Dear Omar
Dear Omar,
Can I let you in on a secret? I hate standardized testing almost as much as you do.
For teachers, MAP testing is a logistical and emotional nightmare. Shouldering the stress of 102 preteens who want to prove that they are smarter than an often-ambiguous test is nerve-wracking. Battling 34 computers in various states of reliability with chargers and extension cords everywhere is enough to drive a teacher mad.
“What’s this word?”
I can’t tell you that. It’s a reading test.
“The “M” key is missing. I can’t type my answer.”
It’s right here. Press this divot in the keyboard.
“My internet isn’t working.”
Have you tried hitting the refresh button?
“My computer just crashed.”
Why isn’t the charger plugged in?
“I’m distracted. Nelson is breathing real loud.”
Despite all the frustrations and the grueling three-hour testing blocks, today was an incredible day. You had the second highest growth in the entire 6th grade: 22 points in 5 months. Elisa grew 19, Angelique 21, and Keenan grew 39 points.
I am ridiculously proud of you. In fact, I am especially proud of you. Keenan exhibited more growth, yes, but he told me that he didn’t put forth his best effort on the fall assessment, so his amount of growth is a little inflated. I have watched you pour your energy into these exams and into class every day without fail. Your growth is impressive, but not astonishing. Your growth is an accurate reflection of your hard work and effort.
Hard work pays off, and you should be very proud of yourself. Keep up the good work!
All my love,
-Ms. Jackson
From Nina
P.S. – You were the one that got me into books. I never liked them, but now I do. Love you!
Dear Taye
Dear Taye,
In the awkward moment of calm after the chaos today, I slowly surveyed the classroom. Jerome was perched in his desk, knees by his face, turned toward the back of the room. Lincoln’s head hung low, as he squeezed a torn paper in his fist. Nikkya, Amber and Marcela were crying softly, and the echoes of my unpleasant tirade made the room feel thick with anger.
“Man! This would’ve never happened in my old class!
Your voice, stronger and clearer than I’ve ever heard it, sliced through the frustration in the room.
“I want to learn things!”
I could not contain my disbelief. In a matter of minutes, you transformed from a whiny, often off-task preteen from my 2nd period class into a scholar-leader of 3rd period. I have never heard you say that you want to learn.
Looking a Jerome, still contorted in the desk in front of you, you became a young man of conviction and leadership.
“Come on man, you need to get serious! Face the front!”
Jerome giggled awkwardly but refused to budge, while the rest of us held our breath in admiration of your courage and conviction.
“Now, come on. You know how to do this. Put your feet under your desk! Get with it. Sit up straight! Look at the teacher! Man, this is baby stuff. Move it.”
Not only did Jerome listen to you and change his actions, but did you notice that Lincoln lifted his head and dropped his paper? Even Julian straightened up and faced the front.
I couldn’t have done a better job of getting the class back on task. In fact, you showed more maturity and leadership than I did today. I let the frustration get to me, and I yelled. You took the same emotion and calmly but firmly addressed the class as one of their own and simultaneously as a leader who was ready to rise above pettiness and learn.
Honestly, I was initially against the schedule change that caused you to move to this class. As you witnessed today, there is a unique blend of personalities in this room that can bring out the worst. Or, in your case, bring out the best.
I am proud of you, inspired by you and thankful that you are in this class. I promise that you will learn in 3rd period. We all will, with your help.
All my love,
-Ms. Jackson
From Josefa
Dear Julian
Dear Julian,
I am holding you to a high standard.
Yes, you could say I’m being picky. Writing your first and last name on every paper you turn in is required in this classroom. You are not a rock star, yet. Once upon a time, even Oprah, Bono and Rihanna had to write their full names in English class. Someday, when the world knows you as “Julian, just Julian,” you are welcome to perfect your autograph. Until then, I expect to be able to read a legible version of your first and last name at the top of every paper I receive from you.
The rumors are true. I’m cracking down on spelling and punctuation as well. By this point in the year, we should all know the difference between “their, they’re and there.” Words that are included in the reading passage must be spelled correctly in your answer. And for goodness’ sake, you must have a period, exclamation point or question mark at the end of every sentence and a capital letter at the beginning of the next one! By the way, abbreviations are not suitable for academic writing. LOL. #smh
Why does this matter?
I’m not trying to torture you with nit-picky details. I’m training you for excellence.
Think about playing soccer. Imagine that Coach Maddox shows up to practice today and instructs you all to run a warm-up lap around the field.
