Gotta love the Constitution

For the past few weeks we have been studying the Constitution. It has been one of the best teaching experiences that I have had. For one of the culminating activities of the unit, I had the students create podcasts about the amendment that means the most to them. Check it out at my teaching website.

Perhaps it is the upcoming presidential election, but students are really getting into our discussions of our government. We are holding a mock primary election (one of the benefits of Oregon having such a late primary--it actually fits in) and the students have had quite a few good debates over some pretty serious issues. On Thursday of this week, Peter DeFazio is coming to visit with my students (he is our representative in the US House) and the kids can't wait to ask him some pretty great questions.

I know that I have previously stated my support for Barack Obama. I have tried to make sure that my students have no idea which candidate I prefer. But as I watch these young 13 and 14 year old students getting excited about participating in government, I can't help but give some of that credit to Obama. We have watched a few speeches from each of the candidates (through the beauty of YouTube) and have looked through their websites and you can see the excitement that has even extended to middle school students. Once again, I disagree with many of the policies that Obama supports; however, he is honestly inspiring previously disinterested generations to finally get involved in government. It is a beautiful thing!

My Boys

Lately I have been thinking a lot about how grateful I am for my little stinkyfaces. Perhaps it is because of my relentlessly busy schedule and maybe I am often thinking about them when I am away from home or it might just be that the mere thought of them motivates me to try to be a better person and to do my best as I try to provide for my little family.

If you have ever meet these boys, you know that they aren't quiet, shy little boys that constantly look and act adorable. I admit that I think that they are pretty good looking little guys, but they have already developed into very independent, stubborn little beings.

James might be one of the brightest little four year olds that I have ever met. But his most endearing quality is his undying love for his family. He has such trusting eyes and often makes me nervous when he looks at me like I can do no wrong. James is going through a superhero phase (one which I have definitely encouraged with my own love for superheroes). He wants so badly to have super powers and be able to run fast like the Flash, fly through the air like Superman, or turn things to ice like Iceman from the X-men. As he has learned to read, he will often sit down and read a book on his own or read to his little brother. He loves anything that has to do with dinosaurs, sharks, or underpants. James is honestly one of my best friends. I love to hang out with him, play superheroes, and find his excitement for life contagious.

Owen has such a great smile and he has definitely figured out how to use it to his advantage. When he is sitting on his chair after doing something particularly naughty, he often will just smile or laugh because he knows that it is hard to resist (he gets it from his mother--the contagious laugh, not the defiance--well maybe a little of both). He loves anything that James loves and will follow him around for hours if James will let him. However, Owen is very independent as well. He loves to be able to do something on his own, even if it takes MUCH longer than necessary. He loves to tell a good joke and still thinks it is pretty funny that his daddy lit himself on fire. Every day he welcomes me home with what is possible the greatest hug of all time. He knows just exactly how to wrap his little arms around you and stick his head right into your neck that makes all the worries of the world go away.

I just hope that they never get to a point where they don't want to hang out with me. I worry about the day when they realize that their dad is not a perfect person with secret super powers.

Valentine's Day Massacre

I hate Valentine's Day. I know that is such a harsh statement, but for the past five years I have had the opportunity to relive Valentine's Day from the eyes of one-hundred 8th graders. Do you remember what that was like? Somehow these kids convince their parents (most of which don't have enough money to provide their students with pencils and paper) to buy cheap stuffed teddy bears made in China holding red hearts that say something so ridiculous as "Love You Forever." Girls come with roses wrapped in cheap cellophane that their "boyfriend"s mother purchased from the man standing on the street corner. Of course none of these things fit in the student's locker and they either traipse around with them from class to class, proudly showing off the cheap jewelry that they have convinced themselves is a real diamond (but it is most definitely not) and whatever else they have received from their true love.

So yesterday, one of my students came into class with a large stuffed animal holding a rose. She asked me if I could put it back behind my desk for her during class because it was too big to fit in her locker. I replied, "Why don't you just throw it in the garbage? You are going to do that in two weeks anyway when you break up." My class all sighed and gave me dirty looks, while my student vowed that she would at least be with this boy for the next month because she really, really liked him. I marked it down on my calendar and we are planning to revisit this discussion on the 28th.

I know that this was a pretty harsh response and I should at least allow my students to live in this fantasy world while they are young. But I always see the other kids, the brilliant, quiet girl that sits in class and barely says a word, but is a fantastic writer and reads great books like To Kill a Mockingbird and Pride and Prejudice and understands them and loves them in a way far and above her 8th grade peers. She continues to sit quietly on Valentine's Day...she doesn't have any stuffed animals or cheap chocolates that come in a cheap, red, heart-shaped box with a picture of a frog on it. I just hope that she understands how great she is and doesn't worry about all of these ridiculous valentines.

Don't get me wrong. I am lucky enough to share the day with the woman of my dreams. I am glad to have a chance to express to her how much I love and care for her, how lucky I am to be her valentine. But seeing the emotions and craze of these 14 year old students, makes me so happy that I don't have to go through that again.

