Dedicated to the Silliman 8th grade class of 2003-2004....

In the fall of 2003, I entered into my very first classroom. I was so excited and had so many great ideas of what I thought it would be like to be a teacher. I had no training, an emergency credential, and faith that teaching was my calling. I was given a set of keys, I was shown to my classroom, and I was told "MAKE SURE THEY LEARN!" This was a small private school in the South with great traditions and history, but set curriculum and standards were not part of my introduction to the school.  This is not to say that students were not taught, that they were not challenged, or that they did not learn. As an unexperienced, un-credentialed teacher, I did not know what my students should be able to learn or what were age -appropriate expectations for them.

So,  I simply taught.

I taught what I thought may be interesting to them, I taught what I remembered being taught, and  I taught things that I felt would help them  define who they were and what they wanted to be. I asked them to synthesize stories read in class to their own lives. At this point in my teaching career, Bloom's taxonomy was not on my radar. I didn't even  know that SYNTHESIZE was a good thing.

I just taught ....and learned  right along with them. There were assignments and lessons that I loved (and some .. not so much). We read "The Hobbit." Daniel R. created the most amazing dragon as part of a paper mâché assignment I gave. We read " The Hound of the Baskervilles" and several boys created a video news story complete with costumes and real horses. We studied poetry. Tyler G created the most amazing book of her own poetry and favorite poems. I am still sad that she wanted to save it for herself rather than let me keep it. I will never forget Stephanie P's Cloud poem or her finding Phenomenal Women by Maya Angelou for the same assignment. I remember Jamey P. who spent most of his days with his desk right by my podium and he would still be talking. I remember the boys versus girls limerick contest. I was too chicken to pick a winner because they were both so good! I am also sure that I taught lessons that my students must have thought, "This lady's lost her mind." I also had to abandon lessons midstream, because I knew, "This is not working."

I could truly go on forever about this class.  I could tell about the students who drove me crazy, but who would still say politely and with respect, "Yes, Ma'am" when I told them, "OUT!" I could tell about the time that I tried to read one of my favorite authors, Bill Bryson, to them but couldn't stop laughing long enough to read the story. I could speak of the the time I got in trouble with many of the girls in my class after making them write about underage drinking -  the weekend after many of them had what I now know to be the first of many nights of partying.

Why do I remember them so vividly... much more than any class that followed? I  believe it has to do with the same reason that you remember your first crush, your first love, or your first kiss. They are ingrained in my memory as my first teaching experience... at times it was good,it was bad, and sometimes just plain ugly. However, in my mind, the overall experience was beautiful!

After finishing my year with this class, I transferred with my husband to Japan. While there,  I, not only, completed by teaching degree; I also finished my Masters in Education. While I feel I am a better teacher today than I was back then, I wonder if walking into a room without preconceived notions about what was expected or developmentally appropriate made me a better teacher of the students that sat before me. Students rose to meet my absurd expectations. Together,  we soared.

Three years ago this past May, I was able to return back to Louisiana and watch my first class of 8th graders graduate from high school. Their graduation day was the first time I had seen many of then since they completed their 8th grade year.  I was able to give them a special gift that night.  During the last weeks of school, I had them write something special about each member of their class. It had been my intention to return to each classmate comments to written about them by their before the last day of school. Best of intentions and all that,  I carried those hand written papers with  me for four years. They went to Japan, to California, and finally on their graduation day,  I was able to personally return them to my class - positive comments from their eighth grade peers to be read on the night of their graduation from high school. I hope they enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed typing each one. I was able to reminisce about each student recalling the ups and downs  of our year together.
Why do I write about this class tonight? Three years ago today, this class lost the second of their classmates within months of each other. Jamey and Candace were both extremely special students to me. Both tried my patience. Jamey, I still say could carry on a conversion with a brick wall and Candace would argue with one. I loved both and am sorry to know that this world will never see either's full potential. Also today, two of those first students of mine became  engaged to be married... to each other.  They began dating the end of their 8th grade year. I keep in loose contact with many of these students, believe it or not through Facebook. I watch their statuses as they experience life's highs and  lows. I lift them in my prayers when I feel they are struggling and celebrate their success when I learn of them. I feel that I  will be forever linked with this group of now young adults and I can not wait to see where life takes them.

I am still watching  over you,  Silliman Graduating Class of 2008
Love always,
 Mrs. T.

Influences....

Today most of my family gathered to honor a very special woman. My grandmother turned 80 last month and the family gathered today to celebrate. Each family member was asked to contribute to a scrapbook created for her. My family, living on the opposite coast, was unable to attend in person, but we were there in spirit. Tonight, I share my tribute to my grandmother.

For Peebee...

Many women have influenced me along my life and on my journey to becoming a wife, mother, and teacher, Peebee being one of them.  To teach effectively you must be able to tell stories that engage your students.  Growing up, Peebee fascinated me with her tales of being a child during the depression - her adventures with Dickie and how they would aggravate big sister Lynn. Peebee is the ultimate story teller, transporting me to a different era, a different time. Peebee is also a teacher, maybe she doesn't have the certificate, but she is a teacher none the less. Her words of wisdom shared are many, but two stand out to me and I often find myself passing them on to my own students. First she said, "Hard choices are not between good and bad, but between two good things." We may not always want to choose the choice we know is right, but the right choice is recognizable. It is when we have to choose between two good things that we are truly challenged. The second, "The true measure of your character is what you would do if you knew you wouldn't get caught," is my favorite to share with my students. Immediately, their reaction is to tell me all of the naughty things they would do.

Now that I am a grown woman with children of my own and having been a navy wife, I find a new sense of respect for Peebee.   Being a preacher's wife, relocating every few years with three children, I understand the challenges she faced. I relate to the the inner strength that she has.

