Damn

I just found out that a school friend of mine is dead. Kristin Gudjonsdottir .

She was the best sculptor. So thoughtful and perceptive. I'm in tears. The alumni magazine that cca sends out just came today and said she died in April. Christ.

MPK

Car Blog...

I'm typing from my dad's car...technology: gotta love it. The wireless access was a little thin in San Mateo but now that we are in Burlingame, it's quite brisk.

Anyway.

We are heading up the El Camino to Millbrae Bart, since my panic disorder about freeways prevents me commuting by way of the 880 and San Mateo Bridge. My parents are big enough as human beings to indulge me in my nonsense and take me back and forth to Bart during different points in the week, so I can teach on the Peninsula.

Somedays I can park my truck at Millbrae Bart and drive myself down.

Sorry this post is kind of boring and pointless. I think my next post will be about Hawaii, before I totally forget about my trip. I was delayed by a fun little bout of cellulitis in my left foot. I was going to take a picture of it and post it for you all, but spared you at the last minute. So, you're welcome.

We're almost at the turn for Millbrae Bart and I will say adieu.

MPK

OK Not Tomorrow

Hi all,

More from the front lines of public edu-macation.

Today was our first "block day". It's an extended pair of days for longer class times for students. Wednesday is for odd periods and Thursday is for even days. I teach even days so I had Weds. off and taught all day today.

I was stressed out about the new schedule. My 2nd period starts at 8:35 on block day, so getting across the Bay is kind of scary. I had a bad experience in the spring last year, where Bart was REALLY late and I was five minutes late to class despite giving myself an hour cushion. Usually I am in my classroom a 1/2 before class starts. My paranoia about being where I'm supposed to be on time extends to my professional life.

It's funny. When I was a student, I used to have dreams about coming into a class and finding that I was supposed to be there all year to graduate and the final was in session and I knew nothing about it. Now that I'm a teacher, I'm having teacher anxiety dreams. I dream that I open my door and find that there is a group of students there that I've never seen before. They clamor around me and say "We've been coming here all year and you are never here to teach us! We need to pass this final to graduate!! Where have you been?"

MPK

First Friday

Today was the finish of the first week. Boy, the learning curve of last year is really paying off. I feel so much more on top of things. There are some changes. This year our program (CSM credit for the class) is accepting freshman. At first I had misgivings, as it has been awhile since I taught the younglings that young. But it's turning out to be great so far. Today was our first rally (that should read RAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYY!!!!! they are loud!) and I remembered how terrified I was in my first week as a high school nOOb. Like barf-feelings. I remembered to ask if my 9th graders knew where the rally was and led them successfully to the big gym and to where they were going to be sitting.

It's a small thing, and they probably won't remember it, but I feel good knowing I did it. After the rally, a student called to me across the great court who couldn't get his locker open. I opened it and he was on time to class.

I was so neurotic as a kid, I HAD to know where all my rooms were located before school. I HAD to be on time. Any little hitch sent me into a meltdown. I think that's the best part of my job: locating possible meltdown situations for my students and easing them past the danger.

Of course, you can't foresee everything, and that's hard. It's scary knowing that you are trusted and that you can fail.

More tomorrow.

MPK (aka Ms. Kern)

Teacher Girl

Yes, it's my first week back at school. Today is day two. First, I salute the students. I remember when 2 1/2 months seemed like a long break. And the 9 months in school seemed like FOREVER. Trust me, it goes by really fast, all of it.

Anyway.

As usual, I'm finding my way in slowly. My role at "adult leader". I see my new students flinch when I walk by and feel bad. I want to tell them my philosophy of life has evolved to this: there are children and there are adults. It does not matter how old you are. I've taught 8 year olds who had a lot on the ball. Very wise and a pleasure to know. I've also taught folk in their 60's who never got it. Who make a room full of 8 year olds look like a walk in the park. Just doesn't matter.

I'm tired today. More later.

Michelle Kern

Meteors & Staplers: Michael Deleon and Michelle Kern

Opening 6-9 pm, Saturday, June 16th 2007

Cricket Engine Gallery
499 Embarcadero Ave, Bldg. 3
Oakland, CA 94606

Info: 510.835.1920

Gallery hours:

1-9 pm, Saturday, June 16

1-4 pm, Sunday, June 17

1-4 pm, Saturday, June 23

1-4 pm, Sunday, June 24

For further information and directions:

http://www.cricketengine.org/contact.htm

Hope to see you there!
--
Michelle P. Kern
http://mpkartist.blogspot.com/

The Knights of the Black Hood

My first year on the front lines of our public school system has been instructive...to me, especially. There are moments of extreme consternation, but also moments that I really treasure.

In all our ceramics classes we have tables instead of desks. About 6-8 students to a table. I noticed as weeks went on that each table developed it's own culture and rituals, and I came to think of them as "pods" (like schools of whales). One of my favorite tables is a group of gamers I call the "Knights of the Black Hood" (KoTBH) after the day they all came in wearing black hoodies with the hoods up. It's kind of a visual. Maybe I'll draw it sometime.

They're a loud but genial crew, often discussing WoW, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and of course, today, Spiderman 3. I haven't seen it yet, so I was kind of avoiding their area, because I could hear them talking about it. Eventually one of them came up to where I was to get help on the next stage of his project. (Lest you think me heartless and neglectful, it was for mortaring tile and had to be done at my workstation anyway...).

I asked the student how he had liked Spiderman 3, and he said he hadn't seen it yet either. I said "Oh no, I hear J. over there talking about it, too!" A. says, "Yeah, he keeps saying 'spoiler alert' and telling details anyway." I said "Well, I'm avoiding him today! I don't want to ruin the details." We joshed for a bit while making with the tile adhesive. After he was done, I put away the tile supplies while he put away his piece to set up. I was walking to the sink to wash up, which is behind the KoTBH table. A. was on his way back and saw me and said, urgently:

"Ms. Kern!! Perimeter alert! Perimeter alert! Do not approach J.!"

Awesome.

Pandora

My buddy Stephanie showed me and some buddies at lunch this neat website Pandora, which I signed up for this morning and have now been on for three freakin' hours tuning up. You create your own radio stations by naming a song or artist as the "seed". Then the software uses these to look for other songs and artists that you might like based on the unique "genes" of the sounds, moods, beats, etc. and you get playlists that you can customize by rating the selections with a thumbs up or thumbs down. I've added the link to my playlists on the blog here. I'm still finetuning them. Just what I needed. A new time wasting hobby.

MPK