Quirky Quips & Sewing Snips
Racing engines. Screaming tires. Shrill sirens. Lights flashing blue-white-blue. Helicopter whomp-whomping over-head, it’s halogen eye turning night to day. I’d like to tell you how many times this has happened in the 18 months I’ve lived here, but I’ve lost count. I’ve also lost sleep. The sun is up, it’s [...]
I am a teacher. I believe in introducing my students to new concepts, ideas and things. Today they each received a little slice of liverworst. A few approached the morsel boldly, popping it into their mouths. The others waited and watched. Izzy gagged, spit in his hand, then grabbed a [...]
Jay: Ms. A., I don’t like your hair color. You should change it. Me: Jay, I don’t like your nose. You should change it. Whole Class: Ooooh! Jay: That wasn’t very nice! Me: Really? Jay: I guess I wasn’t very nice, either, huh? Never mind. Your hair’s okay I guess. [...]
Life in a second language learner’s classroom:  We are having a fund raiser spaghetti dinner at the school tonight. The teachers are to be the wait-staff. One of my students asked, “What’s wait-staff?” I said, “You know, cooks, waiters, dishwashers — the folks that do the work so all [...]
I only accept writing papers after one-on-one conferences. Each student receives personalized and individual writing instruction — if they show up at their scheduled conferences. They are held during class time, but some kids show up with unfinished papers, and we don’t conference until their work is done. The student’s [...]