fights and bookmarks

There was a huge fight today after school. I didn't see any of it and I still don't know quite what happened. I was walking up to the office to check my never-full mailbox and saw all the administration running out the door with their all-knowing walki-talkies. Then, as I entered the office, I saw another teacher yelling for help near the back of the office. The secretary kept telling people who did not belong in the office to leave and that something major was happening in front of the art room. I checked my mailbox (nothing) and walked back out the door. My room is completely opposite of the art room but I heard kids, all the way down the hall back to my room, talking about the fight. Then, I heard cop cars and an ambulence. I am sure I'll have the scoop by 7:50 tomorrow morning.

I made my English classes bookmarks. They are really nothing too spiffy--no sex/drugs/violence on them--but I was proud of them. I made them to demonstrate the concept of making text connections while you read (text to self, text to text, and text to world) and put a little diagram on the bookmark with hints on how to make these connections. I told them all to put their names on them and then said if I found any on the floor I would prbably cry. They laughed and I said, "And I know how much you all care about my feelings, huh?!" Another laugh. Well, all day I had kids holding the bookmarks just as if they would drop on the floor. Then, the student would say, "Look, Mrs. Hubert!" So, like a dummy, I'd look and see my beautiful works of art almost touching the ground. Then I'd let out a fake cry and they'd laugh and put the bookmark back on the desk. Even still, I found about 2 every period left lonely on the floor or desk, already chewed and graphic and obscene pictures drawn on the empty space. I kind of got the same feeling I do when I see some little punk has drawn some nasty comment or picture on my bulletin board in permanent marker. I try to teach them respect of other's properties but me saying "Would you like if I came to your room and drew on your walls??" doesn't really work.

Our district internet filtering system has been down all week. They aren't sure when the filtering will start working again, but I sure hope it happens fast. The word's out to all the students and they all have been accessing MySpace.com on all the computers at the school. I keep telling my journalism students NO MYSPACE and then I leave the room to make copies or whatever and come back and they are ALL on MYSPACE! Then, I told them to get off the computer unless they were working on journalism stuff. They give me attitude, like, wow, Mrs. Hubert, that's mean. This cycle has been repeating itself for the last 5 days at school. MySpace s so annoying to me.

I've gotta come up with some clever way to teach two poems tomorrow. They are great poems, I love 'em, but I guarantee 8th graders will not. Wish me luck!