I am a cube.

I think the AC Post Office is fibbing to us. They say "no mail has come." But really, a camp of 200+ kids and staff, and not ONE piece of mail comes? I find that very hard to believe! One of my campers said her mother tracked a package, and it said it was delivered yesterday morning at 10:00am, but it is mysteriously not here. Auntie said she mailed me a package Priority Mail four days ago; that service is typically consistent, so what's the deal? College Mail, you disappoint! At our house meeting yesterday, at least all of us (campers et al.) bonded over the disgruntledness that is the AC Post Office. I'm hoping things arrive today.

I had to speak to a group of boys after class yesterday and give them special instructions for their homework since they have not been turning it in (basically had to show the counselor in Evening Tutorial their work and if they didn't finish it, then they had to spend dorm time doing it). I really hope today is different. I really don't like being disappointed in my students. When I see such potential in these kids and when I see it becoming wasted potential, I get pretty disappointed. We are given our lives to live up to our potential... and when someone has a talent and doesn't invest themselves in it, I just want to shake him/her and say, "Don't you see what you can offer the world?!?!" A teacher can only encourage so much until it becomes the student's personal responsibility to do something about it.

There are few "pinnacle passions" for me where I can get fired up in less than two seconds: service and teaching. The moment I get into teaching or service mode, I'm gone. All issues of confidence, worry, and self-consciousness fly out the window; they no longer apply when I'm in these zones. I don't get as tired either... but this high school class is tiring for me. I unfortunately drag my feet. My confidence wavers. Doubt pecks at the fringe. Worry nags and wonders how the final evaluations will be for this class. I feel like a cubed block trying to be shoved into triangular hole; it's painful and slightly frustrating.

If nothing else, this is finite and permanent confirmation that I am not meant to "formally" teach high school kids. I just hope my students and I can take something out of this in the end... no moment can never be wasted in the grand scheme of things.

- Miss Chelsea :)

Everything is wonderful at nerd camp.

New random factoid from Intelligent Radio with John Tesh (a random selection on a road trip to Boston): Cereal has some wheat chemical in it that induces sleepiness. Well, I'll be darned. This possibly explains my constant fatigue. I eat a lot of cereal (it's a healthy obsession), and I love naps. Mystery solved, but I'll never give up my cereal!! Cereal + sleep + me = beautiful days.

So Miss E and I leave for only 24 hours, and everything happens at camp in our absence. We had a huge lice outbreak in the senior girls house--- the first in SIG history apparently. I just feel sorry for the girl who had it first and so badly she had to go home. A huge misconception is that you can only get lice if you're dirty. It's not true! Au contraire, lice love clean, dry hair. They can't live or stick to oily, dirty hair particles, so heads up. Just don't tell the little boys that... we don't need to give any incentive to not take showers and not keep up their hygiene (a constant camp-related issue every summer). :P

In addition to this "fun" news, apparently parents kept calling the office and wondering why their daughters were saying that the dorms were unsupervised because I had my day off. As important as that makes me feel, it's just not very accurate. We still have 1 RA and 2 counselors who are very present in the dorms. I had to give a call to S's mom (Southern woman) about all of the issues that somehow accumulated in that 24-hour time span. On top of my already-there exhaustion from packing all day, that added to it.

In non-camp-related news, my entire room is packed up. C, C, and Miss E all helped, and we got it done in a few hours. After camp, I'm not looking forward to staying in there; it's just not "my" room anymore... thankfully C said I could stay with her for a night or two, and I'll probably take her offer.

Miss E and I now have a determination to eventually visit Pakistan. I want to meet her grandma who does the funny hand motions. She's teaching me some Kachchi phrases (since that's what her grandma speaks). My favorite is "[insert item/name here] is coming!!" I don't know how to spell it, but it sounds like "i-ee i-ee." I think we have a little too much fun with that one. hee hee

To segue from one language to the next, Little A dropped his 5th period class so I could tutor him in French!! (Before this point, I resigned myself to believe I wouldn't be doing any tutoring since we hadn't even met). I feel so special! We started our lessons last night, and he's such a willing learner. This is going to be a blast. It's so cute because he keeps getting his Spanish mixed up with his new French AND he already knew what [é] sounds like because of Pokémon. Yesterday, we learned very beginning conversation and numbers. We will be learning about colors and fruit today... I need to make it more interesting beyond what I'm doing now though; poor kid will be exhausted by the time 8:30pm rolls around for his lessons every night.

