Bright Spots in Teaching and Recent Nonfiction Reads

I’m teaching Romeo and Juliet for the first time this year, and I was so, so nervous going into it. My focus in literature is pretty firmly 1700s and later, and I have not found a lot of passion or confidence in earlier literature, especially when that earlier literature looks less and less like the English we engage with today. I have a pretty large population of ESL students (mostly from Korea), and because they’re only in 8th grade, I’m already supporting them a lot when it comes to vocabulary and background for more modern texts. I worried that the boys would be disinterested in a love story, that the students would be completely lost in the old and seemingly inaccessible and foreign language, and that they would find reading out loud to be a dreaded chore.

To proactively address these problems, I hyped up this play more than I’ve ever hyped up a story this year. We jammed out to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”  I promised sword fights and drama, and we all used white-board markers to get in on the opening street fight (I’ll be investing in some pool noodle swords for next year). I explained some of the double meanings of the bawdy jokes and reminded them that Shakespeare isn’t always fancy and flowery; he also can have teenage boy humor too. We debated how to make a good decision and looked at other stories of star-crossed lovers. We read one of my favorite poems of all time, “The Highwayman,” as well as “Annabel Lee,” “The Raven,” the myth of Pyramus and Thisbe, and the local myth of Two Lovers Point.  We made fun of Romeo being the most angsty teenager who ever did angst. 

And, to my surprise, they got it. We’re only one act in right now, but it’s been interactive, it’s been chaotic, and it’s been fun. I love teaching plays because it’s an opportunity to share in the story together in real time and for students to interact with each other and with me. It’s a chance to understand in a deeper way the tensions, the victories, and the setbacks of the story. It’s been my greatest challenge to teach, but it’s also, by far, the most fun. I ask a lot of my students, and I really push them to be stronger writers and readers. I’m glad that our last unit of the year can be filled with so much joy.

Speaking of joy, the youngest members of the school have been making me smile. I used to help with aftercare for kindergarten to second grade, and they loved when we’d have “the longest playground ever!!!!!” They love when I push them on the swings and when they can show off their monkey bars skills that have been getting better and better. I enjoy it when I can sit next to a kindergartener at a schoolwide event, and, with such urgency, they tap my arm to tell me, “dinosaurs are really, really, really old.” Or when I pass by a group walking to class on my way to the copy machine, and a little boy is excited to show me he knows how to snap while a little girl is excited to show me that she lost another tooth. A few days ago, I saw a cat sleeping on the roof near the playground. The Pre-K kids were playing there after school, and they were so excited to see the cat. We tip-toed over there, and I picked them up so they could see up, up to where the sleeping cat was hiding. Their joy at those simple things that we take for granted reminds me of how important being a teacher is and reminds me why I love working in a PK-12 school. A push on the swings or pointing out a cat can make a kid’s whole day brighter, and their joy makes my whole day better, too. 

Part of me wishes that I had gone into elementary education instead of secondary because I find such fulfillment and real joy in working with our youngest students. While I won’t be moving into the Lower School next year, I will get one 6th grade class next year! I’ll be continuing with 8th grade English and speech and mythology, but I’ll also get one 6th grade English class. I’ve been really wanting to teach a lower grade to work on fundamental reading, vocabulary, and grammar skills, and I’m so grateful and excited for this new change. There are days when I miss the more mature and nuanced analysis and conversations I had with my 11th graders and that came with being firmly planted in the high school, but I feel such a calling to the younger grades right now. 

Now on to the books! Today I’m focusing on a celebrity memoir and a historical nonfiction book. If you’ve been reading for a while, you know I love celebrity memoirs, and this one inspired a lot of thoughts on the subgenre for me. In my next installment, I’ll be gushing about one of my favorite books of the year as well as John Green’s latest book. 

You Never Know by Tom Selleck

Celebrity memoirs from actors need to strike a delicate balance. On one hand, they should offer readers’ a behind-the-scenes, personal, introspective, new look into their lives and work. After all, why would I spend my hard-earned money or waste my too-few hours in a day to read information that is plentifully available in tabloids and magazine features. However, celebrities are people too (whether or not the public and press see them that way is another story). Celebrities are entitled to a certain degree of privacy and secrecy, especially when so much of their life is photographed, filmed, and discussed in comment sections across social media. There is also the challenge of providing a unique insight into their careers while not sounding like an IMDB or Wikipedia article. Readers don’t want a laundry list of episodes, songs, or other career achievements. I have the Internet for that. What I really care about is the story. And what makes a good story? You need a problem that needs to be overcome. You need growth and change. You need emotions, reactions, compelling conversations.

