Win the Fight..

I wrote, I left messages, I wrote again, I spoke with the principal, and finally I conquered. Today made day 6 of 97 degree temperatures in my classroom. Yesterday after school, I finally took the last straw and wrote an email to the principal being as calm as you can be when sweat is rolling down your lower back and cleavage, when you need a head band to contain the beads on your forehead. She pulled up in her Caddy this morning, rolled down her window, and like an angel straight from heaven told me she would talk to the engineering staff about the sweltering, blistering heat. I told her that I would be taking all of my clothes off (as would the four other teachers in my wing) if it wasn't fixed. She replied that she didn't want to be in the newspapers. I took that to mean that she would get on the situation as soon as humanly possible. And she did, it was like a baby had died in our hallway the way security guards, assistant principals, engineers, and the angel herself assessed the situation. And now you ask, how am I doing? I'm in cool bliss, riding on a cloud of cool breezes and comfort. Thank you angel for making me happy to be alive again.

Riddle...

What do you get when you have 50 kids in two different classes and your room is actually, literally 97 degrees?

Yep. You guessed it. Chaos, insanity, and sweaty, smelly, complaining kids. I beg someone else to teach in these conditions; I'm getting close to being done.

Finals...Did We Learn?

Well it's that special time again when we have amazing answers to essay questions. However, instead of writing about a ridiculous answer, I'm going to spotlight a student who has done absolutely nothing all semester long. His current average is a 26.7% which says nothing about his actual ability or intelligence. Well, he rocked out the test on To Kill a Mockingbird and The Freedom Writers Diary. At the end of his 5 essays, he wrote me a note, which showed me that he totally took what we learned and applied it outside the classroom. Here is his note:

p.s Ms. Lemon--In the movie "The Freedom Writers," there is a part where Erin Gruewell addresses her father as "Atticus Finch"...she means he was someone who would look out for others rights, even if it meant harm to himself, like Atticus Finch. HaHa, bet you didn't catch that Miss Lemon!!:)

A Diary Letter Back...

This diary is from one my best students. I had him last year, and he wanted to take the Novels class because he likes to read...I thought it was awesome, and I want to remember it when I get down and want to cry:)

Ah. I think that this journal stuff is kinda cool now. Since I dont express myself with words alot this helps alot. I really appreciate how Ms L. isn't just any teacher who just teaches; she actually cares. The advise you gave me was almost too touching (lol) but I am thankful. I kind of discovered this about Ms. L last year. Although some may have looked at your crying as a weakness I didn't. Thats why I was so angry. Yeah I know, I'm black, and a teenager too., but I don't like to be put in categories. I walk away from ignorance like that, someone's tears shouldn't be amusing to someone else. I guess thats what gave me the up most respect for you. Knowing that a teacher cares so much. During the summer I prepared myself mentally and emotionally. I was more mature than ever, only to come into a school with a bunch of "5th graders". Dont get me wrong I admire some of my peers, cause deep down I can see their trueness inside, but I guess they're afraid to show it. Or maybe it's the major influence of negativity soaring amongst them.

The Freedom Writers Diary...

In my Novels class, we have finished To Kill a Mockingbird and are now starting to read The Freedom Writers Diary. In conjunction with this reading, students are required to write their own diaries twice a week. I figured since I don't get to do it often, I would share one with you, each time they write. (I'm going to share 2 today.) This one is by N.W., the next is by D.L.

Life is frustrating, especially when Im at home. Steady arguments and disagreements with my mom and big brother. Sometimes they lead to fist fights sometimes they lead to nothing but silence. A couple of weeks ago I had to leave fro some petty bull. Told my mom that she needs tof ind a way to pay for my funeral and that I would see her in HELL. Alot of things were going through my head that day but I felt hurt. I thought why am I hear when nobody wants me. in everybodies mind im always wrong and can't ever speak my opinion about someone or somebody.
I come to school with this smile on my face, trying to cover up the real me. And sometimes, I go to the bathroom and cry in a stall because I have all this anger built up. and have no other way to let it out. And if I do let it out in the wrong way it going to be the result of someone getting hurt.
But I've been fine lately, nothing major to piss me off.


My life has been pretty easy. I dont ever have to worry about money, food, or where I'm going to stay at night. But these past couple of months haven't been easy. I'm not talking family issues, I'm talking personal stuff. Mainly because I saw one of m close friends die right in my arms. Till this day I still thnk about all the things we did together. I hear people say all the time, well it was his time or it was his fault, shouldn't have been speeding. Well me myself don't think it was his time, yea maybe if we wasn't speeding he wouldn't have crash, but still if D-Lo and Josh could survive then why couldn't he? I thought B.J. never did anything wrong, he was a great friend and kid. Why did he have to die? Which he is in a better place. Thats what keeps me going from day to day. R.I.P. B.J.

Home Ownershit...

It's the weekend, I want to relax, alas, I am a new homeowner and there is new homeowner shit to be done. Here is a list of things I have accomplished today:

1. Mow lawn
2. Hang up coats in closet
3. Arrange fall/winter clothes and shows in place of spring/summer apparel
4. Use fun little spreader to fertilize lawn with "winterguard" fertilizer (it says on the bag I will have a glorious looking lawn come fall...we shall see)
5. Got hopes up about Early Spring and Late Spring fertilizer
6. Thought about going to home depot to Plastic Windows
7. Worried about amount of times furnace has gone on today
8. Spread dirt around gas-line that was washed out
9. Cleaned up mud-piles from new gate installation
10. Cleaned house

No one can tell me I'm not a good homeowner. I rock at this home-owing thing and I honestly love it more than I could have ever dreamed.

Teacher???

Sometimes it's so hard to face the reality of my job. Most of the time, I can shake off the lives of my kids, the politics behind every decision that is made, or anything else that might effect my positive outlook. However, today I can't just forget or choose to ignore the lives of my students, and every time I really start to love one of them, something unexpected happens.

I have a student who has obviously been involved with the female version of the Latin Kings, she has the marking and colors of the gang. I had her twice last year. She did not attend school frequently, and was disrespectful and non-compliant. This year, I have her for two classes again, and she has completely turned over a new leaf. We have talked a lot about how her grades and attendance have improved, and she was very proud of herself and had ideas bubbling about "actually going to college".

Best part of the story over. Today, she tells me that she is pregnant, by a boy who is an alcoholic and is going to jail. Her parents do not know yet, she is three months pregnant and hasn't seen a doctor. She's become one of my favorite students, and now my hopes for her have been shattered. I know that she can put anything she sets her mind to, but having a baby just makes all her goals and aspirations that much harder. I feel like crying, and I feel like telling my parents thanks for never even putting the notion, idea, or concept in my head that I would be having a baby before high school was done.