Comments on NYC Educator: I Remember

Years ago when my Bronx high school first went int...

2012-01-21T09:30:04.511-05:00

Years ago when my Bronx high school first went into the trailer park business, our principal put only senior teachers in them. We liked the trailers when they were brand new with an air conditioner and bathroom too and we worked hard to keep them nice. Every day one really funny kid nicknamed Bruno would appear at the door, fling it open , and in his best Desi Arnez/ Ricky Riccardo voice announced "Lucy, I'm home!" He never missed and made everyone laugh every day.

Providing Speech/Language Therapy services at a la...

2012-01-19T11:42:46.998-05:00

Providing Speech/Language Therapy services at a large Queens High School after working in a Brookln elementary for 18 years was a challenge to be sure, although the students were like older versions of my former students ( in a few cases, they were literally larger versions of those same kids).However, things had gone from.. "Ay, Papi, you pick me, you pick me!" to hand-in -the- face "Get out of my face,Mister, I ain't coming to your damn class".A particular young man whose actual first name I no longer recall, but suffice it to say started with J, and whose last name was Lopez "Yo, see, it's like I been J.Lo before she boosted my name",was particularly resistant to attendance. "Yo, Son, speech is wack. I could talk good already". Case closed!

As an Instructional support teacher in a Queens hi...

2012-01-18T22:43:18.594-05:00

As an Instructional support teacher in a Queens high school for 15 years, I have seen it all. From the tragic, the heartbreaking, the comical, the inspiring, to well - like I said - everything. To limit it down to one student would be hard for me just as it is most likely difficult for any other teacher. I have to share three stories however. Gang was a student in my first first full year at my current school where I would start teaching in self contained classes. I had come from a half a year in a general ed setting before being excessed. During the very first week in this new environment, he passed gased SO LOUD that I was shocked that NOT ONE of the 12 other students said a peep - no laugh, no disgust - no nothing! They just stared quietly at me. I was the only one who - I admit - laughed. Gang's action made me fully realize I was now in charge of students who were basically in another world - but I love them dearly! Christopher I will always remember for walking on his tip toes. I mean it - if he had to throw something away or if I allowed him the hall pass, he would literally walk on his tip toes to get it. One day I was being observed by my principal, and Christopher gets up politely as ever and walks over to the thrash can where my principal is standing and observing. He asks the principal of the school to politely move so he can throw something away- on his tip toes. The look on my principal's face to use a cliche was priceless. Christopher taught me that if I did make this a career which I have, I was bound to see most anything. Then there is Ryan. A tenth grader in a self contained class who is reading and writing well below grade level. Who never participated and who I am finally hoping to get to pass the Reading and Writing RCT after literally weeks and weeks of working with him. Ryan was absent the day our class put Frankentein's monster on trial. He had missed the two days the prosecution and defense had working in groups to prepare their cases. As this mock trial took place, Ryan who I assigned some alternate questions to raised his hand and said, "Hey, can I play the part of the monster?" I ran with the idea! He took center stage and both defense and prosecution asked away. He answered all and was true to the character of the monster and plot. I put a close to it by jumping in and asked him one final question. I asked him if he was on the jury, what punishment would he give to himself. Ryan, the student who never participated, was always zoning out, the one who always needed the extra time to process questions answered: "I would let me go free. I would go and live in the forest or a cave and with the animals because I no even animals would never treat me the way humans do." My class, my paraprofessional and I all applauded. Think about his response. How inspiring and true. It brings a smile to my face in this time of so much turmoil and confusion that we as teachers are dealing with.

Dude- can't believe you are still up.

2012-01-18T17:27:53.298-05:00

Dude- can't believe you are still up.

I thing so too!

2012-01-18T06:02:53.973-05:00

I thing so too!

"I smart than you?" I thing it's a ...

2012-01-18T05:17:45.282-05:00

"I smart than you?"

I thing it's a good think.

Bless our ESL students.