Category Archives: teaching

Enough- by Karla

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I do not mean to dis the shoe industry, but I was driving to school a month or so ago when I heard a radio personality discussing the new kind of tennis shoes that tie themselves! Really? Yep, they are rechargeable by placing them on a special pad every ten or so days.

When I heard about the self-tying tennis shoes, I thought, “Who is their target audience?” I surmised the interested group might be parents of young kids, athletes, and older people who have a difficult time bending over.

 I truly do understand there are some who would benefit from this shoe, and I mean no disrespect to those individuals, but I thought about the general public and how we do not need those. Are they a need for most? Absolutely not, yet many will purchase. Why? I believe because Americans just can’t seem to understand “enough”.

Very and Really

 As a middle school teacher, I know I have had enough of several things. Why is it that when one person gets permission to go to the restroom, another ten need to go? Another example is the use of the word very. You know you’ve seen it. “I want to get a dog very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very much.” Occasionally, the kid will slot the word very for the word really:”I really, really, really, really, really want a dog.” I am thankful for elementary teachers who have helped kids learn the verys and reallys are a little too much. I guess somewhere along the way some elementary teachers had had enough! I now notice that as kids get older they move away from using very over and over to capitalizing an entire word. Like the example below:

Capitalizing

My poor little dog Lily. I BACKED OVER her one cool, fall morning. I was in a HURRY, and I do NOT think she heard my car crank. She was hurt BADLY, and I thought she was going to DIE! It was a LONG recovery, but for the most part, she is FINE. Because of the accident, she often has bathroom problems. YUCK! When I leave my house almost EVERY morning, I find a BIG SURPRISE on my front porch. UGH! It is kind of GROSS! I LOVE her, but I have certainly seen ENOUGH of DOG POOP on my porch to last me a LIFETIME!

Enough is Enough

Speaking of the word enough…If I had a nickel for every time Mom  said, “Okay, girls! Enough is enough,” I would be quite wealthy. Maybe even ENOUGH to buy some of those shoes! My interpretation of Mom’s familiar saying was “Karla, you had better find your stop button fast!” So, I did in those moments because Mom was serious about the line between playing around and when it was time to stop! Though the limits may be unclear at times, there is much importance in learning when to draw the line. Those words have helped me develop an internal stop.

By the way, the phrase, “I’m not feeling well ENOUGH to…” was a no go with my mom also. She would say, “Well, get up. Wash your face and brush your teeth. Then you’ll feel better. Even if you don’t feel good ENOUGH to do all you need to, you can feel good ENOUGH to do some things.”

More Than Enough

God knows I struggle with the enough button with certain foods. Yes, I am going here…Put some GOOD OLE, garden fresh vegetables and cornbread in front of me, and I can eat until I realize I have had MORE than enough. Perhaps, you know the feeling? It is not just vegetables. I sure LOVE cousin Marlene’s coconut pies, Aunt Anna’s chocolate delight, and my Nana’s—- oatmeal brownies, rice crispy treats, $300 cake, and Ophie pound cake! Sometimes, the ONLY enough button I have with these scrumptious treats is when I arrive late in getting to the dish and it is almost gone.

God’s Enough

I think God has some ENOUGHS also. I am sure He has had enough of our BAD CHOICES. But, He never says, I’ve had enough of YOU!

Because when it comes right down to it: 

GOD never tires of us bringing our PROBLEMS to Him in prayer.  

And WE can NEVER get ENOUGH of HIS WORD, HIS LOVE, and HIS FELLOWSHIP!

(Bold words are another way kids love to show emphasis in their writing.)

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Chivalry: Calling all Gentlemen–by Donna

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Sunday after church I headed to Kroger for a few groceries. As I pulled into a parking spot one of my favorite songs came out of the speakers. So I decided to just sit a spell and enjoy it before fighting the crowd. While humming along, suddenly I was jolted. I looked up and a man in a huge white truck had pulled in the space in front of me, hitting my car! He glanced at me, crawled out his door, and headed into the store. I sat speechless for a moment. Getting out, I walked to the front and saw our vehicles pressing together. I backed my car up, then got out again to see if there was damage.  All clear, but I was perturbed. How about, at least, an “I’m sorry.”  I wanted to pull his UGA tag off and write “Roll Tide!”

Old Fashioned Girl

Last week I was carrying a rocking chair from one end of the school to the other. A man (who does not work at our school) came around the corner and was heading in the same direction. As I toted the full-size rocker, he carried on a pleasant conversation. In my head I was thinking, Really, you aren’t going to offer to carry this chair for me?  He walked three long halls with me before saying, “Where are you taking that?” Finally! But to my dismay, he just kept talking, and I just kept carrying the chair.

Maybe I’m an old fashioned girl, but it seems to me that true gentlemen are becoming few and far between. Granted there are women who say, “I can carry this, I don’t need your help.” But ladies still exist who want the gesture, because it makes them feel respected.

Last summer I was leaving the Dollar General with my arms loaded. As I fought with the door, pushing it with my hip, and balancing the items that were about to fall, I looked up and saw a man standing on the sidewalk staring me down.  I thought to myself, If that were my daddy, and he saw a lady in this predicament he would rush over and hold the door.

Gentlemen

I was raised by a gentleman, who was raised by a gentleman, who was raised by a gentleman…. Maybe that is why I expect no less of my boys. When incidents like these happen to me, my boys get to hear me preach. A chivalrous man offers to help because he has manners, not because it is required, or he feels she is inferior. If you are a mother of a boy, I encourage you to teach them to be a true gentleman. Some ladies will appreciate their chivalry and your son will feel pride in helping them.

