You be the judge: Just an average school day, or good reality TV?

I am a middle school teacher.  To be more specific, I am a middle school teacher at a title one school in East Oakland for a classroom of 12 boys with emotional disturbances.

In my opinion, my students are the most amazing kids in the world.

According to Mr. Simmons (the 7th grade history teacher here at BH) my students are "the weirdos, annoying kids, and future socio-paths of America."

According to my dad, I should have my own reality TV show.

With this blog, I'll let you be the judge.

*All names have been changed.  The facts are real.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BLOG:

-My kids are amazing - you will hear about it
-A funny story every couple of days, straight from the heart of it all

-Some rants and raves about the public education system

WHAT NOT TO EXPECT FROM THIS BLOG:

-Correct spelling, grammar, or punctuation

-Political correctness

CAST OF MAJOR CHARACTERS:

*Ms. C:  Me - a twenty-something, former UC Berkeley graduate, destined for medical school... "as soon as I can leave my amazing kiddos behind" (i.e. sac up and take the MCAT.)

*Mr. Black:  Teacher's aide #1 - a twenty-something new dad; destined for greatness... one day.

*Mr. Duyan:  Teacher's aide #2 - a thirty-something transplant from across the country... a former rhetoric major.



*Dash:  Age 12 - favorite social skill to forget:  "Do a materials check to make sure you didn't leave anything behind" (...like your right shoe... or your pants)

*Chuck: Age 14 - favorite social skill to forget:  "We don't throw things at teachers... even if they ask us to read."  (...Please put the desk down, Chuck, please.)

*Marvin:  Age 11 - favorite social skill to forget:  "Make sure your answer matches the question."  (...Q: When did you get to school today?  A:  Brownies?... yes, brownies... they are DELICIOUS.)

*Ned:  Age 13 - favorite social skill to forget:  "Think about your tone of voice before you talk." (...BuT i AmMm WhIsPeRiNg!)

*Colin:  Age 15 - favorite social skill to forget:  "We can't just do whatever we want whenever we want." (... I know the floor feels nice, but you can't take a nap in the middle of the cafeteria)

*Jon:  Age 12 - favorite social skill to forget:  "Are the other kids doing what you're doing?" (...Are you supposed to be dancing the lombata in science class?)

*Al:  Age 11 - favorite social skill to forget:  "We don't yell, scream, cuss, or cry unless we're on fire" ("Or being taken over by aliens?!?!?!?")

*Jay:  Age 12 - favorite social skill to forget:  "You have to keep your eyes open when you do stuff" (...especially walk.)

*Rick:  Age 13 - favorite social skill to forget:  "Only say things if they're true." (...Did you really spend the weekend in Russia?)

*Mac:  Age 14 - favorite social skill to forget:  "Go before you need to" (...if anyone wants to donate some spare "in case of accident" pants to my classroom, they would not go to waste.)

Anyway, dad (since I know you're probably the only one who will actually read this), I hope you enjoy hearing about the never-ending amazingness that occurs in my classroom.

Love you,
K.C.