Things I Actually Like

Contrary to the way that it may appear on this blog, I am not always ranting about popular culture. Here is a list of things that I think are just great:

Prosecco and St. Germain: Some days I take my cues from Toni Morrison and some days I take them from Geneva from Blood Sweat and Heels.  One Sunday I decided to try the cocktail that she ordered on her date, and boy was it yummy; the sweetness of the elderflower cut the dryness of the Prosecco. It is the perfect Spring cocktail. 

(A note to all of the waiters and waitresses in NYC: When I order a drink do not put the order in with the bartender and then come back to me and tell me how much the drink costs. You may mean well, but if I ordered it I can afford it- even if you are clearly over charging me).

Pharrell Williams's GIRL: When I was in middle school choosing between being a Prince fan and a Michael Jackson fan was a rite of passage. I love that this album doesn't force you to make a choice. The music references both artists in a way that is both fun and fresh.  I didn't want to like GIRL because of the less than inclusive album cover. (In his defense, Pharrell says that the girl second from left is black). However, I was seduced by the single Happy and the rest of the album did not disappoint. My favorite songs are Brand New, Hunter, and Lost Queen. Let's hope that there are some brown girls in the music videos.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson: Several people from vastly different backgrounds recommended this book to me. I started reading the hardcover version but couldn't get into it. I bought the Kindle edition and am finding it much easier to enjoy.  I am less than half way through the book because it is so amazing that I'm purposely reading it slowly, discussing it with Carol, and plotting how I can use it in my classes.  The Warmth of Other Suns is what history should be: at once personal and universal. It is profoundly accessible to readers of varied interests, and the writing is amazing; imagine a night sky being described as black velvet. I love the way Wilkerson connects The Great Migration of African Americans to other migrations throughout history.  

Plus, I get a kick out of how much the author looks like my cousin Jenifer!

Mandela: A Long Walk to Freedom:

This movie seems to have been in and out of the theaters in no time and I'm not sure why, especially in light of Mandela's recent death. What is unique and refreshing about this film is that it is one of the few movies about Africa that is actually about black people and not the emotional development or spiritual enlightenment of whites. Furthermore, contrary to some reviews, I did not think that the film depicted Mandela as a saint. The dynamics between Nelson and Winnie Mandela were particularly interesting. In some ways, Winnie Mandela, played by Naomie Harris, is the really star of the film. Sorry Idris.

House of Cards: This show is a cynical yet sophisticated take on Washington politics. It makes you think about the system and the character of the people who operate within the system. Why is is it that the person next in line for the presidency in the case of impeachment or death is not directly elected by the American people? What lies beneath Frank's ambition? Does he have authentic relationships or are individuals pawns in his game that are used and then discarded? And most importantly, will Remy make it onto the next season with his fine self, and what chic outfit will Claire have on next?

Studio Museum in Harlem: Chloe and I are always looking for fun things to do on the weekend.  Thanks to Target, The Studio Museum is free on Sundays. I usually create a scavenger hunt for Chloe to do as we move through the exhibits.  Chloe loves to visit the art workshops designed for children and families. Check out the "Draped Down" exhibit about fashion's influence on art.

A Profession Not a Hobby

When I look back over this school year there are two moments that stand out to me.  The first happened in 6th Grade English during our unit on August Wilson's classic play Fences.  In the middle of my lesson on The Great Migration (I wish that I had read The Warmth of Other Suns before I began the unit) I noticed Patrick rummaging through his book bag and raising his hand.  I called on him thinking that he had to go to his locker to locate a missing item. He reached out a crumpled packet of papers to me and asked "Ms. Cardwell, have you read this? I think that you would really like it." It was a copy of Richard Wright's short story "The Man Who Was Almost a Man."  For some reason this gesture really touched me; the act of a student connecting something that he read with another teacher to something that he was learning with me seemed really significant. The fact that he was able to make those connections and teach me something in return was wonderful.  And he was right; I did really enjoy the story.

Patrick Agboka, 6th Grade

The second joyful moment took place with Ishmam, a 7th grade student who I tutor at Allen-Stevenson.  We were working on a personal narrative and he mentioned that when he lived in Bangladesh his family would give bags of uncooked rice to the poor during holidays.  Offhandedly, I asked why the rice was uncooked and he explained that it was to give the poor the option to cook it or sell it.  We talked about how poverty was characterized by an absence of choice.  We talked about the nature of charity.  We talked about his family's opinions of the food stamp program in The United States and how it fit in with the uncooked rice philosophy.  These two experiences taught me something very valuable.  Teaching middle-school is about imparting information and skills, but it is also about being open to learning from someone a third of your age.

Too often, the only lessons that teachers learn in the classroom are similar to this:

Photo: Humans of New York

If you are a teacher you know that there are two times of the year when teaching becomes more difficult: the period between Thanksgiving and Chrjstmas Break and the period between Spring Break and the end of the year. Below is advice from my teacher friends about how to survive (and thrive) in "the noble profession:"

Find a way to both laugh and connect with at least one student and one teacher everyday. Celebrate the victories, big and small, and tell your students when they are doing the right things. They thrive on the positive reinforcement, and their pride in themselves will remind you of why you chose to be an educator.-Juliana G.

Try to be as self sufficient as possible...whether it's handling behavior or researching new content or best practices, while still being collaborative. -Joanna H. 

I always tell my students that they don't have to love the course, or any given novel or topic we're covering. It's of course great when that happens, but can't be expected. But what I do ask of each of my students is to find a kernel - something from each class, each book, each topic, that resonates with them and from which they can create meaning. It's my job as a teacher to make my instruction differentiated and interesting enough to provide the possibilities for that kernel, but it's the students' responsibility to find it and grab it.-Tahira C.

I leave work at work, and I try to have a separate life because if I didn't, work would consume all of my time! -Xzavier J.

Start the day off looking fabulous and the rest of the nonsense will matter less.-James A.  

If all else fails, head someplace fabulous like Corner Social and get happy at Happy Hour!

When your former students become teachers it's the greatest compliment!