Mrvaudrey

Tag: gifts

  • I should probably explain…

    In my job, I banter with students quite a bit. I record a lot of their chatter on my computer–it makes for good writing later.

    Avery: None of the solutions work!
    Vaudrey: You have to show your work on paper. Paper is smarter than your brain.
    Daniel: Nuh-uh! Paper is made out of trees and trees arenbt smart.
    Vaudrey: I know that, I mean your brain is smarter on paper.
    Victor: Your brain canbt get out of your body or you die.

    Mark: Mr. Vaudrey, I heard about this guy on the History channel who ran, um, from San something all the way to LA without stopping. It was like three marathons in a row.
    Nymnh: Duh, itbs called Forrest Gump.
    Vaudrey: Forrest Gump is a fictional story.
    Nymnh: No! Then why is there Bubba Gump Shrimp Company?

    This particular short post isn’t about those, however. On Wednesday (before Nancy’s Christmas gift on Friday), Jasmine came into my class and said, “I brought the shirt!”

    Now before you write angry comments about what a terrible person I am, there is a backstory:

    In my class of Honors students, I permit a little more time for non-math chatter because the actual math doesn’t take them as long as the other classes. I permit some chatter in all my classes because I want students on my side. One day in the Honors class went like this:

    Vaudrey: Good morning, first period. This is as loud as I can talk, so go easy on me today.
    Student 1: What’s wrong?
    Vaudrey: Eh, I’m just a little sick.
    Student 2: You should stay home!
    Vaudrey: I could, but it’s easier just to come in. Besides, who would teach the class?
    Student 3: I would!
    Student 2: When we’re sick, we stay home.
    Vaudrey: Well… I’m more important than you.

    This, of course, was met with rolling in the aisles and several rounds of “Aw, naw!” We all had a little chuckle and Jasmine’s shrill voice rang out.

    Jasmine: I’m gonna put that on a T-shirt!

    Several more guffaws and rounds of “I’ll buy that shirt!” and the class went on to discuss the addition of polynomials.

    Well, a few weeks later, I got a homemade Christmas present that I wore proudly all day.

    Here’s the front of it.

    Obviously, I explained the shirt to every teacher, student, and staffer that saw it. As a stand-alone article, I probably won’t wear it to the mall or anything, but as a student gift, it’s fabulous.

    And if she thought I meant what i said, she wouldn’t have made the shirt.

  • Nancy’s Christmas Gift

    (Names and details have been changed for confidentiality.)

    bb&and was recently examined for ADHD.b

    I lean back at my desk withB relief and close the e-mail. I wonder if she got prescribed anything. Maybe that will calm her down.

    Thatbs the problem with students like Nancybthey really challenge your teaching philosophy.

    On the one side, I want all of my students to succeed and learn Algebra in my class. On the other hand, I would secretly love for a test to render Nancy a bSpecial-Edb label, so she could have an aide to supervise her, or (even easier) get her out of my class. About 92% of me wants her to succeed in my class with no help.

    But that 8% of meb& oh, I hope for a release from her yelling, leaving her desk, poking other students, standing next to me during a lesson with her hand up, and other impulsive middle-schooler behaviors. But that 8% is present in every one of my sighs, every exasperated response, and every time I rub my temples as she asks, bMr. Vaudrey, am I annoying?b

    Yes, Nancy. Yes.

    You annoy me and every other student in the class when you call out to them across the room during a test, when you ask questions to people who arenbt even looking at you, and especially when you monitor whobs next for the bathroom pass. Youbre annoying when you proclaim that youbll buy students expensive birthday gifts, but never follow through.

    Itbs annoying, even though Ibm pretty sure your mom is unemployed, and your promise to buy Brandon an iPad is all pomp to mask the shame.

    Nancybs mom is baffled at how to control her. There are rumors that she has Nancy stand in the corner for hours at a time just so she can have some peace. The staff at school isnbt sure where Dad is, but we know that the family doesnbt have much money. Nancy waited weeks to get glasses and didnbt bring any of the four items she promised for the class party.

    So itbs Thursday before Winter Break. Nancy comes to my class before school starts.

    bGood morning, Nancy. Youbre about 5 hours early to class.b

    She smiles, shuffles her feet and avoids eye contact. bUmb& Mr. Vaudrey? Likeb& my mom works at Nordstrombs andb& umb& I didnbt know what to get youb& sob& umb& like, web& uh. We got you this.b She holds out a small, unassuming gift bag with a bent tag and a card. To: Mr. Vaudrey. From: Nancy.

    bThank you, Nancy! This is the first gift Ibve gotten this year. Thank you very much.b I shake her hand and hold the gift still, hoping to signal to her that itbs polite to leave after you give a gift. She gets the hint and clumps off to first period in her too-big shoes.

    Back behind my desk, I open the card first, like the good boy my mother raised. The card, written in Nancybs pointed scrawl says, bMr. Vaudrey thank you very much for help me in my work and helping me be a good person inclass.b

    I peel back the tissue paper. Inside the bag are cologne samples from Nordstrombs.

    From a low-income family who wanted to give a gift to their daughterbs teacher.