Erstwhile Teacher

When I taught high school English, I loved working with students.  They would say amazing things and we were certain to laugh hard at something unexpected.  On Mondays, we had Weekend Update, when each of us would tell highlights from our latest experiences, from track records and visits to non-custodial parents, to bike jousting and late night trips to the Vernon Diner.  I reminded them I was a mandatory reporter, and if they told me anything that made me concerned for their health or safety, I would follow up on it.  That cut down on the party stories, but not completely.  It was a great way to get a glimpse of what was going on in their real lives, a constant reminder to me that school is only part of the picture.  It was also a cool way to build trust and get to know each other.

The Prized blog tour takes me to In the Next Room today, where Zoë asks how teaching influenced my writing.