begin the countdown!

So The Hunger Games is all the rage, and I decided it would be fun to read it. My first resort, like any other middle-class American citizen, was to check the library. Since all the books were checked out, I put it on hold. I was informed that I was number 203 in line. At the minimum check-out time, that means that I have an 11 year, 9 month, and 1 week wait. That'll be just in time for my first-born to read it. I'll start counting - 609 weeks left.

nicknames

One of my students is insisting on being called KK. This is slightly ridiculous, because his first name starts with a C and his last name with a Q. He doesn't have a single K in his name, much less two. For the record, I enjoy nicknames. I think they're great. But there are nicknames appropriate for school, and there are nicknames that aren't. "KK" is pushing the limit. It's a bit of a term of endearment. I'm not against terms of endearment, either, but I prefer to use them when I'm finding the kids endearing. I don't find them endearing all the time. And terms of endearment don't always fit with the tone of voice I use. (Should I feel guilty about this?) Today I was taking some student information down to the office and saw that a parent had requested that we call her daughter "Bubbles." Honestly? Bubbles? There will be no "Bubbles" in my classroom. I refuse to call anyone "Bubbles" who is old enough to walk.