The Order of Things (Blog 17)

The Order of Things

There are some things that surprise Miss Q about elementary.

The turtles seem to have a self-awareness of themselves in the social pecking order of things. The same awareness that Miss Q now remembers she had herself in fourth grade.

There are several groups in the class.
The "boy band" The Atomic Ponies, with Zefron, Dubby, Co-Pilot, Boo, and Solomon.

Their sophisticated female counterparts the Chippettes: Mariska, Nancy Drew, and Princesstard.

The two bright best friends, somewhat considered sissies: Dexter and The Brit.

The Trio: Freakazoid, Mook, and The Gage.

The Girls (popular?): Uniqua/Miwok, Miss Beiber, Skinny Jeanz and ... Beancurd. Have to explain that one sometime.

And the rest are somewhat misfits. Fate gets along consistently with few classmates. Rickster is just the opposite. He's the tallest of the class, talks slowly, has a largish frame. He just wants to chill, man. Fruitbat sometimes hangs out with the Girls but sees herself as the weird, quirky chick. She can't stand Fate. Memphis often shows off in misbehavior in front of the girls. The boy band and the rest of the boys think he's pretty bad to the bone and all that, but find him unapproachable. Nala sometimes doesn't seem as accepted, but it doesn't appear to bother her.

This is what the class is like, I think to a 4th grader experiencing it. There's good pressure and bad pressure. The boy band to me has the most positive, drama free, and fun connections. However I worry about the Girls (along with Beancurd). They're nice to me, but not nearly as nice to everyone else. Uniqua is a prime example. I feel like because of her charm, grades, or all-star quality she gets away with a lot of harsh words. Especially towards Fate.

Of all the groups, Miss Q has yet to have one-on-one interaction with any of The Girls. They're always together, acting up as a unit. And the clique-ish quality makes a Cadet uneasy. Miss Q hopes that now that she realizes this, she can influence them to want to think for themselves and have a better influence on each other.

Miss Q has made sure to let Fate know she's allowed to switch to other table if she gets too angry. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

This is normal, right?

I don't want my turtles to be normal.

The new goal (coming to me as I write) is to change the status quo amongst the turtles. We lack chemistry, it's been said. We don't mesh. Oddballs. What needs to be done now is to make sure that values that are really lasting are at the top of the pecking order, and things like the phantom elementary "popularity" are at the bottom.

The cool thing about elementary school, or specifically Awkward Admiral Elementary, is rather than just pushing them through test scores, the teachers really care about what the students are like. This just isn't the same in a high school. It goes along with the character education bit in the curriculum and is necessary and practical to run a classroom but values are sincere and genuine. In elementary school, one of the most important things is learning how to be in a classroom. That's what's so great about it.

For Fate sometimes being in a classroom means stess and rejection. For Memphis on some days it means showing out to get attention, to keep a tough devil-may-care attitude. TheBut there are countless moments when being part of a classroom means being part of a classroom.

The silence that falls when the teacher demands silence and means it. The cheer when the class earns Footballs in P.E. Reminding each other (gently or not) which of their assignments is missing. Answering questions earnestly. I hope I never take for granted being apart of that.

Educational Article #3: Waiting for Superman (Blog 11)

3/21/11: My Own Boy Band, The Atomic Ponies (Blog 10)

"Bye Atomic Ponies bandleader." Zefron whispers as Miss Q exits the computer room.

"I thought you were the leader."

"Oh right... well, you're the manager."

Zefron, all warm brown eyes, and outstanding sense of humor heads what Miss Q calls her "boy band."

On a very interesting day when Miss Q went with the awkward turtles to play soccer for P.E (remind her to tell you about it) Miss Q remembered afterward a comment the coach made about the classroom.

"I guess there's just a weird chemistry going on in this class. They don't seem to mix so well."

This was of course referring to the turtles P.E performance. There had been some spectacular moments. Miss Q got them excited, got them to chant about teamwork and how awesome they were gonna do in the class together.

