The Usual Chaos

It's a lazy summer day. Ian and Emily and I have "go to the public library" penciled in on our week's plan. Not that it means all that much; we never made it to "clean closets" yesterday. But we want to do this one. We do it each summer - our weekly jaunts to the library. Then, I get a request to participate in an interview on my campus, so our library time is cut a little short. No worries. We scramble through the shelves, searching for Kwame Alexander, Shannon Hale, and Gene Luen Yang. We find Real Friends  along with I Am Fartacus  and speedily check out, bolting toward my high school. The kids set up camp in my classroom, and I race-walk to the front office. Luckily, I'm a few minutes early, so I inhale and chat up the remaining summer staff folks. In the principal's secretary's office, I'm introduced to the new track and cross country coach, Chris, and immediately, I know I know him. He's a 2002 Hebron High School graduate - our fi...

Last week, I was finally able to see the state bronze winning one act play,  Elizabeth Rex  performed by Hebron High School. Somehow, I'd missed all of their prior appearances, so I scrambled to get to this encore, speeding away from soccer practice, flying through fast food, and running from the parking lot to make it in time. The kids and I were on "theater time"; luckily, the cast was too, and we made it! Yes, I brought my kids. Ian is eleven and finishing fifth grade. Emily is eight and in second. I knew this production wasn't a musical or Minecraft, so I did have some concerns about bringing them, but I did it anyway. Part of my reasoning was admittedly selfish; I was desperate to see the show. The other part, though, stemmed from my own experience. As a middle schooler, I stowed away in the corners of our high school auditorium on a Saturday full of one acts while my father was the administrator on duty that day. I saw dramas and comedies and tragedies. I l...

It's teacher interviewing season here at school, and interviews bring their own sparkle and glitter or, sometimes, not. Last week I visited with a couple of outstanding candidates, one that particular sticks out. Never before has our panel been asked a question like this: "In this last semester, what's one thing that's happened to you here at Hebron that's made you proud to work here?" Hmmm. Thought provoking for sure! Luckily, my answer was immediate. Just a day or two prior, I began a nine-week long activity with my sophomores. It began with the "What if...?" and "I wonder..." sentence stems. I introduced the topic of those ideas and musings that tumble around in our brains, often when we are on autopilot while mowing the lawn or brushing our teeth. Sometimes, these thoughts drift through when the lights are off and the covers pulled high and the body is finally still. I wonder how my relationship with my parents will change now tha...

Midterms have come and gone, and state mandated testing has concluded. With nine weeks remaining, I asked my students to reflect on themselves as readers and writers so far, and as always, I received many interesting answers! Thus, in Mr. Fitz fashion, I'd like to use their thoughts late this Sunday night to kick off the final push to summer. "Before I was put in this class I would barely ever read, but the last 9 weeks I noticed I've read more than I ever have." "I have finally finished a book in many years after coming into this class. I have changed by suddenly wanting to read more books during my free time." "I've really taken an interest in the books I read. I even read more in my down time. I have learned that I can relate to a lot of my books and they can assist me in certain situations." Words like these make me ecstatic! My students are getting it, finding themselves in books and slowly making reading part of their lives, a ha...

It was slow at first, a trickle of nervous educators moving into the small gym drop by drop, and then, the deluge. Our line was three or four or five deep, all waiting patiently with portfolios in hand and hopeful eyes. I harnessed all of my focus to engage each teacher, offering my full attention for a few fleeting moments, listening for that perfect fit. By noon, my feet aching, I flipped through the folder of English applicants, pleased with the possibility that awaits. Saturday was the Super Teacher Job Fair for my district, and this year, my campus hosted. Like my own house when company comes, our school sparkled for its early morning visitors. I had the honor of manning our campus table with my fellow department chairs in hopes of discovering the right teachers to join our ranks. Once the chaos begins, it is an onslaught of people, but it just may be one of my favorite things to do. I love watching people in general, and when I know those I'm watching are teachers, it...

It's Sunday evening, my usual writing time. It's a beautiful, rainy, graying day, and I'm snuggled in a comfy chair in a comfy sweater. The new wrinkle this day - I'm listening to Hamilton,  and it's causing all sorts of flashes in my mind. You see, I made the mistake of admitting to my Academic Decathlon team that I'd not listened to the soundtrack start to finish... so they fixed that problem in the many hours we were trapped in a giant vehicle together last weekend at the state meet. I see my self turning into the hotel parking lot one more time as "Take a Break" plays. I hear all five of my riders singing at the top of their voices as "My Shot" plays. I laugh again as I remember them rapping the cabinet battles - edgy words and all - while watching my face!  But most of all, I am again feeling the momma-like pride about all nine of those kids. It's sometimes hard to explain just how proud I am of them. Words just don't do it. An...

"I can't stop reading this book! I've never liked a book this much before!"  - Lexie, English 2, first period. Beautiful, musical words to my English teacher ears! I grinned for hours after Lexie told me that last Friday, especially since the book she's referring to is my absolute favorite young adult book, The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson . I've read it three times. Only three! I guarantee I'll read it again too. There's just something about those words in the most amazing combinations that grab me every time! My co-teacher, Mr. Barb, tells me it's  because I am the main character, Lennie. Maybe. I've never had a sister. I played the flute rather than the clarinet. But in some ways, I guess I get her. And one day, when I grow up, I want to write like Nelson does. One day... So selling this book to my sophomore readers is rarely a problem. I gush over it every time I talk it to them; I just can't help it! And finding a reader ...