Dubby is interested in video games. World of Warcraft. Miss Q listened closely as he described his favorite games. But let me back up.
Zefron still hasn't come back. Because of this, there was a unique change in the boy band. Boo (who now speaks to me easy as anything) was a bit bored.
"Can I go make fun of my cousin? She's right over there." Miss Q thought it over.
"I wonder if it's against the Elementary Handbook..."
"That's ok. I'll tease her on the bus."
Dubby took the opportunity to monopolize the conversation. He even was incredible rude to Mook (Dubby doesn't think much of him). But today Miss Q settled for just briefly pointing out his rudeness. And Dubby settled for a sheepish, "Sorry Miss Q". But not sorry about his treatment of Mook and Co-Pilot. Co-Pilot and Dubby are buddies, so now I feel like calling people morons and stuff has become something normal. He almost doesn't think about it.
The reason Miss Q didn't focus on this was because she was learning so much about Dubby. Video games were what made his eyes light up, if maybe not improving his politeness. Violent and complicated ones, too. Not saying I'm jumping with joy, but how interesting. I mean that that was his interest and how much he enjoyed telling Miss Q. Miss Q plans to use this relational time for the future, for when she fully addresses his rudeness.
Fruitbat is interested in comics and owning her own bakery. I imagine she would love being involved with the drama department in my school. At recess we entertained each other by singing any commercial jingle we could come up with.
"At a goodnight sleepstore/ The Rest... It's Up To You!!"
On the way to recess, again, I slowed down to watch the smaller set play for a bit.
"Get off me Malfoy!"
This time they were playing Harry Potter. Hmm. Young as they were. Miss Q talked to Fruitbat about the games she used to play when she was little. She was glad to hear that Fruitbat also had these sort of games with her cousin.
Freakazoid, The Brit, Idaho, Fruitbat, Nala and Miss Q all chattered comfortably near the swings. The way Nala looks at and talks to Miss Q is like the others, but she's looking for more.
"What kind of music do you listen to?"
"Your earrings must be heavy."
"Do you like that t.v show?
It means something to her, to find someone like Miss Q who is like her but is also someone she wants to be like.
Nala's dad taught her to salsa. Miss Q loved that. Miss Q has been wanting to learn for a while now. I swear, these kids are so interesting.
But speaking of interests, there are many things I'd love to learn how to do. And all of them are things that can help me with teaching. I love to do hair. I'm fascinated with it. I love the Gospel and the theology of it. I'm fascinated with that. I love Spanish language and culture and music. If I learn how to salsa dance (it's expensive) then who's to say I can't start a club at the school where I teach and provide free lessons?
I went to a school pep rally today. Music and dancing can do a lot to bring unity to a school, a classroom, Miss Q and some awkward turtles on the swing set. Letting someone touch your hair is a bond. Nala is partial to a fishtail in her hair without being demanding of it. Spanish is becoming the country's second most common language. (Spanish and not French, sillies.)
Nowadays you can learn how to do just about anything using the internet. I'm also interested in computers. The Misses Q always talks about how teachers should use more technology in the classroom. So I'm planning on a computer programming class. I hope all of these things will help me become a better teacher.
In order to be successful, kids need to develop their interests. So I wonder, what is Memphis interested in besides fighting, Eminem, and bein 'raised by the streets?' Is there even anyone at home listening who cares?
Fatherlessness is an interest of mine.
It occured to me that there are always people around me who point out every opportunity available. Oh, you want to work in the medical field? Here's a volunteer program? Here's a program that lets you go to Guatemala for two weeks. Here's a program that helps you create video games for money. Here's this. Here's that. This is how I grew up. I'm especially greatful that I had this in middle school, because otherwise it's like a wasteland where there's nothing to do but gossip or be picked on because there's nothing to do. Because of these people in my life, I've learned to go out and find things. But anyway, that's my new goal.
Become that person who knows where opportunities are. Because some children frankly don't have relationships the adults who know about these kinds of things. Think about it. It's usually the good kids who that adults naturally mention all the great programs, scholarships, and career paths to. And the ones that need structure the most end up with nothing to do and short shrift from the rest of society as a result. What were up against are children who don't have anyone at home listening to any of their interests. These kids are fending for themselves.
Friday, April 29, 2011
March 28th, 2011 (Week 1)
"Where is everybody?"
Zefron, Dexter, Princesstard, and Memphis were currently out. The lack of their specific awkwardness was apparent throughout the day.
Later, Miss Q found out that Memphis had been suspended for suggesting another kid bring a pocket knife. That's ten days that he'll be back in his home with only his older brother and Grandma. No parents. His home situation explains a lot to me, including all his miscievous ways of getting attention.
