The Middle School Child

Dear parents of middle school or Jr. High kids,

I know how you are feeling if your child has left the cocoon of elementary school.  I remember the anxiety I felt when my three children entered junior high, and I see it every year as a 7th grade teacher.

There are some things I want you to know though.

Yes, passing periods seem loud, crowded, and chaotic, but we are in the halls watching out for your kid.  We are giving encouragement with our smiles and greetings.

Please keep in mind your child may act differently at school because they are surrounded by friends, enemies, and new people they want to know.  Your middle school/jr. high kid is a social being (understatement of the year).  We teachers know this fact and have to work hard to get and keep the attention of 20 to 30 of these darlings at the same time AND teach them too!

We care about your kid.  When they enter our classroom, they become our kids.  Our heart hurts when they are sad.  We laugh at their jokes.  We celebrate their successes.  We encourage them when they aren't being successful.  We listen when they need to talk.

What we need from you is to stay involved. 
- Your kids may be taller than their teacher, but they are not grown up. 
- Don't make excuses for them.  Teach them to own up to mistakes and correct them. 
- Check their grades.  Most schools have an online system.  Show your kids how to check their grades too.
- Instead of asking if they have homework (they do), ask to see what they are working on in their classes.
- They have math homework every night, ask to see it.
- They need to be reading every day for vocabulary and comprehension.  Read the same book as them, read with them, read to them, or ask them to tell you about the book.
- They are taking notes in all of their classes.  They should be rewriting the notes in their own words, or making diagrams or pictures to understand and digest the material.
- They have new vocabulary terms in ALL of their classes - quiz them.
- Make sure they are sleeping at night.  When they fall asleep in class, they are not learning.  They are growing and are busy - they need more sleep.
- Make sure their morning is pleasant.  When they fight with you before school, they can't concentrate at school.
- They are going to make mistakes.  Help them learn from it, own it, and make adjustments.
- Communicate with the teachers and get to know them.  A partnership between you and their teachers is going to benefit your child.
- I know you work long hours, but please attend open house.  When you can see their locker, the hallways, the classrooms, and the teachers, all the stories you hear about school will have context.   Also, this one night shows your kid that you value their education.
- Hug them EVERY day, or better yet, every time you see them.  They may pull away, but keep at it.  Hugs are awesome and good for you and your child's health.

Sincerely,

A teacher

Catch Up

In so many ways, on so many days, we are trying to catch up on the various things we should be doing. 

People use the weekends to catch up on sleep, laundry, housework, and yard work.  When we come back from vacation or an illness, we try to catch up on work.

Who made these timetables for us? Have we done it to ourselves?  Do we see the ideal on tv, pinterest,  and magazines?

We don't stop to relax any longer.  If we lay in the hammock, read a book, or binge watch something on Netflix, there is that twinge of guilt inside. 

Life is too short and much too beautiful (and full of challenges) to add self imposed guilt.  Spend some time thinking, imagining, wondering.

Catch a Wave

I am sorry to disappoint any surfer who thought this was going to be about awesome waves.

This is about the friendly wave which appears to be fading from existence.

We have years of highway construction behind us in my community and many years ahead.  Traveling to work, the library on the other side of the highway, or even the supermarket takes great mental patience.  The lanes change daily, and there are always jumpers.  (Definition of jumper:  someone who believes they are more important than anyone else on the road therefore they should not have to wait in a long line of cars when they can fly down a merging lane and 'jump' in front of another car.) #annoying

When you do let someone in because you are feeling generous, no wave is given as thanks.  What a shame.  I grew up watching my dad wave to the neighbors when he passed by (even the lift  one finger from the steering wheel wave is enough).

These days most of the drivers do not wave, do not thank you, do not give that universal symbol to say "man, this construction sucks, but at least we are all suffering."  #constructionisapain

I have observed and performed various experiments while I have ventured into the construction zone (it is everywhere).  Me and a few drivers give a wave.  The reaction of those receiving the wave are hilarious.  They are unsure what to do with this sudden show of kindness.  Most choose to do nothing.  Some think it is a fist shake and return the finger. #awkward

Eighteen years ago in LA airport I saw a woman I recognized - Linda Hamilton - the real butt kicker in The Terminator (sorry Arnold). She saw me looking at her, and you know what this gracious woman did?  She waved to me.  I was thrilled, and of course, I waved back.  #awesomeday

Catching a wave from someone is a good thing, and we should throw them out there first.  You just may make someone's day a bit better.

Holiday Catch-Phrases

It is that time of the year to "put one foot in front of the other," and search for those last minute gifts.  Venturing into the mall is not for the faint of heart.  The champion shoppers, during this festive time of the year, are those who clearly love the thrill of the hunt and do their best shopping as the clock ticks down.  We have learned how to weave through crowded parking lots without hitting other cars or pedestrians.  We have made many new friends while waiting in the long lines and/or beaten a new level in Candy Crush.