Throughout his memoir, You Never Know, Tom Selleck struggles with this balance, and, as a result, his memoir, while a treasure trove of information about the making of Magnum PI, can feel rushed and as if the reader is being held at arm’s length. Indeed, Selleck even makes it clear in his narration that his love and personal lives are strictly off-limits because of the scrutiny and rumors of the media. While I’m not looking for a juicy tell-all (okay, I do love a juicy tell-all), I felt as though the “good parts” were being withheld. 

The most memorable things I remember about a month out from reading the book are: Selleck loves beach volleyball, the Outrigger Canoe Club, and the opening theme song for Magnum P.I. His second marriage was super secret. He really wanted to and was able to take ownership over Magnum P.I. and cared about having quality scripts. He’s seen the musical, Cats, more times than anyone should because his second wife was performing in it. He really seemed to enjoy working with everyone he worked with. He became an actor without planning on it, but he put in the work and dedication to create movies and TV shows he could be proud of. 

Is this a memoir I would recommend? If you’re a mega fan of Magnum P.I., the majority of the book is targeted to you. Selleck’s passion for his years-long project is endearing, and it’s a fun glimpse behind the curtain. If you’re like me and have only seen a handful of episodes because your dad enjoys it (hi, Dad!), you’ll probably feel your interest waning in parts and may find the pacing to be slow and the Wikipedia/resume vibes a little too strong in points. 

The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized Crime Boss by Margalit Fox

If you’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby (looking good, old sport!), then you might also be interested in reading about the very real life crime bosses that amassed fortunes and the long history of crime that they supported and continued. Mother Mandelbaum was an infamous crime boss who helped to organize the stealing and reselling of everything from silks to silver. From jewelry heists to bank robberies, Mother Mandelbaum was a supportive patron. In an age where women were largely reliant on their husbands and did not have nearly as many opportunities for economic advancement and in a time where immigrants were flooding New York with their dreams and empty pockets, Mrs. Mandelbaum proved that a Jewish widow without a college education could take the black market by storm. This book is a quick read and provides a fun and engaging look into the broader history and cultural norms that resulted in Mrs. Mandelbaum being as successful as she was. If you like the stories at the margins of your history books (or, even better, the ones that won’t make it there at all), this is a fun way to talk about the intersections of money and power. Gatsby became a complicated hero for his illegal crimes and lavish parties, and our high school classes still marvel at his rags to riches story. Similarly, Mrs. Mandelbaum proved that you can elegantly break the law and keep your criminal ways quiet with a steady flow of cash, cash, cash. When the middle class wants shiny things, you supply them with shiny things for an unbeatable price. Sure the goods are stolen, but the consumer isn’t going to question you for that information. Even better, she learned to keep the brand indicators hidden, to erase any evidence of the original owner, to create untraceable goods. Her life was dramatic, high-stakes, and the stuff of legend. Historians and true crime fans, this is a great book for you. 

Doing: Our trivia team won on Saturday (woohoo!), and it’s been a highlight in our week to play at Carabao Brewing and The Guam Brewery. We also went to the beach on Sunday, and I loved having an hour to read by the water and watch the sunset. My favorite part of Guam is, by far, the beautiful beaches and sunsets. 

Eating: One of the challenges of living on Guam is that we don’t get the same brands or variety in our stores as I was used to in the States. We do get most of the major brands, but if you really love a particular item, it might be weeks before you’ll see it again with the way the shipping goes. I am obsessed with Oui yogurt. If I could have it every single day for breakfast, I would. Their cinnamon apple flavor is the best yogurt that has ever existed. When we first moved to Guam, Don Don Donki had Oui yogurt for a week, and then I never saw it again. Happy Mart is a local grocery store and occasionally has a couple of flavors. I literally go to that store only to check if they have the yogurt in, but they don’t more than they do, and it’s only vanilla and vanilla/chocolate. The Commissary has started to carry it but only in vanilla. Then, through the power of social media, I found out that Don Don Donki was stocking it again, and they had 7 flavors! Tom supported my excitement, and we filled our fridge with 2 or 3 of every flavor. I miss Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Lidl, and Wegmans and just how much variety each store carries. 

Watching: DFGGuide is my current Youtube channel of choice. I love their long-form videos detailing all of the different dining options at Disney World, and I’ve been watching them during my treadmill workouts. Sure, I’m not planning a Disney trip right now, but I love to live vicariously through the vloggers as they explore and indulge in the Happiest Place on Earth.