...And then Uniqua (who now wants to be called Miwok) let loos her sassy mouth on Fate and Fate broke down into tears on the sidelines. As Miss Q gently encouraged her to get back in, the morale of the teams seemed to sink from their, dissolving into general irritation at one another's lack of performance.

"It's usually the girls." Noted Lady Finch.
"You guys are gonna be around each other for a long time. Ya'll should start learning to get along." Said Coach.
"You're kids are crazy." Said Stewbeef, although at that point, when they were excited, Miss Q thinks he meant in a good way.

But a weird chemistry? Did Miss Q's class just not blend well like oil and water. Maybe. Fate so far has yet to get along with anyone in the classroom on a consistent basis without having to take herself out of the situation. Her method that she's learned is to isolate herself when she's angry, which is good, but Miss Q still wants her to figure out new ways to handle her emotional issues.

The Gage, Freakazoid, and Mook hanging out together is usually trouble, althoug Miss Q has amazing incidents to report for bothe of them. Nala is another mystery. The other girls seem to shun her at times, maybe because of her looks. She's a very dark girl with lines crisscrossing her face that remind you of scars.

"Quit acting like you're popular." Fate often lashes at Nala, who is often one her only allies. The class seems to have come to a general consensus on Fate. We may not be allowed to show meanness to her but we sure don't have to try to be nice to her. If only they weren't practically the same treatment?

Uniqua and Miss Beiber have sassy mouths and are very sly. Even catty. And Rickster? Well, he just wants to eat his lunch and chill.

So with troublemaking groups, catty mouths, and flaring tempers, does our group just have any chemistry?

Only if you know where to look. Five boys: Zefron (the funny one), Boo (the quiet one), Solomon (the wild one), Dubby (The One who does all the tricks with his arms) and Co-Pilot (The red-headed jovial one).

They sit together at lunch, play together at the playground, cheer for each other during Sparkle. Each of the friendships between them are very different and complicated.

One day two weeks ago, The band minus Solomon came running up to Miss Q.

"Solomon's being really mean!"
"Yeah! He gets like this sometimes. He pulled me by my arm into the ground!"
"And he says that word F** a lot."

The meaning was clear, as Miss Q noticed Solomon walking sullenly by himself. The group together had decided that, even though he was mostly a good friend, his behavior as of late was unacceptable and therefore they had to reject him.

In the lunch line, Miss Q asked them what they would do. It was Zefron who responded.

"I think we'll give him another chance."

This is when Miss Q first noticed the powerful dynamic in this little group. There was camraderie, there was order, and their was leadership.

"Ya'll are gonna be my boy band." Miss Q explained to them one day. She had a private word with Zefron.

"Now, whether you realize it or not, what you do influences the group. You have leadership qualities, so guess who I'm looking at whenever you and Co-pilot goof off in line?"

"I don't care." Zefron looks thoughtful for a moment. His body language betrays his words. He seemed to be figuring out if he like the weight of the 'responsibility' on one hand and the chance for extra praise on the other.

From that moment on, the boys took it from there, dubbing themselves the Atomic Ponies. They like it. And Miss Q will continue to find ways to work their natural group chemistry to her advantage. And man is it fun. The collective trust you get from them is priceless.

Speaking of groups.

"Miss Q. Miss Q!" It's Princesstard. As usual she is with Mariska and Nancy Drew, a sophisticated girl trio that remind me uncannily of the Chippettes (you know the girl chipmunks that were always trippin' about Alvin and the boys and offset them so well?)

"Were making a movie! It's like a reality t.v show. In order to get The Atomic Ponies to be in it, they're making us find them hot girlfriends and paying them 50$!"

What? In the lunch line when Zefron was asking honestly, do you see any hot girls around here?, Miss Q pointed to Mariska. His not-so-secret-admirer. Bad Miss Q!

He could barely find a comeback for embarrassment. Zefron said he didn't really want a girlfriend anyway. Good.

I could never find enough space to blog about the things I've seen. Perhaps one day, I'll have a blog-a-thon.

