Spring break...sort of

The kids aren't out until Good Thursday, but I'm already on 'vacation.' Before school started, I negotiated 7 professional development days with the district so that I could attend conferences and maintain my academic stuff-strutting. The American Educational Research Association's annual meeting is this week, and I was scheduled to give a talk. It's a tough conference to get accepted to, so I was pretty psyched to get to go. Paper went well. Principal, however, was totally annoyed that I was going to miss 3 1/2 days of school.

I left foolproof lesson plans, I think, but I'm not expecting any of the work to be done. The 'subs' in our building are just poached kindergarten/Pre-K aides, women who are wonderful with the 3-4-5 year old set, but barely literate. The principal is either too cheap or too isolated to get it together to recruit and pay for real substitutes. Whenever I've been out this year, the kids end up playing kickball all day instead of doing any of the work I leave. The same is true when other teachers miss. I feel a bit guilty that my students will not be learning a damn thing while I'm gone, but it's not my job to hire substitutes...and damn, how many fifth graders in Anacostia get a teacher who needs to take off to present at the AERA?

Meanwhile, I'm at Stanford, enjoying being treated like a human being with a brain and something to contribute to the world. The longer this year goes on, the less I think I'll be in the classroom next year...

A great literature letter

From my weekly assignment, in which children write me a letter describing what they're reading, and I write back...

Dear Ms. Sweetland,

The poem I was reading is called Phenomenal Woman By Maya Angelou. It is a very good poem.

I think Maya Angelou could be a version of me when I grow up. I want to be a black poet too. I hope Maya Angelou would still be living so I can meet her.

Ms. Sweetland what was the first poem you ever read about Maya Angelou? How did it make you feel? The first poem I ever read was Life Does Not frighten me at All. It made me felt that I should not be scared of anything.

Tearful, curious,

Rakia,

Dear Rakia,

Thank you for your letter. I am so pleased that you are thinking of taking poetry more seriously. As I tell you all the time you are a natural poet.

The first poem I ever read by Maya Angelou was “Still I Rise.” It is a beautiful poem about overcoming oppression. I read it in my 12th grade English class. I had already read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou’s autobiography, in 9th grade. But as it turned out, I liked her poetry better. I always almost cry whenever I hear or read “Still I Rise.”

Why did you sign your letter ‘tearful’? And what do you think makes “Phenomenal Woman” a good poem?

Can’t wait for your next letter!

Your fan,

Ms. Sweetland