(as read at "When Writing Teachers Write VI - October 17, 2007)


I am about to tell this class of 132, good-bye. Are you kidding? I can’t do it! I won’t do it! In fact, I might even move up…. again! Looping, that’s what the educational theorists have called it! Wait! I did that last year! Sure did, followed this group of then 7th graders to 8th grade. Can’t do it, again! Sure I can do it, but I know that the freshmen English teacher has been drooling to get these students for some time! So I must let them go; I scan the room in disbelief that these remarkable, talented young people will no longer call me their English teacher. Being a former player, now a coach, and just having a pure passion for the game of basketball, I seek out my starting five for the game that we all play - life.


Chandler –


What an overachiever! Typical overachiever – hair pulled back in a ponytail, glasses, hard-worker, one hand in the air and one hand writing furiously, the one who gives you that reassuring nod while you struggle to find the lost copies of the worksheets that you ran off at 8:01 that morning. She is my rock. She always comes prepared for today, tomorrow, and the next day’s class. She constantly waits for me before or after class, and asks, “Have you done grades? If so, has mine changed any from the last time I checked.” I believe she is the only person that gets upset with 102% for a class grade. Who better to lead my team!


Brennon-


Have you ever heard of the Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences? Didn’t actually think they were true until I meet this young man – kinesthetic learner. It took awhile to get use to this young man-all the shaking and moving. The most talented writer I have ever encountered! Could whip a five paragraph essay out in no time! One of those students who any challenge I would throw out at him, he could tackle in less than twenty minutes. Not long enough for a forty-five minute class! By December, I had him under control! “Brennon, I think Kenisha needs someone to peer revise her paper!” And boy was he as honest as they come! I chatted many times with him on what constructive criticism was and how to use it. He could have another student’s paper marked up in red in no time. Yet by the end of the year, he was a better teacher than I was. That’s exactly why I have him as my guard. He would be a great shooter, but I bet he would be better at defense.


Kenisha-


Sweetest person you could ever meet, yet the saddest life story that one would ever hear! I discovered from her peers that she lived in and out a car or hotel. Same daily outfit – red hearted valentine shirt, pair of light faded blue jeans still covered in lunch mustard stain from a week ago with uncombed hair ratted in the back. Her mom forced in and out of prison for drugs. Heard enough? Sure, I gave this information to the counselor, but little they could do. She was the first to school and the last to leave school. She became my second daughter, my basketball manager, my track manager, my before morning breakfast partner and afternoon snack partner. Even with all this, she gave 110% in class and her grade demonstrated her hard-work. She never complained or sang to me her sad life story. The most optimistic person I have ever met, life was great to her. That is exactly why I made her a forward; she blocks anything ugly life might shoot at her.


Brianna –


Quietest young lady you would ever meet. Even when I tried to talk, joke, or ask a question, she would not say a word; her eyes would fall to the table, then her hair would fall in front of her face and her head would bow down before me. At first, I never knew if she was listening to me or dreaming about what she wanted to do after my 8th hour English class. However, that was clarified by her first writing assignment. I read one of her first papers and discovered that the pen was her tool of communication; she was listening to every mini-lesson. It was her outstanding writing that did the talking for her. A week before school ended, I walked over to my desk and found a note with a beautiful gold star pin with a blue stone placed in the center. I had noticed that Brianna was slow to leave my class that day, and she was still gathering her books from the table and mumbled under her breath, “My mom wanted me to give that to my favorite teacher.” Before I could say a word she hustled out the door, but her words will stick with me forever. The blue center of that star will never be forgotten, and that is why Brianna becomes the center of this team.


Kennon –


“Class Clown” were some of the elementary teacher’s comments! “Behavior gets in the way of his learning” another comment written by his transfer middle school teacher I received Kennon’s cum file. Before I actually met him, I knew what I was in for- a lot of work with little time. Keenon came to me in December of 2005 and his reading score showed he possessed the reading level of a 2nd grader. Any scientist (or anyone for that matter) could see that his behavior covered up for his lack of reading skills. I began to work with him individually, and he thrived on this attention. Through conferencing and differentiated instruction, Kennon slowly progressed. I can’t part the Red Sea, but Kennon moved an entire grade level in a half a year. Not only did he start to succeed, but Kennon was a fun young man. He was a class clown, but every class needs one of those. Kennon symbolizes not only success but a love for life. Success and fun are needed to win games. That is why Kennon concludes my starting five as a forward.


Edward -


The 6th Man Award recognizes the NBA’s top player in a reserve role and is voted on by a panel of sportswriters. I am going to declare myself as the ultimate decision maker of this award for this class for 2010. On the morning of October 13, 2005, Edward sat in my first hour and completed his own personal narrative, but by 10 p.m. that same day Edward had lost his life to a drunk driver while riding his bike. You know I could say I learned a lot from this Edward’s death, but I think it is more important to say I learned more about how Edward lived his life than anything. Edward wasn’t a bad or good student. He was what our district calls those “the middle of the road” students. He earned average grades and did enough to squeak through my class. But Edward was just a fun kid to be around – he lived life the way Edward wanted to live life. Edward displayed that wonderful transformation of maturity that students undergo from 7th into 8th grade. This process was so great that I telephoned his mom to let her know of his growth. I am so honored to give this special award to a very special young man. He may be gone, but his marks on my life will never disappear.


I have done it! The clock has run out of time and the referee has called the game. As for me, I have said my good-byes and cried my last tears. As for those 132 faces, they have disappeared from my life as fast as they came. The game of life will continue to bounce in a new direction – a direction that leads them to life’s many victories.