the street looks the best when its raining.

its been raining for two days straight. this makes me so happy.

i love my job. i love the kids. they're amazing. they're awful most of the time... but i'm excited to see positive change in their lives. they have zero respect for teachers or any adults. they wait to see if you respect them first. they've seemed shocked at my interest in their lives. they're amazing and i've grown to love them very quick despite their lack of respect or communication skills.

funny quotes thus far... pardon my language in advance.

me: keith, you need to stop yelling and eat your lunch, please.
keith: Ms. K, you need to give me your number, please.

daniel (during self portraits) YELLING: DAMN! ma head look like a badge

bri: Ms. K, you like pirates?
me: I have no preference...why?
bri: I don know... you jus look like ya would like em
??

nicholas(10yrs old): Ms. K, you know ma name?
me: yep. it's nicholas. i wont forget it.
nicholas: why?
me: cause its my boyfriends name
(the entire 5th grade class screaming and yelling and dancing and jumping around.. hahah ms. k's gotta b friend ohhh ohhhhhhh)
nicholas: he bouta knock that bitch up. he gon hafta pay child support.
me: okay. no. please dont use that language. and just b/c two people are dating doesnt mean that ANYONE is getting knocked up. AND you're too young to know about that anyway
nicholas: ms. k, thas a reality dawg

oops.

gyra(to 2 white teachers): yo eyebrows look the same, ya'll sisters?

calvin (1st grade) : i'mo punch you.

and apparently, the universal statement used when a child needs to use the facilities is "i gotta use it." so i hear that at least 3 times an hour...

and try to memorize over 300 of these.... (actually taken from my roster):
raevionna, tyshae, rashad, chadsity, daiawnest, shawntearia, devawna, manyothwane, marquan, prada, imari, martrevion, neferteria, faheemi, demoriyan, dontaveon, laknisha, katierra...
& now for apostrophes...d'angelo, d'venta, e'veon, d'anthony, mar'shaun'ta, del'von, d'lyjah, ta'shyra, tah,ken, nevea'ah, ja'nehjah, da'vron...the list goes on.

i love my job. they're great.

today one of my 6th grade boys was having a hard time staying on task, cussing at me every five seconds, throwing stuff everywhere. i took him to the back of the room and asked him what was up and he ended up telling me his brother got shot in his front yard tuesday. stuff like that breaks my heart. the worst part about it is that every single one of my kids has seen gang activity in their families and neighborhoods. 40% of them are homeless or living in shelters. 96% free lunches. these kids need encouragement and love in their life. they're good kids.. they're just never challenged and never believed in. someones brother getting shot isnt uncommon. its reality for them.

in other news: today i became a middle school cross country coach....?