Keep Calm and Head to an English Class

Well social media has been a blast lately am I right?  From the overused Minion memes, (that quite frankly are just weird), to the comments section where on any given day you can find an expletive laden, misspelled, insulting, all in caps “rebuttal” to an article, one thing has become quite apparent to me.  Everyone needs to calm down and take a really great high school English class.  Why?  Glad you asked dear reader, read on!

I’ve been teased for a few years over my insistence that grammar needs to be correct, even when on Facebook.  Which is fine, I don’t mind being called the Grammar Snob.  However recently someone who loves me said that they were afraid I was looking elitist regarding my grammar.*  (Specifically when I back up a friend on Facebook, and then someone who can barely spell or capitalize goes on the attack.  I’ll admit I go for the jugular first-if you can’t be bothered with capitalization and you’re busy attacking anyone who has a different opinion that you, I will pick on your lack of capitalization.)  And for a split second I was worried.  Was I being a jerk?  Should I not care that much about grammar? And then I smacked myself.  Of course I should care!  Writing is permanent.  Sure, you can delete something, but when you take the time to write something, there’s a sense of importance, urgency even.  (And yes this is also true for social media!)  Why is it elitist when we insist on not only doing things correctly, but when we value people who are smart?  In school we want to sound smart, so why does that change when we leave the classroom?  Shouldn’t we try to act smart outside of the classroom?

Why else should we turn to ELA classes?  For accountable talk stems.  What?  I’ll explain.  Lately I’ve been using these great little stems in class for my more spirited classes; the students who will go to bat about Amir’s choices in The Kite Runner, or the students that can’t understand why Penelope’s dad is such a jerk in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.  (And yes, there are students out there that are this passionate about literature!)  Everyone wanted their voice heard, and sometimes it would get a little heated.  So I started handing out stems, and displaying stems.  “I disagree because…” “I understand…” “So what __________ is saying is …”

At first I was afraid that my students would sound too wooden.  However, it has given us mature, vibrant, and diverse discussions.  Discussions where all ideas are shared, and where everyone feels they have value to add to the conversation.  We need this outside the classroom.  We need this in social media.  Lately all we hear is how protesters are whiny, and locally we keep hearing such awful things about children that I won’t even repeat what is being said about them.  Wouldn’t it be great if social media platforms had accountable talk stems pre-loaded in the comments section?  Maybe as adults we could learn to speak as respectfully as my students. (They're teenagers by the way! Aren't they the ones who are supposed to be disrespectful?)

I became an English teacher because it was the coolest job out there where I could live in the world of writing, literature, and share that love with others.  It also teaches us empathy.  You can’t study To Kill a Mockingbird and not feel for Boo Radley.  You can’t study Romeo and Juliet and not see how blind fighting accomplishes nothing.  Or Night and see how devastating the Holocaust was. These are all stories I have taught, or will teach this year.  I have had amazing conversations with students about the themes in these stories.  I have seen students cry at the injustice these stories highlight.  Online we see a barrage of nasty memes, we read comments that you wouldn’t dare say to someone in person, and hostility can run rampant.  Online people seem to have lost their ability to empathize.  Maybe as adults we should slow down and pick up a book every once in awhile.

Yes you can get all of this in an ELA class; grammar, how to speak with one another, and empathy.  It’s a nice reminder for us as adults.  Writing correctly isn’t only for the classroom, we can disagree without yelling, and sometimes we get so wrapped up with ourselves and our problems that we forget there’s a whole world out there with concerns and problems, and maybe a little empathy would go a long way.  So keep calm and got to an ELA class.  

’s a great deal for taxpayers.

*As for what spurred this entire post, I am not upset with the person who made the initial comment.  In fact, when it was said it began with “I agree with you, but…”I just don’t want that person to read this and think I was upset!  