3/08/11: Educational Article #2 Classroom Routines (Blog 9)

3/02/11: Fate Vs The Gage (Blog 8)

A tall 5th grade girl with braids spiking in a high ponytail bounced happily out of the room. She was a regular appearance in the classroom and her affection often squeezed the life out of Miz Boss.

"Ok." Announced Miz Boss in her level alto after her departure. "I just got a message from Yugochi. Mrs. Blox is a bit busy, so we'll be having art inside.

Miss Q was sitting beside Nancy Drew, but she was focused on the two sitting at the table beside her.

It was a bit of an twist to see that they just happened to sit beside each other after their argument at lunch, but eventually, eventually, the Gage conceded.
"I'll shut up now."
That was after Miss Q heard him still saying something and said it sounded an awful lot like "I want to sit by myself during Art."

After and not before some drama.

Fate, surprise of surprises, was actually the innocent party this time.
Ok, well there's no such thing as an innocent part in a 4th grade argument, but it wasn't Fate that Miss Q was slightly miffed at today. Fate had continually looked at Miss Q despairingly for what to do. As if to say, "You see? I really am trying. He is making me so mad. What should I do."

But The Gage had been offended. And when you offend The Gage he becomes like some kind of animal that will. not. budge. This time after what seemed like a civil discussion with Fate about why she didn't get the leadership position she wanted, The Gage started to bug her. Miss Q probably made it worse. I mean annoying Fate and getting Miss Q in a tizzy? Oh what fun! When Fate tried to sit somewhere, he followed her. Miss Q got up in his face, and afterward he sat down and changed the subject. Miss Q knew he still hadn't gotten the point so she tried a different route.

"I know you can act nicer than that. It makes me sad to see you act like that."

"No, I can't. Liar."

The Gage likes to get away with things. Miss Q finds it sort of easy not to take it personally, since he's like that with everyone. But today was a bit more intense (inside Miss Q's head if not in her actions) because she felt like she just had to get him to leave Fate alone.

Fate did good that day. Miss Q encouraged her through The Gage's pestering. What killed Miss Q was that he wasn't content to let her steam in the corner. He wanted to see her get upset. How frustrating. But if that were a test, then Fate would have somewhat passed.

Wow. Miss Q, now that you think about it, what does that mean? The Gage wanted to see Fate lose her cool. So what must you not do around The Gage? 

While The Gage is very loveable, and has fun with Miss Q, he still has these moments where nothing seems to bother him when it comes to him doing what he wants. Also, Miss Q realized that he is a great influence on Mook. Mook is very compliant without the presence of The Gage, then those are the times when he seems to get the guts to not follow directions.

Miss Q wonders how she could have handled it better. One thing she tends to do is just sit there and watch the turtles when they start to argue to see how they handle it. Perhaps not such a good idea?

In another blog I should write about these special appearances and antics of other Teacher Cadets. For example, Lady Finch.

Miss Q: Trying to get her bathroom stragglers, Mook, The Gage, Fate, and Nala to go to the room. Mentally focused on avoiding power struggle.

Lady Finch: Hi Miss Q!

Miss Q: Wha? Oh Hi!!

Lady Finch stepped in for a moment. But here's the funny part. After she left:

Zefron: "Why did that Lady say she's read about me?"

Miss Q: "Umm... she's crazy?"

Zefron: "Ok."

Honestly, Lady Finch. It was the only thing Miss Q could come up with.

What I've Learned by Michelle Rhee (Blog 7)

After my boss, Washington, D.C., mayor Adrian Fenty, lost his primary in September, I was stunned. I had never imagined he wouldn’t win the contest, given the progress that was visible throughout the city—the new recreation centers, the turnaround of once struggling neighborhoods, and, yes, the improvements in the schools. Three and a half years ago, when I first met with Fenty about becoming chancellor of the D.C. public-school system, I had warned him that he wouldn’t want to hire me. If we did the job right for the city’s children, I told him, it would upset the status quo—I was sure I would be a political problem. But Fenty was adamant. He said he would back me—and my changes—100 percent. He never wavered, and I convinced myself the public would see the progress and want it to continue. But now I have no doubt this cost him the election.