Mom and I started a new game of email Scrabble; we're at a stop because finding word space is difficult (she beat me last game (which lasted 3 weeks... haha)!). I found out Z (Miss E's boy) loves Scrabulous, so he challenged me on a different email Scrabble game. My big accomplisment? For the first time ever, I used ALL of my letters and got the double bonus points for it. A whopping 78 points! On one word! The word? Mantric (adj. having qualities of a mantra). Does it get much nerdier than this? Probably. :)

- Miss Chelsea :)

The little things.

Each morning, I hear my mourning dove. Since it is my favorite type of bird, it never fails to make me smile. As an continued inside joke, I have named him Mumford and have created little ditties of his consistent appearances. I always see him appear on the roofs of buildings I am about to go into. Perching alone with his low, soothing call. But in all seriousness, I really look forward to this every morning. These birds normally travel in groups, but each time I see this dove, it is alone. I take it as my daily gift from Above. That Mumford was sent especially for me to remind me that I'm loved and not alone.

Another nice morning thing is that there is a gentleman who works in the dining hall most mornings, and he always says hi and asks how I'm doing when I'm getting my cereal. I appreciate that, especially since I'm not a big morning person and my groggy awkwardness probably shines through at that time.

Yesterday, there was a moment of fun when K and I were rocking it out to Disney music with our junior girls. While we were singing our hearts out, the little girls were singing and dancing along as well to the tunes of Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Mermaid. Nothing beats bridging the generations through song.

On a related note, we're definitely doing a Disney Medley for the talent show. I'm organizing the entire staff to perform the funniest and best show ever since the staff always does some sort of skit. We will be singing songs from Lion King, Mulan, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Little Mermaid. I've already made the character lists... and am still trying to get more people to join in. I'm pretty excited I'm singing Belle's song (aka "The Bonjour Song"), but Lord, I pray that my confidence doesn't leave me. As a kid, I somehow felt I most identified with Belle and her black sheep status.

My high schoolers are not getting their homework done, so I need to take action in some way. I don't know how to "motivate" older kids to get their work done. With 2nd graders, it's easy. You make a visible homework chart, and the kids will just feel like they need to do it so they can be up with the rest of their classmates... oh, and they're still excited about gold stars and praises. I just have to keep reminding myself that teaching this class is all a part of some grand lesson... I was asked to teach this class for a reason... whatever that reason is... I have not a clue. I may look qualified on paper because of my English degree, but by no means am I personally equipped to classroom manage a bunch of 16 year olds. Part of the grand lesson I'm being taught is probably exposing myself to my own vulnerabilities... I'm not liking it, that's for sure.

Tomorrow night is my day off, so after the Saturday field trips, I'm heading back home for the evening/day to see C and C and pack up the rest of my room.

- Miss Chelsea :)

Life lesson #343: Becoming vulnerable.

As to completely shock me, our pyrophile student K did a complete turnaround. Somewhere a switch flipped up, and she participated more than anyone in the class yesterday. Am I surprised? YES. She's a great writer, so I'm glad she did.

What happened was that I had to give a talking-to to these high school students because there was a lack of participation when sharing their writing with -everyone-. I got a bit strict and said that this was not going to work. I laid it out there that writers need to be vulnerable; they need to let people in. It's petrifying to let someone hear or read our work, but good writers have to make themselves vulnerable to really grow and get better. We have to expose themselves to criticism, encouragements, and failures. It really sucks because writing is a very personal thing. We take what is in our minds and place it on paper for all the world to see; we take it to heart. The process is necessary to really have authentic and layered writing. So, after that little pep talk, K rose her hand and shared. [insert happy I'm-going-to-eventually-change-the-world teacher dance here]

I still love to teach my Writer's Palette class most. They give SO MUCH participation. They especially loved our "Round Robin" character development activity (where you have one minute to write about a certain character and then you have to pass it to the person next to you... who then must elaborate upon the pre-existing character). It got them all laughing, and we learned no matter what, when writing, our characters will always change. One girl's character started out as a princess and ended up a spandex-loving superhero. Another hilarious one was a young boy turned boy band member. The best one I thought (and pretty layered) was a 55-year old professor who dealt with a bunch of melancholy through his whole life, including non-speaking terms with his daughter and losing his son. There were other details within that character's description... but too many to mention. Just take away that it was really great.

I'm supposed to start tutoring this little boy in French today, but I haven't even met him yet. I just received my "French for Kids" book in the mail yesterday, and I'm really, really anxious to get started. T (the program director) and everyone else just laugh at me and lovingly call me a dork. HEY! I'm passionate! And I wanna teach something I'm obsessed with! Don't mess! :)

At the moment, I think I got some funny looks because I just broke out one of my girls' skorts and started mending them. Two days ago, A was running around and came by my room with her zipper all falling off and I'm like, "Sweetie, go get some shorts on and let me fix your pants!" She just laughed and said, "It's not that bad!" Oh yes, it was. She's a trip, that's for sure.

