Yesterday I thought I should try to reach two young men who had not been in class all week. I was tempted to let them go because I have not been impressed with their motivation and dedication to attendance. But in the interest of giving them another chance and giving me another chance to measure gains, I texted them both. Within minutes or less, I had responses that clarified their absences with assurances that they would be in class on Tuesday.
Texting is the way to communicate with many students these days. I wonder if I would have gotten an answer by calling. Email does not get much use although I have worked on getting everyone an email account for job search purposes if nothing else.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Next year?
I had been thinking of asking my supervisor to give me just one class next year, not two. I am really tired at the end of two classes. I have to think about and plan for so many students. It takes me a long time to do so at my usual Friday morning kitchen table routine and to keep daily attendance records. Earlier this year I was despairing about my ability to teach the younger students who gravitate to the afternoon class because noon is even too early to wake up.
But several of those students are no longer in the class, three of them because I "wrote them up." The students who were really bonded to the previous teacher are also gone. In many ways, things are better. There are a few more grown-ups in the afternoon class and that helps. Some are nearing their goal of a GED and that also helps.
I know I am doing what I do well. Is it pride or a willingness to serve to say that I think it is my calling to keep doing what I am doing, at least for one more year?
But several of those students are no longer in the class, three of them because I "wrote them up." The students who were really bonded to the previous teacher are also gone. In many ways, things are better. There are a few more grown-ups in the afternoon class and that helps. Some are nearing their goal of a GED and that also helps.
I know I am doing what I do well. Is it pride or a willingness to serve to say that I think it is my calling to keep doing what I am doing, at least for one more year?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
BD and K--a follow up
BD has been sober for three weeks, I think. He has come to class quite regularly and is making progress. He even sent me a nice email last week saying he enjoyed the class. He has a very tense look about him. Today he looked particularly pale and stressed. But every day is a step ahead and I am so glad for his progress. I saw a nasty word on his folder, but I have heard very little of that from him lately.
K, on the other hand, has been running away from home according to her mother who called. Her mother said she met a guy from Elkhart on the internet and had been meeting him. K also called me from Elkhart to say she wouldn't be in class for a while because she wasn't getting along with her mother. So there are two sides to this story!
Follow up a few months later: Others have told me that K is pregnant. She also left with videos belong to the library that H had checked out and he was left with a $90 bill.
K, on the other hand, has been running away from home according to her mother who called. Her mother said she met a guy from Elkhart on the internet and had been meeting him. K also called me from Elkhart to say she wouldn't be in class for a while because she wasn't getting along with her mother. So there are two sides to this story!
Follow up a few months later: Others have told me that K is pregnant. She also left with videos belong to the library that H had checked out and he was left with a $90 bill.
Hazards of being H
I told H I had felt concerned about him when I was thinking about his leaving the Bulls game Saturday night and getting home. The thought of him being on public transportation that time of night in Chicago worried me. I told him I felt like his mother!
He said that his lawyers paid for a cab for him. This meant signing a voucher after arriving at his niece's house. He said that the police saw him and the cabbie and stopped to ask what was going on. He mentioned his lawyers' names and they got out of there fast, he said. They are all familiar with the Innocence Project!
I also asked him about J who clearly had designs on him and hasn't been in class for a week. He said he broke up with her and told her not to contact him any more. She has been repeatedly texting him and leaving voice mails. He had been deleting them, but his lawyers told him to keep a record just in case. She is a bit scary, I think. He mentioned something about a knife and I don't know what that was about. I didn't ask for clarification! He is vulnerable because he is recently out of prison, due to make a considerable amount of money because of his lawsuits, and because he is just a really nice fellow. I hope and pray he is smart. I think he will be.
He said that his lawyers paid for a cab for him. This meant signing a voucher after arriving at his niece's house. He said that the police saw him and the cabbie and stopped to ask what was going on. He mentioned his lawyers' names and they got out of there fast, he said. They are all familiar with the Innocence Project!
I also asked him about J who clearly had designs on him and hasn't been in class for a week. He said he broke up with her and told her not to contact him any more. She has been repeatedly texting him and leaving voice mails. He had been deleting them, but his lawyers told him to keep a record just in case. She is a bit scary, I think. He mentioned something about a knife and I don't know what that was about. I didn't ask for clarification! He is vulnerable because he is recently out of prison, due to make a considerable amount of money because of his lawsuits, and because he is just a really nice fellow. I hope and pray he is smart. I think he will be.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
I was touched
My afternoon classes have been very hectic with many students. H stayed all day and if it were anybody but him, I might have said that the morning session was enough. He works very independently and just checks in with me every once in a while with his questions--which are good ones.
He always helps me clean up the room, putting away the computers and helping me carry things to my car. Today he left before I was finished and I said good-bye as he was walking out the door. He stuck his head back in and told me to be sure to lock the door. He knew this was my routine and he was reminding me! I felt cared for!
I think it is amazing that he is such a kind and sweet person after all those years in prison. He just does not seem hardened and cynical.
He always helps me clean up the room, putting away the computers and helping me carry things to my car. Today he left before I was finished and I said good-bye as he was walking out the door. He stuck his head back in and told me to be sure to lock the door. He knew this was my routine and he was reminding me! I felt cared for!
I think it is amazing that he is such a kind and sweet person after all those years in prison. He just does not seem hardened and cynical.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Prayer
Tuesday was rough. I found ways to talk to B and to K about their behavior and I prayed about it. Wednesday was much better with both of them and I took that as an answer to prayer. This morning I specifically prayed for those two. The answer to my prayer? Neither one showed up in class today and neither one called. It did make for a lot less stressful day. Was that God's answer to my prayer?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
A few laughs
Yesterday H told me he had left some of his work at the "crib." I asked what was that--the crib--and D said that he couldn't believe I asked that. A "crib" is your house. I wonder how many of my colleagues know that!
Monday I used the Reading Profile tests with a student at the library class where I help out. After misreading several multisyllable words on the Word Recognition list, she said, " I never was good at pronunsation." I didn't correct her pronunciation or her thought.
And then I have had to chuckle about it being all right to say "G D it" if you are an atheist according to one young man yesterday. He also wrote that he was dylexic. He certainly can't spell. I have told the story many times of that dear student Kevin in my 6th grade class years ago who wrote on the top of his spelling test "I am dum." He was smart enough, but he too couldn't spell!
Monday I used the Reading Profile tests with a student at the library class where I help out. After misreading several multisyllable words on the Word Recognition list, she said, " I never was good at pronunsation." I didn't correct her pronunciation or her thought.
And then I have had to chuckle about it being all right to say "G D it" if you are an atheist according to one young man yesterday. He also wrote that he was dylexic. He certainly can't spell. I have told the story many times of that dear student Kevin in my 6th grade class years ago who wrote on the top of his spelling test "I am dum." He was smart enough, but he too couldn't spell!
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