Journal #17

As the light blue fuzz feathered through the warm current of air purring form the heating vent, the noisy fast paced students piled into the still defrosting room. The high pitched squeaking of pulling out the stools and clicking noise of the computers opening filled the once quiet room. It was a typical Thursday in Mr.Langley's A2 honors English class. All eyes focused on their outdated screens in front of them, the students began typing away at their daily journal entry. The students work distraction free until their concentration is broken by the sound of the timer going off, causing several students to jump in surprise at the loud sound. Attention is then turned to the large bright touch screen board with black wide printed sentences written repeatedly down the page. This can only mean one thing. It was a sentence study day. The groans and complains of the high school students came automatically at the sight. Nevertheless, they unhappily pulled out their homework from their folders. After doing so they naturally searched for a different colored pen in which to grade as well. One by one the students passed on the thin black pointer stick like a baton, each taking a turn to diagram the sentences written. This was a long process, each step accompanied by hands in the air and the occasional arguing of who is right or not. Laughs are also shared at the expense of the befuddled student accidentally touching his or her paper to the board creating a random jagged line across the screen. Then of course, the mysterious wonder of how to undo it keeps Mr.Langley as well as the students left in curiosity. Finally, the first sentence is complete. The board is a colorful, messy yet organized display of prepositions, verbs, adverbs, clauses, phrases, infinitives, subjects, direct objects, etc. This process continues until the points are tallied up, and the grading is complete. The anxious students then sit in wait to be released by the high pitched sound of the bell.