and the day is not yet over. I got 4 students added to my roles today, so I now on paper have 179 in my 6 classes, of whom 172 showed up today.
About an hour ago my wife commented that it is was weird, one day with students, and I look more alive, more energized, even younger.
Tonight I was calling parents from one of my Advanced Placement classes. And something weird happened on three consecutive calls.
In one case a close family friend reads my posts here at Daily Kos, so the mom knew who I was.
In the second, the mom like me is a career switcher to education, teaching in our district, but with a lot of friends in the educational policy community. She has been reading my stuff here for several years.
And in the third and final phone call, the student in question has an older brother who as part of an English project a couple of years ago showed up in my room with a video camera to interview me. As a result of that interview he began reading my posts here on a regular basis, and from time to time shares them with his mother.
Three consecutive parents who knew my work as a blogger. As my wife said, it is kind of scary when the different parts of one's life overlaps.
I could make some more calls - I feel free to call until 9, and if I have left messages I have told the parents to feel free to call me back until 10. I wanted to do at least 20 calls this evening, and I actually did 25, which I think is enough.
But the workday is not over. I have information sheets each student filled out. I will between now and 11 (or whenever I finish) go through them all. I am getting to know my students. Tomorrow I might tell one that like him I played both soccer and cello. For another who wants to major in chemistry at Hopkins, I will say if he wants I can put her in touch with a longtime friend who until a few years ago was chair of the department and still teaches there.
It is about making connections on a personal level. It is about making clear that I see them as persons beyond the 45 minutes they spend in my room each day.
This is exciting, getting to know another group of students. Not surprised by my wife seeing me as more energized.
And now, to the information sheets!
Peace.