Gosh, I'm exhausted today. I'm sitting in Study Tutorial right now, and my next period is my off time. Can't wait to take a nap and a shower! Trust me, you do not want to fight for bathroom rights with ten other little girls at 7am. It's just not worth it. haha

- Miss Chelsea :)

One to motivate the burnings of student work.

Today's update in Teacher Chelsea Campland takes us to a writing class, the final period of the academic day. There are about 17 students, all of who were given the opportunity to change classes for two days.

Enter our student named K. To preface this story, she was in my counselor group two years ago. She was also one of the ones with manic-depression issues at that time. That was the summer of issues. I still loved my girls though, problems and all.

Now to get it right out there, K decided to tell Miss E (my best friend here at camp who is teaching the other section of the class... so we have the same exact lesson plans) that she didn't like my class. I think to myself, "Well, that's not too surprising seeing that she doesn't participate much nor does she complete the work... said she only liked to write about stuff that bothers her... and she glared at me when I asked her to exit out of a web browser during class. Yeah, not too surprised."

Well, it gets better. Not only does she not enjoy my class, apparently I make her want to "burn her writing." Oh, and I remind her of her middle school teacher who never encouraged her. Hmm. Verrrry interesting, especially seeing as that I'm OCD when it comes to overemphasizing that I want my students to challenge themselves and think outside the box and that with work, they can be better writers. Other students are probably TIRED of hearing that one. :P

Oh, one final note, the boy she "likes" is in the other section of the class (in Miss E's class), and in her introductory letter to me, she said she never wanted to come to camp anyway.

FABULOUS. And the world wonders why I'm an elementary school teacher. Thank goodness her opinion cannot penetrate this wall o' kiddie-teacherly confidence, especially when I've got the "tough guys" of the class saying that they can't wait to come back tomorrow. Nothing beats a hardtailed kid who indirectly compliments your class. It made my day (along with Auntie's phone call saying she bought me the Harry Potter book because she wanted to surprise me... yay, I'll get it by Friday!).

So, to conclude on a positive note, burning papers is now the running joke between the academic dean and me (she provides the matches). And I get to update my resume!

"Motivates students to make pyres of their writing pieces."

- Miss Chelsea :)

P.S. I apologize for friends going back-and-forth to both of my journals (for those who do have both addresses). I will most likely be posting to Applesauce (the more public one) for awhile. I'm taking a mini-hiatus on "reflecting on myself and my life."

P.P.S. What also made my day yesterday was that the other housemasters and I went joy-riding around the Quad in the golf cart. J let me drive and woooooo! Did I floor it! It was my first time driving a golf cart. They did poke fun at me because even when I floored it, I was like a "grandma" in my rebelliousness. :P Ah, to feel the wind and laughs in your hair at 10 miles per hour.

Camp hoo-has.

So last night was the first night I felt like a Mom figure. As a housemaster, I put on my Mom hat and went with it. We have had a hysterically homesick little girl in my house for the past two nights. It's been a bit rough. The first night, she wouldn't really say anything but just cry and repeat "I don't know." Well, last night, her true colors showed. S gave the dramatics. Complete with "[the last camp] tore my heart and ripped my emotions and ruined me!" exclamations. Yeah, she really did say that, and yeah, I really had to restrain myself from laughing (that was a feat of strength, I tell ya).

That little bit was only the tip of the iceberg. After many requests saying "You need to calm down before we do anything else" and "older girl voice, please," the Mom-in-me gave her the looks that I wasn't going to accept her hysterical behavior. (She was seriously rocking back and forth... claiming tightness of the chest... rolling her eyes and pretending to vomit... etc... all I have to say, good thing I can tell the difference between bad/something to be concerned about and terribly fake. Or I might have been super worried.) She, of course, stopped, and it was kinda fun to see my tactics work.

Throughout the thirty minutes S stayed with me, she bursted into "song" with tales of her previous camp woes, why things can't work at SIG, and why she's a visual person and needs to touch her Mom. She ran the whole gamut. I feel bad for her because of a similar background, but I know she has to toughen up, become less dependent on her Mom, and not play the hysterical victim. Sounds harsh to say towards a 10-year-old, maybe. But it's what's needed. She has to deal with the cards she's been dealt. Thankfully, her Mom is on board with the rest of us and surprisingly enough, not clingy to her daughter (though misses her, of course... but she wants the best for her girl). GREAT sign, especially since it's her only child. (This woman is just plain awesome, too. She's from the South, has tried her best, and genuinely respects and trusts us; it means a lot.)

