The writing is on the desk

Last week I taught the same Chemistry classes for a week. The kids seemed to like me pretty well, as I let them have relative freedom--I overheard one kid tell another that I'm the "only sub this class doesn't get out of control for." Certain of the kids showed their appreciation by writing down some funny things that I said, which I have taken as a compliment of the highest order. Unfortunately it's not my wisest or wittiest stuff, but until somebody takes an eraser to it, "let this be a lesson to you not to stay up late watching the CSI Miami Marathon" will be inspiring and instructing students for posterity. (They also signed it "Mr. Hand" but with a little drawing of a hand instead of my last name... I was touched)

I didn't know dream interpretation was part of the job description

The other day a high school girl told me: "I had a dream that I died and came back as a white girl. Can that happen?"

a new one on me

Today a kid jumped out the back window when the vice principal showed up.

Treasures of the Heart: Sufi Stories for Young Children

http://books.google.com/books?id=r6ARzSTkYzkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=sufi+stories&lr=&as_brr=1&sig=OCW0q2-ScPToxQt6yQrJiuQYcs0#PPP7,M1
(One can get a full view of this text at Google Books.)

"Includes seven short stories by a Sufi mystic meant to teach children lessons about good behavior and respect for others."

Perhaps I will try reading this kinda stuff to my junior high kids sometime.

my combover

Forgot to mention, yesterday the kids asked me to comb my hair forward, they were very entertained by my long-haired bald guy combover.

super tuesday

I had a nice day yesterday. The kids were buzzing about Clinton vs. Obama so I staged mock elections for them at the beginning of class. (otherwise they had a short easy ditto to do) 3 classes voted for Clinton and 2 for Obama. Only one class had "republicans" and they chose McCain. I also had them vote on the issues, in order of preference they were Iraq, Immigration, Economy, Environment.

These kids are starting to know me well. It makes me happy that they are sometimes excited to see me, exclaiming things like, "Yes! It's Mr. Hand! He's cool! [he lets us fool around and do whatever we want]" Perhaps this is a sign that I should be a more harsh disciplinarian, but my popularity at least means that I'm getting to have some interesting conversations with the few kids who show some interest in me--even some of the otherwise unengaged ones.

Today due to testing I had very small classes and get to play online (just no sites dealing with games or social networking). I love these kinda days.

job hazard

On monday a 7th grader pointed a laser pointer into my eye. I don't know if there's any damage.