In other news...

I'm also reading this book:

And it's awesome. Ben finds out he is dying of a blood disease and he only has one year left, his senior year. So instead of telling his younger brother, bipolar mother and hopeful father, he decides to keep it to himself and instead try to have the most awesome year ever. He makes the football team, finally gets with his dream girl and at the same time realizes no one is as they seem. Everyone has secrets, not just Ben.

There are a lot of swear words because it's an 18 year old boy and yes, he gets some action. But there's also a lot of uncomfortable issues breached. It's daring. It's real and raw. It's captivating.

I love Crutcher. He writes about sports to catch the reluctant boy readers and then slams them with real life stuff to make them think. Genius.

I'm loving it.

Much more than the Twilight look alike.

Shadowland

I'm reading this series because it's totally in in 8th grade:

I'm on this book, #3:

So, the people in these books are immortals. But, really it's just Twilight redone. This book is all about how the two fated lovers are cursed so that they can never swap body fluids because he'll literally die if they do. And BOY does she want to do him.....yikes! It reminds me of when Emily and I went to see the new Twilight movie and Bella was crawling all up in Edward's grill and Emily said, "Stephanie Meyers is going to get excommunicated!"

Stephanie Meyers, what have you done!?

An Excerpt from Chris Crutcher's Deadline

"Because it is a secret and it carries seeming awfulness, it keeps her from telling the truth. People who feel ruined, or scared all the time, simply can't tell the truth. When she can tell it, own it instead of letting it own her, she'll be fine." - Hey-soos

I'm not sure I'd recommend this book to 8th graders because it says the f-word a lot and talks about sex, but if they pick it up and read it on their own -- it has some powerful messages.

I love Young Adult literature.

Life-inspiring...

I want to make a bookmark for all of my students. I want to put some kind of awesome life-inspiring quote on it. Something not too cheesy...

Any ideas?

All I've thought of is:

"We are here on Earth to fart around. Don't let anybody tell you any different" - Kurt Vonnegut

and

"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde.

Life-inspiring, eh?

Any other good quotes?....

8th graders...

The top 5 things students do when they're finished typing in the computer lab (when they should be reading):

5. Attempt to hijack the computer so they can get on Facebook.

4. Try to search the internet for games. (I quickly shut that down)

3. Play in paint and draw lightning bolts (the high school mascott)

2. Change the background settings. Multiple times.

and the number one thing students to when they're finished in the computer lab...

1. Play on Google Earth

May I brag for a moment?

I'm having my students fill out an evaluation of me. It sings sometimes when I read things that I know I need to improve on but didn't realize the students have been thinking the same thing all year. However, there are lots of nice things said and they make me smile.

The best so far is this:

"I like that I can be myself in her class and how she makes all of us feel wanted. Whenever I come into English I feel like I can be anyone I want to be. I also feel like I can trust her and come to her for advice. She is the best teacher ever! Ms. Culp is my role model!"

Now, it sounds a bit extreme but hey, I like the extreme.

I am a bit confused by some of them though...I have a reoccurring theme appearing in these evaluations, and I haven't the slightest idea where it came from:

"This teacher knows how to DANCE!"

"Dance more!"

"Sweet dance moves."

I'm pretty sure I haven't danced before....or....it may be possible that I dance all the time without noticing it. Like when they play Party in the USA in the hallways between classes....How can I NOT dance to that and play air guitar!?

I have a lot to improve on (apparently not my dance moves) but I like hearing the good things too. It makes me feel like I'm doing something right.

I think teachers should have their students evaluate them once a year. Every year. Those teachers that get stuck in their ways and never try anything new - I think they could take a slap to the face from comments some students have. Some of the comments are RIGHT ON (discipline more) but I'm just not man enough to admit them. Some are not (more parties) and I just laugh. Now that some of the real issues are brought to my attention, I'm more aware and I have a motivation to become better.

Also this:

(One student wrote under the question that asks how I can improve: "Stop liking Justin Bieber!" ... Never.)

Makin' me proud

Watching 8th graders write is interesting. They do the funniest things.

For Example: "If you are a parent would you want your student to be robbed of valuable learning time and experiences? Well I'm William Linton and it is unfair to take away chances and opportunities from kids to learn and progress in their education."

Why do they always feel the need to introduce themselves? Maybe they watch too many infomercials? "Hi, I'm Sarah McLachlan. Help these disgusting, eyeless dogs."

But I love seeing them write no matter what quirks they have. Some of them try so hard and it warms my heart.

Like this kid who comes up and asks me questions about his essay more than anyone else: "Second, students would pay more attention in class. If a student has a snack they are happy so if they are happy they can pay more attention in class. If a student is hungry they won't pay as much of attention. If students pay more attention they get good grades."

Look at him go! I'm so proud.