Paying the DMV in Pennies

By now many of you may have heard about the man who delivered his taxes in the amount of pennies, which took five wheelbarrows to bring in.  Of course you saw cheers from hard working taxpayers about this move, because let's face it, who hasn't thought of delivering their bills in a snarky manner?  Upon reading articles about this I learned that the man who did this delivery was angered over where to send the taxes for his son's Corvette, as he has four houses he wasn’t sure where to have the Corvette registered- yes epitome of first world problems. From here a web of misplaced anger began and he ultimately sued the DMV when he couldn't get the phone number for the DMV.  Now I am certain all of that was annoying.  This was his justification for carrying in 300,000 pennies and having two clerks (who by the way look like they are someone’s grandparents)  count the pennies for 12 hours.  And it’s not like they were already in rolls, Stafford made sure to break the rolls the night before his stunt.  But these two public servants did their job and counted 300,000 pennies from a very bitter man.  Why?  Because it was their job.  As public servants, they have to do ridiculous jobs at times because well that’s how we keep this country running.  And some people, people like Stafford, seem to think that the word “servant” in public servant means just that; if you work in government you are a servant to the people and therefore not due any respect or consideration by fellow citizens.  

This is my issue with Nick Stafford and people who think like him.  (I mean my other issue is the whining over his four houses and Corvette, but I digress!)

People who work in the public sector are under immense scrutiny.  Yes, the DMV clerks I mentioned above, but there are other groups of people that work in the public that are frequently maligned.  And one group in particular is my focus; teachers.  Think of another profession where every detail, benefit, or decision is so closely scrutinized by the public.  School closed due to weather?  Kids should suck it up and deal with the cold.  Teaching methods?  Well in the past we didn’t do it this way why change it?  Summers off?  Must be nice to only work half a year.

Never mind that if given the chance an adult wouldn’t walk to work in the snow.  Or the fact that as education professionals we have not only gone through school with our main focus on how to each students, but we are constantly attending professional development workshops so that we can stay on top of the technology and research out there to help our students, And as for working only half a year, since I became fortunate enough to be a public school teacher I have worked more 12 hour days, more family vacations, and spent more time working at home than ever before.  (And I love every second of it!) We’re said to be puppets of our union, only care about the money, and don’t understand real work.  I’ll be honest, I love my union-they fight for our kids.  I’m not one to complain about money-I never will when it comes to teaching because it isn’t about the money!  It’s about my amazing students I am blessed to spend my days with!  And as for not knowing real work?  I get to work and immediately become consumed with worrying about my students.  And honestly with some kids, that worry carries throughout my evening, and the weekend!  I help students write papers, read critically, and provide a space where they can talk about anything they need to talk about.  

And that's just the teaching profession.  I'm sure DMV clerks have  along list of complaints; long lines, grumpy people, a ton of paperwork.  The town tax collector?  I'm sure they have a few tales to tell of people yelling at them, or laws they have to follow that they may not agree with.  The sanitation worker who literally takes the crap no one wants.  But they do it.  They go to work, and do their job, even though it isn't glamorous, and frequently is the butt of jokes or viciously maligned online.  And these people, these neighbors, are not at your beck and call.  You are not Daddy Warbucks and they are your signing house staff.  They're Americans; moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles...the list goes on.  And without these people who would ensure the roads are in order, or take your trash, or educate your children?  Let
s try to not malign these people online, and maybe when we go to the DMV we can smile, or if we meet a teacher maybe we can ask them about their profession, not hurl accusations.  And for goodness sake, let's not pay our tax bills in pennies.  Remember, they have a job to do as well, our job is to not be a barrier.  So for 2017, let's try to see less Nick Staffords in the world, and more understanding.

