04 November 2012

resume workshop

Every now and then I update my resume, just to keep it fresh.  I've been doing so this week, and it reminded me of an impromptu resume coaching sesh at my friends' house our second year teaching.  

Picture it:  It's 10:00 p.m. on a Friday, and four of my teacher friends and I are unwinding at the house three of our friends share near the school.  Nothing crazy, just letting our hair down after a long week.  We hear a knock at the door and wonder who it could be.  We open the door, only to discover a family from the neighborhood standing there with a giant bunch of bananas, straight from the tree.  We invite them in, and they all shuffle into the living room.  Mind you--this is a family of 8, and we all currently teach one of the children and we all had a child in our assorted classes last year, as well.  After they come into the living room, the father apologizes for dropping in unexpectedly, but he's applying for a job and would like some help writing his resume. 

TEAR!  I mean, how cute is that?!  

Of course, we helped him with his resume--he got the job!!--and enjoyed the bunch of bananas for quite some time.  So, while it can be awkward to live next door or across the street from ALL of your students (it definitely rules out getting your mail in your pajamas!), it can also be really awesome.

03 November 2012

one time stories

My sister has been talking about getting a dog lately.  Her talk of puppies reminds me of a funny story from my first year of teaching.

I was in the computer lab with one of my classes, and two boys who had just learned that they were half brothers were arguing about who was cuter.  Yes, for real.

Boy 1:  I'm cuter!
Boy 2:  No, I'm cuter!
Boy 1:  Miss, tell him who's the cutest!
Boy 2:  Yeah, it's me.  Right?!
Me:  I'll tell you what...I think you're both cute!
Boys 1 and 2:  Awww, come on Miss, you have to pick one of us!

At that moment, another boy turned to us, eyes lit up, and proclaimed...

Boy 3:  Miiisss!  One time my dog had 48 puppies!

Boys 1 and 2 looked at me and we all burst out laughing, which effectively ended the argument.  What?!  48 puppies?  Students are known to tell some tall tales while sharing their "one time stories," but this was probably the craziest one of all.


01 November 2012

hurricane

Hurricane Sandy has officially passed over Wilmington now.  School was closed for the last 3 days due to lack of power, but we did not have much damage at all.  We were much luckier than surrounding areas, particularly southern DE, which has been pretty devastated by the storm.  Although we had quite a few hurricanes while I was living in Texas, I always escaped major damage, so I feel very fortunate for that.  A few weeks after I moved to Texas, we had to evacuate due to major flooding, but we were able to stay with friends who lived nearby.  12 of us were staying in two rooms and watching Napoleon Dynamite on repeat (not sure why we made that particular life choice, but anyway).  At the outset of my fourth year of teaching, we were having a hurricane during the opening assembly for teachers.  Many of us arrived a bit early for the program, and waited in the auditorium for about an hour before they told us it was canceled due to the storm.  When we went outside, the water was up to my knees!  It had been raining when we went in, but for the water to rise that much, and so quickly, was incredible.  Regardless, everyone made it home safely and most of the town was ok.

My organization shares a floor with the Red Cross of DE headquarters, and they have been working around the clock to organize services for those affected by this storm.  Please send your good thoughts to them and to the people whose homes have been destroyed.