"It wasn't supposed to be like this." How many times I have thought this over my life and how many more times will it echo beyond that first time? It seems that I have only scratched the surface of my understanding of loss.
For those of you concerned about me mourning the loss of my mother 6 years ago, I want you to know what I've learned.
God has healed my heart but a scar remains. It reminds me of what I've lost and while it hurts to remember how I got the scar, I have learned to be thankful for the understanding and increased compassion it has given me for those who grieve. It is a terrible club to claim membership in but there you find the people who can relate to and support you the best in your suffering. God has made me for such a purpose, I know. I've seen Him transform me over and over again in difficult situations.
I've also found that I have the easiest time talking to someone who has lost a person of the same relationship as I had (in my case, it is a parent, and specifically my mother). A friend, who I didn't know until a year later, lost her father at almost the same time as I lost my mother. We both were in our first year of teaching when we experienced our losses. Because it was a parent she lost, and because she had to endure the same sort of transition period as I, I find it much easier to talk to her without breaking down into a puddle than I do those who knew my mother in any other capacity. I do not mean offense by not talking with those people but it is more difficult than I can manage sometimes still.
I won't even pretend to understand what my family members are going through right now. While I have experience with grief that is relatable to a lot of grieving people, I have never been in this situation before so I honestly don't know what it is like. I'm not going to spout off something about a relative that had a tough time for a while but then a happy ending and say that I know what it's like. I don't. I DON'T. And even if I had the exact same experience, it would affect me differently because I am a different person with a different background and different experiences that shade and color future experiences. I have a different temperament and demeanor and attitude. I have a different relationship with the deceased than other people would have with that same person.
The best thing we can do for each other in times of grief are to offer prayers and love and support. Instead of saying, "Let me know if we can do anything," just do what you feel called to do (so long as it is bringing a meal or sending a card and that sort of thing; as I mentioned before, don't bring up personal stories or say "they're in a better place;" it's just very painful to hear, even if you had the best of intentions. Listen to what those who are closest to the lost person are needing. If it is space, give them space. If it is time to process, don't rush them. Try to be especially sensitive during that first year because that is when the pain hits the hardest- holidays, family celebrations, birthdays, Mother's and Father's day, etc.
I leave you with this: In my experience, it doesn't get better; nothing will make the situation better. You can't put a band aid over this. It does, however, ease up, bit by bit, over time.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Tales of a 3rd Grade Struggling Reader
As a human being, I have always known the joys of reading. As a teacher, I have seen how very important it is to foster that joy from an early age. It saddens me deeply when I see a high school student, many of them who are 18, who skip over a word, often a simple, everyday one, because they lack the confidence to try sounding it out. It worries me when a kiddo tells me that they hate reading. Reading is a vital part of life - whether for business, pleasure, or mere survival.
Last night, I spent some time (family time) with a little girl my in-laws' have taken in. She is in third grade but old enough to be in fourth. She told me this at Christmas but last night I asked her why. It was because she didn't know how to read at the end of 1st grade.
I started reading books on my own, by myself when I was four. Sometimes it is difficult for me to comprehend how people don't know how to read by the end of the first few years of school. And then I'm reminded that my mother was a teacher and my father was an accountant and that reading was something we often did TOGETHER.
That's the most important part. Reading together.
Knowing that all three kids are behind in reading inspired me to find books they'd enjoy and give them as Christmas gifts. When I was over there yesterday, I found the set of books I bought for the kindergartener (Amelia Bedelia), sitting in their box (which I'm fine with) at the top of their closet. They were completely out of reach. The 3rd grader didn't know where hers was so I set out to look. I found it stuffed in a stocking which was stuffed in a drawer. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.
I pulled it out and made her a deal. I would read the first chapter to her before dinner and then we'd come back and she'd read the second chapter to me.
She found the book interesting when I read the first chapter but I could tell it wasn't her favorite book yet. The first chapter just introduces Peter Hatcher, our narrator, and his family members. It also sets up a little bit of the second chapter. It's good, but the next chapter is much better.
