6th Grade Revisited – Desegregation

Wanted to give a quick history lesson further explaining why I’ve decided to revisit 6th grade. In the 1980’s court-ordered busing was enacted and so began desegregation or “bussing.” Many black kids were bussed to schools in predominantly white neighborhoods. It was an effort by the courts to have the right integrated mix of students throughout certain Indiana townships. The practice of bussing was phased out around 1998.

Prior to 6th grade I was among the two or three black students already living in a "white" township. I did face some of the normal teasing, or just down right mean spiritedness that most students face such as, being too fat, too skinny, wearing glasses, etc. However, the “reverse” prejudice I was about to encounter from the other blacks students entering the school system in 6th grade with the advent of bussing was a difficult pill to swallow, and one I wasn't prepared to take.

The adversity and bullying I endured was not fun at the time, but the fun I am having with my son the last couple of weeks makes the experience well worth it! Over and above what else might be taught, "the lemonade you can make from lemons" is perhaps the best lesson we 6th graders will learn this year.

So glad I am revisiting 6th grade!

6th Grade Revisited - The Third Week

OK - I met all my teachers on "Meet the Teacher Night," and they never even suspected my undercover operation! My husband being there as a decoy no doubt helped with the ruse, as they mistakenly thought I was there as a parent and not as a 6th grader. I am so clever.

Here are some key assignments we have to do this year: Make up our own country, name it, draw it and create its history. There is lots of reading and we have to memorize the Greek alphabet by a water clock.Huh? What is a water clock? I am thinking it is something that makes watery noises to distract the kids while they recite the Greek alphabet. Since I don't have a water clock lying around, this is what I am going to do to recreate the experience: After I memorize the alphabet, I will have one of my co-workers (she will act as the teacher) go with me to the second floor of our office. There is a toilet there that runs for about five minutes after you flush it, I am sure the sound will produce something similar to a water clock. I am clever and resourceful.

Oh, I almost forgot. My son is still sharing EVERYTHING with me whether I want to hear it or not. He even demonstrated the move the "love of his life" made on him during recess. She came over to him, put her elbow on his shoulder and said "How are you doing today?" He acted the whole thing out and showed me everything she did. I don't know what disturbed me more, the fact that some girl is hitting on my little baby boy on the playground or that now he is tall enough to put his elbow on my shoulder. They grow up too fast. Παραμονή που συντονίζεται (Stay Tuned in Greek)

6th Grade Revisited - The Library Experience

WARNING MOM DO NOT READ THIS PARAGRAPH SKIP TO SECOND PARAGRAPH – My days in the library in sixth grade back in 1981 were spent hiding out from bullies during recess. They hated me and wanted to kick my butt just because I was not “black enough.” I did not read while I was there, just hid in between the stacks until the bell rang.

MOM YOU CAN BEGIN READING – Fast forward to now –My new opportunity to do sixth grade up right! Yea!! I went to our local library to get the same book my son is reading in school. I had to head downstairs to the “Kidz Zone” to get this particular book. As I am walking downstairs, I am thinking “Hmmmm I wonder if other 6th graders’ knees and ankles pop and crack as they walk down these stairs?” I guess I could have taken the elevator, but that would NOT be sixth-grade like.

Before I could leave with the book, I had to pay a 70 dollar library fine, (Ugh…don’t ask. I think I have bad library karma. Instead of using the books as a shield to hide me from the oblivious librarian back in the day, I should have picked up a couple books and read a few of them…I am sure that would have pleased the library gods.)

Anyway, my son and I started reading our book. It is called Swindle; it is about 6th graders, for 6th graders – SWEET! I am all excited, but then something happens. We are doing our “mandated” 20 minutes of reading and my son is flipping through those pages like nobody’s business, meanwhile my adult ADD kicks in. I am thinking about dinner, work the next day, spots on the carpet, etc…He read ten pages to my two in about 15 minutes. Now, tabloids I can read…go ahead ask me anything about Bennifer and Brangelina. But this stuff?…Actually having to like read and like learn and stuff…I hope I can make it, only 176 more days to go…STAY TUNED!

