Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 13/31: Waiting for Answers

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 13/31:
Waiting for Answers

"Will school be canceled?"

"Will prom go on? Will my ticket money be refunded?"

"Will we have to make up school days if we are in a health emergency?"

"Do you know anywhere that still has toilet paper?" 

"Will we still graduate on time?"  

These just are a few questions that I was asked by my students in less than 20 minutes this morning. 

In the wake of COVID-19, there are so many unknowns. Perhaps we always live in the tension of unknowns, but this seems different. Colleagues, neighbors, friends, and even family members seem more unsettled. 

I feel a bit like a broken record today. 

"I'm not sure," I have responded to many student questions. "We are all anxious for answers, but we will just have to be patient for now." 

Being a teacher during the COVID-19 crisis has been, to say the least, odd. We've never experienced anything like this before. 

This Haiku has been circling in my mind today:

Question flood bombards/

class time. Pandemic affects/

calm, learning, mindsets.  

What will next week look like at our schools?

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. 

All writers are welcome! 

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 12/31: Mullet Musings

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 12/31:

Mullet Musings

We were about to begin class when I heard from my student, C., "Hey Haase! Should I get a mullet?"

Even though I teach seniors in high school, I have many conversations with students about random topics, such as mullets. 

"Well...is a mullet haircut what you really want?" I asked C.

"I do have blue hair. Why not a mullet too?" C. responded.

"It sounds like you have made your decision. Besides, hair grows, right? You're eighteen. It's your hair. Get the kind of haircut you want." I replied.

"You can always shave it!" B., the student sitting next to C. said.

"Will you have a mullet for prom?" Another student, W., asked in disbelief.

"I think that I will wait after prom." C. replied.

"I'm curious. Is getting a mullet haircut a thing now? What made you think of cutting your hair, mullet style?" I inquired.

"You know, Miley Cyrus got one... And if Miley does it..." C. shared.

I may have laughed out loud.

"Well, that's a compelling reason, " I joked.

"The hairdresser that I shadowed had one. It looked awesome." C. said.

"That sounds like a better reason. I can't wait to see what you end up doing." I said.

Suddenly, three students produced photos of Miley Cyrus's mullet haircut.

"See how cute this is?" B. said.

"I think that it's time to start class." I said. We took out our independent reading books and got started. 

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. 

All writers are welcome! 

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 11/31: What Do You Need?

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 11/31:

What Do You Need?

Joined by several friends, she walked in noticeably late to class. 

"Hi *Maria," I said. Maria did not respond or look at me; she walked to her assigned seat and placed her head down on the table, her long brown hair concealing her face.

"Is she okay?" I quietly asked one of her friends who was still lingering in the hallway. 

"Yeah. She's just going through some stuff." 

I nodded, "Thanks for being a friend to Maria. It's probably best that you get to where you are supposed to be though. You are already late."  

Quietly, I rejoined my class and gently tapped Maria on her shoulder. We walked out of the classroom and into the hallway.

"Are you safe?" I asked. She nodded a yes.

"Is everyone else safe?" I asked. Again, she nodded yes. 

For what seemed like hours (but more likely thirty seconds) we stood in silence.

Finally, I asked, "What do you need?" 

"A hug." 

"Okay. I can do that." She hugged me so fiercely, so tight. Maria was obviously in pain. 

"I hope that whatever you are going through gets better soon. Please let me know if you would like to see the school counselor or if you want to talk with me more," I said and then added, "do you have a trusted adult to talk with?"

She nodded a yes.

We walked back into class. She ended up returning to her seat again - this time took out her book and started reading. 

This exchange between me and Maria happened several weeks ago. I never found out exactly what happened, but she seemed better the next day and week following. This is often true about my students - I don't always know what is causing them pain. Sometimes they aren't ready to share. 

I wasn't always this way, but I've learned that sometimes asking the question, "what do you need?" is the most effective way to respond.  

How do you respond to a student who is struggling? 

*pseudonym

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. 

All writers are welcome! 

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 10/31: Bike Ride

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 10/31:

Bike Ride

"Mom! "Canwegoforabikerideplease?" 

My daughter had just arrived. She threw down her tote bag and violin in the middle of my kitchen floor. Her dad barely had the change to give her a goodbye hug.

The request for taking a bike ride together caught me off guard a bit. Typically, upon arriving to my house, my tween daughter immediately heads to holding her guinea pigs, hanging out with a neighbor friend, or I quickly lose her to You Tube videos. She rarely wants to be outside with me anymore. Lately, I have had to work for her attention. 

"Yes, we can go for a ride. It's a beautiful evening! But I think that we only have one helmet, so maybe just you can ride." I responded.

