Oh, the Places They'll Go!

This was my first year teaching AP United States History, and it was a great experience (well, check back next Tuesday when scores are in, and hopefully I'll still feel the same way!) Anyway, the first time you teach something or somewhere new and difficult, it is an opportunity to bond with students. There is this feeling that you are going through the torture together. This year certainly was one of those years, as I struggled (but managed!) to keep up with the demands of planning, studying and grading an AP course.

At the end of the year, when the exam was over, and the Seniors were ready to graduate, I decided at the last minute to make them a cake as a thank you for their being a really amazing group of kids. I wasn't sure what the theme would be - graduation themed? Abington themed? Then I settled on - a book I received for my own high school graduation, and one that I have never forgotten for its message - Dr. Seuss' Oh, The Places You'll Go! Other than its beautiful words, I liked it because I refer a lot to his political cartoons during the course of the year, and typically show The Butter Battle Book when I teach the Cold War.



The most difficult part of the cake were the stripes. I hadn't tried these before. I have a Wilton tool for making stripes, ribbons and doing embossing so I put it to use for the first time. I need to remember to do the most difficult tasks first - I tend to get tired out at the end and get sloppy. Working full time, writing a thesis and having a 2 year old will do this to you I guess!

I was so happy with the cake (even though the letters on the sign could have been better!) and the kids loved it. One of the biggest compliments I've received in my career came from a student in this class who wrote me a note saying that she thinks it's great that I love what I do so much. I'm glad that my passion and enthusiasm comes across to my students. I should share my love of cakes earlier in the year, and perhaps they'll see I love more than just teaching History!