Summer en France

J’étais très surpris par toutes les choses américaines en France. Il y a beaucoup et plus que j’ai pensé. J’ai vu une fille qui porte une écharpe qui était le drapeau américain. De plus, je voyais beaucoup d’affiches avec les mots anglais. Parfois, il y a un astérisque et  les mots sont traduits en français. Aux États-Unis, beaucoup de gens ont les mots français dans leurs maisons, comme un paillasson qui dit « Bienvenue. » Mais, ma mère d’accueil a un paillasson qui dit « Welcome. » Je pense qu’il est plus intéressant quand il y a un mot anglais dans une phrase française. Il se peut que ce soit pour mettre l’accent sur ce mot. C’est une technique de publicité. Aux États-Unis,  beaucoup de filles aiment acheter les vêtements avec les mots français ou même avec une marque les mots français même si la marque n’est pas une marque de France. Il y a le même ici dans cette photo. Le français aime les vêtements avec les mots anglais.

Lovin' me some middle school

Today I wore my black polka-dot skirt: the one that was a Christmas present back in the twilight days of my middle school experience - oh so classy. I put it on, sassed it up with a belt, and was on my way to teach middle school. Just lovin me some middle school I guess. I tried to imagine what my students would say if I told them about my vintage skirt. Do I have a really old skirt? or yes, I am just a really young teacher. Either way, this skirt has made its full circle.

Brown with Black and strips a polka-dots.
This would make my grandma Joanie shiver.

After deciding I wanted to be a teacher, I thought I wanted to teach high school, but for my practicum experience, I was assigned seventh grade. But, lately I have been thinking more and more that maybe I actually want to teach middle school. I always knew I would enjoy it, but honestly, I think I might even prefer it.

1. The kids are so stinkin funny. They do the cutest, strangest, most innocent or spacey things and it just isn't a big deal.

2. I love seeing them rise to the occasion and accomplish some pretty monumental stuff. Hold them to a high standard and they will rise to the occasion.

3. There isn't this huge distinction between class or social status or even coolness. They are all pretty much just sittin their little touches in my classroom, all interacting with each other on the same level - more or less.

4. They are just starting to grow into their unique selves; which is beautiful.

5. They still love to learn. Even those who say they don't love to learn, still love it. I can see it. They can't help but be interested in the lesson. Okay so there are still those who put their head on their desks and fall asleep, or those who throw little pieces of paper across the room all class period, but I can see it in even them, they can't help but learn something. The curiosity hasn't been beaten out of them yet.

So maybe, just maybe, don't hold me to it yet, but maybe middle school is for me. Helpin those sassafras students become life-long learners, or at least doing my best to head them in the right direction.