Unfortunately, as we found out, it is also longer. MUCH longer. So I cut her a break. I told her that I would read after she reached a certain point (I skipped ahead a little and found a good place). I also made sure to compliment her for things she was doing well as she read. "I really like how hard you try to figure out how to pronounce unfamiliar words. That's important." "You do a great job of doing the voices of the different characters - that's what good readers do when they read!" (This one caused her to go back and try a passage again, this time using more of a baby voice for the 2 year old). And when Mr. V came to the office to find out what we were up to, I asked her if she'd like to show him what a good reader she is. Mr. V was VERY impressed and told her she was reading like a champ. She was! All of this feedback was so important for her.
She also giggled and giggled throughout the chapter as Fudge got into all sorts of crazy situations. She thought it was hilarious when he ate the flowers. She liked that part so much that she wanted to re-read the chapter to my mother-in-law so that "Grandma" would have a chance to "laugh her head off." LOVE IT!
Later on, when her brother was passed out on the couch and her sister was self-tucked into her bed (we accidentally woke her up for a moment when we were looking for the book - oops! We didn't know she was there!), "Grandma" told her it was time to go to bed herself.
She protested, as most 10 year olds would when there are 9 other people still awake and having fun, but she went only to emerge a few minutes later asking for a flashlight. What did she need a flashlight for? Reading! She wanted to finish her book!
Mission: Accomplished!
Tips for helping your kids enjoy reading:
1. Find a quiet space away from everyone else.
2. Read the first chapter to your kid, holding the book where she can see the words.
3. Have her start to read the next chapter to you. If it's short or she wants to, have her read the entire chapter.
4. Have a small book shelf in the bedroom so books are easily accessible, even if you aren't.
5. When your kid is reading her book, read your own. Modeling reading is a great way to show them that adults like to read, too.
6. Find out what your kid likes. I discovered that this girl loves science. She spent a bunch of time telling me things I didn't know about Neptune. I might find a book that revolves around science a bit more next time I get her a book.
7. Buy a book light. I had one that clipped onto my book and had a clock. I'm sure they have better models available now. My parents were okay with me reading in my room until I got sleepy or they went to bed themselves as long as the light was out.
8. When you read with your kid, praise them for what they're doing well and encourage them to keep trying.
9. When the opportunity arises, ask your kids to look for context clues. "What is happening around this word that might help you understand what this word is?" She came up with "take it for stomach pain" to help her decipher "medicine."
10. Celebrate reading. We gave high-fives and I made sure to let other people know she was doing great.
Last night, I spent some time (family time) with a little girl my in-laws' have taken in. She is in third grade but old enough to be in fourth. She told me this at Christmas but last night I asked her why. It was because she didn't know how to read at the end of 1st grade.
I started reading books on my own, by myself when I was four. Sometimes it is difficult for me to comprehend how people don't know how to read by the end of the first few years of school. And then I'm reminded that my mother was a teacher and my father was an accountant and that reading was something we often did TOGETHER.
That's the most important part. Reading together.
Knowing that all three kids are behind in reading inspired me to find books they'd enjoy and give them as Christmas gifts. When I was over there yesterday, I found the set of books I bought for the kindergartener (Amelia Bedelia), sitting in their box (which I'm fine with) at the top of their closet. They were completely out of reach. The 3rd grader didn't know where hers was so I set out to look. I found it stuffed in a stocking which was stuffed in a drawer. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.
I pulled it out and made her a deal. I would read the first chapter to her before dinner and then we'd come back and she'd read the second chapter to me.
She found the book interesting when I read the first chapter but I could tell it wasn't her favorite book yet. The first chapter just introduces Peter Hatcher, our narrator, and his family members. It also sets up a little bit of the second chapter. It's good, but the next chapter is much better.
