As a public school teacher, I consider myself to be very fortunate. Not because I work cushy hours (I don’t – 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM is a long day especially on the weekends because I’m revising or editing or trying to improve my kids’ writing) or because the taxpayers fund my retirement (I contribute 17.4% of my paycheck every cycle to my own retirement) or because my healthcare is subsidized (you’ve got me on that one). Nope . . . as a public school teacher, I’m fortunate to work in a district that values technology. We’ve always found ways to encourage kids to use technology to the best of their ability including having a television production studio cobbled out of a small corner of our library. This group of seventh and eighth graders show up to school bright and early, presenting their classmates the weather and general announcements, all while learning valuable skills they can either choose to use later on or file away as a pleasant memory during that “awkward phase” of their lives.
Every year, this group heads into New York City to observe a television show being shot so that they can see how the pros do it and compare it to their own studio. Their adviser, who’s also there bright and early every morning BTW, has invited me for the past five or so years, partially because I know my way around the City and partially because he knows I get a kick out of the kids standing in the middle of the sidewalk gawking at the skyscrapers while the rest of the Big Apple pushes past them (relax, New Yorkers . . . I quickly urge them to move toward the buildings so that they aren’t blocking the sidewalks).
Unfortunately, the show we have always viewed in the past was Martha, which was canceled last year, so we had to make alternate plans. Here’s the itinerary: arrive at school for a 4:30 AM departure, grab a cup of Starbucks in the City, stand outside the Good Morning America studios, look peppy and happy while freezing your bum off, go take a tour of the studios, visit Toys R Us in Times Square, shoot some video in Times Square, sneak away with two other chaperones for some cupcakes at the Magnolia Bakery, grab lunch at McDonald’s, do some shopping at the NBC store, tour Rockefeller center (oh, my . . . it was Tree Lighting Day!), watch the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Center, arrive home at 6:30 PM. Easy day – minus the bitter cold.
But I’d do it all again. It was a wonderful way to spend November 28: good friends, awesome students, and the sights that only New York City can provide. Now go see how Laura spent her day!
More 10 on 10 goodness? Go see Laura’s day and be sure to check out our new participants.
oh the big apple! how I miss it! yummy magnolia and some big red shiny balls. I say perfection
The line at Magnolia wasn’t terribly long, so we stopped in for two cupcakes. Each!
these images make me so happy! nyc hold such a special place in my heart and we’re headed there for xmas.
I take it for granted these days, but I do enjoy a good trip in every now and then. Especially by train since I can decompress.
i swear you make me want to be in jr. high again. at least while i’m reading posts about you and your students.
i am loving b&w shots today, especially yours. the pretty girl smiling at the camera is so calm and relaxed contrasted with all the busyness going on behind her. nyc at christmas time is on my to do list.
Pretty sure I would get on your nerves if I were your teacher. Today was a rough one because it’s another essay. The B&W was just dumb luck . . . I was channeling my inner “Laura” and truly got lucky with that shot.
you just gave me a gift this morning. my daughter and i have been dreaming of new york this year, and it’s just not in the cards. i’m showing her these images so she can have that magic feeling. what a fun, wonderful trip to take with your students. i get the sense they are lucky to have you, and vice versa.
I’m pretty sure that today very few were considering themselves lucky to have me . . . we’re working on an essay, and I’m not providing the support that they are used to (meaning I won’t tell them what to do each step of the way).
Oh, I’m so jealous — of your trip to NYC, and also your amazing attitude at being there with a buncha junior high kids! Really love your 7th frame — the bustle and the smile and direct eye contact of that pretty lady. And I can sense HOW COLD it is from the slightly pinched, shoulder hunchy smiles of your friends. Great set!
Jealous? You have sunshine all the time! That shot was pure, dumb luck, but I’ll take it. There were so many shots that I enjoyed that I went way too diptych happy.
What a fun time! And a nice opportunity to shoot some different people/places. 🙂
C’mon . . . you’re missing my desk and my coffee mug, right?
I do love your trips to NYC. How come it never rains when you go without me?
Now that I think about it, that was the only time it has happened. I think I lucked out after that horrid time.
YES! Man I miss NYC…haven’t been since before Michael was born. Magnolia Bakery…mmmmm. I was lucky enough to be there one year during Christmas and is was fan-freaking-tastic!! You captured it so well!!
Thanks! I spent ages trying to capture the woman carrying her Cabbage Patch doll . . . and I kept giggling when she was taking a photo of it.
There really is something about NYC at Christmas…. For me I love the first and last images they jsut seem to some up New York, but it looks like you had a great time 🙂
We had an awesome time! But it was a long, long day.
these are awesome! I love the last few with lights. and I can’t believe I still haven’t been to New York…
so good! i would love to go to New York one day! Thank you for making me feel like I was there this morning 🙂 Also, jealous of your Magnolia cupcakes! xo!
They are delicious . . . the first one was gone before my friends emerged from the store 🙂
I am so jealous! I’ve never been to NYC, much less been there with a camera! It is so cool that you went with a bunch of high schoolers, too. I’d be scared out of my wits.
It’s a good time; I love that we are about a 90 minute trip if we want to go in. My students are usually pretty good, and many of them have never been in before, so that’s lots of fun.
I am sooooo going to NYC one day! Can’t wait :))
Fab pics, great post. Have a brilliant Xmas. xx
Thanks! NYC is a ton of fun, especially getting off the regular tourist paths.