On a February, In My Sixteenth Year

Everyone loves jokes

Most people don't like haiku

That is a bit sad

A student waled into my classroom for her Math class as I was packing out from my Chumash class. I don't know this girl and was surprised when she announced, "I love haiku...And I don't like jokes." Then I realized she was reacting to the poem posted above, which  was on the board for anyone who was interested in the haiku of the day.

A boy spoke to me today about his general discontent with his present year in school. Academics don't come easy for him and human connections are key. It's always good to hear someone out.  I hope I was helpful. I met with a girl who also had some angst to vent about, and I wrote a needed recommendation. I tutored a boy for an hour or plus - what's that lawyer phase for without charging?  Au gratin? And I taught my five classes.  The most FAQ by polite people who hear where I teach is, "What grade?" The answer is every grade.  If anyone wants more details of my schedule just ask.

Valentines day came up in a couple of classes.  I shared some of my research. I was surprised when my research revealed. Here's an article on the topic (along with other secular holidays, which also came up). And here's one that quotes Rabbi Michael Broyde, author of the first article, in an incomplete, misleading manner. Other secular holidays came up and I shared my analogy, which you can see on this post. One student said, "I like that better than what teachers usually say, it makes sense."  Another asked, "Did you think of that yourself?"

I just received this picture from a teacher friend, who got it from a teacher friend, and so on, and so on...

Another friend shared this poem by e.e. cummings:

love is a place
& through this place of
love move
(with brightness of peace)
all places

yes is a world
& in this world of
yes live
(skillfully curled)
all worlds

"Here's a term that might not seem too musical: 'immediacy behavior.' Educators use it to describe the way a teacher acts to gain the trust of his or her students. Open body language, an engaging way of speaking, a warm, direct gaze — these cues, as much as any words uttered, forge the connection that makes learning possible." [From the NPR Music's review of Sinead O'Connor's "How Aboout I'll Be Me (And You Be You)?

"Tired? tell us why"
Full content of a website

So I emailed them