Unfortunately, as we found out, it is also longer. MUCH longer. So I cut her a break. I told her that I would read after she reached a certain point (I skipped ahead a little and found a good place). I also made sure to compliment her for things she was doing well as she read. "I really like how hard you try to figure out how to pronounce unfamiliar words. That's important." "You do a great job of doing the voices of the different characters - that's what good readers do when they read!" (This one caused her to go back and try a passage again, this time using more of a baby voice for the 2 year old). And when Mr. V came to the office to find out what we were up to, I asked her if she'd like to show him what a good reader she is. Mr. V was VERY impressed and told her she was reading like a champ. She was! All of this feedback was so important for her.
She also giggled and giggled throughout the chapter as Fudge got into all sorts of crazy situations. She thought it was hilarious when he ate the flowers. She liked that part so much that she wanted to re-read the chapter to my mother-in-law so that "Grandma" would have a chance to "laugh her head off." LOVE IT!
Later on, when her brother was passed out on the couch and her sister was self-tucked into her bed (we accidentally woke her up for a moment when we were looking for the book - oops! We didn't know she was there!), "Grandma" told her it was time to go to bed herself.
She protested, as most 10 year olds would when there are 9 other people still awake and having fun, but she went only to emerge a few minutes later asking for a flashlight. What did she need a flashlight for? Reading! She wanted to finish her book!
Mission: Accomplished!
Tips for helping your kids enjoy reading:
1. Find a quiet space away from everyone else.
2. Read the first chapter to your kid, holding the book where she can see the words.
3. Have her start to read the next chapter to you. If it's short or she wants to, have her read the entire chapter.
4. Have a small book shelf in the bedroom so books are easily accessible, even if you aren't.
5. When your kid is reading her book, read your own. Modeling reading is a great way to show them that adults like to read, too.
6. Find out what your kid likes. I discovered that this girl loves science. She spent a bunch of time telling me things I didn't know about Neptune. I might find a book that revolves around science a bit more next time I get her a book.
7. Buy a book light. I had one that clipped onto my book and had a clock. I'm sure they have better models available now. My parents were okay with me reading in my room until I got sleepy or they went to bed themselves as long as the light was out.
8. When you read with your kid, praise them for what they're doing well and encourage them to keep trying.
9. When the opportunity arises, ask your kids to look for context clues. "What is happening around this word that might help you understand what this word is?" She came up with "take it for stomach pain" to help her decipher "medicine."
10. Celebrate reading. We gave high-fives and I made sure to let other people know she was doing great.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Day Before the End of the Grading Period
Every teacher has a story. Or two. Or ten thousand.
Today, I discovered that my 31st student would be meeting me for the first time tomorrow. I found out when I logged into my grade book online and saw that red number, the sign that something has changed. I quickly requested an additional desk from the office (which was delivered during 4th, so way to go custodial staff! I expected to have to wait a few days) and shot out an email requesting this kiddo's grades. For fun, I composed a little poem to commemorate the moment.
It turns out that this new kid is friends with a student in my 4th period class. That student inferred what was happening when the desk was brought it and guessed the student's name which prompted him to tell me that the new student comes from a different high school.
The email was already sent, however, and my poem (below) was distributed amongst the other English teachers. Perhaps, if you read it, you'll begin to understand why teachers get flustered as the grading period closes or students transfer from one class/school to another.
Here it is for your own review.
The Day Before the End of the Grading Period
by Mrs. V
'Twas the day before the end of the grading period
and all through the school,
the children were slacking;
they thought it was cool.
The grades were all posted
on each teacher's door
in hopes that "What am I missing"
would be spoken no more.
I was keeping calm
as I entered late grades.
I opened the grade book
and stood - amazed.
For what to my bespeckled
eyes should appear
but a brand new student.
Oh, my. Oh, dear.
This is important;
this is my plea:
I really need his grades.
Will you please help me?
