So i just finished my second week as the 6th Grade language Arts teacher at The North Hills School. Yep, 125 6th grade boys and girls come to room 110 where they are supposed to learn the art of Language from Mr. Carpenter. And after only my second week, I am beginning to think that I was born for such a job.
You know all the great movies with classroom scenes–movies about teachers that change lives? "Dead Poet's Society," "The Emperor's Club," "School of Rock," all the greats. There is always some scene where a student comes to life all of a sudden and says some profound thing; like when Ethan Hawk in "Dead Poet's Society" is forced into a whirl of poetry improv by Robin Williams and he says something about "a sweaty toothed madman." Well, I had one of those moments in my class on thursday. It was one of those moments that makes the ten hour days and weekend grading and lesson planning seem like an insignificant price to pay.
Young Divya sat on the front row, thursday morning, second period. We were going over some literary terms (figures of speech). We defined "Imagery" and then i asked for examples. I don't remember of Divya raised her hand (even though that's the rule in my class room–I have to know when to let things slide) but it was like a balloon filled with too much air that suddenly bursts. Divya just starts rattling off this wonderful image of a witches shelf with vials and glass and potions. I..we all, the other students and I, just sat there stunned. Divya glowed as anyone does when they are doing the very thing that makes them feel alive.
It was hard for me to hide my joy at discovering that I had the best job in the world.
By the way, Divya is writing a book about fairies and she is letting me read the first draft.
keep in mind that this is only ONE great moment out of many. I'm only writing about the very best.
It is now saturday night and can hardly wait till monday morning.
