A Day in the Life of ELL ISI
by George Schreuder
Have you noticed that our little room is becoming a home? We all leave our little bits and pieces on the table overnight, and add to the piles the next day. Looks like a hurricane hit. No offense. I can almost set my watch to the arrivals of everybody. Bob is usually sitting at his seat by the time I come in at 8:30. Trish usually finds me coming out of Saxby’s before my walk to the building. Once or twice I have seen Heidi sitting at the computer in the reception room uploading her work. Nadia is combing her wet hair.
Just before the cuckoo clock goes off at 9:00, 15 bodies float around the room getting a cup of coffee, a delicious bowl of fruit, or a bagel. The music starts, and everyone gets back to the table to make their first remarks about the song of the day. Usually, we are all in sync by the time Kristin plays it the second time. I think we have all learned a little more about our friends and colleagues because of these songs. They are diverse in melody, lyrics, and theme.
But this week, there have been a lot of change – ups. As I have just gotten used to the schedule, there seems to be a new one. Whereas last week I was completing activities at my desk, I find myself putting them aside until later, adding to the pile, and wondering why I am not doing a daily read at this moment. This says a lot about me. I wish my house was as orderly as my mind!
Another highlight about this week was working with Bob. I told him outside during our reading group that when I first saw him that I thought he was going to be a hard nut to crack. Then we became partners for the Collaborative Inquiry. Let me tell you, I have never met a more caring and compassionate man. He gave me his phone number, not really for the project, but if I happened to be in New Jersey and in trouble, to call him or his wife. And I am sure you heard about the situation with two of his students who graduated this June and received scholarships to college. However, the boy’s mother cannot afford to get him to school, so he may not make it. He offered that family the price of a bus ticket to get to school. On top of that, he is in the process of receiving his international teaching certificate. I was promptly shown the website to sign up for this program. True example of the word “partner”. I have learned so much.
The same goes for everyone else. How could I ever have gone back to Bartram in September without the inspiration and friendship you have all shown? I hope in some small way I was able to leave an impression on you as well. I will take all of you back to Bartram with me and look forward to seeing you in November.
George Schreuder is an English teacher at John Bartram High School. He joined Philadelphia Writing Project in 2014 after attending the ELL Invitational Summer Institute.