Look But Don't Touch

I’m still trying to figure out what kind of teacher I am. I constantly am looking back to high school to see if I’m the easy and nice teacher – the really moody teacher – the hard but compassionate teacher – the teacher who always seems unprepared (ha!) – and many more. I definitely don’t think I’m a mean teacher but I really don’t want to be TOO nice and have the kids take advantage of me. It’s hard to find your grove. Should the class be silent always, only ever hearing the pens of the students writing? Is it okay to joke around with the kids? End class 5 minutes early? Accept late homework? I don’t want to be a pushover, but I also don’t want to give homework every night or not be understanding when they have an issue or problem.

Abby, unknowingly, was my spy the other day. Wednesday after school she informed me of the 10th grader’s opinion of me. It went like this:

Abby had a mosquito bite on her eye that made her eyelid swell up. Naturally, her students (and my students) asked what had happened. She replied, “Oh yeah, Miss Sarah punched me in the face last night.” The students said, “Noo noo…she’s too nice…she didn’t do that.” They then went on to say that “Miss Sarah is like, ‘look but don’t touch.’” Que? “Like, she’s cooool, but you know not to mess with her.” Niiiice.

I’m definitely feeling this reputation. They know that I am not going to take any crap but that if they are well behaved, I can be fun. I just hope this reputation goes through to all the grades. With the 10th grade class I definitely have a good flow going, mainly because they are just such great learners. They are interested and intrigued, and while they try to convince me everyday to play games, sleep, and teach me Spanish, they are pretty responsive when I say that we actually need to learn. I think they were probably like the 5th graders, five years ago. Something about multiples of five.

This was my second week teaching the 11th graders. They are going to be difficult to keep interested certainly. They are lovable, but I just wish I could talk to them all period and not teach them. I basically want to crack up every second, but refrain from doing so. Usually I laugh pretty hard at least one time during each class.

My first day of teaching these young hooligans, I talked to them about Mr. John leaving, told them about the rules of my classroom, and a couple of topics we would be covering throughout the year. I have to preface this next statement with saying something about my former housemate, John. He f-ing LOVES poetry. He is a poet himself and pretty much would talk about poetry all day if you let him. Naturally, when he found out he would be teaching English and Literature classes, what did he decide to cover? Poetry. POETRY. POETRY. POETRY. Now, poetry is nice and all, but I think it is safe to say that it is not everyone’s favorite topic and maybe it’s not the best genre to use to start off the year? Just my opinion. Anyway, back to my first day with the 11th graders. I said,

“Now, I know with Mr. John you guys did a lot of poetry…”

Cue their groans and faces of despair.

“And I just want to say…”

Cue their looks of anticipation, hope, and excitement.

“...I don’t really like poetry.”

Cue the BIGGEST eruption of applause, noise, laughter, cheering, hugs, high fives, thanking God, standing up, and genuinely pure joy. Equal to what might happen if Honduras won the World Cup. Seriously, ya’ll. Well…maybe not THAT huge. But it was close. Abby later told me that she heard this huge cacophony in her classroom next door. It was hilarious. Especially because we knew these kids didn’t like poetry and John was so in his own poetry world he was blind to the fact that his kids were suffering. Ahh too funny.

As I predicted, the boys in this class are quite entertaining. More than anything it is when they are asking me questions. First, they usually say “HUUHHH?” Not just “Huh?” But a very enthusiastic and vocal “HUUUHH??” Then they’ll be asking me how to say something. For example, the other day we were outside, writing and describing an observation of the rainy day…

Francisco & Franklin: (be sure to do a Honduran accent) “Em Miiiss…how do you call da word, like da water…right here, in da ground…”
Me: “The water…like on the floor here…spilled? Like, you spill water? (as I make hand gestures.)
Francisco & Franklin: “Yeahhhh…yeahhhh….” (as they nod their head and smile)
Me: “Or…there are the little pools of water—“
Francisco & Franklin: “YEAAAHHHH YEAHHHH!! That’s ITT! THAT’S IT!”

Cue my laughter…which ignites their laughter, making it hard for me to spit out P-U-D-D-L-E.

Francisco, Jossue, and Franklin...lovable trouble makers. Don't they just look like they are up to no good??

I suppose it is difficult to express through writing. You really need to see these kids in person. The first day of class, I told them that I have one main rule- Respect. I expect you to respect your fellow classmates, respect me, and I will respect you as well. Expect Respect. (Yeah Michigan!) So, now whenever the class is talking and I say, “Okay, quiet down…excuse me…please be quiet…” there is one kid, Ricardo, who, every time, speaks up and says, “Hey! Respect.” He gets the kids attention and says- “HEY. Respect.” “Respect,” “Respect, Miss, Respect.” It cracks me up. EVERY SINGLE TIME. “Hey. Respect.” It’s so great. I told him to keep it going throughout the whole year. “Respect.”

They definitely have personality, that’s for sure. Not lacking in this area AT ALL. I wish I could just video tape an entire class. Bill Cosby was not lying when he said that kids say the darndest things. They really do, especially when they are Honduran bilingual 5th, 9th, 10th, and 11th graders talking to their gringa teacher.

“Respect.”