She dug into her tote bag and produced a black helmet with neon markings, "Nope! I brought my helmet from Dad's house! We can both ride! Can we go now?"

"Let's go!" I said and laced up my sneakers. 

We headed out to the garage. I put on my helmet and sat on my neglected Schwinn. 

My bike immediately flattened when I put my weight on it. Darn it! I could feel the rims on the garage floor. I wasn't riding this bike anywhere. 

"Uh oh, Alaina. I think that my bike has a flat tire." 

Her face fell.

"Don't you have a bike pump?" She asked.

"No, unfortunately not. It's another thing to add to my list to get the next time I get paid. Sorry, kiddo."

"Perhaps I can walk beside you as I ride?" I suggested.

"Yeah.. I guess."

She started out on her bike. She was smooth, fast, and looked so carefree. We got about a block. She had already circled me twice. Alaina was still way ahead of me; it would be a constant ride of her doubling back to stick with me. 

"Alaina, how about if I ran with you? Then I could keep up with you easier." 

"YES!" 

I returned to my house and dug out my running clothes and shoes from the Rubbermaid bin in my basement. I couldn't remember the last time I went running. It was at least since I had moved into my new place - nearly six months ago. 

By the time I had changed and returned outside, Alaina was decorating our driveway with chalk. Again, I was amazed that she still wanted to bike with me. She hadn't lost interest in taking the bike ride. 

I did a quick set of stretches in the driveway. We set off. Since I haven't run in a really long time, I alternated between running and walking. 

One block running. One block walking. Repeat.

As we moved throughout our neighborhood, she and I chatted about school, the weekend she had with her dad, and what she wanted to do this summer. Although I felt a bit winded at times, I loved every bit of this conversation. 

"I just LOVE riding my bike, Mom. Can we do this again soon?"

"Of course," I answered, knowing that a few sore muscles and the reminder of being out-of-shape was a small price to pay for this engaged time with my almost twelve-year-old daughter. 

6 years ago - Alaina riding her bike.
Per my daughter's request,
I am not allowed to post public photos of her very often anymore.
Although she's nearly 12 years old now, I still see my daughter as this five-year-old with training wheels... 

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. All writers are welcome! 

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 9/31: Personal Reading Revealed

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 9/31:

Personal Reading Revealed

"Hey, can I tell you something really personal?"

"Yes, of course," I answered M., wondering what very personal thing that she was going to share in our busy senior-filled classroom. At times my high school seniors have NO filter. 

"I was always behind as a reader. I could never get up to the letters I needed to be at, " said M.

"Oh, me too!" A., the classmate sitting next to M., piped up, "I was forever stuck on H." 

"That was actually me as well. We didn't have letters then, but I was always assigned to a colored group based on my reading level. I never felt like I was a good enough reader, all throughout most of elementary school and junior high. That's a hard thing to get through," I said. 

A. and M. nodded. We all seemed to collectively sigh. 

"But I actually like to read now," M. revealed, excitedly showing me her latest read, Zac and Mia.

"Me too," said A. She held up the memoir A Stolen Life. 

"Me three," I responded and showed them my current read - Habitudes. 

Our class of high school seniors got settled into our independent reading time. It was mostly quiet, cell phones put away. 

This conversation compelled my reading heart to practically burst with joy. These are the conversations that remind me why I make independent reading a priority with my high school students, even my seniors in second semester. 

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. All writers are welcome! 

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 8/31: Cemetery Stroll

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 8/31:

Cemetery Stroll

I am fortunate to live by a lovely cemetery. Why yes, reader, you read that right. Fortunate. 

Although I understand that cemeteries creep out many people, I love walking through our cemetery. It's always quiet, the paths are nearly always clear, and above all, it gives me a sense of peace. 

As I wander, I often wonder about the histories of the people no longer with us: 

• What stories could they tell me about my city, community, and neighborhood? 
• What wisdom could they share with me? 
• What secrets were buried?

On an afternoon walk through the cemetery this afternoon, I penned this Haiku:

City history./

What secrets lie within soil?/

Stories whisper here. 

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. All writers are welcome! 

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 7/31: Saturday Sunrise

Slice of Life #20 Challenge Day 7/31:

Saturday Sunrise

This morning I awoke well before my alarm, my body conditioned to the normal school morning wake up. Instead of lazily scrolling through social media, I took a walk. A beautiful sunrise warmed my shy soul.
  

Walk early to see/

beauty emerge from darkness./

Nature certainty. 

Looking to connect with a positive, supportive online community? 

Consider sharing a slice of yourlife with Two Writing Teachers. All writers are welcome!