For the most part, my school memories are very positive ones. I enjoyed school and got along with classmates regardless if they were nerds, jocks, or stuck-ups. I was involved in extra-curricular activities and aimed to get good grades. The only class I really disliked was phys. ed. I am by far not athletic. I trip over my own two feet, I shut my eyes when a ball comes my way and I’m banned from golfing at the local golf course! However, I kept a good attitude in class. It didn’t take long for the PE teacher to catch on to my klutziness and to have me be the score keeper, the assistant or any other task to keep me from hurting myself or others. I managed to keep As or Bs in phys. ed.!
Most of my teachers were very good teachers. They actually seemed to enjoy teaching and made learning fun. A couple of teachers had strange classroom pets and I can’t remember anything about their teaching styles! Mr. Snyder had a snake and insisted that we watch the snake swallow mice. I believe it was his goal to make us afraid for life! Then there was Mr. Johnson and his pet tarantula. He never understood why none of us would take the spider home over the break and care for it. When the spider eventually died, Mr. J. took three bereavement days!!!
Years later when I became a teacher, I played it smart and decided to have goldfish in the classroom. I taught high school special education at the time. We went through a lot of fish…it seems like each student thought he/she needed to feed the fish. When I caught onto that, the fish food was hidden. I never realized how often the water needed to be changed. Pouring out the old water, I’d discover chewed bubble gum, pennies, pen caps and even an eraser once.
The fish tank was moved to a high shelf of a built-in book case. It stopped the students from putting in foreign objects. However, rather than dipping some of the water out of the tank when we needed to change the water, my teacher assistant was sure she could lift the tank. Umm…she was able to lift it, but after a second or two, she lost her grip and the water began to pour down the front of her. After spilling half of the tank, she got a better handle on the tank and took it to the sink. Meanwhile, students were running and shrieking as they rescued the goldfish that slid out with the water. All but one fish was accounted for. Within seconds we knew where the last fish was…the teacher assistant was screaming and jumping up and down…guess she wasn’t used to having a fish inside of her shirt!!!
How about you? What do you remember from your school days?
Posts Tagged ‘memories’
CHILDHOOD FRIENDS
Friday, January 8th, 2010
Childhood friends…friends from the neighborhood, friends from school, friends from clubs such as Girl Scouts, friends from youth group…etc. Recently I was sorting through some old photos and came across a few pics of my friend Genene. Genene was my next door neighbor and we had the privilege of being neighbors since birth through high school!
Although Genene was three years younger than me, we usually got along just great. We had fun playing games together, cooling off in her wading pool, playing cops and robbers with the other neighborhood kids, and walking to school together. We even took turns having crushes on the boys on our street! One thing that we especially liked was when our parents would let us have sleepovers!
We would either camp out in the back of my dad’s station wagon or in her dad’s shed. I know that that sounds silly now, but back then, it was a treat! We “packed” for these sleepovers — scary books, munchies, flashlights, pillows and sleeping bags. We would either spend most of the nights spooking each other with the scary stuff or giggling over shared secrets. One time when Genene was reading a really really scary story, we thought we heard a noise. The windows were rolled down halfway. Genene stopped reading so we could listen better. We heard the noise again and suddenly the station wagon began to rock!!! Thinking it had to be a monster or a great big bear, we began to scream and scream! Then we realized it was my dad just having fun with us!
One thing that Genene and I did disagree on was playing Barbies. I enjoyed Barbies for awhile, but at the time I outgrew them, Genene insisted on playing with them! I remember spending hours pretending to be Barbie, Skipper or Ken. Eventually, she outgrew them as well. Whew!
I still live in the house that I grew up in. I went away to college and returned to the area to teach. Long story short…both parents have passed away and the house is mine. Genene’s parents still live next door. So anytime Genene comes home, we try to spend a little time together. She’s married now and has two children who get a kick out of our childhood days.
So even though we’re both grown up, we stay in contact. We “see” each other on Facebook almost every day. We send emails and cards from time to time and sometimes she comments on blogs from this site. I’ve been out to visit her family once. When there is a crisis in her family or mine, we’re there for each other. I couldn’t pick a better childhood friend!
How about you? What was one of your childhood friends like? Are you still in touch with that person? If you aren’t, how about considering doing a search for him/her on this site? Get reconnected and see what happens.
Listen to your heart…
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
The people you love…
The places you’re a part of…
The experiences that make you smile…
The blessings that shower you…
The memories you hold onto…
A new year is a reminder to celebrate all the things that are good in your world….
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Listen to your heart…