Another key point of the evening, S and I differentiated between what is a "strong cry" and a "hysterical cry." We can cry if we want (as she mentioned, "I have to cry or... or.... I'll just EXPLODE!"), but then we need to be positive afterwards. No more dramatics. No more not wanting to find a solution. The conclusion of this evening is that she's going to try out camp for a week and then, we will reevaluate on Sunday. So in adult craftiness, we'll keep doing that procedure until the end of camp! I know. Terrible to trick a little kid. You gotta do what you gotta do to help a kid out. :P

This ends the first update of the gifted camp experience. Many more stories to come.

- Miss Chelsea :)

Gathering for the future classroom.

So while my friends were having a grand ole time swing dancing which I had hoped to do tonight (but I was feeling slightly under the weather, body-wise), I got to talk with Miss EB... and the big news? She will be a kindergarten teacher at an elementary school near where I used to go to middle school! I always get so thrilled to hear when a friend gets a teaching job. It means they have climbed out of the feeding frenzy pool of applicants. They have shown experienced people that first-years have value and spunk. Someone believes in them. And they will prove to everyone who caused them heartache and hair-pulling in their teacher education journey wrong. Oh yes, it is a great feeling. The feeling of blissful unadulterated "na na na I told you so!"

Because of this wonderful news, it is definite now that we'll be roommates sometime this winter (once we have paid off our credit cards from grad school-- that is our goal at least); and we will have the best "teachers" apartment ever with resources galore. No, we're not trinket types where we must keep every apple-emblazoned clay object nor do we wear the holiday sweaters/vests with the hidden battery compartment to keep Light-Up Fabric Santa ho-ho-ho-ing all season long on our chests. So, why is it a teacher's apartment? The books. Purely the size and number of books. Oh, and probably some student artwork. That'll probably be on our fridge and walls because well, kids' artwork is awesome and adorable.

So to refer back to my woeful evening of non-dancing, Miss EB and I also put in a huge order at Oriental Trading tonight. This site is great for getting treasure box goodies, random craft projects, etc. EB said her second graders loved the "bendables," stickers, erasers, and rubber duckies. The ducks are just plain wonderful; if I were a second grader, I would be the most well-behaved kid so I could collect them all! Pssh, Pokemon has nothing on the classic rubber ducky.

Hmm, I need to invest in a plan book, too. I have way too many ideas rolling about in my head, and it's difficult to settle on just one.

On a bookish note, I have been buying book lots (as in large quantities of books in a single auction) on eBay, particularly Magic School Bus (yeah, that's nothing new) and American Girls. I haven't quite figured out how I'm organizing my library yet, but I do know I like the whole "genre" ordeal. I'm not really sold on the idea until I get and read this book. (It's on my Amazon.com wishlist for any of those bibliophiles wanting to gift books. ;) )

Okay, it's getting late, and I'm doing an early power-walking jaunt around the Reservoir with C.

- Miss Chelsea :)

The gifted camp experience.

In the next few weeks, I will be teaching at a gifted camp for the fourth year in a row. You get the same type of kids each year-- you know the ones... they have a lot going for them: parents who care where they go after high school, strong opinions, exceedingly brilliant minds... and last but not least, they lack social skills. The purpose of these camps is to not only inspire and stimulate intellectual neurons, but also to encourage social interactions with like individuals. We all desire to be around people who are like us... and because of this, I love the premise behind a gifted camp.

The whole "academic camp" experience really is a lot of fun, and the girls I always have are just so sweet. It's sadly mostly the boys who have more awkward social issues. Nothing beats the little J of Summer 2006's "insult" of telling someone that "I wish she would just go to 7734!!!" Obviously, I had the look of confusion until the proverbial light bulb illuminated above my head. He meant 7734 on a calculator. Now turn that upside down. Yes, he just told some girl to go to the "naughty place" via a calculator's numbers. Oh, the interesting times at gifted camp. These kids truly crack me up.

Thankfully, I will be teaching English-related classes and can really get the kids involved in writing. One is a middle school class and another is a high school class. I'm slightly worried seeing as that I'm trained to teach ELEMENTARY grades. Quite honestly, not a big fan of the older kiddos; I just fit better with the spunk and energy of a first grader. However, each summer, I fall in love with these middle school girls and their quirky, awkward ways. They teach me something about life or show me something that makes me question or reevaluate my perception of people. I went through that same strange stage they are going through... it is nice to hear their stories.

It's an overall good job for a teacher. For just three weeks of the summer, you can teach, bond with kids, make new friends, go on fun 24-hour days off trips, and make really good money for such a short amount of time. That will always leave me the rest of the summer to travel! It's a good life. :)

- Miss Chelsea :)