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.