Today my classroom took a semi-major transition.  I had a parent come in and create a reading corner.  Before I just had a few bookshelves with a bean bag for my reading area.  Now I have it as a cozy pillow lounge.  I didn’t resist, because it does make the room look more inviting (maybe not with the Easter pink,purple, and violet rug in a room of all boys).  This does also open up the other bookshelves where I could put my professional and own personal reading books on, so they are not jammed in a cupboard.  I can not also put different containers into the cupboards to get them off the floor and spare desks. And what does books have to do with wires and wires being cut?

I am getting there.

In preparation for our new reading corner we did some major cleaning.  We cleaned out our desks, even I took time to clean out my desk and reorganize it.  One thing I have way too much of is wires.  I have wires all over my desk.  Wires connecting my laptop to the projector.  Wires connecting my laptop to my 2nd monitor.  Wires connecting to my portable number keypad.  Wires connecting my computer to my iPod and Cell Phone (so I can charge them during the day.) Wires connecting my computer to my router.  Wires for my small personal fan.  Wires for my computer speakers.  Wires for my tablet.  Wires for my trial AVer Pens.  That is just my desk.  I have four student computers and one student netbook.  Wires connecting each of those computer components.  I have wires taped to my wall for internet, projector, and DVD/VCR Sound System.  WIRES WIRES WIRES!  I HATE WIRES!  I much rather have things wireless.  I understand you still need some wires, but in a room that was built 50 years ago, Outlets are much needed (which reminds me the wires I have for my power strips and extension cords to outlets.)  I had our art teacher put together football helmet curtains where I do hide a lot of the cords behind on my desk.  I taped the cords on my walls so they somewhat look better.  I know conduit would be much better.  One problem is, each summer everything needs to be removed from the room to have the floors waxed.  I HATE WIRES!

So when I was looking at these wires, I just wanted to cut them.  Some people in power positions do not like wireless internet.  They are fearful for some reason.  If each computer used a wireless router, I could get rid of most of the wires on my walls and free up space on my desk.  That would be so nice.

But, as I thought about this post title, I thought about my fellow teachers.

Beware: Wires will be cut.  We need to cut the strings to our students.  They are not puppets that we should control and have them all do the exact same thing.  One thing we try to teach our students is that we are all special to God.  As my freshman High School Religion teacher would say, I am a unique child of God, full of potential.  UNIQUE, but we treat each student as the same.  They all have different strengths and weaknesses, but we give them all the same worksheets and homework assignments.  CUT THE WIRES!

How are you cutting the wires?  How are you treating your students?