Rose

PATCH He views the world through an autistic kaleidoscope, endless shards of twisting colors, bright and dark, some empty. His sidelong glance says, “Will she ‘get’ me?” Fragile tendrils of hope reach out to connect. This boy. Patch.  “Wicked smart”, a prisoner of his own perceptions. People find him just plain odd. How to help … Read more

TONGUE ROLLING CONTEST Picture this. My partner and I are tutoring two students on genetic mutations. We just happen to be sitting on either side of both students who are side by side at a table, but working on separate assignments. However, we simultaneously hit the question about the ability to roll one’s tongue. In … Read more

SEX ED EXTRAORDINAIRE Tiffany is convinced that she is a princess, and has us pretty much believing her. Tiffany writes exquisite poetry that can bring me to the verge of tears. She twirls into the room, long flowery skirt flowing out below her wesket, wild red curls cascading down around her shoulders. This morning Tiffany … Read more

THE LOST PHONE Midmorning, weather permitting, I take a brisk walk around campus, to refuel for the afternoon. I often duck into buildings along the way, delivering this and that. Keeps me in touch. On this particular morning, a sweet spring breeze pushes me along. But when I return to my room, I realize that … Read more

THE TEACHERS’ ROOM Here is a place to rant and rave. Here is a place to vent, to protest the injustices of the unreasonable parent, the oblivious and demanding boss, the recalcitrant student. Real people, other teachers who “get it”, will listen and care, apply some TLC, and provide a sounding board for the most … Read more

 HEROES They are mostly unsung. But I’ve seen them wrestling with a roomful of sweaty, bored 14 year olds on a sticky June day, capturing them into the world of King Arthur. I’ve watched them talk down a wild, uncontrollable teenager. I’ve seen them bring order out of chaos and get those Period 8 Algebra … Read more

RULES I LOVE In my college experience, information on classroom management skills was thin and sparce, nearly nonexistent. Thrown into my first job in a melting pot of challenging behaviors, I had to claw my way through to a few basics that sometimes worked. This is a bit of what I learned the hard way. … Read more

HALLWAY WAR What is that commotion just outside my classroom door? Two girls are circling one another, steaming with anger, hurling insults. One towers over the other – she’s famous for picking fights on campus. The other one is a scrapper. A feisty little thing. The big girl is determined to manipulate her into starting … Read more

CLEAVAGE I’m wedged in between Elsa and Ruthie, working with them simultaneously on different Math assignments. It’s tricky but fun. All three of us are flying. Just behind us my teammate is dealing with three freshman boys who are beginning to giggle uncontrollably. She sidles up to us and whispers, “Go to the bathroom and … Read more