Designated Doodler

(Photo: Michael Schennum, The Arizona Republic) I was hot stuff in high school. I had a raspberry red RAZR flip phone that I could use to call my mom if I needed to. Did I know what texting was? Of course not, and neither did my classmates. We were in ninth grade, and back then, if you got caught with your cell phone, it got taken up. One day my mom was trying to call me while I was at lunch, but she miscalculated my schedule and called me during the last three minutes of English. My horrendously evil English teacher proceeded to take my phone and give it to the front office. It was a Friday, right before spring break, and to get it back, my mom would have to come down to the school and pay $15. Luckily I have the best mom ever, and I wouldn't have to go through spring break without my phone. These days, I actually work at the school I went to 9th grade at, and things have changed drastically - not just at that school, but throughout the district. Now, 6th grade and up...

The other day I was talking with my students and asking them what book they are currently reading in English. After a heavy sigh and a groan one student said, "The Scarlet Letter." To which I replied…"hey, that's a great book. I read it for fun a few summers back." You should have seen the look on their faces, hahaha. "Why on earth would you do that?!" one girl asked in disbelief.  "Well, because it's a classic and I never read it in high school - it wasn't in our curriculum. So I wanted to read it!" Two girls exchanged a shocked look and they turned their attention back to the worksheet in their laps.  "Is it so crazy that I like to read for fun?" I asked. "YES!" was the resounding answer. One girl went on to tell me that her mother used reading as a PUNISHMENT for when she was bad as a child. Another student told me that they couldn't even make it through the first Harry Potter book because ...

The waves of the sea crest in your eyes It's sea foam white Changes in the light From azure topaz in the day To royal navy in the night How many have fallen in And remain adrift In the current that circles The black hole? I wonder as I float, If I'll ever know My mind is a beacon That beckons rescue Only to have my heart Flip the switch off And at this rate, I will be forever lost In the tepid tide that rolls with the moon In the vast expanse Of the tiny ocean Rushing in your eyes Pulling me to you