Surviving Middle School

2010-07-30T17:48:00.001-07:00

From the NYTimes Learning Center: Carrie Montgomery is a New York Times scholarship winner ‘09 and intern, and a sophomore at Columbia University.

Students: Tell us what you remember about kindergarten. What are your clearest memories of your kindergarten teacher and classmates? How much did you learn that year? How do you think your kindergarten experience shaped you in terms of how you think, how it prepared you for further education, what it taught you about life, and so on?

Where I'm From

2010-07-25T17:53:00.000-07:00

I'm from New Jersey where the sun shines on the sea shore and
the billowing buildings block the earth.
I'm from catholic school and
stearn nuns trying not to laugh.
I'm from building forts in the woods and
the bully boys keeping us out after the work was done.
I'm from the Jersey Shore's waves pushing me down and
me pushing them back.
I'm from hanging around the center of town and
playing frisbee on the Green.
I'm from working hard to help you learn and
amazed at how easily you teach.

I'm enthralled by words. Words amaze me. EARTH, for instance. Do you see how it has EAR and ART inside it? And that's not all. If you take the H from the end (from the ends of the earth!) and put it at the beginning, you get HEAR and HEART! That's a whole poem in one word:

EARTH
EAR
ART
HEAR
HEART

Ok, now you know where I'm from. Where are you from? I want to know.

Photo Story morgan.wmv

2010-07-25T17:36:00.000-07:00

Tell Me About Your Favorite MS Teacher

2010-07-22T20:18:00.000-07:00

Most of us have had a favorite or at least someone who we thought of as an interesting teacher. I was not the best student in middle school, come to think of it I wasn't a great student in elementary or high school either. It wasn't until much later in life that I began to love learning.

My absolute worse subject was math. I believe I cried throughout every math class I ever took. That may have been part of the problem. Anyway, recently I reconnected with my algebra teacher from middle school. Being a middle school teacher, I felt compelled to apologize profusely. I was quite pleased to have him say, "You really weren't that bad." Oh, bestill my heart. I just love a man who can lie properly. Thank you Mr. Lipper. You ARE now my favorite teacher.

Why the Looks of Pity?

2010-07-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when people ask me what I do, and I respond proudly that I teach middle school Language Arts, I get that same look of pity usually reserved for funerals? I know middle school students have "issues" and they often dislike (ok they hate) those they see as having authority, such as teachers, but they are also some of the funniest creatures I have ever come in contact with.

I'm starting my blog (my first one ;-) hehehe) in order to save and share the comedy and joy of working with middle school students. I intend to share my stories and have them share theirs.

School starts on August 3. Be prepared to be amused.