First day of school with students was today. My day went somewhat off the rails before I even left the house.
I was zipping my backpack, getting ready to leave so I would be at work five minutes early, when there was an urgent pounding on the door.
I am so accustomed to children grabbing my hand to hold that when it happened at a ball game recently, I didn't even really notice. The friend I was with had to tell the kid I wasn't his mom.
ALT A graphic from the National Education Association (NEA). It is a chalkboard on a brick background with white text. It says: The Republican budget bill will: [X] Drain public fund to expand private school vouchers. [X] Narrow eligibility for SNAP. [X] Gut Medicaid for millions. [X] Hurt students & working families in every community. [X] Give massive tax breaks for billionaires.
My next door neighbor kid is five and is going to start attending the school where I teach this fall.
Neighbor Kid: HI CAITLIN
Me: You know, you're going to need to call me a different version of my name pretty soon.
Neighbor Kid: You mean like Cait?
Everyone who walks by on the sidewalk, she asks their name. I think she might already be running for mayor. (Her parents sit on the porch and watch her chalk the sidewalk or play in the rain. I like to sit on my porch and pretend I'm gonna read but really I'm there to gab.)
my parents expected As & were aghast at A-s. there was no celebration of excellence & no tolerance for mediocrity. grades were a measure of my worthiness.
I think about this when I assess my students. what do grades mean to them & what are alternative ways to motivate learning?
Kids around the corner are selling balloons. (Last year they sold paper airplanes.) I had no cash but they insisted on giving me a freebie, so now I am walking the dog all over the the neighborhood while carrying this lovely, um, sword.
ALT A photo. In the background, a yellow deer head chihuahua is sniffing out a good place to pee amongst grass and gravel. In the foreground, a Caucasian hand holds a curved pink balloon sword that doesn't NOT look phallic.