body size

I feel as if we are never truly conscientious of our body size.

I do not feel it and I do not tend to think it, but on a general global scale of body size... I am a small-medium. Sometimes I have thoughts about how there are certain students MUCH bigger than me but today I definitely had a mind-opening realization that almost ALL of my students are larger than me... INCLUDING my middle school students.

I am short. Ha, yes, alright we already know this but really... I am sitting there reprimanding students in my 8th grade geography class whom I sent out of my classroom and the young boys of 12years are taller than me. I am lecturing about behavior while they are standing over me. Then I am teaching in one of my junior English classes and a student throws a pencil-pouch at his friend.... I reprimand him, sending him outside and even though I am standing on the teacher's podium as we walks past me to the door he is STILL taller than me. I almost laughed on the spot.

Unfortunately, my body size makes my teaching life more complicated. The reality is that when we are smaller than our students, there will always be a slight questions of authority. However, I was going downstairs just now and came to cross paths with one of my students. I felt MUCH bigger as I gave her my usual "teacher's smile" saying hello and for a moment I actually was bigger than her... she glanced at me but then out of respect (as is the culture here) she looked down as she said, "Hello, Mrs.".

I suppose it is to say... if my behavior is respectable, if I am effective in my teaching, if I am stern and consistent with my expectations... then perhaps my size will not be a measure of my authority. I am beginning to see this as my students are responding more respectfully this year.

Anyways, just a few silly thoughts. I never imagined myself in the senior class admin. office with the head of department reprimanding a VERY tall male student of mine for asking me to call him "Slim Shady" in front of the whole class. Ha. The things kids say these days ;)

Cheers,
Lacey

Senegalese "Feel Good Music"

I was sitting here listening to music while working on class prep for the week and suddenly I felt the need to share. Below is a small taste of some of my "Senegalese feel good music". I hope you enjoy!


Queen Biz - Kedougou

Youssou Ndou - Casamance

 Ismael Lo - Jammu Africa

Aida Samb - Saraaba  OR (I LOVE this one too... maybe even more because it is just fun.)  Aida Samb - Lula Nex

Cat Stevens - Where Do the Children Play    Ok, right, not Senegalese but a gooden.


Much love,
Lacey