Even though the title is "Holiday Catch-Phrases," this message is not for the planners who finished shopping months ago.  You could not handle shopping right now.  The long lines would make you demand a register open up just for you. You would complain loudly - "Bah! Humbug!" The lack of parking spaces would force you to pound on your steering wheel yelling "I'm gonna deck your halls bub!"  Stressing out and yelling  may make you feel better for a second, but "Christmas isn't just a day, it's a frame of mind..."  I know you believe "Maybe Christmas...doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more."  We procrastinators believe that too...however, we enjoy the adrenaline rush.

Even though advertisers and media want us to spend, SpEnD, SPEND (which we do), they remind us of the importance of people.  We understand their sentimental or silly scenes are a cover for their subliminal "buy" message, and we are not fooled.  As long as we score the sought after gift at a discount, we are thrilled. 

My heart still leaps a little seeing the mall Santa.  Wishing, dreaming, he might be the 'real Santa'.  I have to suppress the desire to yell "Santa!  I know him." The thing I would ask from Santa would not require him to tell me "You'll shoot your eye out, kid."  Yet, I would not ask for world peace or anything as selfless either.  I would ask for no debt.  On one day - one magical day - all of my debt would disappear.  Student loans, mortgages, credit cards, and medical bills would just...be...gone.  I would love this for me.   My selfless act would be to wish it for you too.  I know that we could possibly get into a hole again before the next Christmas rolls around.  But...this year we could run through the streets yelling "Merry Christmas, movie house! Merry Christmas, Emporium! Merry Christmas, you wonderful old Building and Loan!" 

The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in all of the long lines, crowded streets, children's laughter, and an old man's cane echoing through a lonely house.  "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing."  During this time of the year, no matter your circumstances, dream like a child who believes in Santa Clause. 

"At one time most of my friends could hear the bell. But as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found, one Christmas, that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me... as it does for all who truly believe."

"And God bless us, everyone."



 Thanks to these great movies:
- Frosty the Snowman
- A Christmas Carol
- Jingle all the Way
- Miracle on 34th Street  
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Elf
- A Christmas Story
- It's a Wonderful Life
- The Santa Clause
- Polar Express
- A Christmas Carol

I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR NAME

What is in a name anyway?

The beginning of every school year brings sweat to my brow as I try to learn (and pronounce) 150 new student names.  I find this one of my most crucial responsibilities, and I feel the pressure.  After all, our names are our identity.  It is great when someone remembers your name.  They are saying you matter.  Conversely, having to reintroduce yourself to someone each time you come in contact is not only frustrating but demoralizing.

I recently read several articles about the most popular and some unusual baby names for 2013.  (I was so relieved that Poopy and Butt did not make the list this year.  I still feel sympathy for the 3 Poopy's and the 3 Butts named in 2010).

For boys the top 10 names are:  Liam,Noah, Ethan, Mason, Jacob, Jack, Lucas, Jackson, Logan and Aiden

Four of those names have come through my classes during the past several years, and the name "Jack" makes me smile because I think of my beloved Uncle Jack.

So far, so good.

Girls have an equally beautiful top 10 list:  Emma, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Isabella, Mia, Emily, Charlotte, Amelia, and Ella

Two of those names were used for my cousin's beautiful daughters, and four have been in my classes.

These are not the difficult to pronounce names though or even the usual names.  Let's go down the "What were they thinking?" road together.

Ajax, Panda, Stetson, Hurricane, Tulip, Chevy, Rocket, Phone, and Flower.  These parents must have played the game where you close your eyes for ten seconds and name the first object you see.  Voila!  They named their baby. 

The other set of unusual names are credited to the foodies.  They played a similar game, yet it could only involve something yummy.  In about 12 years, I may meet Kiwi, Cheese, Butterbean, Chow, or Danish.

My children are older.  My generation only messed with the spelling of names.  I am not sure why we wanted to confuse the masses and frustrate our children.  I named my daughter Marilynn (pronounced like Marilyn Monroe's name, not Mary Lynn or Maryland) and my son Jon (not short for Jonathan as you would expect).  My third child is simply Joshua, but we have always called him Josh.  About 2 years ago, he felt left out on the spelling craze and now spells his name Joshh.  I would have done it first if I had thought about it, but by the third child, my creativity and sleep was seriously lacking.

I have learned to always listen closely and look into someone's eyes when they speak their name.  If the name is unusual or difficult to pronounce (Amr, Baobao, Uther, Laki, Xochitl, and Aethylswyth to name a few), just say "I didn't catch your name."

Catchable

The name of your blog becomes a make or break moment for many people.  Will you have to say it twice for people to understand?  Do you even know how to spell it without thinking?  (You laugh, but I know there are some of you out there with that problem - at least the first few times).

catchable:  adj.  refers to the ability of being caught

While colds and the flu are catchable, we will focus on the positive things to catch. 

Goals...
     Ideas...
           Dreams...
                  Creativity...