Maybe you don't love it but that's okay. Here's something you might find useful, however. If you find it necessary to move your child from one school to another, you might want to check their end of grading cycle dates at both schools. It's not as big of a deal at the first school as it is at the second. The second school has to wait on the grades to go through the central office and that can take some time. Often your kid will get an Incomplete because we do not have enough information to go on. That can be difficult to change later. By the time you find out what your child's grade was the previous grading cycle, the new cycle has come out and your student could be failing for the semester, risking the loss of credit. If your teacher had known, more attention could have been paid to your kiddo. If you had known, you would have been on him/her like make-up on a circus clown. Just a little something to keep in mind.
Today, I discovered that my 31st student would be meeting me for the first time tomorrow. I found out when I logged into my grade book online and saw that red number, the sign that something has changed. I quickly requested an additional desk from the office (which was delivered during 4th, so way to go custodial staff! I expected to have to wait a few days) and shot out an email requesting this kiddo's grades. For fun, I composed a little poem to commemorate the moment.
It turns out that this new kid is friends with a student in my 4th period class. That student inferred what was happening when the desk was brought it and guessed the student's name which prompted him to tell me that the new student comes from a different high school.
The email was already sent, however, and my poem (below) was distributed amongst the other English teachers. Perhaps, if you read it, you'll begin to understand why teachers get flustered as the grading period closes or students transfer from one class/school to another.
Here it is for your own review.
The Day Before the End of the Grading Period
by Mrs. V
'Twas the day before the end of the grading period
and all through the school,
the children were slacking;
they thought it was cool.
The grades were all posted
on each teacher's door
in hopes that "What am I missing"
would be spoken no more.
I was keeping calm
as I entered late grades.
I opened the grade book
and stood - amazed.
For what to my bespeckled
eyes should appear
but a brand new student.
Oh, my. Oh, dear.
This is important;
this is my plea:
I really need his grades.
Will you please help me?
Maybe you don't love it but that's okay. Here's something you might find useful, however. If you find it necessary to move your child from one school to another, you might want to check their end of grading cycle dates at both schools. It's not as big of a deal at the first school as it is at the second. The second school has to wait on the grades to go through the central office and that can take some time. Often your kid will get an Incomplete because we do not have enough information to go on. That can be difficult to change later. By the time you find out what your child's grade was the previous grading cycle, the new cycle has come out and your student could be failing for the semester, risking the loss of credit. If your teacher had known, more attention could have been paid to your kiddo. If you had known, you would have been on him/her like make-up on a circus clown. Just a little something to keep in mind.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Why I am a teacher
This evening, I posted a moment from my day at work. I told my students that I'm not a teacher to fail students, believe it or not. Naturally, they asked me why. When I told them, a kiddo said, "that's the best reason I've ever heard."
It got a bunch of Facebook likes. It also sparked a friend (who recently became a teacher herself) to ask me why I became a teacher. The answer is too long for a Facebook post. It was too long to give in full in class. If you work with me, I PROMISE that I gave a synopsis and not the whole story.
You, like my student, may think this is the best reason ever. You may not. That's fine. My reason is my reason and, like it or not, it's good enough for me. So without further adieu, I give you my reason.
When I graduated from college, I got a job at a temporary agency as a liaison between the temp agency and the company that was temporarily employing workers from the agency. I worked for the temporary agency itself but on-site with the client (Caremark).
While my responsibilities included mundane things such as checking people in on their first day and taking attendance and fun things like celebrating birthdays and running contests based on attendance, I also had the responsibility to let people know when they were on a warning or when they were being let go. I'm pretty sure they asked me to fire people because they (the agency) knew it sucked and didn't want to do it themselves.
There came a day when I was informed that a worker hadn't passed her third test (actually, she'd failed all three - and you can't do that) during training and she was going to let go of her.
I don't know if I'll ever forget the look on the first woman's face when I told her. There is NO nice way to let someone know they're fired, by the way. There are nicer ways and mean ways, but none of them are really, truly nice.
She cried. She asked me how she was going to feed her three kids - her husband had just lost his job, too. It totally sucked. I did the only thing I could do: I shook my head and I cried with her.
