Contrary to tradition and what the Bible tells us, according to one of my sophomore students Moses was shot.

I am teaching Jon Krakauer’s book Into the Wild to my sophomore class. They seem to be enjoying the book and we have some good discussions sometimes. We are near the end and Krakauer is recounting McCandless’ life up to his death using evidences left by McCandless’ journal. Krakauer tells us that McCandless was living on mostly squirrel and small foul, but eventually shot a moose (FYI: true story. In 1992 McCandless tried to “live off the land” in the Alaskan bush, but as a result of several misfortunes died). McCandless, at first, triumphed at this hugs supply of food, but soon regretted ever shooting it.

Later Krakauer tells of how McCandless decides he was ready to return to society, but because of the spring flooding the creeks that he easily waded through a few months earlier were now huge, torrential rivers. McCandless was stuck.

As a way to keep my students accountable I decided to quiz them after each reading assignments. The following are two of the five questions from the quiz I gave for the reading I describe above:

4. What animal did McCandless shoot that at first he was so proud that he took a picture of it with him kneeling next to it, but later regretted it?
5.Why couldn’t McCandless get out of the Bush?

And this is what I read when I was correcting a student’s answers:

4.Moses
5.He had trouble crossing the water.

And without a plague to my conscience I let the answer go.

BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED!!!

You like? It’s by Stephanie Kaye Lewis, an artist and friend. It pays to have a friend in the artist bisnass!

I’m teaching now. Thus the lack of postings…

Anyway, today was my first day teaching my own curriculum. I was really nervous and excited. It’s like show and tell and you’re showing something that you think is awesome, but you’re not sure what the others will think.

I kinda feel like I need to lighten up a bit. I think that’ll come though. I also wan to build my authority, so I am leaning on the edge of strict, than easy-going. I am more resting on the lessons than I am on my actual ability because I am still wrestling with seeing myself as the one who is in front now. I like it though. With my second class, who are mostly sophomores (my first class is seniors), I felt more relaxed. I did realize, though, that no matter what I need to exude confidense and fake it if it’s not there. It’s like the whole “act then feel” thing.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking lately of teachers that “made a difference” since I started teaching. So last week I emailed two of them: one was my Ap English teacher and the other was her student teacher. They both responded thanking me and were happy to see where I’ve come. Back then never would I have thought I’d be a teacher some day.

Nevertheless, they made a lasting impact on me and I felt the need to let them know. They responded and told me that it made their day. I love that!!! They deserve it. In the extended entry I put a copy of one of the response letters. It had me glowing. I can’t believe she remember me dressed up as the Crow!!! Anyway, read it, then thank a teacher.

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