Ashley+Fowler

**Ashley Fowler- Genre Reflection #5**
To my fourth period class:

Thank you so much for being you! Your class, unlike 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period, really cared about what Miss Fowler had to say. You seemed to enjoy my lessons and really made me feel like I was a true, professional teacher. I will miss Little Johnny asking me 20 questions, wanting to run around the room, and talking about baseball. I will miss Little Susie and her ambition to be like Miss Fowler and teach others that it is OK to be different. I will even miss Little Andy and Little Kyle whose fight I had to break up in the middle of my lesson while my CT took Little Dallas to the nurse because he too got in a fight at lunch. I will miss my CT and her quirky personality. This class made me want to come to school everyday and made me realize that teaching is my calling. Without you cool kids, I might have ended up like that mean, nasty long-term substitute.

Your Student Teacher, Miss Fowler :) (Names of students have been changed)

This is awesome. I love how you highlight the fact that teaching is not just about lessons and work, but about dealing with behavior and recognizing the students as people. I know you didn't have the easiest time, but the fact that you are more certain about wanting to teach than before is a wonderful reward for your hard work and patience. This is a funny, quirky little piece that I think all of us can appreciate on some level. Good job! Bethany 4/4

Ashley: I love this letter. Even though sometimes I know that kids can get the best of teachers, they are such an inspiration to why we teach. I like the fact that you realize that even though three of your class periods didn't care what you were doing, you still wanted to go teach everyday. It's teachers like you and with your attitude that make teaching fun and makes you feel like you get more than a pay check out of showing up everyday. Instead, you are touching and strengthening a child that may not get that from any other source but the teacher. -Molly Davenport 4/5/11

**Ashley Fowler- Genre Reflection #4**

 * ICING**


 * I** walked across the lunch room
 * C**hildren and teachers laughing at me
 * I** could hear them whispering "Look at her pants"
 * N**ow my students tell me to check my chair before I sit down to eat lunch
 * G**reat... Now I am known as the teacher who walked across the lunch room with icing on her butt.

Side Note: So here is the story that goes with my poem. It was a teacher's birthday and someone dropped a piece of cake in a chair. People clean up after themselves? Obviously this is not a concept that they know since the teacher picked up the cake but neglected to wipe off the white icing. One of my 7th graders pulled me aside and said, "Miss Fowler, you have something on your butt...Is that icing?" About that time a lady from the front office (who compliments me on my "cute" hair) saw what happened. She took me to the front office bathroom and helped me get the white icing off of my black pants. Did I mention my CT was out so she had to notify the sub that Miss Fowler would be 5 min late coming from lunch. Oh yes, my 7th graders got a good laugh out of that. So the next day they put a sign in my seat that said BEWARE and today the left a lollipop in my chair. At least we can joke around about it and they know if they pick on me too much Miss Fowler might put something in their chair. :)

Ashley- I think it is hilarious that you wrote about this experience. I laughed when you told me about it, but this put's the situation on a whole different level. I think it is good for our students to see us as actual human beings...not perfect. It shows that you are able to be on their level, and it shows that your students respect you...even though the situation might have been embarrassing. It took some guts to write about this ans expose the rest of us to the situation. Good for you!!! Great job and thanks for sharing!!! - Tony :)

Ashley, At first, this story mortified me a little bit because I did one of those 'Oh goodness, what if that had happened to me' things. But when I read how the students responded, it really turned the whole thing around. And I think it really speaks about how much you've grown on them. It's one thing to mercilessly tease the teacher when she sits in icing. It's another thing when you share a good laugh with the teacher after she does it. I really enjoyed this! -Adriana

I love the irony! It is not your peer group that comes to your rescue, but your children! I love their helpfulness. They adore you. I am sure. I like you Acrostic poem style. I can't wait to see everyone on Friday. I like how my CT handles food in the classroom. No chips, no pop and no candy. If someone has a candy bar it goes straight in the trash with a 2 point deduction. Jody Thomas 3/27/11

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**Ashley Fowler- Genre Reflection #3**
Dear 8th grade boy,

My 7th graders have already told you that I am a student teacher, yet you still want me to be your girlfriend. Please stop yelling at me when I am in the hallway. My teacher has already warned you that if you say that I am “fine” or “smoking hot” one more time she will write you up. I appreciate your enthusiasm to get my attention but if you would direct that energy towards your school work and not at me, then maybe you might pass and go to high school (Preferably a high school that I will not be student teaching or teaching at for that matter). I don’t know your name but please stop addressing me as “Miss Hot Thang”, and call me Miss Fowler. I don’t even work on your hall or teach your grade but you somehow managed to find the youngest student teacher in the school and aggravate her. No, I will not take you to the 8th grade dance. No, I will not add you on Facebook. No, I will not let you buy me an Almond Joy out of the vending machine. Thanks for the offer, but I am allergic to coconut and possibly you.

Thanks! Miss Fowler

Dear Ashley: It would not surprise me if Lil' Johnny is modeling the male figures in his life. Let's hope that Lil' Johnny grows up to be another Bill Gates because he will need deep pockets to pay for all the sexual harassment lawsuits that he is setting himself up for. I am sure you have tried everything, but isn't there a sexual harassment conduct policy in the student handbook that an assertive principal can point out to this student? It is unfair for you to go to school each day feeling uncomfortable. Unfortunately, this young man is headed down the road to disaster because he repels people; therefore he will, most likely, have few friends and become isolated. That is his road. Remember, we can't save all of them, nor is it our job to do so. Protect yourself above all. I'll be thinking of you. Jody Thomas 3/10/11

Dear Ashley, It was refreshing to read this since I get hit on everyday by my 7th grader Rashawn. No matter what tactic I use he refuses to stop this behavior. I agree with Jody that he is modeling a male figure in his life however, its makes teaching quit difficult. -Natalie Christiani

Ashley, this was hilarious! And the other two comments had me cracking up as well. BUT at the time same, I find this situation extremely sad. Eight grade boys aren't just born with these behaviors. They learn them from somewhere. And I don't even want to know what 'Somewhere' this boy learned that it is appropriate to address an adult woman as 'Miss Hot Thang'. I find that really disconcerting. On a side note, now I want an Almond Joy. :) -Adriana Vanderheyden