Happy MLK week! I celebrated MLK all weekend and had an absolute blast, which continued into yesterday. We didn't have the day off, unlike our students, so we were at HQ. In the morning, there was a Social Justice presentation on race, which was interesting, but a little long. The presenters (senior corps members) did a great job of touching on a lot of different points and creating a space where people felt comfortable talking about the different stereotypes that come with their own race and other races, which can be difficult sometimes. In the afternoon, we talked about MLK's Beloved Community and what we thought a Beloved Community would look like. It was interesting to see what other people thought. I guess some people are just more idealistic than I am and think that it is possible to achieve. I can be kind of cynical when it comes to those types of things.
We had a lot of team time afterwards where we went over data. My poor focus list students are way behind on where they should be. We are supposed to achieve fifteen hours of one on one or small group tutoring over the year, but first grade is just not conducive to a lot of one on one time, since almost all of our stuff is done as a class. We'll see how that works out.
Today was pretty normal. Well, not really, but it went pretty smooth. Ms. Moulton was doing assessments all day since report cards come out next week, so we had a sub in the morning while Holly was pulling students individually. It's always a little tough when subs come in because they don't know the little details that we do that the students are so attached to. For example, we tell them that when they get their water break, they can have a "three Mississippi" sip, that way they aren't chugging the whole freaking water bottle. Today, the sub told them they could drink for "one Mississippi" and they all freaked out. I had a ripple, though, today which was awesome. Last week in Lunch Buddies, we talked about Martin Luther King, Jr. and I explained to KO and KC who he was. This morning, the sub was asking who knew who MLK was. KO raised his hand gave all of the information I had shared with them. It was awesome.
Later at lunch, KC had kind of a freak out. They have this bad habit of flicking their empty milk cartons around the dining hall. The rule is, if it falls on the floor, it goes in the trash. Well, of course KC's fell on the floor, which meant it went in the trash. He says someone else flicked it, but regardless, it was on the ground. He freaked out, had to go to the "quiet table" and sit by himself and proceeded to cry the entire rest of lunch. I know you're not supposed to have favorites, but we all do and he's all mine. It kills me that he struggles so much sometimes. At one point, they thought he may have Asberger's, but I think a lot of it is his home life. His mom is a single mom with three kids, all of which have different last names. His siblings are all grown and he's the only boy. His mom works at Home Depot and isn't around in the afternoon, so his sister is the primary care giver when he gets home. He freaks out when things are exactly right or when someone does something small to him. He can't sit still and struggles not to shout out. He has a hard time calming down when he gets upset (case in point...today). Yet, he is one of the smartest kids I have ever met and is just so amazing. If I could take one kid home with me, it would be him. I miss him on the weekends and look for him when I get to school. He's just incredible. So, despite his freak out, I just love him.
The rest of the day was pretty uneventful. We went to the middle school basketball game,which was fun, even though they lost. They haven't won one yet, but they're definitely getting better and the scores are getting closer.
I heard this quote the other day and while it isn't by Martin Luther King, I think he would have supported it. It shows so much passion. Very Voltaire.
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
-Voltaire
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