Last Day in Harlem Before Winter Break

Sweaty bodies packed into one another and at every stop, more bodies wanting to get on.  Rainy days in New York are miserable on the subway and yet such a bonding experience for all the people involved.  

It was the last day of teaching in Harlem.  When I entered the school's hallway (there are 3 schools in one building) I was shocked to hear the loud voices of children.  I walked by the classrooms that are usually still, silent, hands folded, and saw a terrifying sight: gingerbread house building.  The smell of sugar was in the air and so was its sound.  This was going to be an interesting day.

And yet somehow, it was one of our most productive days yet.  Perhaps because I dropped my expectations for behavior and just pumped through some very specific teaching points with the promise of a party at the end.  The party never happened; we were actually too wrapped up in the agenda.  I'm still not sure how this happened.  I think normally I would have to be more strict with behavior, but today it wasn't the center of my attention anymore, and that was a nice little vacation.  

And now two weeks before I see them again.  Please dear students, practice.  It is exciting to see the potential start to churn.  Let's not lose too much.