Alliteration

April is poetry month, but we are getting a head start on figurative language. I taught alliteration last week, which some kids got right away:

Kid 1: The kitten karate kicked the Kool Aid man in the kitchen.

Kid 2: Monsters make meatloaf on Mondays.

Kid 3: My sister was surprised since she never saw a singing shark. 

Kid 4: I threw a pizza in my brother's face.

Like I said, some kids struggled. 

Here is one of my favorite examples. By a favorite student. Teachers have favorites. Just in case you were wondering. 

Translation:
A stranger stepped on a sandwich. Someone slurped it up. 

"What I'm Thankful for"

There have been so many times this year that I have wanted to post either pictures of my kids or their work, but I have restrained myself. I get it. Other people's kids + the internet = recipe for disaster.

However, I am going to post excerpts from their "What I'm Thankful For" essays, which was an essay competition put on by the Senate Office. Why? Because they are my students and we all worked hard on these. Why else? Because they are heartfelt, funny and inspiring. Because people need to read them and smile. Because I want to dammit.

"What I'm Thankful for"

I'm thankful for a healthy heart because I could love people and be kind to them. Some people in the hospital, their heart is black because they smoke. I'm thankful for a heart because my heart is clean and it beeps in between my ribs. My heart helps me breath, survive and love others. -b

I'm thankful for transportation because people in New York City don't need cars. If you don't have a car and you want to buy one, it will cost a lot of money. Also you could rent  a car, but that is wasting your money. You can go anywhere on a bus, the train or maybe you want to ride your bike. -d

I am thankful for my teachers because they teach us things that are going on in the world. We get better at spelling and wrighting. Sometimes we can write about our selves and also how we feel and share it with the class. I like that.  - s

I am thankful for my parents because my mom and dad go to work to get the money to pay the bills. My mom and dad give me food and wash my clothes that I need to wear for school. - b

I am thankful for parks because us kids have a place to play and have fun when there is nothing else to do. Parks are a place where you can hang out with friends and family. Parks are special because when it is hot you can go to a water park and get wet. - i

I am happy because in Guinea, they don't always have water. Some other towns don't have clean water. In Guinea, they get their water from wells. Sometimes when we have water, we will have a lot of bottles to put the water in. If someone does not drink water, thay will die. I am happy because in New Yourk City they have water. -b (moved to NYC from Guinea last year)

I am thankful for my hamsters. They always come to me when I say their names. They listen to me. I'm mostly thankful for my 6 birds because they help me with my homework. The smarter one died. -a

I am thankful for my friends because they show me compassion. Even when I get mad and don't like them, they are my friends. -t

I am also thankful for a home. I am thankful for a home because some people live outside. I do not want to live outside and people can call me a bum. I am lucky to have a come so i can wash, brush my teeth and have good personal hygiene and not stink. - a

I am thankful for food because without food, we would be skinny. -a

I am thankful for technology because I can text my mom or dad if I am going somewhere, like if I go to the park next to school. - j

I love my family because they provide me with food and shelter. Sometimes parents break up or get divorced. You still have people who love you and that is your family, friends and teachers. Sometimes families have arguments, but it is ok. It is just called tough love, but inside you know you love them. -e

I'm thankful that my kids make me think and challenge me. Now that I've taken a minute to think...

I'm thankful for an easy, loving relationship with my family. Clare recently reminded me that there are many families that love each other, but don't get along well. We do. I won't be with them for Thanksgiving, but I am counting the days until Anderson Family vacay in Arizona and thinking of them on Thursday. 

I'm thankful for Zach with whom I love living life. For a good job with a wonderful coteacher who makes me laugh and constantly helps me put things into perspective. For friends forever. For my people Upstairs. For a vivacious city. For a wide variety of food. For health. For a really good life. 

Thanks. 

Being a mom looks hard

I had to call a parent this afternoon. I busted a one of my kids for vandalizing a picture in the Assistant Principal's office while we were taking the state math test. (I test in her office b/c of a space shortage come test time). I don't really like calling parents. I think the thing is that I wish I called home more often with good news so that I wasn't only calling with the bad. Regardless, mom had to know.

When I called, mom said that she was actually having a pretty tough time with her kid. He isn't a jerk, but he is 11 and is starting to push the limits. (The jerks start doing that around age 7) She told me he has been lying and she caught him steeling and she doesn't know what to do with him. Once she started talking, it all came tumbling out. Her mom is terminally ill, she doesn't know how to tell the kids, they're acting out at home. She is crying on the phone. I'm just listening. She said she was thinking about calling me, but hadn't gotten to it.

Mom had a total breakdown. She had been carrying all of this heavy mental shit around, coping, trying to make things work and they just weren't working. Shit, we've all been there before. I have no idea about losing a parent or raising an adolescent kid, but I know the feeling of Ugh why isn't this working? which is what I had to identify with in our conversation. I reassured her that she is doing a good job with her kid (she really is) and offered to put her in touch with some counseling agencies, which she appreciated.


When I got off the phone, I was reeling with how much this woman opened up to me. My initial thoughts were you know I'm half your age, don't have kids, and have never dealt with any of the stuff you are dealing with, right? But none of that mattered. She needed someone to listen, needed reassurance and a little bit of help and I could provide that. Our conversation ended up being so much more than about the incident earlier that day. I'm really glad I called.

Hobbies rule

I've been working on a few pieces of jewelry for the holidays and the more I work, the more I think about, critique and really enjoy what I'm doing. The more I want to get back to it each day. This is a good thing. I wish it happened more easily in other arenas (work, for example).

So I decided to bring jewelry making to school.  We started the activity by discussing the value of our own interests and hobbies. It always blows my mind that many of my kids don't know that what they think about and enjoy doing is valuable and important until someone tells them. They can tell you that they're okay at math, like science and need to "work on their reading," but often struggle to tell you what they really like and are really good at outside of their school subjects. They wouldn't tell you that they like reading Calvin and Hobbes, but much rather practice drawing the characters and making the dialogue sound like their friends talking. Or that they could spend hours fixing their Tech Decks. My favorite things to do are cooking, playing outside and craft projects and you won't find any of them posted on the Daily Schedule at the front of the room (though if you know me and my coteacher, they are lurking within each subject).

We talked about how hobbies are an important part of who you are in addition to and often in conjunction with who you are in school. I felt very much like I was leading the kind of discussion my dad had with me thousands of times. What are you passionate about? Find that and run with it. Do what you love and you'll love what you do, right Billy Joel? (His Syracuse Class of 2006 Commencement speech in a nutshell)

So today I shared my hobby (showed them some beaded things I'd made, talked about patterns, sawed some metal) with my kids and then they made their own jewelry for someone in their family. Each kid had someone special in mind and worked quietly (ahh!) and diligently (amazing!) on their necklace or bracelet. They were pouring themselves into their work.

I haven't posted pics of my kids, though I was tempted to because they are really cute when they look proud of themselves. But, I have put their work up. I was very impressed by some and got a kick out of others. Either way, everyone had a blast.

Today was a good day. Everyone had fun. Let's do it again tomorrow.