Summer in Jest.

Well, summer is here!

Wait, didn't it just snow a foot of snow like, say, 4 days ago? And, hey, what happened to spring?!

Hmmm - well - as I told my students, we get to have spring between 5:30 - 8:30 am, and then we have summer. That is good enough, right?

I think the best part of skipping spring and going straight to summer is the 50+ jump in Fahrenheit degrees. One day it's 20, the next days it's 77. I mean, without any time to adjust (and let our blood thaw) it feels very tropical and incredibly hot.

We went for a 3 mile hike yesterday, and we all about drowned in heat and sweat. It was only 70 degrees. It's almost unfathomable to think we could actually get so warm wearing so little, when all winter we spend our days piling on more layers only ever to still feel cold....

Even the trees are in shock. Nothing is budding, and people are still walking around with jackets in hand - just so sure that winter is hiding behind a corner, waiting to smack them in the face one or two more times before real summer comes.

Looking at the forecast right now, I can tell you this little secret: there is snow coming on Thursday.
The joke is always on us. 

When You Give a Mouse a Cookie...

My students are 12 - 13 years old. They're on the threshold - you know, still watching iCarly, playing make believe and sleeping with cartoon themed sheets and pillow cases - but toeing the line. They're starting to wear make up and curling their hair, experiencing life at such a heightened state that everything is something that could possibly end their very existence.

It's cute.

I like that they are on the threshold. They aren't afraid to be good at school. It's not too cool to be smart, yet. They don't ignore you if they see you on the street, and they openly admit their need for help, love and affirmation.

And, like 70% of the time, they have such innocent senses of humor.

Recently, I expressed my undying love for Thor to the class. This week, I received several valentines from Thor...notes were taped to my computer that expressed my love for Thor, my smart board was tagged with Thor's name and hearts...

It makes me happy to know that this really trivial piece of information brings them so much joy.

I better come up with another one, fast. Next week, poor Thor will be old news.

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Things I heard this week that made me happy:

- Ms. Hansen, can I schedule lunch with you next week? I really need to talk through some things, and you're the only adult in the building I trust.

- Thanks for making my first year at a new school so easy. I was really nervous, and your support and encouragement has been really helpful.

- It'd be really cool if you came on this summer trip with the organization I volunteer with. I wouldn't even get tired of having my teacher on my summer break because you're pretty cool.

- Can I hang out in your room? I'm having a really hard day.