A picture of pettiness

If you want to read the original story click here

Goodbye 2016

The new year is upon us.  Inevitably it is a time for us to reflect on what we've been through, and what we are going to accomplish. So what does 2017 mean?  It's a special year for me. 2017 marks twenty years that I've been out of high school.  Twenty years.  What does twenty years look like?
In twenty years I've found an amazing partner in life.  I've became a mother, I've bought a house, sold a house.  I’ve gone to college, dropped out of college, re entered college.  Earned an Associate’s Degree, a Bachelor’s, and an MA.  I've gone on countless job interviews, lost jobs, and landed my dream job.  I've written plays, stories, I've been published.  I've performed on stage, I've directed.  I've cried a lot...and laughed even more.  It's been a hell of a ride.  I wonder what the next twenty will bring?
Every year I look forward to the next year...I do it as a classroom exercise, and I do it here in my blog.  Why?  Because it's my blog and I can do that.
So without further adieu…

Name: Shannon, Mom, Mrs. McLoud
Favorite Food: Chocolate
Age: 37…
Favorite Activity: Reading and writing
Favorite Color: Pink!
Favorite Book:  This changes all the time.  For now on I am going to post the favorite book I read from that year.  So for 2016 the book I read which will be deemed my favorite of the year is Bossypants by my spirit animal Tina Fey.  I felt like she just sat down and wrote that book for me.

Highlights of 2016

Greatest Lesson Learned
That when I work hard and only worry about myself, it will pay off.  This year I had immense responsibilities at work. Thought that I learned that not everyone takes their job as seriously as I do.  And instead of harbors get anger over it, I just picked up their slack and continued in.  And it paid off!

Hardest Thing This Year
Leaving a school I loved to work at, where I was comfortable with my colleagues and administrators, to go to a new school where I knew no one.  I was devastated leaving my friends, and nervous beyond belief on my first day...but I survived!

Favorite Memory
In a year that was so difficult for so many, I was fortunate to have so many wonderful memories.  From taking Brady to his first play at Trinity Rep, to a quick family trip to NYC...there are a ton to choose from.  However, my favorite has to be the day I crossed the stage to receive my MA in English Lit. It was a day I had worked hard for, my son took it upon himself to decorate my cap, and we took the day trip to Manchester, New Hampshire.  My best friend, my son, mall took the time out of their weekend to watch me walk the stage.

What I Loved About 2016
In a year that was so disappointing on so many levels for so many of us, I did have quite a few happy memories.My career.  I have found myself living my dream job; teacher leader for a high school ELA department, drama club advisor...and let's not forget that I teach 9th and 10th grade students...my job is amazing.
Finishing my MA! What an accomplishment!
RTC!  I loved watching our little theatre company flourish.  We had three plays, and a short film.  I loved co-writing so many pieces.My return to acting.  I've been staying away...unless it was a small part.  I got back on the horse in 2016.  So glad I did!
Writing for Motif.  I saw a ton of great shows-I even interviewed Adam Pascal. It was a cool year!

Looking Forward to 2017

Want to Learn
How to cook.  Actually I've given up on that!  I would like to learn organizational strategies for work. My desk tends to look like a hot mess by the end of the day!

Want to Get Better At
Having a life September through June.  I feel guilty spending time during the week on anything that isn't school related.

Goals for 2017
Before I set goals, I like to look at last year’s goals.  So let's see...did I make theatre in 2016?  Well that's one goal I did hit.  I was involved in productions a lot last year.  However...I'm not running and my novel remains unpublished.  This tells me that I need to make more “Shannon time”.  Time where I'm not Mom, or Mrs. McLoud.  So my goal for 2017 is to take some time for me. In 20 years I'm so different and still the same? If 2016 taught us anything, it taught us this: life is too short.  We need to go out there and create.  To go out there and live and love-and then record it in our stories.  So many people are leaving 2016 behind, exclaiming "don't let the door hit you on your way out!"  And if that's the way you feel, you have an obligation to do something about it.  Create your stories.  Maybe they're good stories, or bad stories, or stories so riddled with grammatical errors a red pen is in demand...but they're your stories, and they must be created.

A Note About Celebrity Deaths

As 2016 comes to a close I sit here with the knowledge that three additional greats have left us.  As many people said, these come in threes- starting with George Michael, moving onto Carrie Fisher, and now Debbie Reynolds.  

And as we peruse our social media pages looking for more information, old clips...solace even, someone undoubtedly posts; don’t we have bigger issues to read about?  (Although I have to be honest my page is full of more “Save Betty White” than anything else!  But seriously go check on her.)  