Happy Birthday, Peebee! Thank you for the inspiration.

In A New York Minute...

So I had all of these great intentions to write every day I was in New York. Since my last, posted I landed, lived it, and returned with out any commentary to document the trip. I have to say I am very disappointed in myself; however, the time that I did not spend writing was, if I do say so myself, very well spent. I have stories of rainstorms, Russian mafia, and Chinatown black-markets to tell in detail at a later date, but tonight is about the moments and memories I will never forget.
* The heat - We arrived into New York on the hottest day of the heatwave that they had this year. It's funny because even though I grew up in south Louisiana I forgot that it could still be 98 degrees at 9:30 at night. Southern California rarely has a night that you don't need to throw on a sweatshirt if you sit outside in the evening.
* The subway - (I constantly tried to call it the Tube.) The subway was just one of the many aspects of New York that reminded me of London. The best moment was the first time we rode the train. When it took off, McKenna was nearly knocked of her feet by the unexpected departure. She busted out laughing as if she was riding a roller coster.
* Definition of a walk up -  There is really no elevator in a walk up. Regardless if you are on the 4th story, and there are 10 flights of stairs to make it to your door. Nor does it matter if you have 3 large suitcases, purses, bag, and 2 cases of water to tow .
* New York city block- There are two types. There is a big difference between the 3 blocks from 42nd street to 39th street and 9th ave to Broadway. North to south blocks are short and manageable. East to west are a completely different story, especially in a sudden rain storm.
* Big Nick's ROCKS - Anyone who knows me knows, I can take or leave pizza, but New York's Big Nick's Pizza is in a world of of it's own. I actually went back for pizza 4 times! I think it has something to do with the thin crust and not an overemphasis on cheese. 
* Empire State Building - Enough said. We see it on movies. It is an icon and just is fulfilling to see it in person.
* Lady Liberty -  It was so impressive just to be seeing her in person, but I must admit my first thought was .... I thought she would be bigger. 
* Times Square and Broadway - It was crazy, chaotic, and marvelous all at once. I loved the lights, the crowds, and the energy! 
* World Trade Center Site - September 11th is my generation's Pearl Harbor. Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing when the planes hit and the buildings fell. To be at the site of such devastation and loss was heart-wrenching. 
* People - The New Yorkers were so nice. People  would stop to ask if we needed directions. One gentleman with an umbrella hailed a cab for McKenna and me in a rainstorm, so that we could stay under the awning. People were very polite. 
* Cupcake tasting - Karen and I made it our goal to compare as many red velvet cupcakes as possible. For each tasting, we would critique the cake and frosting as if we were tasting a fine wine. 
* Karen and Sami - I could not have asked for better partners to share this trip with. The girls had a great time together  They loved watching Toddlers and Tiaras at night. (Don't ask, I have not idea why). Karen and I spent our days exploring New York and chatting about everything under the sun. I miss them both. 
* The shows -Somehow I managed to see five absolutely amazing shows. Catch Me if You Can, How to Succeed, Sister Act, Billy Elliot and Book of Mormon. Each one was fantastic. My favorite part was seeing the musical numbers I had ooh'ed and ahh'ed over during the Tony's "Live and in Living Color"!


I know that this was a once in a lifetime experience. To me, what made this trip magical is that it even with all of the touristy adventures we took, I was, for those three weeks, living in New York. Not on a vacation, but actually living this alternate New York life style. When I return, and I know I will, I am sure it will be a quick trip. I will staying in a hotel that could just as easily be in Anycity, USA. Next time I will be a tourist...but I can always remember the three short weeks from this summer when I was a "New Yorker."

Childhood dreams

Have you ever had a dream - a dream that you have had for so long you can't remember not wanting it. That is my dream of visiting New York. I have loved to read since I learned to read which for me was right before I entered kindergarten. Books transported me to magical worlds and introduced me to characters that I came to love so much that I considered them my friends. My Aunt Diana always had suggestions for new books to read and it is to her I credit my introduction to the teenagers known in the Trixie Belden books as the Bobwhites. This group of friends sovled mysteries, mysteries were a special favorie of mine as a child - even a favorite now as I am an adult. I loved to read this series and often wished that I had close knit group of friends to support me as I struggled to find my own place and identity growing up. I read many of these books multiple times, but none captivated me as did "Trixie Belden and the Mystery of the Blinking Eye". In this book, the friends travel to New York City. The book describes so many of the sights of New York such as the Empire State Building, Central Park , the United Nations, and the Theatre District - all seen through the eyes of the Bobwhites. Since my very first time reading this book, I have wanted to see these sites for myself. So tomorrow, I fulfill an almost life long dream. Tomorrow I begin my own exploration of New York City. I am full of anticipation like a child on Christmas Eve. This time I see get to see New York through my own eyes.

"If you want to write a book, WRITE A BOOK!"

So when I was teaching language arts, each year my students would read about John Goddard and create their own life lists. I always share my list with the students and always at the top of my list was "write a book". I really do want to write a book I just don't know what I want to write about. I have a tons of ideas, but the idea of writing a WHOLE book is overwhelming. As blogging became more popular, I thought this is great, I could write a blog! But do I write about cooking, teaching, coaching? So many choices...still overwhelming. Ughhhh! So still I wrote nothing.

During a long and animated conversation with Daddy at Christmastime this past year (made longer and more animated by the bottle of wine and scotch), Daddy said, "If you want to write a book, write a book! There's nothing stopping you, but you."

He's right, but I'm still not ready to write a book. However, I am ready to write. I am ready to find my voice. I am ready to share my stories. So I begin....