Miss Q must confess that she had started to believe that Beancurd misbehaved just for the sake of misbehaving. Sometimes it's easy to understand how "I-always-got-somethin-to-say" can be part of a kids personality, especially one as tiny as Beancurd. But, just like in art yesterday, he chooses to act as if he wanted to be sent out of the room.
It was music day today and Miss Q sat directly behind him on the carpet. As she hoped, it calmed him a bit. Now that I think about it, some of that chatter seems to come from this little anxiety he seems to keep with him. He still made these wonderful little screeching sounds on his recorder and giggled (fess up Miss Q, you even giggled) but he didn't talk to everybody nearly as much. Instead he actually turned around and asked Miss Q about the lesson.
"Uhhh, which one is da A?" he asked. By now of course Beancurd and Mr. Music had established a very familiar relationship that went beyond words. When your nickname is "certain people in this class", then you can say that. So Miss Q was surprised to see Beancurd genuinely confused. It was interesting that because he couldn't goof off and he felt like the teacher was the enemy, he ended up asking Miss Q questions. She explained it to him. He still has trouble with the fingerings. I think from now on, whenever Beancurd gets into 'let-me-act-annoying because so-and-so already thinks I am' stage, Miss Q will ask him whether he knows what's going on.
Miss Q's retainer that she had for her (cancelled) orthodontist appointment was newsworthy. (oh yeah! Miss Q was sitting in front of Fate all the way at the end. Idaho said, "Come over here!" but this time Miss Q said, "Ya'll come over here!" and so she managed to get The Brit, Idaho, and Fate to have a nice lunch together. It was great!)
The Brit tried to make a retainer out of styrofoam. That made Miss Q laugh. Fate was pleasantly excited. She wanted to be with her mother as she was having the baby.
Miss Q made a blunder when she said goodbye to Miss Finn.
"What did you say?" asked Miss Beiber.
"Miss Finn?" But it was too late. She and The Gage had zeroed in on Miss Q's slip up like some kind of radar. The funniest part was The Gage's expression.
"Arbear? Really?"
Zefron, Dexter, Princesstard, and Memphis were currently out. The lack of their specific awkwardness was apparent throughout the day.
Later, Miss Q found out that Memphis had been suspended for suggesting another kid bring a pocket knife. That's ten days that he'll be back in his home with only his older brother and Grandma. No parents. His home situation explains a lot to me, including all his miscievous ways of getting attention.
Miss Q must confess that she had started to believe that Beancurd misbehaved just for the sake of misbehaving. Sometimes it's easy to understand how "I-always-got-somethin-to-say" can be part of a kids personality, especially one as tiny as Beancurd. But, just like in art yesterday, he chooses to act as if he wanted to be sent out of the room.
It was music day today and Miss Q sat directly behind him on the carpet. As she hoped, it calmed him a bit. Now that I think about it, some of that chatter seems to come from this little anxiety he seems to keep with him. He still made these wonderful little screeching sounds on his recorder and giggled (fess up Miss Q, you even giggled) but he didn't talk to everybody nearly as much. Instead he actually turned around and asked Miss Q about the lesson.
"Uhhh, which one is da A?" he asked. By now of course Beancurd and Mr. Music had established a very familiar relationship that went beyond words. When your nickname is "certain people in this class", then you can say that. So Miss Q was surprised to see Beancurd genuinely confused. It was interesting that because he couldn't goof off and he felt like the teacher was the enemy, he ended up asking Miss Q questions. She explained it to him. He still has trouble with the fingerings. I think from now on, whenever Beancurd gets into 'let-me-act-annoying because so-and-so already thinks I am' stage, Miss Q will ask him whether he knows what's going on.
Miss Q's retainer that she had for her (cancelled) orthodontist appointment was newsworthy. (oh yeah! Miss Q was sitting in front of Fate all the way at the end. Idaho said, "Come over here!" but this time Miss Q said, "Ya'll come over here!" and so she managed to get The Brit, Idaho, and Fate to have a nice lunch together. It was great!)
The Brit tried to make a retainer out of styrofoam. That made Miss Q laugh. Fate was pleasantly excited. She wanted to be with her mother as she was having the baby.
Miss Q made a blunder when she said goodbye to Miss Finn.
"What did you say?" asked Miss Beiber.
"Miss Finn?" But it was too late. She and The Gage had zeroed in on Miss Q's slip up like some kind of radar. The funniest part was The Gage's expression.
"Arbear? Really?"
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday April 27th, 2011 (Week One)
I've mentioned the route Miss Q likes to take to reach the playground, but you should also know that in order to get to the turtles, you walk past a mini-playground for the smaller set. Today there was a group of younguns crawling on their knees pretending to be puppies. They barked and whined convincingly while the two 'handlers' shouted orders. All were welcome to play, it seemed. It was the kind of scene that left you feeling lighter afterwards. They threw themselves into their roles with humble abandon, content with being part of the group and noticeably not caring which particular puppy they found themselves next to. Even though there were different roles, none all seemed equal.
