Meme of the Week- 11-21-22
Tag: teacher
Six Sentence Story- A Bit of a Backfire
PROMPT WORD: CONFETTI
The ‘word of the day’ was ‘confetti‘.
Ms. Benedetti had taught first grade for just two years and with all her modern fresh-out-of-university techniques, the one she implemented from her own early schooling, created the most enthusiasm.
The kids loved the comical sound of this particular new word and used it in entertaining ways throughout the day.
When someone accidentally dumped the classroom pencil sharpener all over the carpet, the whole class rose to their feet shouting “CONFETTI!”
At recess, when springtime breezes rained crabapple blossoms above the playground, this young teacher’s class danced in a circle shouting “Confetti!” while waving their arms.
Just before dismissal, Ms. Benedetti often inspected the children’s desks for tidiness (something also left over from her own ancient school experience) but today, she was about to be lampooned because when she leaned over one child a shout rang directly in her ear, “I see Ms. Benedetti confetti!” and that child was pointing to dandruff all over her sweater.
https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2022/05/08/sundays-six-sentence-story-word-prompt-211/
Fandango’s Story Starter #40- A “NO” Problem
This week’s Story Starter teaser is:
Jack got that all too familiar dull, sick feeling in the pit of his stomach when he…
… voted “No” on the new school policy.
All heads turned toward him, and a dozen pairs of eyes drilled into him. He knew he wasn’t the only one who objected because he’d had a discussion on the possible ‘downside’ of the policy with two colleagues. But today, he was alone. In recent years, objecting to anything had become the most objectional thing anyone could do.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if his ‘no vote’ led to an adult conversation and reevaluation of the ‘pros and cons’ associated with the policy but that’s not how things worked these days. Disagreement was frowned upon.
Jack took a moment to lay out the problem he had with the policy move but was, of course, outvoted in the second round. If it had ended there, the democratic process would have remained intact. But it didn’t.
The same day, Jack had an unannounced ‘evaluation visit’ to his classroom from the vice principal. Days later, he received a memo declining the yearly vacation period he’d had for 7 years prior. And two weeks later, the official evaluation document from the vice principle listed several areas ‘for improvement’ never before mentioned. The final, now clear, retribution came at the end of the school year. His classroom would be disbanded, and his title was going to be changed, in September. He’d become a ‘floating’ member of the science department, IF the funding came through for it.
It was no longer about Jack, he knew that. Putting in his resume’ for a new job would be his summer long focus. He was the ‘example’ made for any other free-thinking teacher to ‘put up or shut up’ if you want to keep paying your bills.
September rolled around. Jack became a science teacher in a new charter school and Jack’s wife started homeschooling their own kids. He was happy but couldn’t help but worry about the kids he’d left behind in a ‘vat of group think’ and intolerance.
https://fivedotoh.com/2022/04/05/fandangos-story-starter-40/
Six Sentence Story- Shelter- Six of one… Half dozen of the Other
The year is 2022 when political correctness, creative definitions, and semantics have become the framework for a shelter against the truth.
“Ms. Collins, it’s been brought to my attention that you’re teaching Critical Race Theory and are in direct defiance of our Govenor’s ban on the subject.”
The principal ‘steepled’ his fingers over his nose as he waited for the new teacher’s response.
“Oh no, sir, there’s no CRT in MY 7th grade classroom, and I just want to inform YOU that Ibram X. Kendi ONLY offers college level theories. “
“You separated the class according to race, handed out Black Lives Matter stickers, and shamed a student, who didn’t want to participate, with a lecture on her ‘white fragility’, all captured on the video that I was given.”
“Ms. Collins, this is MY school and I just want to inform YOU that I’m not firing you, I’m ONLY “letting you go”.
https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2022/01/16/sundays-six-sentence-story-word-prompt-195/
https://girlieontheedge1.wordpress.com/2022/01/19/its-six-sentence-story-thursday-link-up-195/
SoCS- 5/1/21 The Scary One
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “may.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
The word “may” is a bone of contention between the kids and me.
