Unnamed

So, I published a book. I guess its a little odd that I haven’t posted about it until now. It’s been in production for months, and now actually exists in print on bound pages, with a cover and everything. It all happened so quickly, and unexpectedly. I didn’t even have time to name the book.

I’m joking. Sort of. We named it, “Unnamed.”

It’s about characters in the Bible that God used powerfully who are unnamed. I think their lives say some interesting and important things about our lives.

It looks like this:

I’d be honored if anyone read it. I wish I could send copies to all of you, but truthfully, I couldn’t afford it. You could get one here, though: Unnamed.

I certainly wanted to let you guys know about it– especially those of you who’ve been tracking along with me for a while– because it took some of its inspiration from the April 14, 2009 entry called, “Named.”

Honestly, I haven’t fully processed the emotions of holding it in my hand. It’s a life-long dream realized. It feels pretty good. Simultaneously, I feel like the same old Chris. It’s weird… suddenly, now I’m the guy writing books…? Has the world gone mad?

I Quit Friday, Take Two

This time, I gave six months notice.

That’s right, I had a chat with my principal the other day and let her know that I would be resigning from the NYC DOE (Department of Education) at the end of this school year. Since our school is being phased out over the next two years (too much violence and bad stuff– the city finally pulled the plug), teachers will be excessed each year to reflect the shrinking student population. I wanted to give as much notice as possible to make sure someone else doesn’t lose their job.

Here’s the plan:

Judo Flip

I am starting a martial arts club at my school.

To which, you might ask, “don’t you have to know something about martial arts to do that?”

I’m so glad you asked. I would say, definitely, “yes.” And I do. Well… I did.

Fifteen years ago.

Out of Respect for the Dead

On the Friday before Halloween, as my kids were finishing up a math problem that had something to do with least common multiples and pumpkins, I quietly lowered the blinds. When I turned out the lights, because it was overcast outside, it became remarkably dark in the classroom.

I wheeled my old, wooden chair to the front of the room and sat down with a squeak. All eyes were on me.

Pinching Myself

I learned some things about my school. Things I knew from experience, but now also statistically. In our meetings the day before the students arrived, I learned that we were the lowest performing school in Manhattan in terms of academics. I learned that we had the highest number of student injuries per capita. And I learned that the school had one more year to turn itself around or it would be phased out.

And if it doesn’t turn around, it should.

Summertime…

…and the livin’ is easy.

I am six weeks into summer vacation, and I am beginning to feel a bit like a human being again. It’s wonderful.

I want to apologize for being such a slacker about posting. A number of you have been asking about my plans for next year, and its time for an update.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

That’s the bell.

The end.

Round 10

When I came back from Spring break, there were ten weeks left to the school year. To me, these were like ten rounds of a boxing match. I just needed to knock them out, one at a time.

From the comfort of a day off, ten weeks doesn’t sound like much. Of course, neither does a three-minute round.

Children

“Shantel! Shantel!”

But she just keeps walking (an experience that every parent alive has had). Funny thing is, this time I was calling her because I had some Starburst and I was gonna give her some. Her loss.

I could’ve made her obey, I suppose.

Named

There are a few students who help me do stuff around my room– take down bulletin boards or file student work– and I look for little ways to repay them. At some point earlier in the year, I made a drawing of one girl’s name, with the letters colorfully done to look like a rainbow, and gave it to her to say, “thanks.”

Wow, it was a hit.