My Hardest Student Ever

One of my favorite days of the year is Graduation Day. Our school has the ceremony at one of the most beautiful places in the world, Red Rocks.

As a teacher, it is my greatest joy to see my former students walk across that stage, get their diploma, and stand proud before thousands of cheering teachers and parents.

One of the reasons I enjoy this day so much is because I work with a lot of "high risk" students whose chances of graduating (or at least graduating on time) is reduced due to factors such as divorce in their homes, drugs, alcohol, lack of parental support, working two jobs to help their family, etc. The list goes on and on as to why these students are high risk.

These students have a special place in my heart, though, and I spent a lot of time and energy helping them finish high school. Most of them will never go to college, but our goal is see them walk across Red Rocks and get that high school diploma.

One of the hardest students I have worked with in my five years is named Sarah (I changed her name). I had her as both a sophomore and junior, and she was full of rage. She hated everything and everyone around her. I'd say good morning, and she'd pretty much spit in my face. I'd try to get her to do work, and she would cuss me out. She wore dark makeup around her eyes, and she just looked scary.

I had a hard time getting to know Sarah because she was so shut off from everyone. She just hated me, and she most certainly did NOT want to be kind to me, her teacher. She was just a tough kid. Halfway through her junior year, she dropped out of high school. It broke my heart, as it does every time I have to sign the paper "releasing" them into the world. I knew no amount of pleading would get her to stay, so I signed the paper, gave her a hug, and sent her away with my best wishes.

That was two years ago, and I often think about Sarah. We all knew she was on drugs, which is where a lot of her anger came from, and I would often wonder if she was even still alive. Either the drugs would eventually kill her, or she would get in a fight that would end her life.

And then, last week while I was eating my lunch, Sarah came into my classroom. Shock of all shocks. "Sarah?" was all I could muster.

She looked amazing. She looked clean. I could tell by looking at her that she was drug free and she was happy. I'd never seen that in her before.

"Ms. Nichols, I came by to tell you that I am going to graduate. I just finished my last class, and I am going to walk across Red Rocks in May and get my diploma."

I started to cry. I hugged her, and she actually hugged me back.

She continued to tell me that she was completely drug free (had been for about a year). She had been living with her boyfriend in a crack house, and she had moved back home to get out of that environment. She was sober and hadn't had a drink in a year. She was getting her life back together, and in the meantime, she had started finishing her high school work via online. She had just finished all her credits, and she was going to graduate! After graduation, she was going to go to Cosmetology School and she was going to make something of her life.

So, I take back my earlier statement that Graduation Day is my favorite day of the school year. Last week, when Sarah specifically came to find me to tell me she had finished high school....THAT was my favorite day of the year.

New Phone!

I say it's Josh's fault.

Josh says it's my fault.

Nonetheless, someone is at fault for losing my cell phone on Saturday.

I left Josh's apartment a few seconds before him (sometimes he likes to dawdle) to get him moving along. I was nearly out the door when he yelled down the hallway, "Shiloh, do you want your cell phone?"

I yelled back, "Oh, yes, I didn't know I didn't have it. Will you grab it for me?" Which he did.

He then claims he gave it to me. He did not.

Two hours later, we were on the search for my phone, and it was no where to be found.

In the six hours since the phone went missing, we picked up his friend Cody, we went shopping with Cody, we came back to the apartment and hung out for a little bit with Cody, we went and had wings with Cody, we went a watched a UNC basketball game with Cody, and then we took Cody dancing. We eventually took Cody home and then attempted to find my phone at 11 p.m.

Josh said, "We'll find it in the morning" but we did not find it in the morning.

Josh searched the car. I searched the apartment. Josh called every place we had visited since the phone went missing. Alas, no phone.

Darn, I have to get a new phone (lucky for me, I was due to get a new phone through Verizon), so away we went to Verizon. I had done my homework before going, so I knew exactly which phone to get. I had read reviews, I had thoughtfully thought out my purchase, and I had decided to stick with my Windows phone (I truly love it).

Our time at Verizon was short and sweet. I ended up with a brand-new fancy Nokia Lumina 928 Windows phone, and Josh and I are both in love. It's almost like getting a Smart phone for the first time, but it's even better. It's getting an even better Smart phone than I had before, and then discovering I have Instagram (finally).

So I have no idea what this means, but my information for Instagram is shi_josh. Find me because I have no idea how to find you.

And, I'm still hopeful I'll find my old phone somewhere so I can give it to Josh :)

Gum on Floor

My student with autism, whom I have spoken about here, wrote this persuasive letter to me:

"I think that we should be allowed to NOT put up with gum on the floor. Every time there's gum on the floor, it ends up on the underside of someone's shoe. Most kids hate stepping in gum. Gum ruins the carpets. Keep this in mind."

I will keep this in mind, next time I allow a student to throw gum on the floor.

Brink of Starvation

My students had to write me a persuasive letter using Aristotle's Modes of Persuasion (Logos, Pathos, Ethos). They had to convince me of something, and this is my favorite letter:

"As a reputable A+ student at Chatfield, I feel that it is my place to request that students be allowed to eat food in class as long as it does not distract the class. Some students do not have the opportunity to eat lunch because they take 7 classes and then they suffer through class on the brink of starvation. Is that what you want? It will only be a matter of time before an innocent student falls to the ground and dies of starvation."

I love my students. They bring laughter every day!

