Animals are the Best Medicine

A couple weeks ago, I had two puppies in my arms. 
TWO!
Picture this...me, a puppy in each arm,
snuggled around my neck. 
Pure bliss.



Now I'm a pretty giving person,
but when it comes to puppies,
I'm really selfish. 
REALLY SELFISH!
Nothing comes between me and a puppy...
No, really.
Don't try it!
Really.
You might lose an arm.

I need all the help that I can get to make it through the end of the school year. 
Things get a little crazy in a middle school in the Spring. 
Okay, things aren't just a "little" crazy...it can be a zoo at times.  A crazy zoo! 
Think, apes in a cages...hormonal apes! 
Now, if that image doesn't scare you, well, you're much stronger than I am.
But there are always some things that are consistent, even during insane moments.
Middle Schoolers moods can change in an instant, but silly animals can make even the surliest teenager smile.

Since we can't have puppies at work, (darn it!)
I need to find other ways to lift my spirits and lower the coo-coo levels.
Giggling through a cute video with an animal,
even if it's animated,
works every time.

Simon's Cat-
On Fridays, during the last five minutes of the day we watch a video or two...
Here are a couple favorites.

 Double Trouble...I love the kitten!

Cat Man Do- Don't mess with a hungry kitty.

See?!
Now don't you feel better?
Giggling helps the spirits, and doesn't your blood pressure feel lower?
Though videos are fine, I still think that we need a puppy room...or at least a dog in the school! 
Hmmmm...there has to be a grant out there somewhere for therapy dogs in school...
Do you know of one?
No...seriously...
Do you?
I really want one.
And what teenager doesn't need a pup to help them feel better?
I actually think that it would be a service to the entire community.
Happier and healthier teens...
The bonus would be a happy, less stressed out English teacher too.

Reading the Stars

“My thoughts are stars I can’t fathom into constellations.” (311, Green, J.)

Wow.

You know when a book is stellar, 

when you put it down and just sit there. 

Stunned that it’s over, 

reeling in it's beauty, 

and mourning the loss of more pages.

That is how I feel.

Each and every time.

I am a book nerd.
Those who didn't know this about me, well here it is.
I am a book nerd and proud of it.
I love books.
Someday, if I ever have a larger home, I dream of a room solely devoted to books.
My very own library…
That would be beautiful.
Yes, it’s a beautiful, nerdy world, and I adore it.
One of the amazing things about teaching English is that I get to read.
It’s not that I just “get to read,” I get to read AND talk about books.
Now sometimes, I must admit,
that it can be painful to get my students involved in the conversations.
But when they do…oh man,
there’s nothing better than seeing their eyes open in realization and understanding.
They think that I’m lying at the beginning of the year when I tell them that I learn something new every
time I read a book. I tell them that some of our books I've read 30-40 times.
This is where their faces slack and jaws drop.
But it’s true.
This is my 15 year teaching.
Though the novel read haven’t been around 15 years,
when I read them with multiple classes,
the numbers quickly jump.
But it’s true.
I learn something new each and every time.
How you ask?
Well, you know why...
It’s the kids!
Their lives.
Their background.
Their insight.
It replenishes a familiar story into something more profound.
They do that.
Still, they don’t believe me when I make that statement.
And that’s okay.
It's true.

I will always talk about books.
Encouraging my students to embrace
and love literature for the words that are so carefully chosen.
If not today, maybe tomorrow they too will put down a book,
so beautiful that they have no words to express the feeling.
Because the author has already said enough.
So I leave you with one recommendation today.
Read.
Read alone, with someone, or to someone.
Just read!
I cherish the memories of my mom reading to me at night.
I still remember each and every story.
Those storybooks are kept safe and sound on my bookshelf.
And today, I read.
I read to learn about the past, experience a life in the present, and live a surreal future.
But, above all, I read.
You should too.

My suggestion,
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
It's beautifully written and a heart-twisting look into the
strength and courage of those battling cancer.
You'll laugh.
You'll cry.
You'll smile and then cry again.
But you'll fall in love with it!

Stand up

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The other day I stood in awe of one of my students.

