Zen Moment

If a student has not responded to numerous redirects, but hasn't actually broken any rules to be "sent to the office", our school has what's called "co-safe". We send the student to another teacher's classroom with an assignment for a "time out". It's an effective method that also decreases office referrals which allows for both the student and teacher to take a breather. And when teaching middle school students, sometimes we all need a breather.

However, I was stumped as to what to create for my co-safe assignment. As an English teacher, I obviously don't like to assign writing as "punishment". Rewriting the school rules doesn't seem very productive either. So, when my students showed an interest in mandalas (because our genius Math teachers use mandalas in our school), I was inspired.

I bought a mandala coloring book and copied pages from it. Attached is a little note that reads, "You need what I call a Zen Moment. Take the coloring pencils and spend your time coloring in this mandala. You may return to my classroom tomorrow with a clean slate".

Obviously from the popularity of adult coloring books, the research proves that concentrated time coloring is a great way to calm down, focus energies and rejuvenate. Meditation is a great way of redirection. At the end of the activity, the student can feel a sense of accomplishment. I have yet to meet students who don't enjoy coloring and the purpose of "co-safe" is not punitive, but redirection. I think this co-safe assignment is inventive and productive. Not only that, meditation as a method of redirection is research-based. Proven effective. And a great method to help students learn to concentrate to de-escalate. The goal is for the student to be able to attend the rest of his/her classes productively. Coloring a mandala is an obtainable goal with quick result. At the end of co-safe, the child has something beautiful he/she created and feels a sense of calm.

And I believe that is the goal of disciplinary redirection.

Hello, Year Two!

It's the start of my second year at this middle school developing a drama program and I could not be more happy. For one, I have established relationships with so many students, discipline and classroom management are just not issues. What's more important? I am delving more deeply into the academic aspect. I'm no longer creating, I have the luxury to tighten and to more sharply focus the lessons.

I am delighted. Wake up every morning so excited to spin magic in the classroom. Lesson plans consume my thoughts and the students inspire more creativity than I ever thought possible.

The spoken word performance poetry group that I organized last year grew from five members to twelve members in just this one year. Eager, beautiful minds delighted by the idea of their words dancing on the page and coming to life on the stage.

I'm grateful to break this blog back open because when I begin rehearsals for the overly ambitious full-length school play I intend to stage... you are going to be privy to all of the delicious drama that comes with daring to reach for the stars.

And why not? What else is there to do in life, really?

Restorative Medicine

In order to brainstorm a topic for this post, I scrolled through my previous posts only to find the common theme: exhaustion. Ha. And of course. I have to smile remembering when I first launched this career and "observed" a teacher years and years ago (before I student taught). I thought to myself at the time, "This is a cool gig. It doesn't seem that taxing and you get to read and write literature and share your love of academia with kids. This is definitely something I can do as I get older."

And part of it is true... I can do this gig until I get older. But, I am older... twenty years older than when I started. What is not true... it's not a relaxing gig. Not one bit. That part, I misunderstood completely. Teaching is physically demanding. Mentally challenging and taxing to one's patience.

Of course, everyone knows the teacher "jokes" about having to train one's bladder to pee between classes and only having fifteen minutes to eat lunch and not really having summer's off. Those realities we all know. Here are some other facts. I spent six hours in ninety degree heat driving around neighborhoods to do "home visits". There was simply not enough water to drink to replenish the dehydration that comes with six hours in that temperature going from home to home.

Moving into a new classroom and decorating it took days and days and days to do. I spend every waking hour researching, creating and designing lesson plans. In between, I created a new classroom website that links to my writer's website and back and forth. I call parents whenever I can. I get to school at seven a.m. every day and when we had Open House last week, I didn't get home until eight p.m. Weekends are spent planning and grading and grading and planning.

My classroom is adjacent to the band room so it so incredibly loud. That means my ears ring and my voice is hoarse from projecting over them every day. Finally, my new support shoes gave me blisters on the top of my feet (from the "cute" strap) so the next day, I wore flats that gave me bleeding blisters on my heels.

I'm grateful to be young enough still to push through these physical demands. No matter my body was so sore this weekend, I could barely make it through grocery shopping. I've lost eight pounds since the school year started (and that's a good thing, for sure!).

So why physically tax one's self in a "professional" career? Because there's simply nothing else I'd rather do. The rewards of student success heal every blister, restore hoarse vocal chords and laughter is the best medicine. That's the secret weapon of teaching... I don't think lawyers or doctors or business people laugh as much as teachers. Children laugh more often throughout the day than do adults, so when  you spend all of your time with children... you get to laugh.

And that makes all the difference.

Staff Community

In any school, it's the staff that makes the difference. I have never felt as welcomed in a school as I have in this school. The teacher with whom I did home visits is one of the most kind, considerate and positive people. She texts me to "check up" on me. My first team meeting, one of the teachers approached me to share that nine years ago, he observed me during his teacher-training. When moving the previous teacher's stuff from my room so I could move in, the entire team jumped in to help. This team is also organizing a getting-to-know-you potluck picnic next weekend. For once, I'm not dreading a work event. I'm already planning a recipe.

The administration is incredible, too. Professional, caring, dedicated. I am honored to serve with this staff. I have to confess... it's a dramatic change from the previous two schools I substitute taught this past year. What a long, isolated year it was, really. I felt like an outsider (which I was). I ate lunch alone. Except for a few kind people, no one came in to "check in" with me. Administration ignored me. I never felt part of their school communities. I guess it makes sense that I didn't land a position with either of those schools this year. I'm where I'm meant to be. And welcomed with open arms.

This dynamic supports welcoming our students with the same generosity of spirit. I can't wait until next week to swing open my door (and my heart) to a new group of pickles.

Love this double-entendre. Indeed, this staff has class.