TeacherScribe

It’s taken half the quarter for me to get my legs under me with my new classes. I have tried to bring very little work home since Kristie has so much of her time taken up by Kenzie (she is quite the mamma’s girl!).

However, I had to spend a good part of Sunday getting some correcting done. I do have an 85 minute prep period, but I use that to plan for the rest of my day rather than to correct.

What has been taking up so much of my time is my College Comp II class. I have never taught it before, so it is taking up quite a chunk of my time. However, this week I finally feel like I have the class buying in and doing some good writing. They finished their first theme, a position paper on any topic they found interesting. Since the class is research based, they had to find at least one source to use in their papers. I have these on my desk ready to read tomorrow.

In the meantime we started our second theme, a definition essay.

Like all of our themes, I have students write three essays. They share these and peer edit them. From those three, they decide which one to develop into a theme.

A year or so ago, I was intrigued by an report I read in the Washington Post via countryscribe, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html, in which the reported had one of the world’s greatest musicians, playing some of the world’s greatest music on one of the greatest instruments at one of the busiest locations. The writer simply wanted to see if anyone would notice the beauty of the music or the greatness of the performer . . . or if they would just walk on by.

I had students read the story and then we brainstormed the topic of beauty. After that I printed out some famous quotes on beauty. With our discussion and the quotes in mind, I had students define their personal ideas or views on beauty.

After that, I will have them choose their own topics or ideas to define for the remaining essays.

Finally, we have a clear direction. And I have some breathing room.

*****

I forgot to mention that a month ago we bought Casey a car.

The pick up his grandfather gave him is in wonderful condition, but given the gas prices and the vehicle’s gas mileage, it just isn’t economically feasible. Plus, with Casey looking at college parking in the fall, we have been on the lookout for a vehicle.

Then Kristie heard that a great couple in town were selling their car. While the miles are high, it is in mint conditon and fully loaded.

Casey and I went to look at it one late afternoon.

We took it for a test drive.

Wow. I was tempted to buy it for myself.

We drove home and Kristie hopped in while I watched Kenzie.

When they returned, she said, “Well, what do you think?”

In less than half an hour, I was writing the check and transferring the deed.

This process took less than an hour. I only say that because it was the total opposite of what my father put me through when looking for vehicles.

Dad was like Bill Cosby in that episode from the Cosby Show where Cliff takes Theo car shopping and dresses in his rattiest clothes and chides the car dealer (played by Sinbad) for the best deal possible.

That was exactly what Dad did. He’d throw on his work jeans, which really were bits and pieces of about half a dozen Levis that Mom was able to stitch together, his dirtiest cap, and a flannel shirt and head into town.

I can count on two hands the number of cars we tried out. Some were vehicles Dad was interested in (I recall a beautiful Chevy Silverado. We took it out for a test drive, which was really something because usually Dad would just sit in the car dealer’s office for half an hour shooting the breeze. Maybe once in awhile he would consent to allow Gary, the car dealer, to bring a vehicle in to the shop for us to take a look at. So at test drive was a big, big deal. I thought we’d be taking that Silverado home. That was until Gary wanted to really show off to Dad and popped the hood. He bragged how there was a built in drop light that one could use to work on the engine. Gary grabbed that little light and pulled it out to exam the fan, the radiator, and the battery. I was sold. Then Gary tried to put the light back and the cord wouldn’t recoil. “Well, there you go,” Dad said, absolutely gleaming! I was heartbroken. And I swore to never get suckered in to going along with him again).

That was until he took me in to try out a new GEO Storm that Thibert’s had on their lot. It was the closest thing to a sports car I had ever seen. It was green with a moon roof.

We even took that sucker out for a spin. But Dad passed on it, and I swore I would never ever ever ever go get suckered in to trying out another car with Dad again.

When I bought my first new car, a 1999 Cavalier, it was my turn to antagonize Dad. He went in thinking we were just going to be looking. But I promised myself that I would be buying a car that day. No matter what! Just to spite all those years of pure torture.

Sure enough, I bought it that same day too. Dad was horrified. I can still hear his famous words, “Well, we’ll look around and let you know.”

“Uh, Dad. I think I’ll take it,” I said.

Gary, who know doubt had been antagonized by Dad for years too, grinned broudly and began punching numbers into the computer and getting the paper work ready.

Revenge!

So when it came time to buy Casey’s car, and given the go ahead from Kristie, who like me is an impulse buyer, I didn’t see any need to put him through the torture Dad had inflicted upon me.

When Kenzie is old enough to drive, though, it might be a different story.