It isn't often that I see a kid that is self-confident enough to stand up for what they believe.

 Especially in middle school.

So when I have a student that not only says what they believe,

but approaches others in the hope to change their mind, I stand in awe.

The other day, a 6^th grade girl overheard a group of 8^th grade girls talking about how mean and vicious pit bull dogs are.  She was much smaller than the 8^th graders and determined.

I saw her stand up quickly and march over to that group.

She was already sharing her opinions as she approached.

“Pit bulls aren't mean or vicious! It’s their owners who don’t train them well or treat them badly.  No dog starts out life mean, it’s what humans do to the animals that make them react in different ways.  Treat them with kindness and they will be kind.  Animals only do what they need to protect themselves. That’s just nature.”

I stood in awe.

Proud to know that there will always be people of all ages using their voices to help animals.

 

I was not that kid.

I wanted to be, but I wasn't.

Instead I was the kid, who stood by, shocked at what was happening, but too scared to step out.

It wasn't until I was much older…a senior in high school, that I was brave enough.

Not completely brave to stand up to a group, but brave enough to stand up for one.

One dog.

That was the year that I found my first rescue…Quincy.

He was a little 10 month old puppy that my dad told me about.

The dog had been living at a welding company,
a forgotten and unwanted birthday gift to the owner’s son.

Instead of taking care of the pup, they left it there.

The workers feed him and gave him water, but on the weekends…he was alone.

Very alone.

Living in a concrete cell, a shed.

No light, no grass, no love.

My dad didn't have to tell me much about him.

My heart ached for him before I even knew him,
and the moment I saw him, he had to be mine.

He was a little mud-covered pup,
who sat at my feet begging to be love.

I looked him over and knew that day was going
to be the last day he needed to beg for love from me.

For the next 16 years he was my constant companion.

He was my heart.

I’m thankful that I was strong enough to stand up to the old,
grumpy man that day and take the puppy with me.

I’m glad that Quincy wasn't going to live around him anymore.

That he would be kicked or hit or left alone without human contact.

He would be loved.

And he was, until the last moment of life and in my heart forever.

Every dog should have such a life.

So now, I stand in awe.

I wished that I had the strength of this little girl.

She wasn't afraid.

She believed in what she said, and she was right.

That strength from someone so young,
makes my heart soar.

I hope for a day when all animals will be loved.

The day when people won’t abuse,
Instead love will be the prevalent response to others.

But until that day,
I will have hope in our future generations.

Kids are strong in their opinions.

They stand up for injustice and have the strength to change in ideas of others.

They’re cool like that. 

What is beautiful?

Today with my 7th graders, we talked about “beauty.”
Now this is not the stereotypical type of beauty that media tries to convince us is true.
That beauty is deceiving.
It skews our view of the world.
That’s not the beauty we talked about.
This type of beauty is around us, in the world, every day.




Friends greeting each other with a warm hug.
Rain dancing on the roof tops.
Leaves crunching under our feet.
The crack of a wooden bat, hitting a baseball high into the sky.

That kind of beauty.
The beauty that makes our jaw drop,
makes us smile, and stare in awe.
Yeah. That beauty.
It’s perfect in it's simplicity.
And it’s truly beautiful.
One of my goals this year is to show you, yes you, how amazing teens are.
I receive different reactions when people hear that I teach 7th  graders, and 8th graders.

Some people look like they’re in pain…wincing, wide-eyed and a little nervous.
Some just tell me they’re sorry.
Well, don’t be.
Teens are amazing.
They can be weird and a little emotional, but I know a lot of adults that are that way too.
But the coolest thing, is that they teach me every single day.
They remind me of what it was like to be their age and struggling to find out who I should be.

So what is beautiful to them?
(These sound a lot like the things bouncing around in my head.)