The timing couldn’t have been more ironic. The new movie Waiting for Superman—which aimed to generate public passion for school reform the way An Inconvenient Truth had for climate change—premiered in Washington the night after the election. The film championed the progress Fenty and I had been making in the District, and lamented the roadblocks we’d faced from the teachers’ union. In the pro-reform crowd, you could feel the shock that voters had just rejected this mayor and, to some extent, the reforms in their schools.

When I started as chancellor in 2007, I never had any illusions about how tough it would be to turn around a failing system like D.C.’s; the city had gone through seven chancellors in the 10 years before me. While I had to make many structural changes—overhauling the system for evaluating teachers and principals, adopting new reading and math programs, making sure textbooks got delivered on time—I believed the hardest thing would be changing the culture. We had to raise the expectations that people had about what was possible for our kids.

I quickly announced a plan to close almost two dozen schools, which provoked community outrage. We cut the central office administration in half. And I also proposed a new contract for teachers that would increase their salaries dramatically if they abandoned the tenure system and agreed to be paid based on their effectiveness.

Though all of these actions caused turmoil in the district, they were long overdue and reaped benefits quickly. In my first two years in office, the D.C. schools went from being the worst performing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress examination, the national test, to leading the nation in gains at both the fourth and eighth grade in reading as well as math. By this school year we reversed a trend of declining enrollment and increased the number of families choosing District schools for the first time in 41 years.

Because of results like these, I have no regrets about moving so fast. So much needed to be fixed, and there were times when I know it must have felt overwhelming to the teachers because we were trying to fix everything at once. But from my point of view, waiting meant that another year was going by when kids were not getting the education they deserved.

--- First Page of Michelle Rhee's article. To read the whole article, click here.

Michelle Rhee is currently a trailblazer for school reform in Washington, D.C. Her slash-and-burn type education reform has been harshly criticized by the public. In the article she admits her disconnection from the community has hurt her cause.

Although I'm not sure I would do it the exact way she does, I admire Michelle Rhee because of her tenacity and her willingness to take criticism for the sake of the kids in underperforming schools. Many, many teachers and parents were made upset. But when i read this article, I get so excited. As if I really am with her and going to be apart of the movement to reform American schools with my teaching.

Politics and Education Reform isn't what I'm doing right now. But her mission: "defend and promote the interests of of children so that America has the best education system in the world." makes sense to me. Her point was that too often, decisions about education are made based on what feels comfortable for the adults.

She claims that conflict was necessary to move the agenda forward. That is one big difference that I have with her. While conflict is necessary, I don't believe the ends always justify the means when it comes to firing so many teachers.  But her courage in putting the kids interests first makes me want to be more excellent for my future student's sake and take on more challenges.

I believe that people willing to make tough decisions can help a failing education system but I also believe that it's an effort that can't be complete without the consensus of the entire community, including parents and teachers. This is what I learned from Michelle's article:

Be gutsy. Be courageous. Make tough decisions. But also work with the people around you. That means parents, other teachers, peers. Just today I had several students who continually act up in class that I was working on but when I had another teacher cadet with me (Socrates), it felt that much more effective because now he was backing up what I was trying to teach, too.

So not only can I affect change in the classroom, but in collaborating with my mentor teacher (something I should do more often) and a peer, I do a lot more than I can on my own.

2/22/11: Ready. Aim... (Blog 6)

When Miss Q walked over to the playground yesterday, one particular awkward turtle was there walking a lap as if purposely placed there for Miss Q's sake.

Beancurd.

And he was upset over something. Yes.

"I don't like Miz Boss at all." he said. "She always picks on me. Even My momma says so. And when Miss Bieber was doing such-and-such..." Miss Q let him vent anxiously for a bit.

"You do talk a lot." she reminded evenly.

"Yeah, but I just don't think it's fair."

