Polar Vortex

February 1, 2019

This was an abbreviated week due to the polar vortex that has affected much of the U.S.  School dismissed two hours early on Tuesday and has been cancelled every day since.

Before the unbearable cold temperatures arrived, I had two (almost) full days with students.  Missing from the days was my cooperating teacher due to previously arranged obligations. This provided me the perfect opportunity to test my knowledge of the students’ names.  I’m happy to say that I know almost everyone without hesitation; there are a few quiet students that still cause me some pause with name recall, but I’m getting there! The substitute teachers were both individuals I have worked with in the past, so that helped the days flow a bit more easily.  

I used my time with students this week to get to know them better and try to engage in some talks about their books.  The classes are completing book group novels and preparing for a final project. As such, I am trying to read as many of the books as I can to keep up with their discussions.  I’ve enjoyed the books I’ve read: Grenade by Alan Gratz, A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, and All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely.  In our discussions this week the students were introduced to some new literary terms and somehow this prompted a student to ask me “Uh Ms. Poole, you’ve seen Star Wars right?” (“Much to learn you have.”)  I find this to be further evidence of the similarities in all children… random questions abound.

Tuesday the temperatures began to plummet and the snow began to fall.  A two hour early dismissal was announced the night before so we had the benefit of not scrambling to get lunches in or hoping and praying that buses were ready.  I did help with dismissal in the car line and enjoyed watching the kids (and teachers) catch snowflake on their tongues. 

Since that afternoon, I have been enjoying the time at home, mostly curled up with a good book.  I’ve completed March Book 1 by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin; it’s a graphic novel (beautifully drawn by Nate Powell) depicting Mr. Lewis’ early work in the civil rights movement.  I’m now in the midst of How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon and I’ve elected to start a self paced class offered by edublogs: “Personal Blogging for Teachers.”  Be on the lookout for new additions to the blog with all that I’ll be learning!

I still have the weekend ahead of me and the forecast says that temps will be going back up.  Here’s hoping! I need to get moving again, but until then, you can find me curled up with my book.