“Sup? Yeah, dat’s right. Jizessica’s in the hizouse!”
Pizzictures
A new broom sweeps lazily
I now present the I.S. 666 quote of the week…
Mr. Bald, the assistant principal of the Legal Studies academy during the academy meeting: “We have a new custodian. His name is Dennis…or Donald…or Dee or something. He’s really gung ho. You know what they say, ‘A new broom sweeps clean.’”
Idiot letters
My first assignment in Tom Buckley’s rhetoric class in college was to write an “idiot letter.” These letters are realistic fiction, if you will, composed by a “valued” and “concerned” (read: enthusiastic and dim) consumer and sent to a corporation. Letters from a Nut by Ted L. Nancy is a latter-day collection of “idiot letters.” (I can’t remember the guy who originated the idea or the term).
First NYC snow day
Today was my first truly snowy day in NYC! Holla!
(Cue the sound of crickets).
It snowed inches upon inches. Kathy told me the night before that perhaps there’d be a snow day and thus, a long weekend, but I dismissed the sentiment. I made copies for my Friday classes and laid out a stylish and comfortable Friday outfit. I have two windows in my room that face another building, so I didn’t realize how snowy the city was until I walked outside.
Three I.S. 666 students
1. Martin, a student of Ms. O. who loves to launch any and all projectiles during class, was flicking balls of paper with rubber bands again last week. Actually, he found one particularly effective rubber band and used it to launch ball after ball into the air, at the teacher’s face, onto the overhead projector… Some strange rubbery pieces were hanging off the rubber band, but it worked well nonetheless. Martin lovingly stroked his rubber band. He’d never go without it again. He didn’t put it down all period…until someone pointed out that it was the lip of a condom.
Five Hail Mary’s and six Hello Dolly’s
Eddie Izzard is my executive transvestite best friend. He is hi-larious.
“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I did an original sin. I poked a badger with a spoon.”
Another book about women and friendship
I read The Myth of You & Me by Leah Stewart, because it was praised for its portrayal of female friendship. I was looking for some kind of commentary on relational aggression, etc., but instead I got a lovely little book that could very well be on its way to becoming an Ashley Judd movie I will never see. It was kind of like The Secret Life of Bees in that way. I will totally understand if other people love the book, but I wasn’t incredibly moved, despite the fact that the topic of friendship lost and found resonates with me. I will also admit that I did get to a certain point in the novel where I couldn’t put the book down and just had to read the two former friends into a reunion. “By the power vested in me…”
Mr. Jones’s last day
Friday was Mr. Jones’s last day at I.S. 666. He is the fourth teacher to quit since September. I feel weird about Jones leaving, because I was so sure I’d leave before him in those first hellish weeks of school. He’d come by my classroom after school most days and patiently lean in the doorway as I recounted the day, angry tears welling up in my eyes. Drunk on disappointment, I’d stagger around in uncomfortable shoes and slowly take down all the posters and personal touches I’d so carefully put up in Room 108.
When I love teaching
The school where I work so rarely affords me those shining moments when my heart swells and I know that I love teaching, but I had one on Thursday. I got to pull five of Mr. Jones’s students out and take them away to a large square table tucked away on the third floor. The students read their independent reading books for fifteen minutes and then freewrote for ten. I also freewrote, because I had just begun reading The Myth of You & Me and I originally intended to do a pair and share activity that required an even number of people.
It comes naturally
Today I emailed Sam with the following writing prompt: Tell me one random memory that you’ve found popping into your head lately. You don’t have to know why you’re remembering it, just share it.