We Lost Matthew

A new semester has begun, and I am thrilled to be in the home stretch of our upcoming wedding (yes, 140 days is the home stretch when we began with 335 days on the countdown clock).

(But this blog isn't about my upcoming wedding, so check back soon for details on our wedding planning).

But a new semester has begun, and as always, I have new kids on my roster. Our scheduler tries really hard to keep us with our same kids all year, but due to sports, music, theatre, work, and other factors, sometimes a student's schedule will change and he/she will not be able to stay with their same English teacher.

On the first day of the new semester last week, I looked around my "new" 7th hour class to see who had changed classes. My "old" 7th hour class from last semester was the best class I have ever taught. It only had 22 students (which is a miracle and a gift from God), and they were perfect. I adored that class. They thought I was funny, they laughed at my jokes, we all got along, they participated, I brought them treats, etc. It was a fantastic group, and I was so, so sad to see the semester end because I knew changes would come this new semester.

And sure enough they did. I looked around at my "new" 7th hour class and there were 30 faces staring at me (that's a huge class). Two naughty kids from 6th hour had moved to 7th hour, and I was missing some familiar faces, too.

I glanced around the room to see who had moved classes. I noticed Matthew was gone and I said to my new 7th hour class, "Oh, how sad. We lost Matthew."

A student from my "old" class gasped and exclaimed, "That's horrible. When? How did he die?!?!?"

Oh. My. Goodness. Totally not what I meant. "No, no, no. He didn't die. I just meant he changed classes."

Doodles

Monday and Tuesday of this week were in-service days for us teachers. Students start back tomorrow, and I am excited to see them again.

The past two days have been full of meeting after meeting. We got a total of 1.5 hours in our classroom to get ready for 150 kids tomorrow, and the rest of the 10 plus hours were spent in meetings.

Yesterday, one of our meetings had a little quiz. Like a good student, I took the quiz and waited patiently for everyone else to finish. I decided to doodle on the page, so I flipped it to the backside and practiced writing my new name.

In large print, I wrote out Shiloh J. Martinez is a pretty cursive and drew hearts all around. No one was going to see my doodles, so I didn't care too much.

After everyone finished the quiz, we spent the rest of the hour long class discussing our answers in groups. At the end of the hour, the assistant principal who was leading the class collected our papers!!!

As he collected my paper, I giggled and said, "This is kind of embarrassing, Chad. I was doodling my new name on the back. I didn't know you were going to collect our work." We both chuckled, he teased me a bit, and I got red in the face.

Today, I stopped into a friend's room to say hi and she said, "I hear you were practicing your new name yesterday in class."

What?!?! "How did you know that???"

"Chad told the class today that you were doodling your new name."

O.M.G.

Practically the entire school knows.

I'm so embarrassed.

A Letter from Saint Nichols

A Letter from Saint Nichols

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
For Doug and Sally had been empty nesters for years,
It no longer bothered them, they no longer shed tears.
This year was the year of the big 4-0,
When Doug became Sally’s one and only beau.
They are happy and healthy and have plans every night,
These two, Doug and Sally, are doing quite alright.
They count their blessings every day,
To God they thank, to God they pray.

Sally’s parents, Van and Bill,
Celebrated 69 years together, what a thrill!
Doug’s parents, Reva and Leon, are very close to that,
They hit 65 years, which is nothing to bat your eyes at.
Grandpa Leon (Doug’s dad) passed away in early December,
He will be in our hearts always and forever.

Shannon, the oldest, married Jeff, her longtime love,
They have a special bond that all people dream of.
Two adorable kids, and eight years together,
This family of four is a unit no matter the weather.
Case started kindergarten and turned the big six,
He loves to play and show off his tricks.
Siahna started pre-school and turned three in June,
Everywhere she goes, people stop and swoon.
Shannon stays home and also helps at Case’s school,
Case is still young enough to think this is cool.
Jeff works hard to bring home the dough,
He swells with pride as he watches his family grow.

Collin, the youngest, tied the knot with Kate,
Ten years ago, can you believe it? That’s great!
Carson, the quiet, came first nine years ago,
This handsome fourth grader, ask him anything, he’ll know!
Seven-year-old Kyler loves second grade,
This fun-loving kid is a good little aide.
Soon-to-be five-year-old Corinne is as cute as can be,
She’s all girl and loves a good shopping spree.
Kate works very hard at The Buckle Warehouse,
Everything she wears is adorable, right up to her blouse.
Collin graduated with his teaching degree,
His teaching sisters and family are as proud as can be!

That’s right, you heard it, the news is very true,
Shiloh and Josh will soon be saying I DO!
June 7 is the day; a Colorado mountain wedding it will be,
Their ceremony will be outside right next to a pine tree.
A lot of big changes are coming their way,
Josh will move to Littleton, Shiloh can’t wait for the day.
Josh will graduate, and his teaching diploma they will frame,
Mrs. Shiloh Martinez will be her new name.

As you can see, the Anderson’s, Martinez’s and Nichols’ are great,
With Christmas drawing near, don’t forget why we celebrate.
As we close the year 2013 and look to the year ’14,
We realize there are many things yet unseen.
But God always provides, He supplies all our needs,
We are so very thankful for everything, indeed!

Good night one and all, we wish you the best,
We know God will bless you like we have been blessed.
As we settle into bed, we look up to the sky,
And there we see Santa flying way up high.
We heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight —
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.