To that I have two things to say; first the death of someone, no matter how big they are, is never a small thing, and two isn’t it possible to care for both?  

Can’t I worry about the future of education in this country, while recognizing, and dare I say grieving, that a well loved celebrity who tore off the closet door has left us?  

Can’t I cry over Aleppo, and also mourn that a strong woman who taught me that looks don’t make the girl is gone too soon?

Don’t I have enough tears to spare?

I don’t see myself, or my friends, as shallow.  I find these people, and all people really, in love with something.  In love with stories.  Every movie, every book, every song, tells a story.  And we revere those storytellers.

And why wouldn’t we?

Earlier this year I wrote (in the sad little four posts I wrote) that we need art.  And seeing that storytelling is an art, it bears repeating.  Storytelling keeps us going.  

All the awful things that happen in the world, where do we find our escape?  

In movies about galaxies far, far away, and in songs that are so tied in with the holidays that they bring up memories without even trying.  

In tales about magical lands, or a little town in Alabama.  

In comedy that changed the genre, and people who blazed a trail.

Storytelling keeps us going.

Mourn for those storytellers that are no longer able to tell their stories. And DON'T be that person on social media making fun of people upset over Princess Leia, or Bobbi Adler. It isn't a case of celebrity, it's a case of storytelling. And we all need a story now and then.

Another Post About Teachers

It seems that over the summer, public vitriol towards teachers is at an all-time high.  Personally I feel this is fueled by a combination of our media and internet trolls.  One has to wonder why they hate education so much, after all you don’t see the public picking on any other profession as much, with the exception of politicians.  (But at least politicians can hold rallies and tons of people come out to support them!)  And I know that part of me shouldn’t waste time on trying to figure this out.  I should have a thicker skin, or at the very least take the advice I dole out to my students; “Don’t worry about what other people are saying!” But the truth of the matter is that it’s hard to do that.  So instead of getting angry I thought of reasons why people would hate teachers so much.

            1. They were taught by a real life Dolores Umbridge.

Even J.K. Rowling herself has said that this character was based on someone she knew.  Isn’t it feasible that there are Dolores Umbridges everywhere using their position in the classroom as one to inflict their ideology?  Could everyone out there have horrific school memories and hate their former teachers?  Just as Harry Potter probably grew up to hate kittens, (who wouldn't after an Umbridge punishment!  And if that means nothing to you, do yourself a favor and go read the book!) people who have bad experiences in school would most likely scoff at teachers.  So I really shouldn't be mad at these people, they just need a hug.

          2. They don’t understand that students are not a product.

We can’t just pack up students and ship them to college!

This actually makes a little sense.  People in our society are so product driven, so results driven, that when teachers say that they are working when there aren’t students in front of them, some people don’t believe it!  Yes it is true…over the summer I have a lot of time off.  (Time to catch up on being a normal person who doesn’t fall asleep by 4pm on a Friday!)  And time to plan.  Sure there are Professional Developments over the summer, but I also spend the summer reading articles about differentiation or blended learning, getting Google certified, reading the novels I will require my students to read, not to mention reading what is on the summer reading list, creating a syllabus, researching new ways to engage students, and the purchasing, planning, and designing.  A welcoming classroom isn’t granted by a fairy godmother, I spend days upon days getting my room ready.  I haul back every bin that is stored in my garage, porch, and living room, and set up my room.  A room I try to make inviting.  I scour the back to school sales for supplies, I hog the laminator at Lakeshore as if it is my job.  So although we only have students in front of me for 180 days, believe me we are still working.