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Violence: Sick and Tired! -By Karla

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Mom’s Words Were True

Truly, I do not know if that is a Southern saying or if it is just one Mom used on a regular basis. She certainly had the right to express it to us—raising four girls! “I’m sick and tired of the way this kitchen looks after y’all get a snack,” or “Girls, I am sick and tired of you putting a wet towel on top of my good clothes. If you do it one more time, I’m gonna pinch your heads off!”

On the skirt tails of the Parkland, Florida shooting on February 14th, our school system experienced several threats, as did several systems near me. Well, let me tell you: I am sick and tired of this madness! Rarely am I as vocal as I am about to be. In my opinion, school shootings has become major a crisis! Something has got to change!

Laws to Protect

In 1901, Connecticut became the first state to pass a law to limit the speed at which a motorized vehicle would travel. (12mph in the city and 15 in the countryside!) The USDA, founded by Lincoln in 1862, became vital for consumers when growth of the meat packing industries began booming after railroad transported meat to other areas. It seems to me that when a crisis arises, public awareness awakens. This attention then creates the need for protection, which often takes the form of a law.

I believe in the second amendment stating that we have the right to bear arms. It is wise to protect yourself. Hunting is a part of our heritage and is still useful to many.

Limits Needed

Boundaries! Seriously, why does any civilian need an assault weapon. The key word being need. Yes, people will find ways around the system to purchase these weapons anyway. But, that does not mean a law should not be made. It would become a criminal act if they went around the system.

Gun at School

Last week walking down the hallway at school, I heard a teacher spout the words, “gunshot, high school, kids running…” I tried to process but no quickly enough.

“Have you heard? Can you please go to —- class for a bit? She is trying to check on her husband (who works at the high school).” Someone grabbed me to provide assistance.

Warranted Panic

I stepped into the room and was almost frozen at what was happening. Another teacher came in and asked, “Should we divide the kids and put them in the other classrooms on the hallway?” Hesitantly, I whispered that I did not really know what was going on. Soon I discovered the gravity of the situation. This teacher had a son at the high school.

Comforting with a Prayer

We stepped into the hallway as fear shown in her eyes and asked her if I could pray with her. I petitioned God for His protection over students, teachers, and emergency responders. Then I told her I would stay with the class. Rounding into the doorway, I tried to keep normalcy. I told them their teacher had to step out for a few minutes and asked the kids up get out a book to read. Within minutes, a student in the hallway spouted the words, “Shooting at the high school!”

Almost Every Student Had a Connection

A girl mouthed to her friend that her mom was a teacher there. I saw her eyes as if the scene were from a fictional movie, but I snapped into the realization of truth. I took a deep breath. Sharing with the class, I reported shots were fired. but I did not know any details except that the high school was on lock down. Several students began frantically searching the room for their friends making eye contact. I asked who had siblings there, and five responded. Others said, “I have a cousin.” “I have an aunt.” One boy in the back of the room had eyes filling with tears. I tried not to call attention to him, but walked toward him and asked who he had there. He too had a mom teaching. I gently patted his back as I attempted to keep us all calm.

Helping Students Calm

“Guys, I always think it is best not to think the worst or to go into a panic until we know facts.” I shared that in times of danger and stress it is good to have a friend, so we rearranger our desk, allowing them to sit with friends.

Over the intercom twice during the afternoon, we heard updates. Eventually, we learned that a high school teacher had brought a gun to school. He had barricaded himself in a classroom and fired shots toward the window. Praise God no one was physically hurt. But, the emotional damage of the day will be forever etched into our minds. For almost a week, every time I closed my eyes I could still see the terror in those innocent faces.

A Needed Change

I do not pretend to have all the answers. But, I do know that one by one we should be standing up asking for some legislation to be passed soon. Houston, we have a problem, and something needs to change!

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Southern Dialect: Summer Mouth -By Donna

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As an elementary teacher, the end of summer and the onset of a new school year means change. Shoes must be worn at all times and no more tank tops and shorts for my daily outfit . I must apply makeup everyday, not just on Sundays. And oh how awful to return to setting the alarm clock for 5:30 in the morning! But the most difficult adjustment is getting rid of my “summer mouth”.

 In June and July, I talk differently. However, “summer mouth” is not appropriate for little ears. While student teaching my senior year in college, I discovered it was not acceptable. The first time my professor observed me he stated, “You can’t talk like that,” 

Really! I can’t talk like that? Tell that to my daddy. When you grow up listening to it your entire life, it is going to rub off on you. 

However, the first day of teaching, I realized Dr. Walker was right. As I stood in front of my students and addressed them, a cute, blond, curly-headed little girl’s eyes widened! “Bo-wees! Bo-wees! What’s a bo-wee?” I looked at her in shock. Everyone knows what a Bo-wee is. Don’t they? Girls and bo-wees! As a result of her comment, I watch what I say.

After eighteen years of teaching, I have mastered the summer mouth transformation. It’s as easy as turning off a light switch. “We ain’t gonna do that” becomes “We will not do that.”, “What in tarnation are ya’ll doin’” turns into “What are you two doing?”, and “Reckon we best get goin’ ’cause it’s fixin’ ta come a ‘show’r” translates to “We better go because it is about to rain.”

Southern Dialect

Each year gets easier because along the way, I have lost a lot of my southern dialect and slang. When you spend hours each day teaching phonics, it’s important to say it right, or shall I say “correctly”. As my professor warned, “No more extra syllables in words, no more exaggerated long vowels, and no more dropping the g on –ing.”  

But I treasure the sound of the south. It is a part of my heritage and my family. Summer mouth reminds me of those I no longer hear talk, like my grandparents. However, if you want to hear what the old South sounds like, my daddy is your man. And I quote, “Well, Golly bum, Isa tryin’ tu put that thang in that there bucket, and I swanny if it didn’t get stuck, and I like ta never got it out.”

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