What's in a "Good Morning"?

Every morning I say "good morning" about 80-100 times. I stand at the top of stairwell 7 and watch as the 7th and 8th grade kids come up the stairs, dragging their book bags and sports bags behind them. Some of them are still wearing ear buds, listening to their iPods. Some of them have hair in their eyes and I can barely see their faces. Many of them are just plodding up the stairs, trying to start their day, when they would much rather be in bed. It is not exactly a friendly audience.

Even though they would probably rather be left alone, I say "good morning" to as many of them as possible, using their name first (if I know it), to let them know that someone cares if they are here. Yes, I know we are supposed to be at our post every morning and make sure madness and mayhem doesn't prevail but, by this time of the year, many teachers are still fussing in their classrooms, getting ready for their day and that special feeling of excitement has fizzled.

I am an early riser so I am in my classroom an hour before school begins and, therefore, I am pretty much ready for the day when the kids start coming up the steps. But, to me, that doesn't make any difference. I actually enjoy standing at my morning post and greeting the kids every morning. I get a real charge when one of them actually acknowledges that I (an adult) exist and says "good morning" back. And . . . . when that rare adolescent says those gifted words "good morning, Mrs. Kosh" I am in heaven. I have actually heard a few say "how are you today?" and I was giddy with excitement.

I realized this morning that I am not really doing it for them, although I believe kids should be greeted by a friendly face and a few words in the morning. However, I am doing it for me. It gets me going. I tells me that it's time to do my job. It's a way of validating me when someone responds and (even better) uses my name. As the year goes on, I find the kids loosening up a little and I get many more "good mornings". Each one makes me feel wonderful and energized and keeps me from wanting to go back to bed.

Postscript: I am writing this blog while I am proctoring a test. A student just finished and I needed to write her a pass to go to her next class. I did so and handed her the pass. She said on her way out . . . . "Have a nice day, Mrs. Kosh." That's a two-fer---a greeting and my name! It's going to be a great day.

Related articles

• Greeting in more than 1600 languages
  

What's on Your Bucket List . . . .

Cover of The Bucket ListJack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman starred in a wonderful film in 2007 called The Bucket List. I remember crying for days after I watched it and it challenged me to think about my own mortality. I have been using the clip and the idea in my writing seminar ever since. Adolescents never think about their own mortality and why should they? They don't expect to "kick the bucket" for a very long time. But I have found this to be an extraordinary writing challenge for 12 and 13 year olds. Exactly what would they like to do before they die? At this age, seeing Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber may be high on their list but, when really challenged to look deep into their own souls, I find their answers are thought provoking and heart-warming. Many of them say they want to "write a novel" but, then again, this IS a writing seminar and they want a good grade so I guess sucking up to the teacher is not that bad of an idea. But, every once in a while, I read one of their lists and it takes my breath away. I don't often think of them as adults but (since they are so bright) they are often little adults in teenage bodies. They want to fly around the world, dance at Rockefeller Center, star in a Broadway play, or be a millionaire. They want to witness a miracle, go bungee jumping, or found a charity. Their aspirations are huge. They dream big. At times when I just want to get through the week and make it to Friday, these kids want to "tell everyone how much I care about them." (Hey, I don't make these things up-these are actually things from past buckets lists!) I hope they always dream big. We have a lot to learn from them. Here's my Bucket List:

1. Para sail in the Caribbean (done)
2. Dance on the stairs of the Vatican (sounds disrespectful but I see joy in it)
3. Stay married 100 years (I'm at 39)
4. Zip line in Costa Rica (done)
5. Loose 30 pounds (no comment)
6. Witness a miracle (OK, I'm copying but I like her idea!)
7. Become a grandmother (done times 3)
8. Become a great grandmother (see how I am bargaining to live a long time)
9. Meet Morgan Freeman
10. See the Philadelphia Eagles win a Super Bowl (I can hope, can't I???)

Related articles

• 100 Things to Do Before You Die
• Bucket List website-make your own
  

Friday . . . . Friday . . .

Have you ever noticed that the thing that annoys middle school kids the most is the thing they talk about (or sing) the most. It is only third period and I think I have heard Rebecca Black's Friday about five hundred times. I have heard girls singing, boys singing, teachers singing. I have heard the original version and a parody of the song, as well as 40 other versions. And, despite all this singing, every kid has come in saying "I hate that song. It's so annoying". OK, so then why are you singing it? Is this a new middle school thing---sing songs that annoy you? Or, is it that it's Friday and singing this song is the only way middle school kids know how to find it on the calendar?

I happen to like the song. Catchy little tune. Totally age inappropriate for me. Seems relatively clean. Then I realized why teachers love this song----

It's Friday, Friday
Gotta get down on Friday
Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend, weekend

And . . . . . now I can't get it out of my head!