Surviving 9th Grade

Chasers - Trojan Horse

So, I've been doing a lot of research for our Greece and Odyssey unit at school. I needed to refresh my students on the Trojan War, and it just so happens I ran across this excellent, and telling, video. Although I'm sure I should have bleeped out the bad words, it was too funny not to show - and they learned a cool new word, allusion.

"It could be the last game they ever see."

- University of Maryland physician David Jerrard, on his study that found Maryland men delay trips to the ER in order to finish watching sporting events.


Welcome to my world! Or at least my Saturdays...

Ballad of the Dentist's Dream

So, we're about to start The Odyssey in class, so I thought I would start students out on some ballad poetry. I ran across this ballad, and I thought I'd blog about it in Josh's honor. I hope someday your "dentist's dream" comes true! :
)

When I was little, I watched Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys. I always felt sorry for these toys who just didn't fit in. They were broken, and no child wanted a broken toy for Christmas. I hadn't thought of the movie in years, until a few weeks ago, that is.

3:15 is my favorite time of day. Each day if there's any way I can make it to the Rotunda, I walk out for just a moment. Teaching is stressful, but these moments are precious. You see, this is when the kids in self-contained special ed walk out to their buses. They have Downs Syndrome, use walkers, are blind, and have a variety of other problems. These children are broken.

But, they have such joy. They smile and laugh and literally skip through the Rotunda. They are precious, and I walk out there just to remind myself of the joys of life. (After wading through massive piles of paper, I often need the reminder.)

The more I've thought about it, though, maybe that's not the only reason I visit the Rotunda each day. I see these broken children filled with joy, and I realize we're all broken. Most of us walk through life wearing masks to hide our brokeness. Ours is usually internal. We hurt, we pine, we struggle, but we always, always hide.

My broken children remind me that it's okay to be broken. They can't hide their brokenness, and in the end, neither can we. We're a flawed people in a flawed world - do we have another option than to be broken? So, on those days when I'm tired and stressed and broken in so many ways, I am reminded that it's okay. I can admit I'm broken. Until I do, I can't receive grace, and without grace, I can't live whole forever.

I've always loved Homecoming week, and as a teacher, I thought it would drive me crazy. You know, kids going nuts all the time in class, more talking than usual, etc. Turns out, though, that I love it as much as ever. You see, today was Operation Day, and I got to wear scrubs to school - I spent the whole day in pajamas. What a wonderful country we live in where one football game (that we might lose) gives me the permission to spend a day in pjs! I just love it! :)

It's been a while! Somehow, in my wisdom, I let four projects (yes, I said four) come due at the same time. I can assure you that will NEVER happen again! Anyway, just a few more papers and I'll be finished. I'm working on a couple of blogs, so I'm going to finish and post them tomorrow. Hope you're having a great weekend!