Craziness

Owie, James, and Daddy

Me and my school friends--Scott Olds (science), Cliff Schutte (math)
I just got a new laptop through a technology initiative that I am involved with at school. We decided to have a little fun with the camera. :)

Our Beloved Prophet

Last Sunday our beloved prophet died. I just read through my journal entry of the day that President Hinckley came to my mission in Paris, France. I remember how amazed I was as I sat in a small chapel in France with just 200 other missionaries, listening to our prophet and his wife speak. At that moment I knew more than ever before that this man was a prophet for our day, a man called of God. Later that evening when he spoke to a few thousand French members and he challenged the members to prepare themselves for a temple to be built in Paris, I again felt that overwhelming love for this incredible man.

I am selfishly saddened by his passing; but am so glad that he is finally able to be with his dear wife. I hope that I can always follow his example of kindness and hope.

Fire Hazard

A blurry pic of my blistered leg (it is upside down, sorry).


The damage done to my good Gap pants.

Well, this is kind of embarrassing, but something definitely worth sharing. Yesterday (1/24/08) I arrived at my classroom to find that the heat was not working. It was a frigid 50 degrees and after having a short meeting with some teachers before school, my friend, Scott Olds (the science teacher) offered to bring over a hot plate (which is really just a single stove top burner) from his room that I could put over by my desk to at least have some warmth in the room. I accepted and decided to place the plugged in hot plate underneath my desk, in an effort to hide it from the fire marshal that was visiting our school that morning. I continued through the morning, teaching my first block class (US History and English combined--comprising two class periods). My students and I were wearing our coats as I taught for those first two hours of the day. When the bell rang for them to leave class, I went back to my desk and sat down to take attendance. All of the sudden, I couldn't believe how hot it was down there in such a short time. It felt like I was sitting right next to a campfire and my leg hairs were being singed (burnt, not singing songs). I quickly looked down and saw that my left pant leg was on fire! One of my students had walked in to place her books on her desk and I said, "Ashley, help me, I'm on fire!" She nonchalantly walked over to her desk and sat her stuff down and then looked back at me and yelled, "You really are on fire!" I wasn't quite sure how to put out the fire and especially stop it from spreading up my leg. I tried blowing on it, slapping at it with my hand, and stomping on it with my other foot. I even thought, "Stop, drop, and roll." Then I thought, "That won't really help with this fire around my ankle." My next thought was to drop my pants and step on it, but this didn't seem like such a good choice with a young female student in the room. So I continued to swat it with my hands, finally deciding I would just have to smother it with my hands. This was finally successful; however, it left me with a few blisters on my fingers and other blisters on my leg, only one of which is pretty serious.

My next concern was that I was going to set off the sprinkler system in my room and the fire alarm throughout the school. I could imagine what the news report would say, "Teacher lights own pants on fire and ruins school." I was able to open the windows and push the smoke out, leaving pant ash as I ran to the window. My student, Ashley, left for her next class after we had a good laugh and she had put out a small paper fire over by my desk by stomping on it (she had just come in to drop off her books before heading to orchestra). Five minutes later, when I was walking downstairs to report the incident to my principal, I walked past another student of mine who said, "So, I heard you set yourself on fire Mr. Fuller." It's amazing how fast news travels in a middle school. The rest of the day was spent with colleagues and students laughing until tears flowed or sides hurt. One teacher came in with her medical gloves and first aid kit in hand. The ribbing continued throughout the next day, as teachers used the incident to cheer up a dreary, cold January day. I received a fire-themed gift every class period from other teachers. By the end of the day, my desk was covered in flames, fire candies, fire engines, fire dogs, and a specially-made fire safety manual just for me. This is an experience that will always stay with me; I am pretty sure that I won't be able to escape it. I can picture them teasing me at my future retirement party, 25 years from now, still reminiscing about the time that Fuller lit his own pants on fire.


Here is a picture of my desk at the end of the day on Friday.

Does anyone else feel like you are watching history in the making?

Throughout the past year, I have struggled with deciding between the myriad of candidates running for president. I have conflicting feelings. Growing up in Utah, I feel like I have been indoctrinated into thinking that the Republicans are right. Being a member of the LDS church, I feel like I should show my support for an LDS candidate that actually has a somewhat legitimate shot at being in the White House. Although I despise Mrs. Clinton, I do recognize this moment as one that might not happen again for a very long time--seeing a woman as the leader of our country (granted, this is not even remotely close enough of a motivator to vote for her). Throughout all of this, there has been one man that has inspired me. After reading his book, The Audacity of Hope, I fell for Obama's love for our country and for the way that his words motivate me to be a better American. After watching his win in Iowa and listening to his speech, I really felt that I was watching history being made.

I often have my students read primary sources in the 8th grade US History class that I teach. We read great speeches made by Abraham Lincoln, MLK Jr, JFK.....I felt like this speech could be up there. I can imagine that future generations might be studying the speeches from a Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama. Are these reminiscent of the Lincoln-Douglas debates? All I know is that I am grateful to have a candidate that inspires change in America's citizens. It is refreshing to hear someone so eloquently speak about our great country and the hope that he has for America. I don't agree with some of his policies (health care, merit pay for teachers....), but I can't help but get caught up in a renewed sense of hope about the greatness of this country.