I'm not sure if Miss Q could throw herself into a silly pretend game the same way this point in her life. The turtles probably could, but even with them there was a difference. I wonder at one point did the turtles grow out of the puppy games and into social ones.
Walking towards the turtles, this time she came upon Nancy Drew and Princesstard on the swings. The conversation that followed seemed natural and unplanned but the question that started it was by design.
"What's your favorite book?"
Nancy Drew is one turtle that Miss Q doesn't talk to as often. But definitely not for lack of things in common. Her eyes lit up.
"A Dog's Life. It's a 4.9"
Miss Q feigned disappointment.
"You know I don't like books with the dog dying."
"True. But this actually makes the book better."
"Really?" wondered Miss Q with calm interest.
"Yes."
Princesstard's favorite author was Percy Jackson. Sort of.
"The author's name is Rick Rogaine, Princesstard." corrected Drew. Because of their friendship, Princesstard was gratefully accustomed to Drew's bluntness. She just really liked the Percy Jackson series in general. Whatever that is.
Miss Q told them about the A.R system, and how it could be mastered by simply reading a Harry Potter Book and gaining at least 25 points from a 10 question test. Nancy Drew happily explained the class owls, which involved reading a book, creating a questions, and making a diorama. Miss Q had seen Nancy present her diorama's before. They are similar types of students. Even in front of a classroom, Miss Q also feels at ease explaining books.
Nancy Drew mentioned that she could retrieve the book for Miss Q but it was still a pleasant surprise when she handed it over during cursive. She was beginning to start conversations with Co-Pilot and Solomon so that's how Miss Q found out she was ahead on her reading work. Hmmm.
When Miss Q suggested The Narnia series, she let out a little 'meh'.
"I heard they were a little cheesy?" (What???)
Somewhere, Lady Finch sneezed.
When the bell rang to line up, Miss Q took a moment to steal away and talk to The Gage.
"I thought about you this morning."
"Why."
"I spent all night working on an assignment for English and then left it at home. I felt really bad after that. But then I remembered what I told you yesterday. Ya know? Try anyway. Because that's what you did."
"Ok." he said, probably wondering why she shared that.
"Organization's not my thing."
"Me neither."
Miss Q wanted hoped that she could get across the idea of trying even without natural ability. What she said, though, was actually only a brief explanation of a ton of different emotions, gains, and failures. Truthfully she had forgotten and remembered only to forget many other things in the same morning. Miss Q: short-sighted, disorganized, whiny, sulky, and procrastinating. It's like someone looking at themselves in a fun-house mirrors. From the inside these weaknesses seem to swamp and overshadow any other qualities she might have. But by that point in the day the answer was obvious. Try anyway.
Lunch was fun. Beancurd tried to move his seat. Beancurd I need you to move back to your seat...Beancurd I need you to back to your seat... Beancurd... "ok ok blahbedyblahweirdladyharrassingmmmeeee". Beancurd always talks. The thing is not to acknowledge every thing he says. Who know how many hours of fun he's had with that already. The broken record method, with an easygoing but firm tone, did the trick this time.
Sitting next to Fruitbat who was sitting next to Beancurd was interesting. Fruitbat regaled me with a series of jokes. "Who's the newest pop singer out there?" "I don't know?" We eye each other in curiosity. "Lady Goo Goo Gaga!"
You have to be careful with Fruitbat. She has a biting wit. If she tells you a gossipy secret, there's always the danger of it actually being funny and that's always inconvenient. But Miss Q was ready today.
Uniqua, noticing me explained her harshness was because she gets cranky with the whether, launched on a story against Nala.
"She got a attitude with me. All I did watch her and she was like 'Whatchu lookin at!'."
"So then I came in and I was like, Sumthin ugly that's for sure."
I'd already mentioned earlier that Uniqua uses all her good all-star qualities against people sometimes. She agreed. As for Fruitbat... not nice.
"But it's the truth." Sigh.
"No. If someone calls you ugly, you can't say it's untrue just because you disagree. That's how they see it. But it's still hurtful."
"True, I guess."
"Don't do it. You wouldn't want someone to call you ugly."
It seemed to make sense then.
" I. get. irritated." Uniqua repeated, though in a decidedly good mood.
"I know." said Idaho. "You show me pink all the time, even though you know it makes me angry."
"You're like my best friend though." Instantly a part of Miss Q's brain went, 'umm, when was this?' but that was when she noticed the fickle quality of the turtles groupings.