3.      Jealousy.

Ah yes.  If they hate you that much, jealousy must be the answer!  And truly what is there not to be jealous of; we really have the greatest job on Earth.  We get to be in the room where it happens (sorry Aaron Burr!); that tiny spark of magic when a student realizes they can do something. Those days when students enter your room full of confidence because they know that they can figure out an equation, or analyze Shakespeare.  We get to be there when they goof off and side track you because let’s face it, sometimes they are just so darn funny.  We’re at their triumphs on the field, their not so great days in the halls, we advise them, we educate them, we love them as if they’re our own.  And they are our own; in our four walls where we head out on an educational journey from September to June.  We cry at their graduations, we cheer them on, were their teachers.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It has nothing to do with the hours; quite frankly my hours are long.  I’m at school by seven a.m. most days (sometimes earlier) and I rarely am home before five.  Yes, there is summer vacation, and I’m not going to lie, it’s pretty great.  During the school year my social life resembles one of a hermit, so it’s nice to have time for a date night, or spend some time with friends.  And I get to try out new things because I work two jobs over the summer to compensate for not having my regular pay check.  It’s about the kids.  And they’re not products, they are really and truly the future.  Having a small part of that is the most gratifying feeling in the world.  I can’t imagine doing anything else.  (And I’ve tried.  I had various jobs before becoming a teacher!)  So next time you read an internet troll calling teachers lazy, or if you come across inflammatory clickbait articles online, please think of where the author of the article/comments are coming from.  They may have had an awful school experience, maybe they don’t understand education, or they’re jealous that they don't have the honor of working with students every day.   If you see them, give them a hug, because chances are a teacher taught you that compassion is always the route over rhetoric.  

Why Does ProJo Villify Teachers?

The front page of the Providence Journal ran an awful headline about teachers in Rhode Island.  Once again painting us with one swoop while having no regard for the hard work we do each and every day.  I instantly wrote a letter to the editor- a much shorter version of what is below.  I know many teachers who were outraged at the article, yet still two weeks later-not one letter has been printed showing our side of things.  Although I don't have proof that other people wrote to support teachers, I am fairly positive someone did.  They did post an op ed that once again said teachers are what is wrong with the public school system.

So here is my (long form) version of the letter that Projo obviously doesn't want to publish as it turns the mirror on something that we don't discuss enough...

I’m sure I am one of many writing in response to your front page article entitled “Absent teachers; RI worst in region.”  Like many who have undoubtedly written, I am a teacher.  It is a job I love.  I never feel the approaching dread of a Monday, because it means I can see my students again, and hear about their weekends.  I never complain about the days I am at school until very late (7pm some days) because no matter what the work has to get done, after all I have 80 students counting on me.  I never complain about the pay, because I’m not there for the income, it’s the outcome.  I’m writing to ask you to raise your standards as a paper.  Frequently, the ProJo is seen as bashing teachers, and never showing the positive.  And it’s out there, just ask WJAR who frequently shines a well-deserved spotlight on teachers, or the Providence Teachers Union who through their campaign of #PTUPositivity, their members hear of all the great things happening in our Providence schools.  Yet, the ProJo feels free to write inflammatory headlines in the clickbait fashion we see littered throughout our social media feeds.  We expect more of a newspaper.

You wouldn’t write this headline about firefighters.  Why not?  They save lives.

You wouldn’t write this headline about the police.  Why not?  They save lives.

You wouldn’t write this headline about nurses.  Why not?  They save lives.

You wouldn’t write this headline about doctors.  Why not?  They save lives.

You shouldn’t write this headline about teachers.  Why?  They too save lives.

Now I am sure you are shaking your head thinking that this is yet another teacher employing hyperbole to get her point across.  In response I would ask you to visit my classroom those last few days of school.  Finals are over, at that point if you’re failing there is nothing you can do to bring that grade up.  Many students don’t show up.  Last month, I witnessed many students show up to school these last two days.  They would show up to an un-air conditioned, stuffy building.  School lunch was reduced to sandwiches, and not even movies could be shown as we all handed in our technology.  So why show up?  Because teachers save lives.  For some students, the only words of encouragement they receive is Monday-Friday in their teacher’s classrooms.  We continually tell our students that they’re good enough, and they’re worth it.  And before the naysayers remark that I only feel this way because I am fortunate enough to work in the city, let me tell you how teachers saved my life.