"Hey look, every time I see you, you're always so anxious. Like someone's gonna ignore you or push you around or treat you unfairly. You're thinkin' you have to be so defensive but no one else sees you that way. No one's gonna push you around. Not if I can help it. Do you think I'd let anybody push you around if I could help it?"

"No." he said, looking only slightly less anxious.

Miss Q figured it was at least a good start. She pictured herself being able to say, "Hey what happened? You didn't have to do that. I said I wouldn't let people push you around, remember?" Beancurd is small, but Miss Q wants him to act big.

After that, the Gage, Freakazoid, and Mook came over and they were all excited because apparently, Freakazoid got caught in the middle of a sandstorm. That kind of thing is always fun.

Memphis was back. He hangs sort of aloof from everybody. He's one you can tell, isn't really into being in full compliance with the group. School for him so far meant getting in trouble. Though quiet on the outset, at every other moment he was intent on getting away with his own thing. He talks to Miss Q, though.

"I was raised in the ghetto." he says in his natural southern drawl at lunch when Miss Q comments on his tough-guy demeanor. Hmm.

"Shut up." he says suddenly to The Gage. "I'm mad at you." After a beat he says, "My brother was a fighter. He does UFC, wrestling... He taught me how to fight." He went on to explain that he had punched or fought every boy at the table at least once exluding Dexter and the Brit. The boys then talked about the various kids he had challenged. You could tell they thought Memphis was cool, if not particularly nice.

"His future's a bit scary." remarked Miz Boss, watching Memphis at his mischief in the bathroom.

I know you don't like getting in trouble all the time.

The words were starting to form in Miss Q's head. What to say to him. How to draw him in. This is one of the things that guy at the conference said. They really don't like getting in trouble all the time. Acknowledge it. When they're at their worse, don't just send them away. Draw them into you.

That day, Miss Q remembered to say happy birthday to Fruitbat, who's sleepover had been this Saturday. Uniqua attended, but Miss Bieber wasn't able to come.

Nala's brother was coming home the next day for his birthday and the same age as Miss Q's brother. He was 21, celebrating 'becoming a man', and "sorta skipped college". himself since 'he's a man'. Today, instead of a loose ponytail with flyaways, Nala's hair had been intricately cornrowed into a neat bun with a scrunchy that reminded you of confetti. Her mother had done it, so that meant she was back home for her birthday. Miss Q smiled, happy for Nala because of the way her own mother used to do up her hair.

"You shouldn't be afraid of him." said Nala, refering to Memphis' tough reputation. She and Memphis weren't exactly getting along that day.

"The only person I'm afraid of is my brother." she said with obvious respect and reverence.

They turned off the lights at lunch and everyone was quiet. Mook, Freakazoid, and The Gage had been loud and they got pointed out. Zefron?

"They act like this is some kind of fancy restaurant."

During work The Gage sometimes gets a bit loopy, looking over other people's papers and things like that. It was funny to watch Princesstard try to be diplomatic after saying several times, they'd already fixed an answer on the board.

He definitely gets loopy with cursive. The Gage has a way of letting you know he doesn't like an assignment without saying anything about it. However, he seeemed intent on doing it.

"My cursive stinks." he says holding out his paper, chin laid out on the desk.

"Hmm. It actually looks better than if you'd never tried. It actually looks better than yesterday's." said Miss Q. In all honesty, Miss Q had no idea what his cursive looked like yesterday. But the important thing was that in doing it, he was, in fact getting better than if he hadn't done it.

"It's hard..." he lets Miss Q know again as she walks away.

Lining up to go to gym, Miz Boss was doing her thing to motivate the kids. Exactly the thing Miss Q had in mind to start doing.

"Everything turns out better if you work as a team. Take for example..." she said, searching. Miss Q had been in a musical recently.

"A play." Her eyes widened as she smiled. she had seen Miss Q in Hairspray.

"A perfect example. When you're on stage, if everyone does their part right (you were fabulous by the way Miss Q) only then does it look good. One person can't support the whole show by doing their best. Everyone has to help the team out. I want some footballs from you guys." Footballs were for good class behavior.