For instance, Fate had become 'popular'. She chattered happily beside Skinny Jeanz, whispering in her ear, discussing her past boyfriend, and laughing at Beancurd's antics. She was 'in'. Truthfully, Miss Q didn't know whether to celebrate or not. Nala was apparently on the outskirts. There was also the fact that Solomon no longer flirted so much with Skinny Jeanz. Both of them seemed slightly subdued. Maybe their break apart had cooled their little romance.
On the far side of the table sat Nancy Drew, Princesstard, Mariska, Dexter and The Brit. They were a solid little table with a nice three-seated distance away from ours. Miss Beiber (Miss Q guessed with her eyes closed at Fruitbat's questioning) was missing and in silent lunch. Miss Beiber's finger is now covered in a cast. After Miss Q accused her of ridiculous sneaky dealings, she explained that her brother had shut the cutlery drawer with her finger still inside.
After cursive, the turtles had the opportunity to catch up on some of their work. Miss Q cringed inwardly as she saw the new set of Clique novels on Miss Beibers desk. Because what we really need, ladies and gentlemen, is more Clique novels. Princesstard got her rug in a hurry.
"Miss Q, would you please come over and help my table get along." she said, a bit annoyed.
Miss Q wish she'd stayed. She could use some of her diplomacy.
Fate and The Gage are notorious enemies. They argued quietly and alone at their table. The funny thing, I highly doubt they actually dislike each other. It just made life more interesting.
As Miss Q sat down, they stopped and went back to their work. Yeah. That's what I thought.
But The Gage had the dreaded Morphed Animals worksheet, with it's one finished paragraph. Uh oh.
Suddenly he becamed extremely engaged (note choice of words) with drawing a disfigured puppy head on the back of his cursive. Here it comes.
He scrutinized the eraser of Miss Q's 'special' mechanical pencil. He asked her questions about the pencil. Fate also distracted a bit, discussing the methods to take care of the pencil she would trade Miss Q.
Maybe because he sensed how much Miss Q wanted for him to work, he got a bit of leverage.
"I'll work as soon as I hit the pencil." He tried. He missed. He hit the pencil.
"I don't wanna work."
Miz Boss noticed all this.
"Gage, put the scissors back." she said dangerously.
When it was time to go to art ("Yesss! Art!!"), Miss Q told him what she saw. "You use distractions in order to not do your work."
"Nuh uh! I did do something."
"You didn't write anything."
Miz Boss told him to stay behind. Miss Q wondered how Miz Boss would approach him as she followed the turtles into art.
Besides Beancurd quickly being sent out of the room, art was pleasant. Miss Q discussed art and the meaning of the word regional with Mariska and Princesstard. She glazed her mother's day spoon at a little table with Co-Pilot, Fate, and Dexter. She laughed at Co-Pilot.
"You make me laugh Co-Pilot." Like Zefron, Co-Pilot is extremely hard not to like. He's just a jovial, roundish red-head with a huge grin always plastered on his face.
"Don't worry purple. You'll be used soon enough." Miss Q laughed. Fate was in a good mood. She was trippin.
"Yes, don't worry purple. You're so lucky to be used by the beautiful, amazing Fate." I love Fate's glasses, which she took off for me that day. They made her more Fate-like. And she never did look more like Fate than when saying that.
"Poor purple." Yeah. That was Miss Q. Co-Pilot smirked. A pause.
"Hey!"
"Just kidding. Heh heh." Sheepish.
"Don't worry purple," Fate added. "You won't be used by that awful lady who called me mean."
The Gage came to art sullenly. Later Miz Boss told Miss Q that The Gage had to make a teary call home over his work not being done. Of course they both understood how much The Gage wanted to escape from writing. Miss Q had a good feeling about it but there was still the problem of how The Gage responded to writing assignments ahead of him. In the fourth grade there's a huge writing test. If he can use all that determination (stubbornness) than he'll be in good shape. But Miss Q can't do it for him.
I'm not sure if Miss Q could throw herself into a silly pretend game the same way this point in her life. The turtles probably could, but even with them there was a difference. I wonder at one point did the turtles grow out of the puppy games and into social ones.
Walking towards the turtles, this time she came upon Nancy Drew and Princesstard on the swings. The conversation that followed seemed natural and unplanned but the question that started it was by design.
"What's your favorite book?"
Nancy Drew is one turtle that Miss Q doesn't talk to as often. But definitely not for lack of things in common. Her eyes lit up.
"A Dog's Life. It's a 4.9"
Miss Q feigned disappointment.
"You know I don't like books with the dog dying."
"True. But this actually makes the book better."
"Really?" wondered Miss Q with calm interest.
"Yes."
Princesstard's favorite author was Percy Jackson. Sort of.
"The author's name is Rick Rogaine, Princesstard." corrected Drew. Because of their friendship, Princesstard was gratefully accustomed to Drew's bluntness. She just really liked the Percy Jackson series in general. Whatever that is.
