Showing Concern

The recent events in Japan have been a topic of great concern this week in class.  As always, this group has amazed me with the empathy they have displayed during our discussions.  You should be proud of your children for the way they have shared their thoughts and concerns as they try to understand this disaster.  To show our support to the people of Japan, students have written Tanka poems inspired by some images they have seen in class.  Tanka is an ancient form of Japanese poetry comprised of five lines and a total of thirty one syllables (5,7,5,7,7).  Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments on their beautiful poems or this tragic event.

The baby looks sad

both the parents are missing

during the earthquake

I feel bad for everyone

thousands of people have died

by Riley

A miracle comes

out of everything that came

a baby is found

what a surpise to people

a new lovely sound is here

by Logan

If I was in a

tsunami I would be scared

if I was the dad

I would be very happy,

and cheerful, and thankful, and glad

by Aurora

Dad reunited

mother hasn't been found yet

miracles happen

she was found four days later

following the Tsunami

by Dakota

The most surprising

thing that happened in my life

a baby survived

four days later the baby

was found among the remains

by Hunter

Hoping for safety

sad for people who have lost

thankful for rescues

swampy from all the water

disaster from the wrecked homes

by Heather

Big waves incoming

lots of people in big fear

trees getting knocked down

houses getting washed away

cars are going for a swim

by Chris

The wave is coming

it's tearing everything down

it is very sad

all of the trees are falling

the people are screaming help

by Rory

A big wave coming

where could you go at this time

it appears fast

when it hits land in Japan

it wipes stuff away so quick

by Logan

Harsh trees falling down

waves coming in rapidly

houses falling fast

cars floating down a river

boats flipping over down river

by Jeremy

The wave is here now

nothing can stop it coming

everybody's scared

houses are moving away

there's nothing to do to help

by Jessie

The waves are coming

it's the worst thing that happened

it is a nightmare

all the houses coming down

people are screaming for help

by Abby

Waves coming in fast

belongings will be destroyed

cars will be ruined

citizens and pets might die

trees and grass will be dug up

by Kamryn

A pile of junk

used to be valuable

everything broken

a tragic story it is

something horrible happened

by Logan

Some people are sick

finding lost family members

belongings are gone

debris from destroyed houses

sleeping in freezing cold ice

by Kamryn

Don't You Wrong or Right Me

It has been a while since I have posted anything....largely due to the fact that I am finishing up my work to submit for the National Board.  Let's hope the second time is a charm!   Anyway, I've been missing my little blog as topics to write about have been piling up in my head and are now so jumbled that I find one thought leading to another without being sure how the connection was made.  Here's an example.

Last night on my way home from grocery shopping, I set my iPod to shuffle and had one of the most amazing musical experiences ever, thanks to the randomness of this feature.  Yes, all the songs that are on my iPod are there because I put them there, but it is the order and songs themselves that came up that was so unreal.  My itunes library has over three thousand songs on it, so that made it even more impressive to me. 

This made me think about how much I love music, whether people realize it or not.  When I was a kid, I would throw tantrums in the store for first, vinyl albums, and eventually cassette tapes.  Kids, ask your parents to explain what "albums" and "cassette tapes" are.  Then it was Cd's...but by the time I actually got a CD player I was basically out of the tantrum stage.  Notice I said basically, because I have been known to throw a few still to this day.  Anyway  many people don't know what a huge music lover I am because they see the person at school who hates singing cutesy songs and is horrible at playing an instrument.

I tried the chorus thing when I was in school and it didn't work for me.  The same with playing trumpet.  This always made me wonder, how someone who loves music as much as I do....could have no musical ability whatsoever?

This train of thought next led me to wearing a tie.  It may seem like a stretch, but stick with me.  As a male in my profession, there is a sort of stereotype that wearing a tie makes you a "good" teacher.  I tried it.  That also didn't work for me.  Instead of being a "good" teacher, I was uncomfortable all day long, always tucking and afraid to move because I would have to start the process all over again.  I also got a reputation of being completely unapproachable to parents, as unfortunately my appearance also seemed to give the impression that I thought I was better.  Believe me when I say that this is not the message you want to send to families when you are just beginning your career.  Once I loosened up and ditched the dress pants and ties, something really cool started to happen.  My teaching improved; as what I was teaching took the spotlight, instead of what I was wearing.  I also became more approachable as families weren't intimidated to talk to me and began to view me as their equal.  Because after all, that is what we are.  I have the same goals as the families of my students and at this stage of the game, I feel pretty confident in saying that the families of my students understand that.   If wearing a tie makes you a "good" teacher, I like to think that not wearing one makes you "great."

Please don't think that I am judging anyone, especially men who wear ties.  The point I'm trying to make is that for me it didn't work and when I looked in the mirror each day, I saw a phony.  I don't see that anymore and I like to think that people who do wear ties don't judge me any more than I don't judge them.
On my way home last night, "Crazy" by Patsy Cline was the last song I heard.  I remember as a kid when my mom would play Patsy in the car and I would sit in the back seat searching for anything I could find to stuff in my ears to drown  her out.  Now she is on my iPod and I love it when she come on.  First because it always makes me think of my mom.  Second because it shows me that I have grown up and learned how to appreciate a phenomenal voice and talent.  This gives me hope that Jacob's constant complaining whenever I play Tori Amos means he will be a bigger fan than I am when he is older.

At this point you may be saying to yourself,  how did we get from from the beginning of this post to here?  Don't you tell your students to stay on topic and not to wander all over the place in their writing?  Absolutely, and I do it all without wearing a tie.

Peace of mind,
Mr. Fletcher