Here is what they said.
• Flowers blooming in the morning
• Sound of a beating heart
• Draining a 3-pointer
• The sound of the ocean waves crashing on the shore
• Feeling the rain hit my palm.
• A warm blanket
• All that’s left of nature, like a moss covered forest or an eroded canyon.
• The swish of a basketball net
• The fall when leaves are everywhere and the trees are orange.
• The smell of burnt rubber and an engine revving.
• Skateboards landin
• The bounce of a basketball
• Rain falling into a puddle
• The smell of wet dirt
• Soccer ball bouncing off someone’s shin-guards
• Nails tapping on a desk
• Pages in a book turning
• Twinkling lights at Christmas
• Orange lady bugs
• Trees covered in snow
• Art
• Being on the tube with the waves splashing up at you
• Ants swarming around a piece of food on the ground
• A cat’s purr
• The squeak from the hamster wheel
• The crack when 2 helmets hit during a football game
• Breakdancing
• Seeing salmon swimming freely
• Portland, at night
• Fireworks lighting up the night
• My family
• Waterfalls
• Hiking through nature
• The sound of bubbles of air escaping from the water
• When you see the white snow glisten and snowflakes fall down
• Fire popping
• The sound of a car going slowing over gravel
• When I look up and see the beautiful sky with a sideline of trees.
• Lightning
• I enjoy the sound of hail. It sounds like a big crowd of people clapping
• Me and my dogs’ hair- I love to feel the way my fingers flow through it.
• The sound of waves crashing down when it’s completely quiet
• Pouring rain, when min-streams form on the hills
• Whistling wind
• Thunder
• The roar of a crowd
• The smell of vanilla

And…this…
“When I kick the soccer ball, I hear it first loud. It’s exciting, and breath-taking. Then it flies up high
and far. It leaves me thinking and anticipating where it might go. I see it soar through the air then
with one swift thud it hits the grass. One, two, three, four bounces, and it stops. So beautifully into
the goal or wherever it was going.”

Help show the kids in your life what the word “beauty” really means, and not perpetuate the type of beauty that media portrays.
There is so much beauty.
Look around you…
Squint if you must…
See it?!
Right there!
Wow. Isn't it amazing?
Yeah, I think so too.

What's your power?

Fake Power
People use it all the time. 
The power to control the situation around them, whatever it takes is fake. 
My students and I are reading a novel, Touching Spirit Bear. 
Yes, it’s a book for young adults, 
but I often think of many adults that I have known 
while reading it with the class. 
The main character is a bully.
He’s mean to humans and animals.
He used intimidation to get his way…to make other afraid of him.
He had placed himself in a situation that could lead to death.
Up until he was seriously injured, he blamed others in his life. 
Whatever happened to him was someone else’s fault. 
Know anyone like that? 
Adults do the same thing. 
It’s painful to see kids play the “blame game”, but it’s even more painful to see adults still doing it. 
Taking ownership in your life, for the choices that you've made is key. 
It’s not easy. I've tried it…you can’t lie to yourself and believe it. At least I can’t.
But really, nothing worth anything, is easy.

In the novel, Cole (the main character) has to make the choice to live.
“He wanted to live. In death there was no control, no anger, no one to blame, no choice, no nothing. To 
be alive was to have choice. The power to choose was real power, not the fake power of making others 
afraid.” (98, Mikaelsen)

He had to learn the hard way that choice and living a life of meaning was important. 
Cole had to look around himself and find the reasons to move forward.
I think that we all reach that, at some point in our lives.
What has meaning to you?
What power do you use?
Is the power real or fake?
Is it the power to heal or hurt?
Does it bring joy and wellness to others? Or not?
We all have choices every day that show our true character.

Look around you.
Take a moment and REALLY look.
Do you see that kid shooting hoops by themselves? Maybe they just need someone to play?
That little elderly neighbor, maybe she just needs a smile and a bit of conversation?
It doesn't take much to make someone smile.
Kindness has a way of doing that.
Today, make the power in your world, move mountains of hope and spread joy.

Hugs and a little love,
Lori

How to Survive the Year

At the end of last year, I asked the 8th graders what advice they would give to the students next year.  I wasn't sure how serious they would take it...but the answers weren't surprising.
But what surprised me was that so many of these answers could relate to any point in life.

Though I'm going to take their advice and try to get a little more sleep tonight, but it's not easy.  I enjoy staying up late...but somehow, we'll all survive.



