That time I spent 5+ hours writing letters...

I am fortunate enough to have about 95% of my students for the entire school year.   This year, I chose to take a huge chunk of time and write each student a letter. 

In the letter, I made sure to include a few things:

• Let the student know I'm glad they're in my class again 
• Any praise for first semester accomplishments
• Areas of concern/goal setting with my point of view
• Any other tid bits - quotes, a story, etc...

When the kids saw that I wrote them each a letter and even put it in an envelope for them - they were thrilled.   Even my students with the eternal poker face(s) smiled.  Here is a photo of them going for their letters and reading them.  

I found myself curious as to what they would do with their letters.   Would they roll their eyes?   Would they trash them?    Would they enjoy them?   After they were done reading, they were asked to put their letters away because I was hoping they'd take some time to reflect and then write me back (if they wanted to).

The next day, every student chose to write back.   Reading their replies was a serious moment for me.  Some of their replies made me laugh.   Some made me cry.   I wrote to one student and told them that I was disappointed to see what a chatterbox they had become last term.   I told this student from my point of view that when he was having a side conversation, I processed it as rude and sometimes disrespectful.   In his reply back, he was COMFORTABLE enough to tell me HIS point of view on this.   He said, "I know I talked a lot with ________ last semester and I'm sorry if that bothered you.  I just would rather have been redirected because I didn't have the heart to not listen to _____ and what he had to say because I know they don't have a lot of friends.  I just wasn't good enough at it to not get caught."   Hello!  Perspective!  Honesty!

The following replies are shared with permission...

So now... after this response and seeing those smiles... this teacher needs to get herself to Target and make up some Valentine's for these kids because they definitely are a work of heart!  

Psst... a pointer...

You see three stacks of sticky notes.

I see student ownership.

I see student reflection.

I see student choice.

I heard active conversations.

I saw searches.

I witnessed reviews being read.

I saw cross outs.

I even saw a game of "eenie meanie mine-ee moe" (or however you spell it)

So what is this picture?

This is a photo of the sticky notes I collected after students made an informed decision/vote for what our class novel would be.   Seriously... surrendering control has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.   

I was scared to post this... but um... whatevs

So this may be one of those posts where as you read, you might say, "Is she talking about me?" ... especially if we know one another "IRL."   I'm going to say things in this post.  Some may make you blush.   Some things may make you question.   All should probably make you reflect.  Yea.   That's the only "r" word I can stand right about now.

When I was pregnant with my children I made up this rule.   The rule of three.   The rule basically goes like this - if I was craving something more than three times in a day or for three days in a row ... it meant I could have whatever it was I was craving.    This is complete crap logic - but it was my rule.  So when pregnant with Elliot, it was Cherry Slushie and really cherry anything.   With Nora... it was meat... steak, specifically or venison.    

I've given birth to two living children.   But the reality is... I have many more.   I've been teaching for 14 years.   I've got a lot of kids.   They're mine.   Because I'm selfish like that.

So back to my stupid rule of three.   I'm applying it to my writing.   If it comes to mind more than three times, it's a sign I should be blogging.   And let's face it - I've been slacking on the blogging these days and there's no good excuse.

Lately.... people (broad generalization) have a lot to say about my kids.  My students.  Special Ed Students.   Ohhhhh scary scary....those pesky IEP kids.  Over the holidays, on more than one occasion, I witnessed a comment being made about IEP kids.   Some comments were in person, some on social media (teacher groups, etc...) and I've got some things to say.   

So here they are in no particular order... you have been warned.   You may want to abort this reading mission if you're worried I'm going to offend.   Because chances are, I will.   But my stupid rule of three is in effect and reflection is important and after I write this out I'll feel super awesome.   

• IEP means I expect progress.    

• I am aware it means Individualized Education Plan.   But my kids (yes, MY kids) know that I expect progress.

• I don't teach the retards.   And seriously, it's 2019 - if you're going to pick on these kids at least have the ***** to come up with a new word.  

• If you need help with vocabulary, ask one of my kids.   Theirs expands on the regular.  

• My students have talents that would blow your freaking mind.

• I do not believe that my students should respect me.

• Let me make that last point again.  I do not believe that my students respect me.  Do they?  Yes.   But it's my job to show them MY respect first.   Yes.  You read that right.   Their battles are intense.   You have no idea.   They deserve your respect, too.

• Oh... and just to add some music to this post... let's have some of my girl Aretha.  

• If you start a statement with "kids today" I want you to know that I have absolutely no control over what my face will do.   If I don't make a face, rest assured I'm rolling my eyes at you in my head.

• My kids aren't stupid.   Far from it.   They've just got a glitch in their system.   That's all.  We deal.

• Don't you dare talk down to them.   Use the big words.  The right words.    
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• Having anxiety over having "an IEP kid" in your classroom is a sign that you may need some professional development.   You don't need to be super confident but sweet Lord people... it's not like you're going to have a six legged gangster in your classroom.

• In my classroom we celebrate our progress.

• And guess what... we celebrate failure, too.   I blame this entirely on my girl, Joy Kirr.  We learn from our mistakes and we come out stronger.

• I want you to now take a moment and ask yourself... when was the last time you had an honest to goodness conversation with a teenager today?

• Here... have some jeopardy music to help ponder my question.

In all seriousness.   Words hurt.   Hurt people hurt people.   Read that again.   Here... I'll type if for you.   Hurt people... hurt people.   Please be mindful of what you say online about others.  Even I was mindful in this post.   I bleeped out a swear word.   This goes back to my celebrating progress point.

Truly though.... when was the last time you had an honest to goodness conversation with a teenager?