Sunday, October 2, 2005
by Amanda.
“Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away…”
They were. Bobby, my teacher friend from I.S. 666 has been suggesting we hang out since school started. It hadn’t happened until yesterday, though. One weekend he went to Florida. Other weekends I spent alone, recovering from a week of school. Yesterday, we finally met up on the Upper West Side, ate at Koronet, and ventured downtown. Bobby jokes that the farthest downtown he goes is our West Harlem school, because he lives all the way uptown in Inwood. He could gallop to the Bronx in mere minutes…if he ever wanted to. (I’m kind of an NYC geography snob. The Bronx and Queens have nothing going for them, as far as I’m concerned. Oh wait, the Bronx has a Target. That’s it).
Posted in: Everyday, I Live NY.
Sunday, October 2, 2005
by Amanda.
I could and should write all about the fun day I had, but I’m sleepy and have a book to read. Also, tonight is apparently the season premiere of Saturday Night Live.
Posted in: Everyday, Ties that bind...and gag.
Saturday, October 1, 2005
by Amanda.
This morning I woke up with a purpose. Of course, I suppose I always wake with a purpose. I have fifty-two kids to deal with every weekday, but they tend to disgust me so much that I really consider staying in bed. (I should give them credit, though, they’ve been pretty good the last two days. I’m especially referring to my homeroom/ELA/SS class).
Posted in: Everyday, Writing.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
by Amanda.
Me: Can you imagine if whenever people spoke, they had to say what punctuation mark they were using at the end of the sentence…question mark?
Posted in: Conserved Conversations.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
by Amanda.
My Language Arts classes always begin with a Writing Workout, some open-ended topic students are supposed to be able to write about. I’ve been getting them to do creative and narrative writing, since this is what New York students are supposed to focus on in September and October. Anyhow, today’s topic was “I was scared when…”
Posted in: Teaching in Harlem, NYC.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
by Amanda.
Thank you to everyone who has given me so much support in this inner-city teaching endeavor. I’ve been getting concerned emails and many shoulders on which to cry offered. You didn’t have to be so kind. You could have just said, “I told you so” or asked “What did you expect?” but you didn’t.
Posted in: Teaching in Harlem, NYC.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
by Amanda.
Ladies and gentlemen, this entry is coming to you live from Bobby’s classroom at I.S. 666 in West Harlem. Woohoo! (This is one of the only functioning computers in this school, so yes, this is a very special moment).
Posted in: Teaching in Harlem, NYC.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
by Amanda.
It’s my 100th entry.
Today I liberated myself of piles and piles of papers and threw out a whole lot of work my students did. Less grading for me, more work that kept them occupied, so what if a few trees were sacrificed in the process? I called the mother of one of the most vulgar and lazy students ever, and she replied, “Yeah, he doesn’t listen to me, either.” What?! When a mother hears that her son was vulgar, she’s supposed to say, “What? Tell me what he said. I’ll kill him!” There should be no resignation. You brought him into this world, threaten to take him out. Do it! It’s what parents should do. I’m disappointed in both of them now.
Posted in: Teaching in Harlem, NYC.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
by Amanda.
My experience in the NYC public school where I teach can be summed up, “One step forward, seventy-five steps back.” Sometimes I have these short but intense moments where I think I’m actually getting through. Turns out, these are just hallucinations or seizures on my part.
Posted in: Teaching in Harlem, NYC.
