I've been working in PPS - two days so far this month, hopefully again on Friday. Yesterday I worked for the first time in a high school, which I was nervous about (Paul signed me up for it while I was at work - I don't know if I'd have been brave enough to do it for myself (I can barely get the 6-year-olds into the control holds!!). It turned out to be maybe my favorite para experience to date! Even though I'd worked ~17 hours the day before and was exhausted. The class I was working with was a real mixed bag, development wise. Also, the main teacher was also being subbed for by a hilarious older dude who seemed sort of "confused" in general. Field notes:
- We watched a silly educational cartoon about MLK jr., starring what appeared to be the "Burger King Kids Club" cast, which had me hysterical by the end due to a ridiculous montage.
- One of the students got fixated on the "racism" scenes in the MLK cartoon, where white shop-keepers etc. shouted things like "white only!" and "get outta here!" and "stay out!". For the rest of the day he kept looking out the window and saying those things to himself. Especially "white only!" Strong language for a chubby black kid!
- I was sitting in the front keeping an eye on everyone when the teacher's sub started playing a simple matching game with one of the students. A couple of minutes passed before I realized he was actually trying to beat her at the game!! HA HA!!!! (Later that student yanked the back of my hair. Even later, she threw herself down on the floor in the middle of the hallway on the way back from "recess".)
- One kid had to stop watching Green Day on youtube because he was getting "too excited".
- One kid kept telling one of the other paras that he loved him. The para always responded "you behave today!" I'm going to use that one from now on.
- I played "Sequence for Kids" with one student. Four chips in a row wins the game. At the end of the game I had 6 chips in a row, three times. His chips were scattered about randomly on the board. He neither noticed that I had won, nor attempted to win himself. I think he was playing the game with a different set of criteria. (??)
- One girl in the class was taller than me and had bright pink hair pulled up into a ponytail that fell down over her eyes. It was so cool. I talked to her a bit and to be honest she seemed totally fine. A little simple-minded, but fine. I had a really overwhelming urge to "take her under my wing". She seemed so cool and creative and honest and sweet...
- Working in the high school was awesome. Lez du it again sumtime.
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Other things:
- My relationship with Paul continues. Seems too good to be true, actually. I can only really process the way he treats me if I think of it as a joke or hoax.
- A conspiracy-theorist style hobo came into Celerymart the other day and got some photos printed. They were so amazing... they looked like fine art to me. With his permission I had Andrew print copies for me as well! OH MY GOODNESS.
- Tomorrow I'm going to go with Alex to see a play of The Phantom Tollbooth. Should be... so good...
- Oh Lord, I love you so much. The more good things you give to me, the more I realize how little I deserve. Thank you for everything, please help me to give it all back to you in some way.
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