Teachers so rarely get to hear our students' success stories. When my 15-year-old darlings finally realize I know what I'm talking about, they're long gone. But sometimes it doesn't take that long.
I was in my classroom not long ago when a former student named Diamond came running in. Diamond was always a very sweet girl, but she wasn't a natural at English. "Mrs. Scherer! Mrs. Scherer!" she screamed. "I got a perfect score on the writing section of the SAT! You were right! Grammar DOES matter!"
At the time of that first encounter, Diamond--a spunky little African American girl--was wearing a t-shirt that said, "Hot Dark Chocolate: Smooth, Mellow, Delicious." She said she got it at a jazz festival, but I have my suspicions. She came by my room about a week later to revel more in her good news, and she was wearing the same shirt. This time I told her I wanted one for myself. She lied through her teeth and charitably told me I could pull it off. I told her mine would just have to say "White Chocolate" instead.
Now whenever I see Diamond in the hallway, she yells, "Hey, White Chocolate! Grammar!"
