted at all. Perhaps I should have went with the "no preference" choice, or voted libertarian. Ya know, in some small way show that I don't like any of our choices.

J29: Character Sketch - Me + 10 years

The teacher sat at her stark metal desk and stared at the blank wall trying not to fall asleep. She had spent last semester making this room her own, but after taking the posters made by students down and giving her desk, table, and cabinets a thorough cleaning the room seemed somehow colder and was most certainly emptier. The relief of having a sparkling room to start the new semester was lost to a feeling of regret for inadvertently making it so sterile as to be uncomfortable. Luckily, the students were still wound up enough from their Christmas break not to notice. She sighed and wondered suddenly whether changing schools had been the right choice.

In her heart she knew that it had to be better. The school itself is closer to the city and would allow her husband to take the job he was offered nearby. Her best friend had moved to this district and was not only teaching in a building across campus, but would in the coming years be sending her his children to have their English education. The pay is better, as is the insurance. The administration seemed distant, though supportive. The schedule was good - classes she loved teaching. First semester went well and she felt for the first time in years that her students were exceeding not only her expectations, but also the state's. But in spite of all the good logic and reasoning, on this cold January morning she couldn't shake the thought of her kids she left behind. Sure most of her old students were okay with the resignation. They either graduated, didn't care one way or the other, or wouldn't have any more classes with her anyway. But there were some that held fast to her heart. The theatre students. The speech team. The students who met their first success in writing in her class. The few that didn't have any other adult who really cared for them. The many who were not involved in sports or clubs, but felt that at least in her class they were equals. She wondered whether they were still at her old school. Where are they right now? What are they doing? How well is the new teacher reaching them?

The teacher, shivering and near tears, sat at her stark metal desk staring at the wall. The bell rang and she went to the door to greet the students as they came in. As the few minutes passed, the rambunctious kids goofed off before settling into their seats. When the tardy bell sounded the teacher entered a suddenly warmer room. Looking at the row of faces who had seen the passage of fifteen years, she knew it would be okay.

J28: Story Starter

I wrote the dialogue to start this piece, so I'll just leave you to the rest. Sound lazy? That's just me pulling the teacher card. But I can't wait to read yours...

J27: Open Topic

Ah, what a wonderful weekend this was! It helped that my husband was feeling well. Since it was so warm, we opened the house and did some pre-spring cleaning. It was, of course, desperately needed after so many weeks of running around super busy. I wish, however, that I would have gotten outside a little more. Who knows when we'll next have a seventy degree day when I don't have to work? I definitely need the exercise! Too many years of working at PH, I guess.

I heard a rumor that my old high school is losing its accreditation. I'm curious to know how that affects a district. That might be a good research topic for me to do while I'm teaching the sophomores research methods later this month.

J26: Holidays

This Christmas break was unlike any previous vacations. Instead of my planned trip to Kansas City the first weekend, I decided to just stay home and relax. This meant that I missed my grandmother's birthday dinner and the delightful Jewish food at my aunt's Chrismakah lunch, but I think the few days spent at home were well worth the sacrifice. I did go to the city for a day trip last weekend, though, which was a nice escape.

My husband started radiation treatment, which was quite interesting. He's been pretty sick from it. That put quite the damper on holiday cheer. I spent most last week tired from all the early morning driving and cooking when he finally is able to eat in the evening. I didn't even want to stay up on New Year's Eve, and wouldn't have if a friend of ours didn't come over to keep us up.

My big accomplishment was getting my grading done. It took FOREVER, but wasn't all bad. I saved CW journals for last...and they were definitely worth the wait!