Miss Q told them about the A.R system, and how it could be mastered by simply reading a Harry Potter Book and gaining at least 25 points from a 10 question test. Nancy Drew happily explained the class owls, which involved reading a book, creating a questions, and making a diorama. Miss Q had seen Nancy present her diorama's before. They are similar types of students. Even in front of a classroom, Miss Q also feels at ease explaining books.
Nancy Drew mentioned that she could retrieve the book for Miss Q but it was still a pleasant surprise when she handed it over during cursive. She was beginning to start conversations with Co-Pilot and Solomon so that's how Miss Q found out she was ahead on her reading work. Hmmm.
When Miss Q suggested The Narnia series, she let out a little 'meh'.
"I heard they were a little cheesy?" (What???)
Somewhere, Lady Finch sneezed.
When the bell rang to line up, Miss Q took a moment to steal away and talk to The Gage.
"I thought about you this morning."
"Why."
"I spent all night working on an assignment for English and then left it at home. I felt really bad after that. But then I remembered what I told you yesterday. Ya know? Try anyway. Because that's what you did."
"Ok." he said, probably wondering why she shared that.
"Organization's not my thing."
"Me neither."
Miss Q wanted hoped that she could get across the idea of trying even without natural ability. What she said, though, was actually only a brief explanation of a ton of different emotions, gains, and failures. Truthfully she had forgotten and remembered only to forget many other things in the same morning. Miss Q: short-sighted, disorganized, whiny, sulky, and procrastinating. It's like someone looking at themselves in a fun-house mirrors. From the inside these weaknesses seem to swamp and overshadow any other qualities she might have. But by that point in the day the answer was obvious. Try anyway.
Lunch was fun. Beancurd tried to move his seat. Beancurd I need you to move back to your seat...Beancurd I need you to back to your seat... Beancurd... "ok ok blahbedyblahweirdladyharrassingmmmeeee". Beancurd always talks. The thing is not to acknowledge every thing he says. Who know how many hours of fun he's had with that already. The broken record method, with an easygoing but firm tone, did the trick this time.
Sitting next to Fruitbat who was sitting next to Beancurd was interesting. Fruitbat regaled me with a series of jokes. "Who's the newest pop singer out there?" "I don't know?" We eye each other in curiosity. "Lady Goo Goo Gaga!"
You have to be careful with Fruitbat. She has a biting wit. If she tells you a gossipy secret, there's always the danger of it actually being funny and that's always inconvenient. But Miss Q was ready today.
Uniqua, noticing me explained her harshness was because she gets cranky with the whether, launched on a story against Nala.
"She got a attitude with me. All I did watch her and she was like 'Whatchu lookin at!'."
"So then I came in and I was like, Sumthin ugly that's for sure."
I'd already mentioned earlier that Uniqua uses all her good all-star qualities against people sometimes. She agreed. As for Fruitbat... not nice.
"But it's the truth." Sigh.
"No. If someone calls you ugly, you can't say it's untrue just because you disagree. That's how they see it. But it's still hurtful."
"True, I guess."
"Don't do it. You wouldn't want someone to call you ugly."
It seemed to make sense then.
" I. get. irritated." Uniqua repeated, though in a decidedly good mood.
"I know." said Idaho. "You show me pink all the time, even though you know it makes me angry."
"You're like my best friend though." Instantly a part of Miss Q's brain went, 'umm, when was this?' but that was when she noticed the fickle quality of the turtles groupings.
For instance, Fate had become 'popular'. She chattered happily beside Skinny Jeanz, whispering in her ear, discussing her past boyfriend, and laughing at Beancurd's antics. She was 'in'. Truthfully, Miss Q didn't know whether to celebrate or not. Nala was apparently on the outskirts. There was also the fact that Solomon no longer flirted so much with Skinny Jeanz. Both of them seemed slightly subdued. Maybe their break apart had cooled their little romance.
On the far side of the table sat Nancy Drew, Princesstard, Mariska, Dexter and The Brit. They were a solid little table with a nice three-seated distance away from ours. Miss Beiber (Miss Q guessed with her eyes closed at Fruitbat's questioning) was missing and in silent lunch. Miss Beiber's finger is now covered in a cast. After Miss Q accused her of ridiculous sneaky dealings, she explained that her brother had shut the cutlery drawer with her finger still inside.
After cursive, the turtles had the opportunity to catch up on some of their work. Miss Q cringed inwardly as she saw the new set of Clique novels on Miss Beibers desk. Because what we really need, ladies and gentlemen, is more Clique novels. Princesstard got her rug in a hurry.
"Miss Q, would you please come over and help my table get along." she said, a bit annoyed.
Miss Q wish she'd stayed. She could use some of her diplomacy.
