Month: May 2019

This past weekend I was in Easton, Kansas for the high school graduation of the Pleasant Ridge Class of 2019.

I had these students when they were seventh graders, having left them to return to Michigan in the summer of 2014.

I went to a grad party on Saturday, and walked up to a table of soon to be grads.

There were no spontaneous outbursts of joy, no illuminated faces, no welcoming or reuniting hugs.  My heart broke a little.

Upon the retelling of this story, people were quick to tell me that it has been five years, that they are teenagers, and that even though it was a lovely gesture to return to Kansas for their graduation, ultimately, the weekend was not about me.

So, I shifted my attention and spend a lot of time with my friends – former colleagues, parents of former students, and went down memory lane and enjoyed revisiting some favorite old haunts.

It was a little better when I went to the actual graduation, and former students leapt into my arms and cried a little.  I let the the hopefulness and joy that permeates the air of high school graduations wash over me.

But, by the time the weekend came to a close, I was ready to go home and be back with my (current) students.

This week was our seniors’ last week of school. The week has been filled with hugs, tears, and gratitude.  I love how life is a circle – as a chapter closed in Kansas with the high school graduation of my last group of Pleasant Ridge Rams, a new chapter is beginning with the high school graduation of my first group of Dearborn Pioneers.

Life sure is a bittersweet ride – and I am grateful.

Sometimes I have to be out of my classroom, whether it be for a professional development (to help me become a better teacher), a sick day, or, as is the case for this weekend, to support the last group of students I taught in Kansas at their high school graduation this Sunday.

That’s right – my enthusiastic seventh graders from all those years ago, are graduating high school.  Pleasant Ridge Class of 2019 – Go Rams!

How the years fly!

My excitement is somewhat dampened by the sub report I received yesterday when I was not in class because I was at the ASC for a Restorative Practice PD.  I know my students HATE it when I am gone, exclaiming, “Yours in the only class I hate having a sub in!”

Be that as it may, there is still a sub, and there are certain expectations for your behavior.  It goes without saying, you should have these expectations for yourself, not because I expect them.

What expected behavior looks and sounds like when there is a guest teacher.	What “bad” behavior looks and sounds like when there is a guest teacher.
Students are on task. Students are seated. Students can be on their phones, as long as they are working. Students can be talking to each other, as long as they are working. Work is completed independently – with integrity.	Students are non-compliant to the guest teacher’s request(s). Students are off task. Students are disruptive. Students are disrespectful. Students are listening to music, but NOT working. Students are talking, but NOT working. Students are belligerent and confrontational with the guest speaker. Students are sleeping or have their heads down.

The last couple of times I was out, I returned to some pretty disappointing notes from the guest teacher.  I was mortified that MY students acted the way they did.  When I would approach them about their behavior, they would protest, “But Miss, that sub!” or “Miss, I was doing my work!”  or “Miss, you know I don’t do good with subs.” And then I would be disappointed all over again, because MY students were not taking any ownership for THEIR behavior.

Here’s the thing – there are things we can’t control, the fact that I am not here, who the sub is, which students are in the class.

There are things we CAN control – our actions, our words, and our behavior.

Please – it is business as usual on Monday – the only thing that is different is I am not going to be here in person.  I will be here in spirit, and I need you to be the students I know you can be – students that I am proud to call mine.