Classroom Conversations: Ms. Shanab and Leilani
As Leilani walks into the Alumni Services room of United Middle Main Street, she remarks that this room used to be her classroom. During the interview, she reveals that she was actually in this building for several of her elementary school years, before the classes were moved onto its own campus, the building now known as United Elementary 17th Street.
Ms. Ashley Shanab, her eighth-grade ELA teacher, confidently guides Leilani to the interview table. She tells The Huddle that, despite a rather sleepy morning, Leilani has remained actively engaged all day, always wearing a smile.
Despite it being only four days into the new school year, the two have a comfortable, familiar conversation. They discuss contagious joy and smiles, educational aspirations and growth, and the sometimes sleepy, always hardworking lives of Main St. Bulldogs.
The Huddle: Can you introduce yourselves? And, Ms. Shanab, why did you want to chat with Leilani today?
Ms. Shanab: My name is Ms. Shanab. This is my third year teaching eighth-grade ELA, and this year, I'm also the eighth-grade level chair, so I'm really excited about that!
Leilani, I remember from last year, she was always smiling, and even this year so far, she is always very smiley and happy. Sometimes she gets a little sleepy, but she always advocates for herself so that she can stand up in the back of the room or go get some water. We had our first ELA lesson today, and she participated so much, and that made me really happy because I think she was looking, paying attention, and listening to what I was saying, even though it was the first day. But even in the morning, when I was thinking about students, I was like: Leilani! She's always smiley, happy, and outgoing.
Leilani: My name’s Leilani, and I’ve been here for many years — I think since second grade. I had to move, but I came back! And I still know people here!
Ms. Shanab: You went to UPrep [Editor’s Note: Now known as “17th St.”]? I didn’t even know that!
Leiliani: I didn’t know you’ve taught here for three years!
The Huddle: We’re all learning something already!
Ms. Shanab: What are you most looking forward to in eighth grade? Prom? The 8th-grade trip?
Leilani: Maybe the 8th-grade trip!
Ms. Shanab: You can go see Ohio State!
Leilani: I’m also looking forward to high school and then college because there’s so much to do; I can walk to class and get to choose classes.
Leilani: Why did you want to be a teacher?
Ms. Shanab: I would say I always kind of knew I wanted to be a teacher. I used to be a counselor at a camp, and so I liked being a counselor and dealing with kids — you guys are funny! And learning your big personalities. Each of you is different and you each have your own personality, and it's really fun to get to know each of you. Also, I love ELA, and I think it's so useful — learning to read, comprehension skills. And, so, I kind of narrowed it down.
Leilani: Why did you like ELA so much?
Ms. Shanab: Well, I love reading. I like to read outside of school as well as in school. I just feel like it's the most useful subject, which I know is kind of touchy, but you have to be able to read and write for literally anything you do, including if you don't want to go to college. If you want to go to a trade school or anything else, you still need to be able to read. You still need to be able to write on a job application. And it's just core skills I feel like you need for life, not just in school.
Leilani: How long do you want to be a teacher?
Ms. Shanab: I want to be a teacher for a while, but right now, I'm actually getting my master's in Curriculum and Instruction because I want to become a professor for teachers one day! I want to be able to teach new teachers and build that passion because I'm so passionate about teaching.
Ms. Shanab: What’s your favorite subject?
Leilani: I have a lot! But it's probably math. I like it because it’s kind of easy for me! What’s hard for me is writing.
Ms. Shanab: Writing?
Leilani: I like writing, but I have to know what to write. I'm a good writer. I can write well.
Ms. Shanab: Okay! So, as your ELA teacher, I can say, we’re going to do a lot of writing this year.
Leilani: I do like writing!
Ms. Shanab: How can I best support you in your writing this year?
Leilani: Maybe explaining what exactly we’re writing about. Last year, my teacher would say, “We’re doing this, we’ll split it up like this.” And I would write that down, or she would write that down on a piece of paper, and I would keep that with me to help with essays.
Ms. Shanab, nodding: Okay! Do you like to read?
Leilani: Yeah, I like to read! I really like graphic novels.
Ms. Shanab: Is there a specific graphic novel you love? Or a favorite?
