English class is TOO an adventure!

[judifilksign]

I so totally love teaching English class.

Today, I was all set to read James Thurber, Columbus' home-town humorist. I started in on "The Night the Bed Fell," and noted that EVERY ONE of my students had rested his head on his desk, prepared to doze their way through my rendition. (Heh, heh, heh.)

Thurber's story is chock full of thrown shoes, breaking glass, flipping furniture, rattling doors. The first the class knew about it, I was chucking my my shoe across my room, hitting the AV cart with a large CLANG! and my left shoe against my neighbor math teacher's wall. Every boy was bolt upright in his seat, and stayed so as I shouted the shouted lines. I flipped folding chairs to approximate the sound of the bed flipping over. I threw Checkers against the window to simulate breaking glass. Howled like a dog when the dog was supposed to be howling. Rattled my classroom door to simulate the stuck attic door. Knocked on everyone's desk in a row to emphasize trying to get to Father through that stuck door.

The boys' eyes were out on sticks. They didn't quite know what to do with me, but they sure paid attention! The story discussion/question and answer section went fantastically well, though; so well, that I just had to do it over and over for the next classes, too! A successful day, all-around.

And today, when I was hollering "Get it off me! Get it off!" and making choking, gagging sounds for Briggs Beall, the youth leaders outside my room trusted that I was in full drama mode rather than busting in. (I hope that this doesn't mean that my future is going to be like the boy who cried "Wolf!" though, and that someday, when I need someone to help bring order to my room that no one will take it seriously...)

And best of all, when my boss asked me what was going on in my room, he laughed in approval!

Comments

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

I wish they had a Nobel Prize for Awesome. You'd be a shoo-in.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

I will be that crazy English teacher they remember for the rest of their lives, who wasn't afraid to be a fool, and who, by being foolish, made them think.

At least no one can say I don't try very hard for that goal, at least!

[daisy-knotwise.livejournal.com]

HARK!!

GHR

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Not just for the angels singing! So all y'all better sit up and pay attention! This is canon!

[catalana.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome.

[mgucciard.livejournal.com]

I sort of expect them to know better than to put heads down with you at the head of the class - that way lies madness.
It's not like you've never given them any kind of indication that predictable is NOT what you are... * forehead palm smack *

Nicely done!

-M

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Unless you mean predictibly eccentric.

I have students that settle down deep in their chairs, and kick back to watch me when there is a crisis outside in the hall, or a student that had to be sent away from my room for behavior. You see, they know that I will schtick and get dramatic in a fun way to pull the class back on track, and it will be more fun to watch me entertain them than watching a kid mouth off or get into a fight outside of class.

[danceswithlife]

I want to be your teaching assistant..:-)

[kyrielle]

This rocks. I liked English even delivered boringly, but I WISH I had had a teacher like you, or at least more teachers like my best. You are amazing (in the good way!).

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Over time, I have to be careful about overdoing it, because such antics can actually set off students that don't cope well with sudden noises, or overstimulate on the drama.

Measured doses of insanity, so that they take me seriously...

If I tried such things with my own autistic daughter, she'd be under the table, rocking.

[geojlc.livejournal.com]

cool! Sounds like a fun class!

[quadrivium.livejournal.com]

The boys' eyes were out on sticks I love this expression!

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

You should do a reading like this in open filk from time to time. I wanna chance to experience it!

[shancara.livejournal.com]

"when I need someone to help bring order to my room that no one will take it seriously"

Maybe you can agree on a non-literature-included code word for times when you do need someone rushing. Obviously 'help' and such are out because they would be used in dramatic readings... but something more personal to the school?

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Yes - "English needs assistance! English needs assistance in the English room!"

[smoooom.livejournal.com]

I wish I had once had an English teacher like you. Just once. Perhaps some of my fellow class mates might have benefited. I know I would have!

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you had a similar, goofy teacher that you loved in social studies, math, or theatre. Many of us have had a teacher whom we adored.

(I'm not saying that my students actually adore me *currently*, but I think I will be one they remember.)

[maiac.livejournal.com]

I adore James Thurber with much adoration.

I wish someone had videotaped your reading and sent it to the Thurber Museum.

I wish I'd had you as an English teacher.

Maybe you should arrange a code word with the youth leaders so they know you're really and truly calling for help and not just dramatizing a reading.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

Yes - "English needs assistance! English needs assistance in the English room!"

[shancara.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* Perfect