On paper, I was charmed.  Skinny white girl in the Scituate school system, both parents still married, extended family that I would see weekly.  Access to technology.  (And this was in the nineties!)  It doesn’t get much more privileged than that.  However I grew up with one parent telling me that education was important, and the other telling me to rely on my looks.  One parent who would beam with pride if I dared to say I liked math, one asking me what was wrong with me.  One who would pull me out of school based on my childish whims, one parent who worked night so this was done without his knowledge.  Sadly, as with many girls, the words of my mother rang true for me; I couldn’t excel at math, college wasn’t a priority.  In my mind I wasn’t good at anything, and I certainly wasn’t smart enough. 

Miss Amanda Browne who first told me that not only could I write, but that I should.  Sure, it was 5^th grade and my stories were probably horrible, but she told me that it could be done.  Fast forward to 10^th grade and Mrs. Carol Mumford changed my life.  Not only did she say that I could write, that I had talents to offer the world, but she taught me that love, compassion, and free thought belonged in the classroom.  I bring Mrs. Mumford’s lessons with me every day I open my classroom door and greet my students.

I want you to think about your own schooling.  Surely there was a teacher that saved you.  That told you that yes you are worth it, that you could make your mark on the world.  I ask that you stop your clickbait worthy articles, not for me but for the teachers that saved my life.  Not for the thousands of hardworking teachers in our beautiful state, but for the teachers that saved you.  The teachers that told you that you were worth it.  Live up to their standards, because you’re worth it.

When Did the Internet Become so Mean

When Did the Internet Become so Mean?

When you look at that you may laugh.  Part of it is funny.  But there’s some truth to it.  How is it that the internet has become so bitingly mean?  And I say this as a very connected person.  I’m on Facebook, I tweet for my job, my professional development, and a personal Twitter account.  I have an Instagram for my class, and one for personal use.  I downloaded the Snapchat app.  (I still have no idea how to work it!)  I surf news sites, education sites, sites for writers.  Heck, I have a blog, and I freelance as a writer.  I like the internet.  I remember when it was so new we had the dial up modems, but there were so many possibilities!  We would be able to talk to people online, and get information online.  And that all came to fruition; because of social media I have been able to stay connected with friends, and I have been able to reconnect with friends who could have been long forgotten.  I constantly get information online.  And sometimes a news story comes along that unifies everyone; the ice bucket challenge for ALS, the teen who took his terminally ill mom to Prom, or cute lip syncing videos by Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. 

And then May 29, 2016 happened and the internet lost its mind.  I’m sure you’ve heard by now, there was a tragic incident on May 29^th at the Cincinnati Zoo.  A child got into the gorilla enclosure, and a gorilla was put down.  It was tragic because a little boy was traumatized and hurt, an endangered animal was shot, and I can’t even imagine what this mother was thinking as she watched her son be flopped around.  All of a sudden everyone on the internet became an animal conservationist.  And an expert on gorillas.  And an expert on parenting.  And began to call for the mother to have her kids taken away, shot, or called a list of expletives that I don’t feel comfortable repeating here.  (You know what I didn’t see?  Concern for the child.  Understanding for the parent.)

I could go into my thoughts on this.  Who is to blame and in fact I almost did.  But then I thought, why.  Why do we have this need to blame somebody?  The mom, the zoo, the child, society.  Why do we need to have an immediate answer and resolution?  Will it make everything better?  Will it change what happened?

Can’t we just read a story without the need to fill the comments section with hateful language about people we don’t know, and will never meet?  With stories like these, where people are thrust into the limelight, and never asked to be, why do we insist on giving them our two cents?

Why are we so mean?

Why don’t we take a minute and think about what we’re going to write?

(And why don’t we proofread-but that’s a different story!) 

I know there isn’t an answer out there for this, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to write this.  And maybe that makes me part of the problem, I don't know.  I do know that way back in the reign of AOL, I never imagined that the internet would be used to spew such hatred.  

Reflecting about this, I was reminded that there are good news stories out there so for your further reading…

Teen Takes Mom to Prom

Toto Lip Syncing Video

ALS Challenge