Not long after, I was up on the call center floor, reviewing files and I noticed that a woman's attendance was shaky at best. I talked to her and found out that her baby girl was super sick. Born with heart problems, she was in the hospital, fighting for her life. The worker was trying to get hired on full time at Caremark so she'd have insurance. Unfortunately, she didn't get hired on in time. Her baby died, she and her husband had HUGE problems (they were living with his parents) and she got kicked out of the house, and to make matters worse, her attendance problems caused her to lose her job.
I felt completely helpless in both situations. It was their performance that caused the problems but I wanted to rescue them both from their situations.
I'm a teacher because of those women. I'm a teacher because I don't want that life for anybody and if I can get in there and make a difference in a kid's life and help them turn it around, that's what I want to do. I have come to the realization that I can't do it for them, but I can help them learn to help themselves.
That's why I'm a teacher.
It got a bunch of Facebook likes. It also sparked a friend (who recently became a teacher herself) to ask me why I became a teacher. The answer is too long for a Facebook post. It was too long to give in full in class. If you work with me, I PROMISE that I gave a synopsis and not the whole story.
You, like my student, may think this is the best reason ever. You may not. That's fine. My reason is my reason and, like it or not, it's good enough for me. So without further adieu, I give you my reason.
When I graduated from college, I got a job at a temporary agency as a liaison between the temp agency and the company that was temporarily employing workers from the agency. I worked for the temporary agency itself but on-site with the client (Caremark).
While my responsibilities included mundane things such as checking people in on their first day and taking attendance and fun things like celebrating birthdays and running contests based on attendance, I also had the responsibility to let people know when they were on a warning or when they were being let go. I'm pretty sure they asked me to fire people because they (the agency) knew it sucked and didn't want to do it themselves.
There came a day when I was informed that a worker hadn't passed her third test (actually, she'd failed all three - and you can't do that) during training and she was going to let go of her.
I don't know if I'll ever forget the look on the first woman's face when I told her. There is NO nice way to let someone know they're fired, by the way. There are nicer ways and mean ways, but none of them are really, truly nice.
She cried. She asked me how she was going to feed her three kids - her husband had just lost his job, too. It totally sucked. I did the only thing I could do: I shook my head and I cried with her.
Not long after, I was up on the call center floor, reviewing files and I noticed that a woman's attendance was shaky at best. I talked to her and found out that her baby girl was super sick. Born with heart problems, she was in the hospital, fighting for her life. The worker was trying to get hired on full time at Caremark so she'd have insurance. Unfortunately, she didn't get hired on in time. Her baby died, she and her husband had HUGE problems (they were living with his parents) and she got kicked out of the house, and to make matters worse, her attendance problems caused her to lose her job.
I felt completely helpless in both situations. It was their performance that caused the problems but I wanted to rescue them both from their situations.
I'm a teacher because of those women. I'm a teacher because I don't want that life for anybody and if I can get in there and make a difference in a kid's life and help them turn it around, that's what I want to do. I have come to the realization that I can't do it for them, but I can help them learn to help themselves.
That's why I'm a teacher.
Monday, July 30, 2012
"I'm sorry"
A while ago, I walked into Freebirds with my husband who told the guy serving me that I was not a huge fan but he could change that. The guy gave me a hard time about everything, EVERYTHING that I wanted. He even challenged me when I asked for a little more cheese since that's the only thing I really wanted on my tacos. He wouldn't do it unless I paid 50 cents per extra scoop. I told him that Chipotle would give me extra cheese, no cost. He countered that Chipotle had more restaurants and could afford to do that. I mentioned that the sign at the front of the line says everything on the list - cheese included - is free. He didn't know what I was talking about. I left, hurt and very angry about how I'd been treated, especially when my husband had made it clear that I wasn't a fan (though I was amiable) in the first place and I called the manager to complain. I've worked food service in my lifetime and that is no way to treat a customer. They told me that I'd go in their book and my entire family could eat for free whenever I was ready. I'm still not ready.
