Rookie Reflections

I have a senior student who is on the Occupational Diploma track. His case manager and I work well together, because his case manager was my co-teacher last semester. So, we have been in touch off and on about this student. I will call him Seth for the sake of the blog.

I really can't say enough good things about Seth. He is a sweetheart of a kid: polite, respectful, and always smiling. He also works well with other students. When he does his work, he does a great job despite his low reading level. However, sometimes he's just not into it. He sleep and daydreams on a regular basis. I guess I can understand his lack of motivation. He works two jobs during the week and is graduating in 2 months; his first priority is probably not characterizing Lady Macbeth.

But, as you may have guessed, his grades are suffering. His grade is WAY below what he is capable of making, and he is on the pass/fail borderline. His case manager contacted me today through email to see what the problem was. I told him of Seth's lazy streak, which he already knew. He told me he might just need some encouragement. Mr. Case Manager printed out Seth's progress reports and given them to him.

All that is to say that when Seth walked in today, he said, "Mrs. Duncan, I'm going to stay awake the rest of the semester! I saw my progress report today, and I know I can do better than that." I was so proud of him, and said, "Well, Seth, you do a great job when you're awake!" He flipped around and looked at me with a serious look on his face. Then, he said, "Well, why didn't you tell me that?"

... I have no excuse. He is completely right. I haven't told him before that he does a good job when he focuses. Teachers are supposed to motivate students to do their best, and somehow I had just disregarded him altogether. I guess it was just easier for me to accept the fact that he slept in class. All he needed were some kind words. I need to pick it up!

Things I Like Today:

1. Jenny Lewis's Acid Tongue CD



"To be lonely is a habit
Like smoking or taking drugs
And I've quit them both
But man, was it rough"


2. The "Sweet Home Alabama Act"

The Sweet Home Alabama Coalition (seriously, with the names?) is sponsoring a bill that calls for the taxation of electronic bingo gaming in Alabama. This bill will have to pass a two-thirds majority vote in both the house and senate before possibly going to the people for a vote in 2010.

My thoughts: Regardless of your religious and moral convictions, we all know that gambling goes on in Alabama. Even though the industry brings in billions of dollars a year, some Alabama citizens (I'm being nice here) don't want to tax it, because that would be "legitimizing" gambling.

If the bill passes, electronic gambling operations would have to pay taxes on the money that they are currently just pocketing, and that tax revenue would give a much needed boost to education and healthcare in Alabama (the same education and healthcare systems that undoubtedly serve the citizens against the bill and everyone else in Alabama).

3. Kings

There is a relatively new show that is coming on NBC Sunday nights called Kings. I haven't watched it yet, but I think I am going to catch up on the episodes I've missed and start keeping up with it. The show is supposed to be a modern-day retelling of the David and Goliath story. Also, the lead actor is none other than the beloved Ian McShane, formerly known as Al Swearengen.

King:


Hang-Dai:


Check out the show's particulars here.

4. UNC

I picked UNC to win March Madness this year. Guess who did the same?

Well, this week has crawled along as slowly as a turtle in slow-mo. I am SO happy it is Friday and that it's perfect napping weather. As soon as I leave work, I'm sleeping for at least three hours.

I found out something this week that was extremely disturbing. I will tell you the backstory before I let you know what I found out.

I have this student, we'll call her Ashley (not her real name), who is very well-mannered and keeps to herself most of the time. She is a ninth grader (14 years old). In my other ninth grade class, the girls call her by name and make fun of her almost daily. I have made it a point to stop their conversations as soon as they start talking about her, because the things they say are just hateful.

Also, Ashley writes in her class journal about her boyfriend a LOT. She wrote in there that he used drugs; he deals them, too, but her problem was with how he acts when he uses. She says when he uses he is mean and mistreats her. However, when he's sober, she says he's "like he used to be." It's just really depressing to see her in this situation; she is SO young and does not have the self confidence to realize she's better without him.

Anyways, that brings us to this week, when she has come in every day teary-eyed. She asked on Monday to go to the counselor to have some "testing" done. I of course agreed, figuring that her boyfriend must have cheated on her or that she needed a pregnancy test (not an uncommon thing for these girls).

Thursday, Ashley was hysterical when she walked into class. I called her out in the hallway to see what was wrong, because she would NOT calm down. Then, she reveals to me that the reason she asked to see the counselor for testing was because she was raped last weekend in a Tuscaloosa gas station restroom. As if that's not bad enough, her cuss of a boyfriend broke up with her after she told him. I won't tell you exactly what he said to her, but I will say that it was degrading and the most hurtful thing I've ever heard.

I wish you knew this girl. She is smart, funny, self-disciplined and caring. It doesn't seem right that these things are happening to her or any other girl for that matter. This is the SECOND student (in the 9th grade) who has told me she was raped. I am heartbroken over this, truly. I really just can't believe it.

I completely understand that "Notorious B.I.G." is to "Biggie" as "Puff Daddy" is to "Puffy", but...

My dad called tonight and said he had a very important question (note the sarcasm). He wanted to know...

When did "Snoop Doggy Dogg" drop the "Doggy" and become "Snoop Dogg"?



Does anyone know why he's leaving out the "Doggy"? Is he just getting more mature? Does he think just the "Snoop Dogg" sounds more refined? And, if so, does he ever throw in the "Doggy" if he's feeling crazy?

This past weekend, B had a rock show in Auburn so my seester and mother came down Friday night to stay with me. It was so much fun! Friday night, we ate chicken salad (made by Mom) and Nutter Butter Banana Pudding (recipe here). I was so proud of myself for making the dessert. I even made the pudding myself instead of cheating and using jello pudding. Please, allow me to gloat. After we ate, we went to the mall for a little window shopping and then to the movies. We saw He's Just Not That Into You. It was very cute (and true!) but unexpectedly depressing. I still love precious little Ginnifer Goodwin with all my heart.



Saturday morning, we walked two miles (woo hoo!) and then went to look at huge houses "north of the river." It is like a completely different world over there. Even the small houses were enormous, and we saw a Range Rover with a Northridge parking permit. Can you imagine driving your RANGE ROVER to HIGH SCHOOL?!

This week is the major administration of the Graduation Exam. For those of you who don't work here, that means that this is a complete waste of a week where all we do is keep study halls and watch movies (This morning, we have already watched the first X Men and half of the second one). I have gotten a lot of paperwork done (grading, lesson plans, etc.), but I have a feeling I'm going to get bored of this very quickly.

BEST NEWS EVER - Spring is here! You all have no idea how happy I am; Spring means warm weather and an instant lift of my spirits. I have already painted my toes a springy pink.

or, for those of you who are bored and want to loaf around on the internets: (click the links)


For work:

1. Teen Dating Bill of Rights

2. "This I Believe" story sharing project from NPR (with accompanying lesson plans - LOVE that)

For fun:

3. Best Week EVER (I'm a sucker for the sarcasm)

4. This website explains so much. For example:



5. Bad Gift Emporium (YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUY THIS STUFF, PEOPLE!)

6. Do you know anyone who is passive aggressive?


For creativity:

7. I enjoy looking at the patterns

8. I am totally making this!



For thought:

9. Interesting

10. for the history lover

11. Daily News Quiz