Fate and The Gage are notorious enemies. They argued quietly and alone at their table. The funny thing, I highly doubt they actually dislike each other. It just made life more interesting.
As Miss Q sat down, they stopped and went back to their work. Yeah. That's what I thought.
But The Gage had the dreaded Morphed Animals worksheet, with it's one finished paragraph. Uh oh.
Suddenly he becamed extremely engaged (note choice of words) with drawing a disfigured puppy head on the back of his cursive. Here it comes.
He scrutinized the eraser of Miss Q's 'special' mechanical pencil. He asked her questions about the pencil. Fate also distracted a bit, discussing the methods to take care of the pencil she would trade Miss Q.
Maybe because he sensed how much Miss Q wanted for him to work, he got a bit of leverage.
"I'll work as soon as I hit the pencil." He tried. He missed. He hit the pencil.
"I don't wanna work."
Miz Boss noticed all this.
"Gage, put the scissors back." she said dangerously.
When it was time to go to art ("Yesss! Art!!"), Miss Q told him what she saw. "You use distractions in order to not do your work."
"Nuh uh! I did do something."
"You didn't write anything."
Miz Boss told him to stay behind. Miss Q wondered how Miz Boss would approach him as she followed the turtles into art.
Besides Beancurd quickly being sent out of the room, art was pleasant. Miss Q discussed art and the meaning of the word regional with Mariska and Princesstard. She glazed her mother's day spoon at a little table with Co-Pilot, Fate, and Dexter. She laughed at Co-Pilot.
"You make me laugh Co-Pilot." Like Zefron, Co-Pilot is extremely hard not to like. He's just a jovial, roundish red-head with a huge grin always plastered on his face.
"Don't worry purple. You'll be used soon enough." Miss Q laughed. Fate was in a good mood. She was trippin.
"Yes, don't worry purple. You're so lucky to be used by the beautiful, amazing Fate." I love Fate's glasses, which she took off for me that day. They made her more Fate-like. And she never did look more like Fate than when saying that.
"Poor purple." Yeah. That was Miss Q. Co-Pilot smirked. A pause.
"Hey!"
"Just kidding. Heh heh." Sheepish.
"Don't worry purple," Fate added. "You won't be used by that awful lady who called me mean."
The Gage came to art sullenly. Later Miz Boss told Miss Q that The Gage had to make a teary call home over his work not being done. Of course they both understood how much The Gage wanted to escape from writing. Miss Q had a good feeling about it but there was still the problem of how The Gage responded to writing assignments ahead of him. In the fourth grade there's a huge writing test. If he can use all that determination (stubbornness) than he'll be in good shape. But Miss Q can't do it for him.
March 27th, 2011 (Week 1)
Morphed Animal Report: Planning Sheet (To Be Five Paragraphs)
First Paragraph
*Introduce that we are in the year 3000 and you are a scientist working to morph two species of animals...
Miss Q took the long way down the fourth grade hallway to get to the awkward turtles. The walk is longer, so it gave her more time to think. Plus, she always wondered which turtle would notice her first since she came from the back.
There was a tradition among some of them that meant some of them dropped everything to go run to Miss Q. The boy band made it a competition, seeing who could tag her first. It was Boo, quiet as usual, who found her first.
He hasn't been that quiet lately.
"Zefron's not here." he explained. "We don't know where he went."
Without Zefron, the Boy Band had a disjointed quality. His bright personality and good humor always was a favorite with Solomon, Co-Pilot, and Boo. Poor Co-Pilot instead had to settle for teasing Miss Beiber. I wish I could say the nicknames they came up with, but they're too close to their actual names.
Miss Q laughed. The teasing had a playful, innocent quality about it. The turtles, perhaps because they were back from spring break, all managed to get along. Even on the way to the computer lab, The Gage only tried to torture Fate halfheartedly like a little afterthought, dangling his sheet of paper in front of her face untill she glared at him.
Beancurd was his usual overtalkative 'whatchagonnado' type self, but he hadn't found something to be angry about yet. Miss Q made sure to ask him how his mouth had been over Spring Break.
More important things happened. Nancy Drew revealed her views on custodians.
"You know how they are." she said. "That's probably why they're custodians." What? Nooooo.
"I was a custodian!" I say, almost pathetically (I should probably explain. Nah) She has a deep sense of sarcasm and is a gifted writer. She reminds Miss Q of a friend.
"I know. But you're not one anymore."
Miss Q didn't have an argument prepared at that point. But then again, Nancy Drew probably liked a good debate, didn't she? Hmmm.
Other important things? Fate's baby sister could come at any moment. Miss Q should know because the third time Fate told her she made sure to remind her she could be picked up to the office any moment... any second... any moment.