Today, we went into Freebirds again and I had my bag of superior tacos from Chipotle-made any stinkin' way I want - in tow. The server today was a man wearing a Longhorn shirt. Mr. V asked if he went to UT or was just a fan. Just a fan (there are tons of people who sport the gear but never set foot on my precious 40 acres) but he's working on his associates. There was more small talk but it was all very nice.
Sitting down at our table, Mr. V asked me if that was the same guy. I said, "No. He was nice." Truthfully, I was so upset about the incident that I really remember the words and intonation better than the person who spoke them.
The man who had served Ryan today came over and asked if he could do anything else for us other than apologize for the way he had treated me so many months before.
I was SHOCKED. I couldn't believe he'd remembered me. Not only that, but he remembered that we'd been in a couple of times since - and I'd never ordered anything in those times. It was a great apology, too, one where he acknowledged exactly where he screwed up - "I had the opportunity to turn you into a fan and I blew it" - didn't blame anyone but himself, though Mr. V tried to help him out with that, and offered to make amends. Next time, he told me, "the cheese is on me." He confessed that he had to change, not only because of the incident that got him into trouble (I'm the only one who has ever complained about him) but also because of his promotion to assistant manager.
How much growing up he had done in the days since our initial encounter! I'm very impressed by his apology. I still can't believe that he remembered me or that my complaint had really meant something to him. There are far too few people anymore who take responsibility for their own actions, and fewer still who don't apologize without throwing someone else under the bus at the same time. This young man has grown from this experience and I'm glad we had a chance to reconcile. I feel more at peace walking into that establishment in the future.
Who in your life deserves an apology? What are you waiting for? Reconciliation may not be easy but it's worth it.
Today, we went into Freebirds again and I had my bag of superior tacos from Chipotle-made any stinkin' way I want - in tow. The server today was a man wearing a Longhorn shirt. Mr. V asked if he went to UT or was just a fan. Just a fan (there are tons of people who sport the gear but never set foot on my precious 40 acres) but he's working on his associates. There was more small talk but it was all very nice.
Sitting down at our table, Mr. V asked me if that was the same guy. I said, "No. He was nice." Truthfully, I was so upset about the incident that I really remember the words and intonation better than the person who spoke them.
The man who had served Ryan today came over and asked if he could do anything else for us other than apologize for the way he had treated me so many months before.
I was SHOCKED. I couldn't believe he'd remembered me. Not only that, but he remembered that we'd been in a couple of times since - and I'd never ordered anything in those times. It was a great apology, too, one where he acknowledged exactly where he screwed up - "I had the opportunity to turn you into a fan and I blew it" - didn't blame anyone but himself, though Mr. V tried to help him out with that, and offered to make amends. Next time, he told me, "the cheese is on me." He confessed that he had to change, not only because of the incident that got him into trouble (I'm the only one who has ever complained about him) but also because of his promotion to assistant manager.
How much growing up he had done in the days since our initial encounter! I'm very impressed by his apology. I still can't believe that he remembered me or that my complaint had really meant something to him. There are far too few people anymore who take responsibility for their own actions, and fewer still who don't apologize without throwing someone else under the bus at the same time. This young man has grown from this experience and I'm glad we had a chance to reconcile. I feel more at peace walking into that establishment in the future.
Who in your life deserves an apology? What are you waiting for? Reconciliation may not be easy but it's worth it.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
A Teacher Trick
If you don't know already, I am an English teacher. I love my job and I love my students but a lot of the time I can't get them to be incredibly interested in my subject.
It's a sad, sorry state of affairs that they have come to view English as something they've mastered since their friends understand them. Forget the fact that the adults whom they hope will employ them may not be impressed by communication skills that include LOL, gr8, and u r anything.
