via This Recording
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
The Photography of Joseph Szabo
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANE
Today is Jane's birthday
She is 18.
Jane wanted to buy beer
to celebrate.
She always gets
proofed.
I never get
proofed
because if it's
an old guy behind
the cash register
I ask him
how many kids
does he have
and if it's a
young guy
I smile and talk
of his wavy brown
hair.
Jane doesn't do that
and that's why she can't
buy beer.
Today, though, she can
but the guy at
the cash register
is really stoned
out
and doesn't ask for
her proof - just her
money.
Jane asks him if
he wants to see her
proof.
He thinks she is
under age and maker her
put the beer back.
She comes out crying.
I have to go in and buy the beer.
-Sue Sipos
All images from photosofteenagers.com
Thursday, February 4, 2010
I wrote this for class...
The students complain that I treat them like kindergarteners, and I retort, “I highly doubt kindergarteners read stories about the Irish civil war and analyze them for theme.” They don’t seem to get my sarcasm. In fact, not only do they complain that sitting in a circle reading a story is juvenile, they claim I have no sense of humor. Absurd! If only they could see my daily witty, sarcastic, brilliant humor at work in my (normal) daily life…
But for now they just think I’m a stuck up old person without the ability to laugh. They’re so funny though! I wish they could realize that I think so, and that I really like them, despite their reluctance to do any work, inability to bring their homework to class, complete disrespect, and obnoxiousness. But seriously, I like them! I swear!
Anyways, today we’re doing a reading circle for the story “ The Sniper,” and it soon becomes clear that some people are simply refusing to read, faking ill, going to the bathroom, any number of routine excuses. It also becomes clear that four students can’t read, and that I’m not a first grade teacher, and I have no clue how to teach kids how to read.
It takes them years to calm down, we have to reread certain sections because the noise level is off the charts, plus some kids are just sitting there drawing pot leaves on their papers. Eventually, after some serious nagging, we make some progress with the story, but asking them questions is pointless because not only are they not listening to me, when I do talk they purposely talk louder over me.
Then a miracle occurs. Learning occurs. Without them even realizing it, and I’m so happy I could literally cry. Thinking about it now actually brings tears of joy and pride to my eyes! Javier, the loudest student, and also one of the smart kids, becomes very interested in a certain situation in the story involving the Sniper shooting an old woman who informs the enemy of his location. I remark that I think this is a wrong thing to do, and Javier immediately disputes my statement, excitedly shouting that “He did it for a good reason, that old lady was a snitch!” He then proceeds to go around the circle polling each student about what he or she would do if put in a similar situation. Can you believe this?! They all gave their input, gave some reasons why or why not, and were, like, engaging their minds.
I just didn’t have the heart to tell them they were learning.
But for now they just think I’m a stuck up old person without the ability to laugh. They’re so funny though! I wish they could realize that I think so, and that I really like them, despite their reluctance to do any work, inability to bring their homework to class, complete disrespect, and obnoxiousness. But seriously, I like them! I swear!
Anyways, today we’re doing a reading circle for the story “ The Sniper,” and it soon becomes clear that some people are simply refusing to read, faking ill, going to the bathroom, any number of routine excuses. It also becomes clear that four students can’t read, and that I’m not a first grade teacher, and I have no clue how to teach kids how to read.
It takes them years to calm down, we have to reread certain sections because the noise level is off the charts, plus some kids are just sitting there drawing pot leaves on their papers. Eventually, after some serious nagging, we make some progress with the story, but asking them questions is pointless because not only are they not listening to me, when I do talk they purposely talk louder over me.
Then a miracle occurs. Learning occurs. Without them even realizing it, and I’m so happy I could literally cry. Thinking about it now actually brings tears of joy and pride to my eyes! Javier, the loudest student, and also one of the smart kids, becomes very interested in a certain situation in the story involving the Sniper shooting an old woman who informs the enemy of his location. I remark that I think this is a wrong thing to do, and Javier immediately disputes my statement, excitedly shouting that “He did it for a good reason, that old lady was a snitch!” He then proceeds to go around the circle polling each student about what he or she would do if put in a similar situation. Can you believe this?! They all gave their input, gave some reasons why or why not, and were, like, engaging their minds.
I just didn’t have the heart to tell them they were learning.
Monday, February 1, 2010
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