recovered

I didn't post yesterday because I had to recover from a bad day at school.

My poetry thing (the whole party idea I posted about earlier) went ok, but I still had the stick in the muds who insisted on complaining and whining. I did a few who came up to talk to me after class and tell me that they love poetry and would I like to see their poetry book. That made me feel good. Today I taught simile and had the students listen to "The River" by Garth Brooks and identify the similes. They kind of thought that was neat and many who insisted that they hated country music really enjoyed that song.

Today I received a wonderful note in my mailbox at school. One of my students nominated me for Outstanding Educator of the Year. The bad thing is, I am not technically eligible until after I've taught in the district for 5 years. I am guessing they put it in my box just so I knew, even though I'm not really in the running, so to speak. Her letter was really sweet. It said: "Mrs. Hubert is the best teacher. She makes me like learning. School is usually a place that teenagers hate but everyone loves Mrs. Hubert. She always has a smile and is pachient (sic) with my class. She is my best teacher ever. I know that education is important because of what Mrs. Hubert tells me" I almost cried when I read it. Needless to say, after such an awful day yesterday (I'd rather not go into the details), her note made my day. I plan to shellac the letter, frame it, and mount in on my wall just to remind me that I am doing some good on the days when I feel like quiting.

A student informed me yesterday that she was going to have her tattoo by the end of the school year. I have nothing against tattoos, but I was a little surprised to hear it come out of a 8th graders mouth. I asked her what she was getting tattooed and she said "a pshycadelic mushroom." Wow. I suppose a lot more random and crazy things happen in my students life, but I'd prefer to be kept out as the thoughts of what they do when they aren't in my room scare me.

We had a fire drill yesterday. In the middle of December, on the coldest day of the year, they drag us and our students out to stand in the cold for 15 minutes. I don't understand why they didn't have the drill at the beginning of the year. It went ok, but I had been reminding my students since last Thursday that we'd be having the drill and to bring a coat. I still had plenty of students who ignored me (or just plain didn't listen, which is more likely) and walked outside at 11:00 am with short sleeves on. I bundled right up so I was actually just fine. While we were out there, all the kids want to goof off and walk around. It was nearly impossible keeping all of them in line.

Part of my bad day was what happened during the fire drill. I have a student who has a "little arm" (his words). He has such a positive attitude about his 'handicap,' and really takes pride in his little arm. While we were outside yesterday, he was standing at the back of the line and someone pushed him and one of the three fingers on his little arm broke. He left school after that but I felt SO horrible, like if I had been watching closer I could have prevented it. He actually came to school today without a cast; I guess it happens a lot and he's grown to get used to it. He told me that a cast would just irritate his little arm so he is just extra careful and had an ice pack on it all day. I was glad to see his spirits were lifted because yesterday I was almost crying for him.

Another tragic thing happened to one of my students last week. This student and family drove way out of town for funeral and on the way home were in a terrible car accident. Everyone survived but with major problems. Both the parents work at the school and two of the three children attend the school. I don't have much more information than that, but I guess they are all in the hospital trying to get by. It just makes me think how precious life is...and even though that student was one of the "challenging" ones, I sure hope he recovers.

Well, I suppose that about sums it up for the day. I'm getting ready to go see a movie; I feel like a need a break because all I've done for the last two days is grade papers and I'm sick of it!!! Happy Wednesday!