Way to Survive 8th Grade (According to 8th Graders):
**All emphasis is from students, not me. ;)

Don't talk about someone in a bad way (gossip/rumors)
Stay organized
Get involved
Own up to your mistakes
Turn in work on-time
Don't look at the clock because it makes time go slower
Don't take stuff too seriously
Find some good friends that are REAL and stick with them
Don't be that person who dates EVERY girl or guy
Be yourself
Don't be fake
Be honest
Get sleep
Stay after and come in the morning
Don't get involved in drugs
Find who your friends are
Do you work- Even the little things add up
STUDY!!
Stay out of trouble
Make friends
Be nice to everyone
Not leading boys on
Make sure you bring your own food- NOT the school's food
Get help
Don't start drama-if you hear rumors, don't spread them
Don't lie
Remember, if you're going through a hard time,
                       keep your head up and think that every little thing is going to be okay
Violence isn't the answer- it just gets you into more trouble
Don't give up
Pay attention
Don't skip class
Surround yourself with GREAT friends
Girls, don't focus on guys
Guys, don't focus on girls
Don't procrastinate
Show a decent amount of respect
Don't make eye contact
Don't talk to anyone, ever
Be original
If you are going to date, actually like the person!
Find a couple good friend-quality, not quantity
Make good relationships with teachers
Know your locker combination
Get involved
Pick reliable friends
Be on-time
Play at least one sport
If you have a question, ASK THE TEACHER!
Good binders
Be nice to the 7th and 6th graders
Bring supplies
Do you work, ALL OF IT!
Be nice to teachers
Don't give in to pressure
Bring back-up pants and female supplies!
Nice guys DO NOT finish last
Separate you real friends from your fake
Bring own lunch...don't eat prison food
Try to always keep a good attitude
Watch what you wear
If you have a problem with someone, confront them nicely or walk away
Do homework. I know it's boring, but just do it

The most common response:
Stay out of the drama!
-------------------------------------------------------------
I think that's a good reminder for everyone.
No one needs drama in their life, so don't stir it up.
Just be yourself and for goodness sake, please, please be nice to your teacher.
Have a great school year!

Kids Know Everything

I'm old.
I know this, but part of me still feels young...like college young.
Going to the bar, staying out all night kind of young.
But that's not me.
I'm old.
Not my Grandma's old,
but the kind of old where I look at technology applications
and I don't know anything.
Nothing.
Nothing at all.
I realized that the teens that I teach know everything.
Not everything, everything, but everything about technology.
Unlike myself, they've always had technology.

At their age, my technology was a graphing calculator,
or a rockin' pager.
Man, that technology was AMAZING!
I tried to explain a pager to my students, and they looked at me for the point.
"Soooo...you have a device that rings and you have to go find a phone to call them back?!"
"Yes.  Yes, that's right...and we thought it was amazing!"
"Why?"
Good question kids.
It really doesn't make much sense, but at the time it was awesome.
Times have definitely changed.
During the school year when I have a question
about something with technology, I just ask my students.
They like teaching the teacher. 
But, when it comes to technology and new apps, they are the experts.
I really don't know how they know all of the this...
I have a feeling that they don't read the information pages like I do,
but somehow they figure it out.
And then they show me.


Yesterday I needed my student "teachers" to show me how to use Instagram.
Urg! I know...it's embarrassing to even write that, but it's true.
People do all sorts of fancy things and I don't have a clue.
The main problem is that September through June I just poise a question like this to my class, "Soooo, what's the deal with the multiple pictures on Instagram? How do they do that?"
I pause for the shocked faces,
and sad little nods of their heads until one of the students says,
"Really Ms. Chambers?  You know that's a different app, right?"
"Uh-huh...yeah.  I totally knew that.  What's the name of that app?"

Until September I'll read the information pages,
and then the students will explain to me how I'm doing it all wrong in the fall.
It's a good exchange.
I supply reading, writing, and speaking skills to help them in life,
and they keep me informed about social media.
It works.
And I like it.
See.  Kids know everything.