I grew up in a grammatically correct home. I’ll wait for your laughter to stop.
You wouldn’t automatically know that, I’m sure.
But, there were little ‘no-nos’ and big ‘no-nos’ and some of the big ones actually took hold.
The difference between “May I go outside?” and “Can I go outside?” is tremendous to the ‘word use stickler’.
My kids, day care kids, and now, my granddaughters have all been reminded of that zillions of times. I remember one summer that making the proper distinction between those phrases became my mission. Over, and over, and over, the kids were asked to rephrase their requests along with the explanation for my dismay. Some started to come around but that ‘war’ ended in a draw.
I gave up.
Well, you never know when something you do makes a difference.
At age 6 or 7, my oldest granddaughter complained about a ‘scary’ teacher. She was a very large, imposing, woman with a no-nonsense attitude. Katherine had watched other kids reduced to tears by that teacher and avoided any attention from her. But, one day, the Scary One was a substitute in Katherine’s class. Katherine needed to use the restroom and had put it off until her needs had become critical. Finally, Nature moved her to make the request.
“May I go to the restroom?” she asked.
The teacher smiled. And with an unusually tender voice responded.
“Aren’t you a polite little girl? Yes, you may.”
Whew!
That teacher treated her gently from that moment on. From the overheard future scoldings on topics of grammar (often on the “may” or “can” dynamic) from the Scary One, Katherine realized her default use of “may” (from my drills) had been the ticket to that teacher’s good side.
Katherine is 15 now. Think she still uses the word “may” correctly?
Not a chance. LOL
Oh well, it’s in her head somewhere.
Have a great Saturday folks! Avoid that Scary One if she comes around.
The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS May 1, 2021 | (lindaghill.com)
Prosery Monday- Invitation Accepted
The line for today is If you are a dreamer, come in.
The line is from Shel Silverstein’s poem, Invitation, as published in his wonderful book, Where the Sidewalk Ends.
“If you are a dreamer, come in.”
The old woman seemed to be talking to her closet.
The home health aide had become accustomed to ignoring conversations that made little sense. She asked her again,
“Edna, are you comfortable? Need anything?”
“No dear, we’ll be fine. See you in the morning.”
Edna Jenks had been a Kindergarten teacher for sixty years. She’d never married. So, when she’d retired, four years before, she became perilously lonely and depressed.
But, recently, her spirits had brightened dramatically. Her nurses caught her having conversations and giggling and her appetite had strikingly improved.
That very afternoon she’d sat for hours reading children’s book aloud while asking questions and applauding soundless answers.
They found her the next morning unresponsive with a peaceful smile on her face and a careworn book in her lap. It was opened to Shel Silverstein’s “Invitation”.
(144 words)
Meet me where the sidewalk ends…. | dVerse (dversepoets.com)
https://dversepoets.com
Kids are people too!
Katherine (age 6) was bewildered and frightened when asked not to get on her bus,as usual, yesterday. My daughter called her school and told them that Kat’s dad was going to pick her up for a change. Ellen specifically asked them to inform Katherine that her Daddy was coming.
The school office called Kat’s classroom and told her teacher to send Kat to the “walkers” exit. She was not to get on the bus. NO ONE TOLD KAT WHY. She was whimpering to herself until she saw her Dad. The change of plans without an explanation had her bewildered. THAT makes me angry!
It reminded me of my own experience the day President Kennedy was shot. I was just a little older than Katherine when I saw teachers congregating in our school hallway. They were crying. A voice came over the school intercom saying that we were all to go home immediately. This was almost an hour before ordinary dismissal. I ran home with my heart pounding and my eyes filled with tears. WHAT could be going on?
We had been schooled in the threat of nuclear attacks during the sixties and you can only imagine the possible scenarios that filled my head!
This is a post with a big message attached. Kids are people too! They are not mindless amoebas that litter a room. Tell them what’s going on you arrogant educators!
Whew…I feel better now. Have a nice day. 🙂
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