Derek+Rader

Genre Reflection #1

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDhizkm5Z_M

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsQ4fg6SyGM

Genre Reflection # 2

A Poem

Pinstripes run parallel with one another, along with the crease in my slacks And mom says, “across now under, keep the knot tight.” I stand before a mirror looking ever more than seventeen, A time when I pretended to be a grown up, To be a teacher one day That might be me   22 Today, is quite odd I’m stepping out from behind the desk Dad brews coffee, mom grabs the camera, snapping my Sunday’s best “Really, though, I must be going.” “You look great, Son, go have fun.” I park in the lot and walk the halls I seem to remember only just yesterday. Morning announcements mocking my memory—How can I forget the pledge of Allegiance? Silence. Silence. The longest sixty seconds. Pencils tapping. Voices murmuring. Eyes open shut in sleep. I sip my coffee, peel a banana, and thumb to My notes marked “Lesson One.” I clutch both sides of the podium and play make believe in real time. //Are you teaching today? Are you teaching today? Mr. Rader. Mr. Rader. Mr. Rader// “Good morning,” I smile, feigning fully awake, “Yes, yes, I start today.” And the sand falls through an hour of pretend. Time calls for lockers. I feel seventeen again. I pull home and dad asks, “So how was it? Did you have a great time.” “I did, dad, I did. I’ll tell you about it. Just let me take off my tie.” Mom greets me in my room, making up my bed, fluffing the sheets. “Derek, you’re old enough to make up your own bed. It feels like you’re still 17.” “I know, tell me about it,” I sneer—but in a grateful kind of way. In a grateful, 17-year-old, Mr. Rader sort of way. ** GENRE REFLECTION 3 ** ** A Script **

code INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH CLASSROOM - DAY

Mr. Rader asks for students to pass their essay folders forward. Students ramble to place their graded expository essays in their folders.

MR. RADER Let's work to do this quietly. I                        have something I need to say to you guys.

Students start asking questions at once.

STUDENT 1 Are you buying us Starbucks?

STUDENT 2 Is it that we're your favorite class?

STUDENT 3 Are you going to let us play Taboo, Mr. Rader?

STUDENTS (at once) YES! Yea, MR. Rader, LET US PLAY TABOO!!!

MR. RADER (laughs) No, no not today. But you almost convinced me. How about I come back one day toward the end of the year and play?

STUDENT 2 Why not next week, then?

MR. RADER (hesitant) ...Because I won't be here next week.

Students break out in a loud panic.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        Settle down and I'll explain.

STUDENT 1 What do you mean you won't be here? You said you were going to be here for a whole month.

MR. RADER Yes, and that was five weeks ago!

Students look puzzled.

STUDENT 3 Are you going to go be some other classes student teacher?

MR. RADER And have as much fun with them as                        I've had with you all? Never.

Faces lighten up.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        But I am leaving. And I have to go                        back to college because what did I                         tell you guys on my first day here?

STUDENT 1 You like the JAWS ride?

STUDENT 2 You're addicted to coffee?!

MR. RADER Well, yes, but one more small thing. Something that makes you and I similar.

STUDENTS You're a student!

MR. RADER YES! I am a student. The only real thing separating me from you is                        this tie and the whole "Mr." before my last name.

STUDENT 2 You're going back to college?

MR. RADER Mhm. To finish school. I have homework just like you and I have to prepare to do what I'm doing now with high school students next semester.

STUDENT 2 But why can't you come back to                        teach us?

MR. RADER If I could, I would. But don't                        worry. You'll see me around. I                        pinky promise.

Mr. Rader bends his pinky in the air to make the promise official.

STUDENTS But we'll need your help? You're                        funny and don't yell and smell good.

MR. RADER (As if accepting an award) Thanks, y'all are too kind.

Mr. Rader grabs their essay folders and hold them up.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        But truthfully, ladies and gents, you did this. These essays are products of hard work over the last four to five weeks. I may have given some comic relief, and asked you to think, but these pages show your handwriting. Your thinking. They show you're all capable. You all don't really need me. You can all stand and work alone like an                        independent clause, remember... I-N D-E

Students join in on the spelling of the word "Independent" to              the tune of the song.

STUDENTS ...P-E-N-D-E-N-T

The students and Mr. Rader laugh.

MR. RADER So don't use my leaving as an                        excuse to not perform.

Silence.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        Have you all seen E.T. The Extra Terrestrial?

Hands raise.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        So then you know how it ends, right?

STUDENT 2 E.T. goes back home

MR. RADER Yes. He goes to his home the Green Planet. Elliot helped E.T. get home throughout the entire movie. In the process, Elliot and E.T. Learned from each other.

Silence.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        Does anyone know what a parallel is?

Heads shake to say no.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        It means similar to. So what parallel might we draw between our time spent together and the film E.T.?

Students think.

STUDENT 1 You helped us learn.

STUDENT 3 You're leaving.

STUDENT 2 We both learned.

STUDENT 1 YOU'RE AN ALIEN!!!

Students laugh. Mr. Rader mimics an alien sound.

MR. RADER You're all right. I landed in your classroom five weeks ago to learn from you, teach you, and now it's                        time for me to go. You've helped me                        with what I need to know about being a teacher. I can now take what you've taught me and carry it                        forward to my future classrooms.

STUDENT 1 So you'll come back?

MR. RADER Did E.T. come back?

STUDENT 1 They never said.

MR. RADER Hrmm...Well, we'll just have to                        wait and see. Until then, we've got five minutes left before class dismisses. Who is ready for the question of the day?

Students turn quiet to listen for the question of the day, eager to raise their hand and respond.

MR. RADER (CONT'D)                        And...the question of the day...is... code **