Let’s say that instead of running your lap, you decide to walk, and Coach doesn’t stop you. What happens next week? You’ll probably walk again and again until maybe you even stop taking a warm-up lap at all.
Before long, you’ll be sitting in the grass, staring at your cleats, while your teammates become faster and stronger with each lap they run. All you’ll become is smug and stagnant. While it probably seems like you got an easy break, the small habit of choosing not to run will negatively affect you when it matters most.
If Coach did not hold you responsible for showing up to practice and putting in your best effort every time, you would not develop the discipline and skills you need to be excellent.
Do you think Messi sits out his warm-up lap? Or is he the one leading his team in both the daily disciplines at practice and the number of goals scored on an international stage?
Excellence is in the small details. Academically and athletically, you have the potential to be great. Start by taking pride in your work. I’ll know you’re proud of what you turn into me when I see your full name, best handwriting and spelling.
As small and significant as a warm-up lap, these habits will serve you well if you invest in them.
All my love,
-Ms. Jackson
From Antonio
Something to say.
I would like to say thank you, Ms. Jackson. Thank you for not giving up on me. You always keep me on task. Ms., honestly you teach like you been doing it forever. You make learning reading fun. You are a fun teacher. I am happy to be taught by you and honor to be your first class. I remember one day, I didn’t want to do nothing. It wasn’t a good day for me. But when I got to your class all I wanted to do is learn.
Dear Keandra
Dear Keandra,
They are wrong.
Ugly is not your reflection in the mirror but a reflection of their character.
Ugly is on the inside, festering under their skin.
They are wrong, and they are bullying you.
“Horse Face,” Mark Milligan smirked as he slid into the seat next to me on the first day of seventh grade. “We’ll call the new girl Horse Face!”
Everyone got a good laugh except for the apparently long-nosed, big teethed girl sitting in my desk. His words, foolish and mean-spirited, drew enormous, hot tears from my equine eyes.
More than a decade has passed since that traumatic first day of seventh grade, and yet I’m still a little insecure about whether my face actually does favor, of all creatures, a horse.
Ugly, ugly, ugly. It’s time for a realignment of the way we talk about what counts as ugly. Faces and braces, frizzy hairs and gawking stares, vicious lies and teary eyes. We have to stop tearing each other down and confront our own insecurities deep within.
That’s why those girls are saying mean things about you. You know that, right? They’re insecure, so they say something ugly before someone else can call them the very words they’re using to put you down.
It will get better. I have already met with the girls and their parents. Insecure or not, there is no excuse for the way they are treating you, and it has been made clear exactly what their consequences will be if they continue to bully you.
They are wrong about you. You are full of beauty and strength. Keep your chin up. They don’t deserve to get you down.
All my love,
-Ms. Jackson
From Shaun
Dear Randall
Dear Randall,
Sometimes, a secret to life presents itself over a sticky menu at a hamburger joint.
“Do you want sweet potato fries or regular fries?” the heavily-tattooed waiter asked patiently, as my mom puzzled over her choice.
“Um… Sweet potato! No, I think I want regular… Oh, I don’t know!” she sighed in exasperation.
The waiter’s beard curled into a smile, as he said six words that have become a Jackson family motto:
“Don’t fake who you really are.”
Suddenly mom’s choice was easy. In the end, she didn’t really want fancy fries; she wanted regular, salty, delicious French fries. She realized she was tempted to order sweet potato fries because they were trendy.
Most of the time we are faced with decisions that are more complicated than what type of side to order with our hamburgers. But the wise words of our waiter still ring true. If you know who you are, you can make decisions that you are proud of and that you won’t regret.
It’s a new year. You have a blank slate and a fresh start. Beginning today, you get to decide what you will be known for.
Who are you, really?
Are you the kid who storms out of class when he doesn’t get his way? Or is that how you fake who you really are, as you try to cover the pain of burying your brother a month before his fifteenth birthday?
Will you chose to continue to act like you don’t care about failing grades and daily phone calls to mom? Or will you be the young man I’ve seen glimpses of – the brilliant, kind and courageous Randall?
I have believed in you long before you believed in you. And I’m not finished holding on to hope. On this first day back to school, I want to challenge you to be the best version of yourself.
Who will you be? What will you do? What will people remember about you?
No one can choose for you, but you are not alone. I’m here to support and encourage you into becoming the man you and I both know that you can be.
From sweet potatoes to salty French fries, whether it’s a little decision or a big one, don’t fake who you really are, and don’t forget that I believe in you.
All my love,
-Ms. Jackson
Rivers & Roads 