Johnny B. Goode

Day 81:

I have substitute coming in for me tomorrow.

Whenever this happens, which isn't very often (in fact, this is the first time all year), I always wonder if I should tell the students of my upcoming absence, or if I should just let them discover my absence at the same time they're meeting the sub.

Rather than undergo the internal debate today I opted to run this burning question past one of my students. The student I chose to ask was from my first period and had been absent for all of last week due to an illness. To my question, she said that when students 'discover' a sub, it was her experience that they're more likely to misbehave.

I think she literally said, "It's my experience..."

That was it. That was all I needed.

When students completed the warm-up I moved on to giving them my announcements for the week. This included my announcing, "Upon conferring with intelligent minds, I have decided to inform you that I will be absent tomorrow...."

She quickly looked up at me; our eyes met before I nonchalantly moved my gaze about the room.

Not a beat later I watched her turn to her table partner as I read her lips say, "Oh! Hey, I'm the intelligent mind he's talking about! I'm the one he asked!"

She wore a slight smile of satisfaction as she shared her news.

Today I learned that sometimes spontaneity can pour a spot of smile.
Today I learned that giving credit where it's due can serve both the giver and the given.
Today I learned that it doesn't matter if she was right, watching her appreciate my appreciation will have been worth it.

Who have you appreciated lately?

What have you learned today?


In a semi-unrelated matter, I want to give kudos to my Homeroom for meeting my challenge of donating more than 40 dollars to Portola's Haiti Relief effort. $40 may not sound like much, but for 32 pre-teens to part with their dinero so that they might donate to others in need, well, let's just say I'm pretty impressed - so much so that I'll be bringing them donuts on Friday.

Thanks for teaching me that generosity can come in any amount...