LOL, im xited. C U L8R!

As a teacher, I'm responsible for making sure that my students are competent writers.  Part of that means that they are comfortable and confident in their writing, and part of that means that they know the rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.  What must come first?  What is more important?

Most of my classes have been focusing on this topic lately, and I thought it might be helpful to write out my thoughts.  As a student, I would never have considered turning in any work with abbreviations, text talk, or misspelled words.  It always seemed to be an insult to the teacher that I would find that appropriate.  But then again, I didn't do a whole lot of texting in high school because there was no such thing as unlimited text message plans. 

My conclusion is this:  if my students want to use text talk or slang in their journals and private writings, then I have no need to mark them down.  If a student hands in their one pager, essay, outline, or formal paper with text talk or slang then I will correct and discuss their writing choices.  I want to set my students up for success, and I don't think it would be fair for them to leave my class thinking that writing in short hand or using slang in formal writing is an appropriate thing to do. 

Silver Lining

I've been thinking about the fact that we will all be responsible for posting grades electronically in our schools.  It is easy to sit down and think of all the reasons that I hate the person who invented power school and infinite campus, but there has to be a silver lining.

My younger brother has never been a fan of school.  He is incredibly intelligent, one of the most charismatic people I've ever known, and he would rather hit his fingers with a hammer than pick up a book.  For years my Mother tried working with the teachers to find a way to monitor his progress, and it was only through the daily emails and having my Mother sign off on his homework that our family was able to get my brother through high school.  He wasn't as lucky in college.  He failed out of two community colleges and eventually found a job where he is happy and successful.  If it weren't for my Mother's meddling and constant supervision, there is no chance that he would have graduated. 

So here is the silver lining:  the annoyance and time will be worth it if we can get one more student to graduate.  This is why we are all here.  We want our students to be successful, but not every student wants it for his or herself.  If I can have a parent or a family member fighting with me to save the student, then I'll take whomever I can get.

What really matters?

I think we all have days and weeks where we feel that our live is stressful and overly complicated.  I worry about getting my readings done, making my sales goals at work, folding all of the jeans so that they line up perfectly on the right side, keeping my house clean, and walking my dogs so they don't get fat.  But does it really matter?

I had a very special, very beautiful girl come shopping in my store today.  Keely is 14, and she was granted a special gift by the Make a Wish Foundation.  What was it that she wanted more than a trip or a concert?  She wanted to go shopping at American Eagle.  All she wanted was to be able to get out and be a normal teenager.

This girl has had more challenges and hurdles than I've had in my lifetime.  It tears me apart that this polite, sweet girl is living with the pain and fear that comes with her cancer.  When she came in she had a huge smile on her face, and asked if someone would have a little bit of time to help her find some cute clothes for school...all she wanted was to look cute for school.

Of course we all dropped the menial tasks that we were completing to help her, she was just that wonderful.  But I couldn't stop but think about how lucky I was, how I get to go home to my husband and two dogs.  I thought about how wonderful my time with Ken has been and how we get to have children in the future.  There are so many things that she'll never get the chance to do, but all she wanted was to feel beautiful.  She truly is.

There are these points in our life where we have to look inside.  I've been sitting up for hours not knowing why I can't sleep.  But I know now.  It's because I want to give her just a little bit of what I have.  A little more time.  A little more hope.  A little more.

I think Keely did more for me than I did for her.  All I did was sell her some jeans and tops.  She put my life in perspective.  She helped me see what matters.  Thank you Keely, you're in my prayers, and you're amazing.