They say that senior year should be different: More like college: Less like a box.

I listened; I responded; they imploded.

What is our truth? We say we want (fill in the blank), but what we really want is (fill in the blank).

For this unit, I told them what to read and when to finish it. I didn’t tell them how to read or provide mini deadlines. Today, they were blogging, something they seem to enjoy, and talking about the book. Sadly, they were talking about how little, if any, they had read. The novel is The God of Small Things, a deeply complex and emotionally draining novel. It is due on Monday. They have grand plans for the weekend. I have great dread for Monday. d

They asked to be treated like college students. I did. The truth may be found in their interpretation of college versus mine. As a teacher, I should not make my class their idea of college – so I made it mine. A place where self discipline is essential. A place where self advocacy is crucial. A place where you have to push yourself to do what you do not want to do so you can have the life you think you want.

Sadly, I feel that the life they think they want is just as different from the life we must live as this experience with the novel. Ironically, it is the small things that matter.