09-09-09

According to some, today is a day of luck. I heard on the radio this morning that a large percentage of weddings took place today in the hopes that the date would provide the couple with luck and “longevity,” according to Chinese proverbs. The number 9 is supposedly the jackpot of celestial forces. Personally, I don’t care what the number 9 brings. Who gets married on a random Wednesday? As they began their journey today, I also began a brand new chapter in my career: the class of 2010. Yes, that’s right, a fresh batch of 8th graders arrived in my classroom today.

The day started somewhat enjoyable. Our kids our grouped homogeneously this year and my homeroom happens to be the top group.

Score!

However, today was the only day we would spend the entire day solely with our homeroom classes. Tomorrow I will meet the rest of my young scholars. I started my day with an idea I totally stole from Colleen. I read the children’s book, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes out loud to my 5’10’’ 14 year-old men and women. It’s amazing how well they listen to a children’s picture book. It always makes me just a little sad to think no one ever did this for them as a child, and that must be why they enjoy it so much.

The book itself is about a little mouse named Chrysanthemum who starts out loving her name but then begins school and the children make fun of her for having such a long and unusual name. This is a great activity to learn names and origins because let’s face it: Aren’t you dying to know how someone possibly came up with the names you see on that roster every year? I secretly imagine people throwing scrabble letters into a hat and taking turns pulling out letters and placing them on the rack and PRESTO! This is what I’ll name my kid! Top 5 names on my roster for the 09/10 school year:

1. Jaredias.

She tells me her mom’s name is Jackie and her dad’s name is Eddie so Jaredias is a combination of the two. You be the judge.

2. Azziah

It’s pronounced “Asia.” Yeah, like the continent, only spelled like the continent might be drunk.

3. Lavantenette

She was named after her aunt. Yes that’s right. There are two Lavantenettes running around.

4. Fredri
Everyone calls him Freddy. Sounds like a plan to me!

5. Anfanee

You may be thinking I said Anthony. You are wrong, my friends. It’s like Anthony, but more like a remix version.

Don’t get me wrong. I will grow to love and care for these kids like they are my own, but I often wonder if they think names like Sue and John are weird. I mean Barack isn’t exactly common so maybe they’re thinking I’m the strange one.

After I got the low-down on everyone’s name, it was time for a good old fashion fire drill procedure walk. I led my class out to the playground in a nice orderly fashion and lined them up as though we would do during a real fire drill. Please keep in mind that our “playground” backs up to the streets of the city. In true urban fashion, I was solicited by two random men walking the streets.
“Hey Baby”

“Hi”

“What chu doing?

(What the hell did it look like I was doing?)

“Teaching a class.”

“You look good to me.”

(REALLY??? I’m seriously getting hit on, in front on my students, on the first day of school by two random men in my school yard? Really?)

“Thanks.”

This had to be some sort of life lesson. What was a teaching my children? Talk to strangers? Wait. No. That’s not a good lesson. It’s ok to hit on random women at completely inappropriate times? No. Say thank you when complimented? Yes. That was it. Ok. I’m still a good role model.

Meanwhile in isle 10, Colleen was having her own “lucky day.” Colleen asked students to guess where she was from. Among her top 5 guesses:

1. Texas?
No.

2. America?

Um, yes?

3. Near an ocean?

You’re getting warmer

4. Some where in New Jersey?
Yes!!

5. Wisconsin
Colleen’s personal favorite response.