Reflections of an 8th grader

Ever wonder what 8th graders actually think about? 
Yes? No?
Either way teenagers are just interesting creatures.
Though they think that school is
"stupid" or "pointless" or "way too long."
When they really think back on their time,
they find a few things that they enjoyed.
Just a few things though...just a few. 




Favorite Things About Middle School:
Band trip to Seattle
More freedom
Art Class with Mr. Rich!
KAOS with Tracy and Amanda
Ape Caves
1st dances
Outdoor School
Girls
New Social Ethics
Reduction Days (hmmm...)
Lunch with your friends
Hunger Games -Reading the book and going to the movie
More mature
The teachers are amazing
Playing with fire
Boys
Work is important- it has meaning
Not having the same teacher all day
Closer to high school
Support from teachers
Band
Chambers
Sense of Independence
Learning experience- you learn to be tough
Solar Car Races
Emmons
Skow
New friends without drama
Free pencils
Lockers
Talent Show
Mr. D(auenhauer)
The Whole Thing!
You learn a lot about yourself and grow as a person
Projects like the island in 6th grade and egg in 7th grade
Teacher know you and you can joke around with them a little more.
Being the oldest in the school
Being weird with nobody judging me
Coming closer together with my peers


Things that You Enjoy About Summer:
Horseback Riding
My Birthday!
Singing and dancing around
No bed time
Not having to wear certain clothes
Ice Cream
Sleep
Sleeping in
Fourth of July
Pendleton Round-up
Adrenaline rushes
Summer Ball! Volleyball, basketball, baseball
Theater camp
Doing Crafts!!!
Mind Craft
Being able to scream whenever I want to
Hanging out with friends
The Beach (Cannon Beach, Lincoln City, Seaside)
Camping
Cheerleading
Eating Junk Food
Building Forts
Exploring
Garage Sales
NO HOMEWORK!
Being Lazy
Long Boarding
Hot Weather
Swimming
Partying (I really hope that these are just movie parties. Cringe.)
Being warm FINALLY
Video Games
Scuba Diving
Rafting
Fishing
Staying up late playing Xbox
QUADS!!!
Annoying my brother
(Ha! I can totally relate to that one!)

I was happy to see that most of the things that they were looking forward to during the summer were outside activities.  And though I wasn't expecting to see it, I was sure glad to see my name a couple times on the "favorite things" list. Whew! 

Don't think for even a moment that we'll forget about you...
...once you're our student, you're always our student. 
Hugs,
Ms. Chambers

Embrace your Weirdness

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

Yes, I feel a little coocoo and a little sassy right now.

 

But as I try to wrangle teenagers through the end of the year, it's understandable. 

They are feeling anxious for Summer and I'm trying to hold their attention

with literature just a little bit longer.  I know. 

But, really we're reading some great things right now! 

Ray Bradbury...Maya Angelou...SE Hinton...The Outsiders, folks!

"Stay gold Ponyboy.  Stay gold."

No matter how great the subject matter is,

to teenagers they are ready for Summer. 

So I wondered...

With all of the weirdness that is Middle School,

would they notice a chicken?

Or a teacher dancing like one?

hmmmm...
the answer...some notice, some just see it as the every day weirdness.

 

I always tell my students that a little weirdo is good.

Who really wants to be normal anyway?

 

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

 

All middle school kids feel a little weird, so we embrace it!  We own it!

So what could be better, than a little chicken dance?

 

Arrested Development: Chicken Dance (Whole Family)

Not much, in my world!

In fact, I was demonstrating the chicken dance to one of my colleagues this morning.

(I know, silly.) 

But, it did the trick! Smiles. 

Smiles all around. 

Try it.  Go on! 

Try not to laugh, I dare you!

 

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo

...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!

 

Arrested Development: Chicken

See?!  Instant smiles and giggles. 

You can't help but smile.

So thank you Arrested Development! 

You're weird and exactly what I needed.

Be bold and embrace your weirdness today.

Go for it and smile!

 

CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa...CooCooCaChaaaa!

A-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo...a-coodle-doodle-doo!

Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw...Cocka cocka cocka kaw!

Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee...Cha-Chee Cha-Chee!