I can't tell you how many times I have tried to impress upon my students the fact that it's NOT just me! I'm not the only one who cares about grammar. In fact, I recently corrected my husband's misreading of a Bible verse - only because leaving out the 'not' completely changed the meaning of the verse - which prompted a woman I'd never met to come up and point out a problem in the church flyer. She's a lawyer and also thought (as I do) it was irresponsible to not proof read before submitting the flyer for publication. It was a pretty huge, meaning-altering error! To my students, however, this is just one other person on my side.
A little too late, I came up with an idea that proved successful in my classroom. I told them that, for extra credit, they needed to "Like" Grammarly on Facebook. I'd pull off the dates and times of carefully selected cartoons, status updates, and picture posts and ask them questions relating to the posts.
Without complaint, students started interacting with the language - and they liked it. It was fantastic. I gave them a reason (extra credit in a difficult class) to chase after meaning and wrestle with the constructs of our language. It was so wonderful that the following happened:
A student, Little Mr. M, came to class one day looking a little puzzled. He had been my student during his Freshman year and was my student again for English III (Juniors) this past year. He said, "Ms, there were so many people talking about grammar!"
"Yes, Little Mr. M, there are."
"No, there are like thousands of people talking about the same thing. They get really into it!" he told me.
"I know. I've seen it."
"All this time, I thought it was just you!"
Anything that I can do to get my students involved in the learning process and any exposure I can give them to understand that there is a larger world out there is 100% worth it to me. I desperately want my students to rise above the challenges that face them and I want them to want it. It's hard, though, to make them see that there is a world out there that operates differently than what they see through their eyes. With Grammarly's help, I feel like I'm starting to do exactly that.
Mrs. V
It's a sad, sorry state of affairs that they have come to view English as something they've mastered since their friends understand them. Forget the fact that the adults whom they hope will employ them may not be impressed by communication skills that include LOL, gr8, and u r anything.
I can't tell you how many times I have tried to impress upon my students the fact that it's NOT just me! I'm not the only one who cares about grammar. In fact, I recently corrected my husband's misreading of a Bible verse - only because leaving out the 'not' completely changed the meaning of the verse - which prompted a woman I'd never met to come up and point out a problem in the church flyer. She's a lawyer and also thought (as I do) it was irresponsible to not proof read before submitting the flyer for publication. It was a pretty huge, meaning-altering error! To my students, however, this is just one other person on my side.
A little too late, I came up with an idea that proved successful in my classroom. I told them that, for extra credit, they needed to "Like" Grammarly on Facebook. I'd pull off the dates and times of carefully selected cartoons, status updates, and picture posts and ask them questions relating to the posts.
Without complaint, students started interacting with the language - and they liked it. It was fantastic. I gave them a reason (extra credit in a difficult class) to chase after meaning and wrestle with the constructs of our language. It was so wonderful that the following happened:
A student, Little Mr. M, came to class one day looking a little puzzled. He had been my student during his Freshman year and was my student again for English III (Juniors) this past year. He said, "Ms, there were so many people talking about grammar!"
"Yes, Little Mr. M, there are."
"No, there are like thousands of people talking about the same thing. They get really into it!" he told me.
"I know. I've seen it."
"All this time, I thought it was just you!"
Anything that I can do to get my students involved in the learning process and any exposure I can give them to understand that there is a larger world out there is 100% worth it to me. I desperately want my students to rise above the challenges that face them and I want them to want it. It's hard, though, to make them see that there is a world out there that operates differently than what they see through their eyes. With Grammarly's help, I feel like I'm starting to do exactly that.
Mrs. V
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
A delicious dilemma of sorts
***I wrote this a while back and never actually published it. So now, months and months after I wrote it (we're talking February, peeps), here it is. It isn't controversial like some other posts. Unless you look at it from a "first-world problems" perspective.***
Me: "Green apple juice is so delicious. I don't know how I ever drank anything else!"
Mr. V: "You sound like an infomercial!"
Sitting down to dinner last night, freshly squeezed juice in hand, I had this overwhelmingly peaceful feeling. It was this refreshing feeling that stuck with me and strangely enough, made me wish, once again, for a dishwasher with the ability to run the top or the bottom rack separate from the other.