6th Grade Revisited - Charlie the Unicorn

I thought my 6th grade year would be all work and no play. I thought my son would enjoy coming home each day barking out my homework assignments to me. But to my surprise he came home one day this week letting me in on the latest craze. He told me ALL the 6th graders think “Charlie the Unicorn” is the funniest thing they have ever seen. I said “well since I am in 6th grade and all, let’s check out Mr. Charlie the Unicorn, where can we find it?” (I picked up the remote control to our TV, tuned to the guide) “Who airs it? What channel is it on, I will DVR it.” My son laughs and says, “No silly it is on You Tube." Of course it is... how could I be so silly? Anyway, we watched Charlie the Unicorn together, all the while I am thinking I am a bad influence, shouldn’t we be doing math or something but I could not stop, I was riveted by this crazy unicorn.

OK, if you have not seen the “latest craze” amongst 6th graders, Charlie the Unicorn on YouTube, I am not going to be the spoiler, but I will say it is bizarre to say the least. But, for some strange reason after the three-minute sketch was over, I started giggling, I really could not stop. My son was rolling his eyes at me saying “Mom, you and my classmates have low standards.” He walks out of the room and I am still giggling, at that moment it was like some Freaky Friday thing was happening in our house. It brought me back to those 1980’s Saturday Night Live Mr. Bill sketches. Ohhhh Noooo Mr. Bill…. remember? Horrible things happened to Mr. Bill but yet it was hilarious for some reason.

Hey turns out Mr. Bill is on YouTube also, so I can watch it anytime….ahhhh 6th grade in the 21st century rocks!…STAY TUNED!

OH…P.S – I picked up a book from the library yesterday, I am going to read the same book my son is reading in his class…more on this later.

6th Grade Revisited - The First Week

Just to recap I have decided I am going back to sixth grade with my son, spiritually, mentally, emotionally…just not physically of course…that would be too creepy. Since my 6th grade year was pretty much a big ole mountain of suck, I feel this is my opportunity for a “do over!”

So I asked my son on Wednesday (his first day), “how was school?” he sad “good”, on Thursday, the response was “good” and then on Friday I got “good” (those of you who have boys this response is probably all too familiar). Then I said, well son you are going to have to give me more info because I am starting a blog about “our” sixth grade experience….and then the flood gates start pouring! I could not get him to shut up – note to all parents if you want to get info from your kids tell them their stories will be featured in a blog. Those who have introverted kids let them know the names will be changed to protect the innocent. Extroverted, well, tell them their names will be in all caps with a 14 inch font.

Anyway, not much going on this week, our teachers are nice, the love of our life (well ever since 3rd grade at least) is in EVERY class we have and we don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet. We have had some drama…WE CAN’T GET OUR LOCKER OPEN!!! Just about every kid in the class knows our locker combination because they have made attempts to open it for us.

So now my son has this fear that a bully armed with his locker combination will shove him in his own locker one day. He watches too much TV.

Well that is it for the first week can’t wait to get started on some real 6th grade homework I am so glad I don’t have to memorize states and their capitals…that was 5th grade… whew! …STAY TUNED!

6th Grade was AWFUL!

There is a saying that people don't change, this is not true...they do. I did. In grades K-5th I was gregarious, funny, you might even say the class clown. Then came sixth grade. It was the fall of 1981 and the first year of "bussing" in our school district. Initially, I thought bussing was a wonderful idea, well only because my parents said it was. I did not know any better. It was awful. I am black and grew up in white suburbia, had white friends and I guess a white dialect. My "whiteness" caused many of my new bussed black classmates to despise me. Daily many of them would taunt me and some wanted to beat me up. Well, all of this changed me, I began to withdraw, my grades suffered and I barely spoke to anyone. My introvertedness made things worse because white people began to hate me thinking I was a snob. Geeesh all I wanted to do was go to school, learn, hang out with my friends and sprinkle in a little class clowniness from time to time. I let the bullies win.

But that is behind me, I am 39 and I have a second chance! That's right a second chance to revisited 6th grade. My son is starting the sixth grade and I have decided to relive it through him. I will do some of his assignments (I will post our work on this blog), read his materials, discuss classroom activities as if I am there. I will do everything but eat the cafeteria food. I have to draw the line somewhere...I am so thankful I get to revisit 6th grade...I think this just might be therapeutic...STAY TUNED!