Cutting Class

Class cutting is a big problem at our school. A big problem. The swing on my attendance between when a class meets 7th period (before lunch) and 9th period (after lunch) averages to around 40%. So, some kids I only see 2 - 3 days per week because they cut all of their after-lunch classes.

Today, a student in my 9th period class did not show up at the start of the period. I walked her to class earlier in the day because she was out flirting with the boys from across the hall instead of going to Math. At the start of 9th period, however, she was nowhere to be seen.

Conveniently enough, her mom was in school for a meeting. Right next door to my classroom. She came out just as 9th period was starting. Mrs. ____, I asked, where is your daughter? She has Anatomy with me 9th period.
The conversation/events went as follows:

Mom: She's not in your class?
Me: No, she did not show up yet. I saw her earlier today, so I know she was here.
Mom: Oh, I know she was here alright.
((Riot breaks out in the hall - fight between the boys next door and our kids))
(( Mom starts plowing through the crowd looking for her daughter))
(( I shut the door to keep the other students out of the riot ))
(( Things settle down, police come up, Mom comes back to the room ))
Mom: Oh, I don't know where she is, but I'm about to find out.
Me: Ok, thanks.
Mom (on cell phone): _______, where the hell are you? You're supposed to be in science class right now! ....... How do I know you're not there? Because I'm standing in the classroom and you're not here!

Vocabulary Part 2.

really awesome things to say. 


wavy = awesome/cool. In reference to my sliding dry erase boards: Miss, those boards are wavy. 


curve (verb); curvin = ignore or intentionally "hurt" feelings using sarcasm: (After ignoring Alexis' 3rd request in a minute to whip my hair back and forth). 
Alexis: Miss, whip yo hair back and forth. 
Me: Ok everyone should have their notebook on their desk, today is Chem #34. 
Alexis: Oh Miss, you just curve me.  


gassed up = hyper, energetic: Miss, you be mad gassed up this morning. 


shut the front door! = shut the f* up. for once, they actually choose to censor their profanity.


OG = Original Gangsta (gangster). No explanation necessary. 
 ---- For the record, according to my Anatomy - 4 class, I am the OG.  

day-to-day struggles

It's a rough time lately. It's hard to still be peppy and crazy and on top of my game when exhaustion is setting in for the kids and as I seem to be growing more tired by the day. 


The little moments when kids give me encouragement, or thanks for holding them to high expectations, are what can keep me going for the next few days. In the meantime, we have to keep on keeping on with our sweet studies...


Also, is anyone reading this???

The Achievement Gap

One of the most emailed articles on the NY Times...
The Achievement Gap

Who's The Boss?

Just announced today: the Department of Education appointed a new Chancellor to the schools. Not sure that I feel very confident in this, since the new Chancellor has no previous experience in education.

Here is the article in the Times....
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/nyregion/10klein.html?_r=1&hp

Halloween Candy

I'm not a particularly big fan of Halloween. For a number of reasons. And today, I can add one more to my list. 


Fresh off the Halloween craziness from yesterday, my students came to school today nuts. I mean, really antsy and crazy. The madness continued all day. Their brains were not in school mode but their mouths were in "chatter-singing-jokes-silliness" mode. 
Why? 
A constant flow of candy. The kids were constantly sneaking candy throughout class. The crinkle of wrappers was disruptive and I kept finding wrappers and stray Skittles on the floor. Woof. No matter how hard I tried, I could not seem to put a stop to the peaks and ebbs of my students' blood sugar. And the result was madness. 


Thank goodness Halloween does not come around again until next October.