Teaching Nirvana and the Power of The Outsiders!
The state writing test was last week. The first day was kind of disastrous behavior-wise, so the second day I had a game plan from the minute I woke up. I wore dark, plain, boring clothes, and put my hair back and wore my glasses (my kids always say I look like I mean business when my hair's up) and no makeup. Before the kids arrived, I took the desks out of the "fun" arrangement and put them in straight rows, all spread apart, with post-its telling them where to sit (boy-girl and bad kid-good kid). Two of my girls were upset about being the bread of a disruptive-kid sandwich, so I explained to them that I use my kids who are good influences as "anchors" when I make a seating chart, and that I needed them to be on their best behavior and show others how to act during a test. I forgot to say "this is a little teaching secret I'm letting you in on," so during homeroom, Disruptive Kid says, "Miss B, what's an anchor?"
I said, "anchors hold down ships and keep them from floating away."
"Maaaaaaan, Miss B," Disruptive Kid moaned, "why do I always gotta be the ship?" We were both laughing... he knows himself and he knows I love him and want him to succeed.
Before I gave out their bubble sheets, I told the kids that I'd talked to both principals about them. I said, "We're proud of the way you took the test seriously. We're not proud of your behavior while we were waiting for the other classes to finish. If anyone speaks out of turn or if I see your eyes so much as leave your own paper, you will be sent to the office immediately." That got them. They listened. They took their tests and then they read. They were perfect.
We were supposed to take our tests to the office immediately afterward. The math coach was hall monitoring and told me it was okay to leave the kids unattended for that time, but I was freaking a little- second period has been my biggest discipline problem all year. As I walked to the office, I was wondering whether I'd remembered to hide the grown-up scissors. I was in line behind my co-teacher and joked to her, "Maybe my second period will be sitting down reading The Outsiders when I come in." She laughed because she knows they're zooey.
I went back to class holding my breath. I walked in, and everyone was sitting down in their assigned seats. Holding an open copy of The Outsiders. Taking turns reading. Being perfect. I pretended to faint, and Elaine said, "We wanted to make you happy and you are!" with a big smile. Davey ammended, "I just like the book."
That's the power of The Outsiders at work! Kids love this book like no other, and it can make a class of crazies want to sit down and start reading, even without their teacher around!
In fourth period, I asked the kids what literary device is at work in the description of Johnny's mugging. I was looking for flashback, but Mikey said, "Foreshadowing." I asked him to explain- no one gets off without elaborating in my class!- and he said, "Why would Ponyboy tell us that Johnny carries a six-inch switchblade if he's not going to use it later in the book?"
The power of The Outsiders again: special ed students making a point that's been made by Anton Chekhov. I was over the moon. I was in teaching nirvana.
I said, "anchors hold down ships and keep them from floating away."
"Maaaaaaan, Miss B," Disruptive Kid moaned, "why do I always gotta be the ship?" We were both laughing... he knows himself and he knows I love him and want him to succeed.
Before I gave out their bubble sheets, I told the kids that I'd talked to both principals about them. I said, "We're proud of the way you took the test seriously. We're not proud of your behavior while we were waiting for the other classes to finish. If anyone speaks out of turn or if I see your eyes so much as leave your own paper, you will be sent to the office immediately." That got them. They listened. They took their tests and then they read. They were perfect.
We were supposed to take our tests to the office immediately afterward. The math coach was hall monitoring and told me it was okay to leave the kids unattended for that time, but I was freaking a little- second period has been my biggest discipline problem all year. As I walked to the office, I was wondering whether I'd remembered to hide the grown-up scissors. I was in line behind my co-teacher and joked to her, "Maybe my second period will be sitting down reading The Outsiders when I come in." She laughed because she knows they're zooey.
I went back to class holding my breath. I walked in, and everyone was sitting down in their assigned seats. Holding an open copy of The Outsiders. Taking turns reading. Being perfect. I pretended to faint, and Elaine said, "We wanted to make you happy and you are!" with a big smile. Davey ammended, "I just like the book."
That's the power of The Outsiders at work! Kids love this book like no other, and it can make a class of crazies want to sit down and start reading, even without their teacher around!
In fourth period, I asked the kids what literary device is at work in the description of Johnny's mugging. I was looking for flashback, but Mikey said, "Foreshadowing." I asked him to explain- no one gets off without elaborating in my class!- and he said, "Why would Ponyboy tell us that Johnny carries a six-inch switchblade if he's not going to use it later in the book?"
The power of The Outsiders again: special ed students making a point that's been made by Anton Chekhov. I was over the moon. I was in teaching nirvana.