April 6 #verselove

When a stranger appears at your door
No, I was not busy when you came!
I was not preparing to be busy

Feed him for three days
Your plate is waiting
Rice? Pine nuts?
Before asking who he is,
where he's come from,
or where he's headed

We will snip fresh mint
into your tea
Your plate is waiting

He'll have strength enough to answer
Or, by then you'll be such good friends
You don't care

Here, take the red brocade pillow.

Sentences, words, and phrases from Red Brocade by Naomi Shihab Nye

Comments

My turkey ran out...

In today's edition of "kids say the darndest things", I had a student who walked into our second-period French class with only 10 minutes left in the period. I know that this student lives within walking distance. I also know this student is a great story-teller. Towards the end of the class period, while students were completing their final class activity, I went over to the late student eager to hear his excuse for today. He explained that he was late because "my turkey ran out of his cage". I was surprised and amused by this story. "So I went to the slaughterhouse on Friday to pick up a guinea fowl and a turkey" he began. "I had the turkey in a cage in my living room. This morning, my grandma woke me up and yelled 'the bird is out of its cage!' So I got up and went running around outside my house to find the turkey. Then my grandpa woke up and yelled 'what's going on here?' Then I told him about the turkey. So anyway, th...

One Day at a Time

This week is tough. We are in the month of no breaks and we have a month until Spring Break. I’ve been fighting off headaches due to fatigue, illness, allergies, or all of the above. But today I had a great conversation with a student about the recent cancellation of the Netflix show One Day at a Time. My student shared with me his frustration about the decision especially with a lack of Latinx representation on network television. He shared how the variety of issues from harassment to LGBTQ relationships to single parenting. This student also remarked how in his opinion, Fuller House is not a show relevant to issues today and does not represent diverse perspectives. This student raised so many great points and I was pleased to give him the space to be heard. A Netflix show may not seem like the most important topic, but I was so inspired by the passion my student had and the real examples he used to highlight his points. I hope for my student and for all fans of the show that Netflix ...

Grateful

Today I am grateful for a snow day. I have just come back from back to back trip. The first, an amazing trip to Europe with my students, and the second a funeral. I've been jet lagged and emotional and I am grateful to have space and time to myself to rest and recharge today. Last week due to all the travel and grief, I was very stuck and felt on edge. I felt easily irritated and found myself neglecting grades in order to try to be present for my family as they grieved. I felt like a bad teacher. I often feel this difficult balance and sometimes find it difficult to be a good teacher and good friend, relative, significant other. I feel sometimes when I feel I'm doing really well as a teacher, my personal life is not as nourished and I don't feel my relationships are being well cultivated. But to the opposite, if I feel I am being a good friend/daughter/significant other, I am not necessarily a good teacher. I am so grateful to have today to pause and rest and reflect. I h...

Learn to Teach

Search This Blog