First things first, a personal teacher rant. Why is it that a good majority of my students actually have pictures of the current President of the United States in their binder (making people think they are patriotic, I never carried a presidents picture around everyday) yet they are too cool to say the pledge? End rant.
On a daily basis I wonder what goes on in the minds of 14 year olds today. I think it goes something like this...
"................????.........." ha ha just kidding I will go ahead and use the stereotypes that I see everyday.
Emo girl "Why aren't there any vampires to date here?"
Emo boy "Why aren't there any vampires to date here?" (they also look like the emo girl, really they should just be the same entry)
Ghetto girl "She cain't where dat!" (literally girls of all colors write notes and add letters to make it sound ghetto....)
Ghetto boy "My president is black"
Skater kid "I wonder how many times I can say what?"
Smart kid "What is my grade?"
Now I feel like I need to say, obviously, I don't think that this is the only thing kids think about, however, I know they aren't taking in what I say.
Evidence: Everyday since August my students have warm up work for the first 5 minutes of class...that is about 6 months...yet as of today, even pre-ap kids can be confused about what they are supposed to do during this time and wonder why I am staring at them quizically. 6 months! That's what I should say/yell.
Evidence: For a warmup one day I used the board to explain afterward and left the information on the board, which happened to be on the test we were taken (coincidence...no) yet a good majority of students missed that particular question with the answer written on the board!
Question: Is it ok to tell kids we will begin learning things for those on the McDonalds career path? No?
I have had a very interesting year this go around (my 2nd year of teaching now) with some crazy stories. Hopefully you can find them as entertaining as I am going to try to! :)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A Tribute to Allyson Hope Martin
I need to put my thoughts down on something that has been on my mind throughout the Holiday Season and particularly the month of January...
January 6, 2009, marked the one year anniversary of the passing of my dear sister Allyson Hope Martin. For the first time since the actual funeral, I went to the grave-site. I think subconsciously I had been avoiding the pain and sadness associated with missing a loved one by pushing it to the back of my thoughts and staying away from her grave. Sure enough, uncontrollable emotions and a flood of memories came the second I stepped onto that plot. Tears came...but they were tears of happy memories and of someone I felt especially close to during the Christmas season. Ally was a special spirit that will surely be missed by those she left behind and I thought it appropriate to pay tribute to her memory at this time of year when it is so poignantly present.
Ally's life was one of trial. Hers was a unique situation where she was completely and acutely aware of what earthly blessings she was denied because of her physical state and circumstances far beyond her control. It must have been unimaginably difficult to watch her younger siblings surpass her in physical size, attend college, pursue dreams, find love, bear children, etc. There must have been times when she felt lonely, ignored, and overwhelmed. Yet Ally was a picture of unwavering, perfect faith in our Heavenly Father and the plan for His children. I know that I would not have been able to handle those circumstances with the infectious smile that so often graced her face. She lived and loved to the best of her ability and I think that is more than can be said for many of us.
I fully believe that Ally was sent here to be a blessing and a gift to those she would come in contact with. She is now finished with her time on Earth and is without a doubt enjoying those freedoms she longed for in her limited physical state.
May we all remember fondly the life of our wonderful sister Ally and take with us the lessons she came to teach. My only wish is that my wife and future children could have known her. Someday, they will. In the meantime, I hope they will be able to feel her through the things she taught to me.
In loving memory of Allyson Hope Martin.
January 6, 2009, marked the one year anniversary of the passing of my dear sister Allyson Hope Martin. For the first time since the actual funeral, I went to the grave-site. I think subconsciously I had been avoiding the pain and sadness associated with missing a loved one by pushing it to the back of my thoughts and staying away from her grave. Sure enough, uncontrollable emotions and a flood of memories came the second I stepped onto that plot. Tears came...but they were tears of happy memories and of someone I felt especially close to during the Christmas season. Ally was a special spirit that will surely be missed by those she left behind and I thought it appropriate to pay tribute to her memory at this time of year when it is so poignantly present.
Ally's life was one of trial. Hers was a unique situation where she was completely and acutely aware of what earthly blessings she was denied because of her physical state and circumstances far beyond her control. It must have been unimaginably difficult to watch her younger siblings surpass her in physical size, attend college, pursue dreams, find love, bear children, etc. There must have been times when she felt lonely, ignored, and overwhelmed. Yet Ally was a picture of unwavering, perfect faith in our Heavenly Father and the plan for His children. I know that I would not have been able to handle those circumstances with the infectious smile that so often graced her face. She lived and loved to the best of her ability and I think that is more than can be said for many of us.
I fully believe that Ally was sent here to be a blessing and a gift to those she would come in contact with. She is now finished with her time on Earth and is without a doubt enjoying those freedoms she longed for in her limited physical state.
May we all remember fondly the life of our wonderful sister Ally and take with us the lessons she came to teach. My only wish is that my wife and future children could have known her. Someday, they will. In the meantime, I hope they will be able to feel her through the things she taught to me.
In loving memory of Allyson Hope Martin.
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