My last "closing ceremony"

We don't call it a graduation.  We call it a "closing ceremony" and, of course, "an ice cream social."  I overheard T calling a friend to invite her, saying, "it's really tight--you should come!"

We made our usual speeches about each child and each adult as we handed out certificates to them.  At the end, our three child care teachers stood up and said a few words about me as I "retire" from Family Literacy.  I don't remember everything they said, but all three got teary.  J said something about there being nothing phony about me and that I made them work hard and the students work hard.  There were many nods!  H said that hardly a day went by that I didn't make them feel appreciated in some way and that she had never had that before in any job.   S said that she had been with me since the first month she came to South Bend and that she couldn't have done her master's degree without my help and that she had told me things she hadn't even told her husband.  That may be true about what she has told me--her life could be a novel.

I felt especially good about H's comment because I think it is so important to feel appreciated and I am so glad they felt that way.  And I truly did appreciate them and their patience and hard work.  I could not take care of little children so well.

Then three students stood up and spoke.  T must have planned her talk, but J and LB were spontaneous.  Both J and LB stressed that I gave them confidence in themselves--that they could do the work and they could succeed.  Again, that was about the nicest thing they could say to me and I felt very affirmed.

I was given a peace lily in which everyone wrote a few words on the pot.  I read the card and its expressions of love and appreciation when I got home.  And that is when I did weep a bit!

But I am not sorry or sentimental about my decision.  I do not want to quit teaching.  I am eager for next year and a regular GED-ABE class.  Family Literacy is a wonderful program, but as one of my former colleagues put it, "Are you ready for something with less drama?"  I am!

Letting go of the butterflies

We went to Potowatami Zoo on Tuesday and had our picnic afterwards.  We had purchased five caterpillars a few weeks ago and watched them turn into chrysalis.  About a week ago, each one turned into a butterfly.  It was amazing to me that all five survived and grew and were ready to go.  After our meal was finished, Miss H opened the cage.  One by one the butterflies hesitantly sat on the rim.  And then each one suddenly found its wings and off it went.  It was a beautiful scene--teachers, parents, and kids--all watching and cheering as the butterflies went into the world.

A few days later, I was thinking, "Fly, LB; fly, TM; fly, V; fly, TB; fly, C.  We're ready to let you go.  Take the exam, get your diploma, and go on with your lives.  This is just the beginning!"

So many obstacles...

I was optimistic that six students would register for the GED exam today.   However, one called to say she had broken her ankle and was at the hospital this morning.  Another one was with her daughter who had a bad attack of asthma during the night.  A third student could not get his truck started yesterday so he missed class.  I don't know if he actually registered or not.  A fourth student's baby is supposedly due in early July, but she will never make it that long. 

I'm hoping that possibly two managed to keep their appointments.   We had half-scholarships for each one, but they still have to come up with a $35 money order, find child care and get transportation for the 9 am meeting.

Using words in context

We had another example this week of how one's context forms one's vocabulary.   I asked T to share a word from her Megaword book with the class.   She suggested "deliberate."  L said, "That's what a jury does when it leaves the room."  Ah, yes--but not the first meaning I would have thought of.  It reminded me of the definition I have heard more than once for "decline"--a word on a reading inventory I often use.  "Decline?--that's when your credit card gets declined." 

Food!

Yesterday we had a breakfast celebration for Miss S, one of our child care teachers,  who graduated with her master's degree from a local university.   Ten students came;  one was excused because she was ill.   They knew there was going to be food and they all showed up!   The previous day and today--we had six students present.  I don't think we can have celebrations and food every day, but it does help attendance!

A model student

TB is almost always in class.  She lets us know if she or one of her three boys is sick.  She participates in other opportunities to improve herself or her family's situation--the Unity garden project or a Financial Literacy class.   She makes sure she is at her daughter's elementary school for special events.  She has followed through on my request that she be tested for a learning disability so that she can request accommodations in taking the GED exam.   But....we have to prove that she can pass the test with those accommodations.  And we have yet to do so, even after a year and a half of faithful attendance.

I know her reading and math and writing have all improved.  But the GED exam demands a level of abstract thinking and vocabulary and background and multi-step problem solving that I am not sure she is capable of doing. 

We are going to give her a certificate at our closing ceremony naming her our "student of the year."  I wish we could award a GED for effort.  Without that achievement, it will be hard for her to ever have a job that will enable her family to become self-sufficient.

Today is her birthday.  Her sons and I made her a birthday cake and we all shared it at circle time.  I hope she felt celebrated.

An iphone

  I am learning to use my iphone as a tool for Family Literacy.  Several students have texted me to ask to be excused from class.  Apparently even when there are no minutes for calling, one can still text.  I have taken a few photos and will send them on to the families. 

For a long time, I have wondered how we could read or listen or watch the daily news.  But it never seemed to work out very well for timing or for getting enough newspapers.    I have now downloaded a radio ap on my iphone and from there have downloaded a four minute NPR news summary and a one minute CNN news summary--both of which are updated hourly, I think.  We have listened to them as a class whenever I can squeeze in a brief activity.  I have posted places in the news on the board and also vocabulary such as "federal", "compound", "detainees", and "assassination."   I hope it is just one more way to expand the world of our students.