Fourth Paragraph: Food
*What will this animal eat? Must be foods that are found in your chosen environment.
*Explain HOW your animal gets its food...
I sat next to The Brit, who seemed to be on frosty terms with Dexter. Miss Q was surprised to hear they didn't spend any of their break together.
"I went on a cruise." said Dexter
"Nobody cares." said The Brit, uncharacteristicly.
"Miss Q cares," reminded Dexter. Miss Q agreed.
We discuss how Miss Q can always sense which turtles weren't present without having to look around. She closes her eyes.... hmmm Zefron and Skinny Jeanz. Neat huh? Freakazoid was chatty and as usual, openly affectionate, making sure to remind Miss Q how she shared in the classes awkwardness. We got into a political discussion. Miss Q needs help recovering from it. Is Al Qaeda a group or a person? Taliban is Afghanistan? What? In Miss Q's defense, sometimes the news and 4th graders are equally reliable.
As a rule, all fourth graders must destroy their food before they eat it. We discuss this. On Miss Q's left, Idaho attacks her potato chips and offers plenty of conversation. It's kind of nice, since before we seemed to have nothing to talk about.
Second Paragraph: Adaptations
*Can it fly away? Hide in inside its shell? Stand very still and blend into surroundings?...
Solomon seems sad. He gives a short mumbled answer when questioned once. Somehow I think it has to do with more than just Skinny Jeanz not showing up.
In the computer lab, Mook and Freakazoid, of course have the required empty seat between them. Mook forbids Miss Q from sitting there. Miss Q managed to look so heart broken, he even looked a little guilty.
Of course, seeing as Mook and Freakazoid have an assignment to do, she sits over there anyway. I remember as A kid, sometimes having an adult right there would almost help you concentrate. Like the goofyness that I always had would go away long enough for me to focus. That's how Mook and Freakazoid are. Then there was The Gage.
Miss Q knew what he was doing before she looked at him. Sitting at his desk, red head flat on the desk with a comatose posture, he had already checked out. I mean, it was a writing assignment. The first time Miss Q met The Gage was in a reading group. There was certainly a lot of distraction to deal with that first time. We were adversaries. And since then, The Gage still desperately wants to escape writing.
Not all the time though.
"You forgot the sheet." He said promptly, the minute he saw Miss Q at recess. He was referring to the writing assignment she had with her mini-lesson. A miracle had happened then. "Now I know writing is easy." he said. He wanted to stay and finish what he'd started. I think he liked the steps I came up with. I don't know. If he was only trying to make me happy, it definately worked.
I guess this new determination of his that he showed was what caused Miss Q to walk over to him this time.
His little freckled face was flat on the desk, slowly drawing a dark smiley face. Helpless.
"You told me writing was easy, remember?" Miss Q prompted.
"But my hand hurts." he sighed. "Can't get this pencil to work." he mumbled, taking the the point of his pencil and jamming it until it was broken. The Gage clings desperately to distractions, accepting alternate preoccupations (even annoying ones) with open arms.
"Try anyway."
He fiddled with his pencil some more. It was a brand new pencil, he muttered.
"Don't worry about it." A pause.
"Ok."
Paragraph 1...
Hi.
"I can't use this pencil."
"Take mine." Miss Q handed him a new mechanical pencil. She told him it was a special pencil since it happened to match her shirt that day.The eraser was gone, but he had an eraser.
"Try anyway." Miss Q said again.
Hi. My name is The Gage. I come from the year 3000. I am a scientist working to morph two species of animals.
Almost everyone else was typing theirs. The words looked like a solid paragraph on his looseleaf. When Miss Q left, she knew there was a chance he might not finish the rest of the paragraph. But he'd done 100 % more than what he would usually had done.
It was like a scene out of Love and Logic. Couldn't really have done that a few weeks ago.
First Paragraph
*Introduce that we are in the year 3000 and you are a scientist working to morph two species of animals...
Miss Q took the long way down the fourth grade hallway to get to the awkward turtles. The walk is longer, so it gave her more time to think. Plus, she always wondered which turtle would notice her first since she came from the back.
There was a tradition among some of them that meant some of them dropped everything to go run to Miss Q. The boy band made it a competition, seeing who could tag her first. It was Boo, quiet as usual, who found her first.
He hasn't been that quiet lately.
"Zefron's not here." he explained. "We don't know where he went."
Without Zefron, the Boy Band had a disjointed quality. His bright personality and good humor always was a favorite with Solomon, Co-Pilot, and Boo. Poor Co-Pilot instead had to settle for teasing Miss Beiber. I wish I could say the nicknames they came up with, but they're too close to their actual names.
