Halloween is Over

There is such anticipation at school over Halloween.

The students plot their schemes to do their year "crawl" for candy. One would think that they never get candy during the rest of the year. Success is measured by the bags of candy they drag home.

Almost all of my students still participate in the yearly ritual. They all have an idea of what they will dress "as." Some dress up to help their brother and sister experience the event. There is no sense of danger that once accompanied trick or treating.

In the students eyes they expect teachers to "seed" their quest before they make the rounds. Handfuls of candy are often distributed and we are asked who we are going to be for Halloween. I refrained from such a practice.

Its over now. There a tales the students want to share.. thats a good thing if you are a speech teacher.

There is also a sort of stillness in that the really hot weather is over and sense that it is time to get down to business.

The class is still crawling through the "Rookie" and every little non verbal nuance is getting examined. We are working the state standards in literature except its not in reading but understanding. New words this week will be some of the "academic words." like sort, describe, explain, select.. you know the ones that always show up in the test maker's arsenal.

Forge on.. Christmas is not that far away.
: ) Pat