This Thanksgiving break, I'm very thankful for my amazing family. Being together on holidays and celebrating what holds us together is heartwarming. Personally, I get together for two Thanksgiving celebrations, one with my great great aunt & 2nd cousins, and the other with my "immediate" family. In this country, I know that it is rare that there are large families who spend hours together on a regular basis, much less knowing who your second cousins are AND spending Thanksgiving with them. It's always been something that I've been so lucky to have!
While I celebrate all of these blessings, there are two things that are bothering me. First, this year really exemplifies the pre-Christmas rush. Have we skipped over Halloween and Thanksgiving? Have we dismissed the thought of what binds us together? Society has become so terribly individualistic that we have forgotten about others. People become so focused on deals, sales, and material things, that Christmas shopping has overshadowed not one, but two holidays.
Secondly, as the granddaughter of an immigrant to this country, I am uneasy in finding a clear answer to letting refugees in. Where will they live, what will they do, will they eventually become citizens? What is the plan? Yes, people in such terrible positions should be helped - but what are the logistics? Can the nation sustain a large influx? Is there a screening process? What rights will they have? How will those rights be protected? So many questions. In the Thanksgiving spirit, I am thankful for that I have and would like to extend what liberties I have to those who don't. But, it's a more complicated process and national reputations do get in the way.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Who should have the right to vote?
Recently, I asked my 8th grade students to tell me who should have the right to vote after finishing up the Progressive Era Unit. I've adjusted for spelling. This is what they said:
"I think people over 21 should vote. No, I don't think you should vote in jail because you are punished. Illegal immigrants should vote because no matter who you are you should vote. If you are 21, then you are more responsible. Everyone over 21 should vote because you are human"
"Women should have the right to vote. You should be allowed to vote when you are 16. You should not be allowed to vote in jail because you did something bad to get in there. People are not allowed here to vote if they are illegal immigrants"
"Everyone should have the right to vote because all people think differently. People in jail should have the right to vote and illegal immigrants should have the right to vote. Everyone should have the right to vote"
"The people that are allowed to vote should be men and women. They should be men and women who are not in jail, illegal immigrants or people under the age of 18. Illegal immigrants should't vote because they aren't American citizens until they are made citizens. Women should have the right to vote because they've done a lot."
"Everybody should have the right to vote. You should be 18 years old to vote. You should be able to vote if you are in jail. No illegal immigrants should be able to vote. Women should be able to vote."
"Kids over 12 should be able to vote because we have rights just as older people. At 13 we have just as much rights as 18 year olds. People in jail should not have the right to vote because you are in there because you did something wrong so you should not have a say. Yes, immigrants should have the right to vote because they have as much a say."
"I think people over 21 should vote. No, I don't think you should vote in jail because you are punished. Illegal immigrants should vote because no matter who you are you should vote. If you are 21, then you are more responsible. Everyone over 21 should vote because you are human"
"Women should have the right to vote. You should be allowed to vote when you are 16. You should not be allowed to vote in jail because you did something bad to get in there. People are not allowed here to vote if they are illegal immigrants"
"Everyone should have the right to vote because all people think differently. People in jail should have the right to vote and illegal immigrants should have the right to vote. Everyone should have the right to vote"
"The people that are allowed to vote should be men and women. They should be men and women who are not in jail, illegal immigrants or people under the age of 18. Illegal immigrants should't vote because they aren't American citizens until they are made citizens. Women should have the right to vote because they've done a lot."
"Everybody should have the right to vote. You should be 18 years old to vote. You should be able to vote if you are in jail. No illegal immigrants should be able to vote. Women should be able to vote."
"Kids over 12 should be able to vote because we have rights just as older people. At 13 we have just as much rights as 18 year olds. People in jail should not have the right to vote because you are in there because you did something wrong so you should not have a say. Yes, immigrants should have the right to vote because they have as much a say."
Monday, November 9, 2015
Pondering the Chaos
Lately, I've been thinking about how my room is set up and the amount of papers that are piling up. Like one of the blogs I recently read, I'm sure that there are many of us educators that start off the year with good intentions and then the mess ensues. My little world behind the desk has become a flurry of old student papers and department paperwork. So how do I get back on track? Time to get back into that energized mindset. You know, that eagerness that you get in the early months that slowly dissipates.
I am also reminded of a sermon that I heard recently. The pastor, coming out of retirement to preach, gave a sermon that you rarely hear - one of money. Not the money one that's pounded out for stewardship, but one where he basically boiled a lot of fluff down to a couple things. 1) God will provide (I'm sure a little initiative doesn't hurt!) 2) It shouldn't matter what you make - the salary part shouldn't matter as long as it's something you like to do 3) Money is a pain. At least this is my interpretation of what was said. It made me think a lot about my current situation.
I've been so caught up in the petty politics of the school and getting stuck on the little stuff, that I've forgotten to focus on what really matters - the students. I've focused on my salary and how long it'd take me to pay off my student loans that I've let myself forget how much joy there is in seeing the light bulb moments.
So, what to do from here. I've cleaned out my desk - a clean, organized home base sounded like a good place to start - and moved on to the shelves in the room. I'm going to clear the clutter and get back to creating fun lessons & focus on the stuff that matters.
I am also reminded of a sermon that I heard recently. The pastor, coming out of retirement to preach, gave a sermon that you rarely hear - one of money. Not the money one that's pounded out for stewardship, but one where he basically boiled a lot of fluff down to a couple things. 1) God will provide (I'm sure a little initiative doesn't hurt!) 2) It shouldn't matter what you make - the salary part shouldn't matter as long as it's something you like to do 3) Money is a pain. At least this is my interpretation of what was said. It made me think a lot about my current situation.
I've been so caught up in the petty politics of the school and getting stuck on the little stuff, that I've forgotten to focus on what really matters - the students. I've focused on my salary and how long it'd take me to pay off my student loans that I've let myself forget how much joy there is in seeing the light bulb moments.
So, what to do from here. I've cleaned out my desk - a clean, organized home base sounded like a good place to start - and moved on to the shelves in the room. I'm going to clear the clutter and get back to creating fun lessons & focus on the stuff that matters.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Substitute Teacher Binder
I severely dislike when I am absent from work. Perhaps it's just the American Protestant work ethic kicking in, but it's disconcerting to come back after having been out to find my desk and classroom a mess. So, I made a Sub Binder to try and combat this.
I took one of my binders that I inherited from the previous teacher in my room. It's one that had graphics on the cover for an outdated reading program that won't run on computers today. Throw on a title page and some duct tape (the one you see is the Stick Together roll where a portion of the cost goes to stop bullying in schools) and hello organization.
Inside, I put my sub plans and any materials that the sub might need. Some lined paper, sticky notes to label what period worksheets are for, a loaner pen, etc.
When I came back after laying out this binder for my sub - it was great. Also, it helped that the sub had been amazing himself. He's certainly gone on the list of preferred subs!
I've also done my fair share of subbing before gaining a full time teaching position. It sucks trying to find the materials when they aren't in the same spot and you don't know if there are certain classroom rules. Hopefully, this binder will help whomever comes in my room to cover for me!
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