It is a frequent topic of discussion around here, this dishwasher talk. It's usually revolving more or less around my choice of "next new appliance" which we'll get in 25 years, after we finish paying off our college loans (did I say 25? I meant 2.5. Or less. We're that on top of our finances - and proud of it!) - an oven, a refrigerator, or a dishwasher. Usually, the refrigerator wins. The one we have now was left here by the people who owned the house before we did and, not long after we moved in, we found out why. It grumbles and roars if you leave the water dispenser plugged in. And I'm not talking about some minor roar like that of a young Simba just learning to pounce. I'm talking about a full Terrible Twos Tantrum complete with fist pounding and high pitched screaming. It's terrible. So we unplugged the water dispenser and now the chief complaint about the fridge is that it crowds our food. Boo!
Around the holidays, the oven usually wins out. I'd like one with a warming tray or a double oven. That would make my cooking/baking side extremely happy. But it's not usually that big of an issue since we are a family of two and I don't typically have the time to make huge meals requiring a double oven.
Lately, though, the dishwasher, once on the bottom rung of my important appliance ladder, has risen to the top. And it's all because of my juicer. I love my new juicer and the energy I get from being healthier SO much that I am willing to sacrifice a spacious new refrigerator with French doors and a bottom freezer; I'm willing to sacrifice an oven that can make my holiday dreams come true. I want to juice EVERY day! And sometimes more than that. Mr. V doesn't like to run the dishwasher if it isn't full and I don't have time (or energy) to hand wash the entire unit every single time I want juice BUT if I had the new dishwasher, the one that allows you to wash the top rack apart from the bottom, I could juice every day and be a much happier (and healthier) camper.
Isn't it funny how your priorities can change?
Mrs. V
Me: "Green apple juice is so delicious. I don't know how I ever drank anything else!"
Mr. V: "You sound like an infomercial!"
Sitting down to dinner last night, freshly squeezed juice in hand, I had this overwhelmingly peaceful feeling. It was this refreshing feeling that stuck with me and strangely enough, made me wish, once again, for a dishwasher with the ability to run the top or the bottom rack separate from the other.
It is a frequent topic of discussion around here, this dishwasher talk. It's usually revolving more or less around my choice of "next new appliance" which we'll get in 25 years, after we finish paying off our college loans (did I say 25? I meant 2.5. Or less. We're that on top of our finances - and proud of it!) - an oven, a refrigerator, or a dishwasher. Usually, the refrigerator wins. The one we have now was left here by the people who owned the house before we did and, not long after we moved in, we found out why. It grumbles and roars if you leave the water dispenser plugged in. And I'm not talking about some minor roar like that of a young Simba just learning to pounce. I'm talking about a full Terrible Twos Tantrum complete with fist pounding and high pitched screaming. It's terrible. So we unplugged the water dispenser and now the chief complaint about the fridge is that it crowds our food. Boo!
Around the holidays, the oven usually wins out. I'd like one with a warming tray or a double oven. That would make my cooking/baking side extremely happy. But it's not usually that big of an issue since we are a family of two and I don't typically have the time to make huge meals requiring a double oven.
Lately, though, the dishwasher, once on the bottom rung of my important appliance ladder, has risen to the top. And it's all because of my juicer. I love my new juicer and the energy I get from being healthier SO much that I am willing to sacrifice a spacious new refrigerator with French doors and a bottom freezer; I'm willing to sacrifice an oven that can make my holiday dreams come true. I want to juice EVERY day! And sometimes more than that. Mr. V doesn't like to run the dishwasher if it isn't full and I don't have time (or energy) to hand wash the entire unit every single time I want juice BUT if I had the new dishwasher, the one that allows you to wash the top rack apart from the bottom, I could juice every day and be a much happier (and healthier) camper.
Isn't it funny how your priorities can change?
Mrs. V
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