"And can I add one thing?" asked Miss Q. "There are some of you that do what they're supposed to even when no one's watching. I want all of you to be like that."

Miss Q looked at Freakazoid, Mook, and The Gage. She had gotten their attention.

In gym they were really goin' for it. Everyone sat quietly on the first step, paying full attention. Although unclear whether by choice, The Gage was sitting apart from Mook and Freakazoid and was paying attention.

"You're doing good Gage." Miss Q made sure to tell him. It's good for him to hear positive things for a change.

The gym lady came over with a friendly smile and asked about Miss Q. Yep, I go to Such-and-such High School. I'm here for Teacher Cadet. It's fun with them, isn't it?

"What were you sayin' to them just now?" She has a bright voice and a slight southern accent that Miss Q likes.

"I want them to have integrity." said Miss Q, making sure they could hear her. "'Cause not enough people in this world have it."

That day in gym, the awkward turtles all went to get jump ropes. Right. Easy. Miss Q removed her heels. As Miss Q made her stupid way to the middle of the floor with her jump rope, Gym Lady announced that first they would be doing a couple of warm-ups first.

It was intense! Miss Q had to go around the rope galloping, hopping from side to side, duck squats and other things she had never even heard of. But in the midst of it, a competition between The Gage had developed as they counted to ten.
"Ha, Miss Q, I got there first!"
"No fair, my rope is bigger!"

Miss Q decided it was worth all the effort to see him smiling so much and having fun with her. Freakazoid obviously wanted in on it. We did "180's" back and forth across the jump ropes.

"I do 180's on my skateboard!" said Freakazoid. "Don't we, Gage.?"
"Sure you do." said Miss Q, messing with them. "Miss Q does 180's on her skateboard all the time, too."

Today, cool things happened.

I was slightly off about Beancurd. It was Mook who reminded him that he needed to do his Owl Project, so he didn't just interact with the girls exclusively. Freakazoid showed Miss Q a 25$ Amazon.com gift card he'd found.
"Really? Wow, you get to buy Miss Q something!"
"Nuooo."

In the lunch line, Miss Q asked the Gage how he did for the rest of the time at gym after she left.
"Good. I sweated harder than everybody."

In class Miz Boss took a few minutes to go to the bathroom. While still quiet, their tiny whispers got just a few decibel's louder. Because kids are smart, they can sense the difference between Miz Boss' talking limit and Miss Q's. However, Dubby and Princesstard were starting to talk to The Gage in a normal tone.

As Miss Q looked at The Gage a funny thing happened. Suddenly he stopped talking.

"Guys, not so loud." He said, looking back at me. Princesstard and Dubby looked at him like 'are you serious?' but he meant it.

Why would he do that?

You're doing good, Gage.
How'd you do at gym while I was gone?
Your cursive's better than it was yesterday.

Was that it?

Today, during cursive, he wanted Miss Q to sit next to him. She was happy to.
"See my cursive today? Look how good the 'd' is..."
He wanted to look at all Miss Q's Visitor Sticker photos. Between assignments, Miss Q obliged, amazed that she was as interesting to him as he was to her.

During the computer lab, The Gage was not allowed to sit by Mook or Freakazoid. Watching him stare off into space, 'sharpen' his pencil, and lean back in his chair, Miz Boss and Miss Q exchanged glances.

The Gage always started during these online answer-from-the-article assignments. Miss Q decided to sit beside him. That helped him get started. However, soon enough...

"This is hard." Reading wasn't really Gage's thing. He likes math.
"It's just like cursive."

Miss Q tried to urge him through number two and told him to keep working before she had to leave. As she walked out the door she whispered, "Bye guys, keep working hard, you can do it." nodding her head yes as
The Gage shook his head no. The Gage was just being The Gage, of course. Miss Q knows he can do it.

Miz Boss took the opportunity to show her sentimental side, which comes out often when talking about the turtles.
"It's so interesting to picture them as teenagers. Here, I've got some pictures I have to show you..."

The Gage as a teenager would definately be interesting.