Miss Q laughed. The teasing had a playful, innocent quality about it. The turtles, perhaps because they were back from spring break, all managed to get along. Even on the way to the computer lab, The Gage only tried to torture Fate halfheartedly like a little afterthought, dangling his sheet of paper in front of her face untill she glared at him.
Beancurd was his usual overtalkative 'whatchagonnado' type self, but he hadn't found something to be angry about yet. Miss Q made sure to ask him how his mouth had been over Spring Break.
More important things happened. Nancy Drew revealed her views on custodians.
"You know how they are." she said. "That's probably why they're custodians." What? Nooooo.
"I was a custodian!" I say, almost pathetically (I should probably explain. Nah) She has a deep sense of sarcasm and is a gifted writer. She reminds Miss Q of a friend.
"I know. But you're not one anymore."
Miss Q didn't have an argument prepared at that point. But then again, Nancy Drew probably liked a good debate, didn't she? Hmmm.
Other important things? Fate's baby sister could come at any moment. Miss Q should know because the third time Fate told her she made sure to remind her she could be picked up to the office any moment... any second... any moment.
Fourth Paragraph: Food
*What will this animal eat? Must be foods that are found in your chosen environment.
*Explain HOW your animal gets its food...
I sat next to The Brit, who seemed to be on frosty terms with Dexter. Miss Q was surprised to hear they didn't spend any of their break together.
"I went on a cruise." said Dexter
"Nobody cares." said The Brit, uncharacteristicly.
"Miss Q cares," reminded Dexter. Miss Q agreed.
We discuss how Miss Q can always sense which turtles weren't present without having to look around. She closes her eyes.... hmmm Zefron and Skinny Jeanz. Neat huh? Freakazoid was chatty and as usual, openly affectionate, making sure to remind Miss Q how she shared in the classes awkwardness. We got into a political discussion. Miss Q needs help recovering from it. Is Al Qaeda a group or a person? Taliban is Afghanistan? What? In Miss Q's defense, sometimes the news and 4th graders are equally reliable.
As a rule, all fourth graders must destroy their food before they eat it. We discuss this. On Miss Q's left, Idaho attacks her potato chips and offers plenty of conversation. It's kind of nice, since before we seemed to have nothing to talk about.
Second Paragraph: Adaptations
*Can it fly away? Hide in inside its shell? Stand very still and blend into surroundings?...
Solomon seems sad. He gives a short mumbled answer when questioned once. Somehow I think it has to do with more than just Skinny Jeanz not showing up.
In the computer lab, Mook and Freakazoid, of course have the required empty seat between them. Mook forbids Miss Q from sitting there. Miss Q managed to look so heart broken, he even looked a little guilty.
Of course, seeing as Mook and Freakazoid have an assignment to do, she sits over there anyway. I remember as A kid, sometimes having an adult right there would almost help you concentrate. Like the goofyness that I always had would go away long enough for me to focus. That's how Mook and Freakazoid are. Then there was The Gage.
Miss Q knew what he was doing before she looked at him. Sitting at his desk, red head flat on the desk with a comatose posture, he had already checked out. I mean, it was a writing assignment. The first time Miss Q met The Gage was in a reading group. There was certainly a lot of distraction to deal with that first time. We were adversaries. And since then, The Gage still desperately wants to escape writing.
Not all the time though.
"You forgot the sheet." He said promptly, the minute he saw Miss Q at recess. He was referring to the writing assignment she had with her mini-lesson. A miracle had happened then. "Now I know writing is easy." he said. He wanted to stay and finish what he'd started. I think he liked the steps I came up with. I don't know. If he was only trying to make me happy, it definately worked.
I guess this new determination of his that he showed was what caused Miss Q to walk over to him this time.
His little freckled face was flat on the desk, slowly drawing a dark smiley face. Helpless.
"You told me writing was easy, remember?" Miss Q prompted.
"But my hand hurts." he sighed. "Can't get this pencil to work." he mumbled, taking the the point of his pencil and jamming it until it was broken. The Gage clings desperately to distractions, accepting alternate preoccupations (even annoying ones) with open arms.
"Try anyway."
He fiddled with his pencil some more. It was a brand new pencil, he muttered.
"Don't worry about it." A pause.
"Ok."
Paragraph 1...
Hi.
"I can't use this pencil."
"Take mine." Miss Q handed him a new mechanical pencil. She told him it was a special pencil since it happened to match her shirt that day.The eraser was gone, but he had an eraser.
"Try anyway." Miss Q said again.
Hi. My name is The Gage. I come from the year 3000. I am a scientist working to morph two species of animals.
Almost everyone else was typing theirs. The words looked like a solid paragraph on his looseleaf. When Miss Q left, she knew there was a chance he might not finish the rest of the paragraph. But he'd done 100 % more than what he would usually had done.
It was like a scene out of Love and Logic. Couldn't really have done that a few weeks ago.
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