Feb. 15 (Wed.)

Two amazing things: 1) they may actually have learned SOMETHING about writing, and therefore will NOT fail the test 2) Jaime is finally on the fast track…

Today they had their first real practice writing test, and they did far better than I ever would have believed at the beginning of the year. They are really using the strategies we have been working on, and they are getting in all of the important elements that they need. The biggest difference that I see in this class of students is that they are using the ENTIRE time allotted. I have NEVER seen students use the whole time like this in the past 5 classes I have taught. Even Jerome worked until only 5 minutes were left, and when I asked him to look over his work, I saw him erasing and changing some things. I can’t wait to read all of them, but the ones I have skimmed are looking really good. After grading half of the top class, next week’s lessons will be devoted to introductions and brainstorming.

Turk took the novice kids to the lab and worked through the King Arthur legend in the text book, along with the vocab. words, so they should be pretty comfortable tomorrow. Joseph still refuses to do anything, and is still trying to bring Gabby down with him. Tomorrow they will have to be on the opposite corners of the room. Sumaya did really well with the story and so did Minah. Poor Sumaya keeps calling me Mr. but we think that it is because all of her other teachers are men (odd, but true) so we are working on the Mrs. Mr. distinction.

The best news of the day is that Mr. Keever is working on persuading Jaime’s parents to move him to Apple Valley with his uncle since he is about to be permanently expelled. He is OSS for 5 days anyway, but they are working on not having him come back. Hearing board is already in the works… He “accidentally” came to school today, even though he still is OSS, and so they put him in ISS until someone could come and get him. Well, Jaime didn’t last too long in ISS, got another referral, and Keever is MAD. I’ve never been this adamant about getting a kid out of my class. He is so disruptive that the whole class can go into a tailspin when he is encouraged. He is so sneaky, I don’t trust him at all. The real problem is that he is fairly smart, and he could do really well if he had ANY support at home. Ever since his sister had a baby and the baby’s daddy moved into his house, he has gone downhill. All he wants is what his sister and his sort-of brother-in-law have minimum wage jobs, parents that will take care of you, and a baby. I thought my friends were bad about the baby talk, but lately I’ve been hearing more from him than my married, working, adult friends!! That scares me, because all of our little Hispanic girls just LOVE Jaime. They all live in the same trailer park, and I’m worried that they will decide to help Jaime with his “dream”. Hopefully he will move to Hendersonville this weekend, and peace will be restored!!