Leilani: I think there’s a lot, so no favorite. There is this one library book called Teen Titans Go!
Leilani: So, I already know you like reading. But, besides reading, what do you like to do after school?
Ms. Shanab: Outside of school, right now, I'm actually moving! I've got a house, so I've been spending a lot of my time packing so I can move. When I'm not packing, I spend a lot of time with my English Bulldog, who I like to joke is our mascot here because we're the Bulldogs. And so I spend a lot of time with my Bulldog. I also have a Pitbull, a German Shepherd, a cat, and a guinea pig, so I'm a real big animal lover! I like to spend a lot of time with my animals, just relaxing with them. My Bulldog snores a lot, and so she makes me sleepy, so I just love to cuddle with her. The other two love to play. They love to play ball, and just go on walks because they have a lot of energy.
Leilani: I have a lot of pets, too! I have a pet turtle, three cats, and a Pitbull — her name’s Coco. I have a cat named Cookie, who’s the mom. And her kittens are called Marshmallow — we call her Mallow — and Chocolate-Chip. Chocolate-Chip is the one that looks like his dad, an outside cat. I don’t know how my cat got outside!
Ms. Shanab: I was about to say, my cat is pregnant right now, too. We're not sure how that happened, but yeah, my cat is also pregnant. And we're like, what are we going to do with all these kittens? Because we don't know what happened. I mean, she ran out once, but she came back, and so we were like, okay. But now we've been watching her, and we’re pretty sure she's pregnant! Her belly’s getting all big.
Leilani: Yes! When my cat was pregnant, she ate a lot! We were like, “Why is she eating so much?” She ran out of the house a few times when my brother forgot to close the door or left the door open too long.
Ms. Shanab: Well, maybe you can give me some kitten tips!
Leilani: Just make sure they don’t end up like mine!
Ms. Shanab: What's your dream college or career? What do you want to do when you grow up?
Leilani: When I grow up, I want to be an artist! Or an engineer. I’m pretty good at building things, having patience, and using the time that I have to build something. I have LEGO sets at my house! I have this big treehouse set with many layers, and it broke, but I was able to put it back together. I recently finished one that was a Jeep. Engineering is close to what I like to do now. So, that or the arts.
Ms. Shanab: Would you want to go to Ohio State [as that is the namesake of their homeroom]?
Leilani, nodding: Yeah, probably! What’s the hardest school to get into?
Ms. Shanab: You want to go to Harvard?
Leilani, shaking her head and laughing: It might be too hard!
Ms. Shanab: You can do anything!
Leilani: My last question is, what’s your biggest goal? And then I’ll tell you mine!
Ms. Shanab: I would say my biggest goal is to become a professor — being able to support students as they’re student-teaching or going through their educational program — and to get my master's. I know this is a bit of a long-term goal, and it’s a long-term goal for a reason.
So, this year, my goal is to kind of just be in the headspace where I can support teachers, and being a Grade Level Chair is the first step of being able to support all the teachers on the eighth-grade team. So, I would say that’s my biggest goal. Now, what’s yours?
Leilani: That’s a nice goal! My goal is probably to just stop sleeping a lot! I’ll sleep all night, and I’ll still be tired! I’ll sleep all day, and I’ll still feel tired.
Ms. Shanab: Maybe you need to do some jumping-jacks!
Leilani: That’s why I stand up sometimes in class. Because just moving around helps!
The Huddle: What is something you appreciate about one another?
Ms. Shanab: I appreciate that, one, today, she made me really happy. She participated a lot, even though she was standing up because she was sleepy. And also every time I see her in the hallway, she just has a smile on her face, and she's not shy to say good morning back to you. When I greet her, she greets me back. And so I just really appreciate the friendly face. I get tired, too, so I appreciate that.
Leilani: What I appreciate about you — I don’t know you that much, I just started eighth grade. But I do know that last year and in sixth grade, when I’d see you, you are a pretty happy person, too. You smile a lot, too… Just not as much as me! [Everyone laughs.]
Ms. Shanab: I believe it!
Leilani: I could be mad and still be happy! I don’t think I’ve ever been mad at school, though. I’ve always been happy about school. Even last night, I couldn’t sleep, I was just so excited to come to school! I wanted to see my new classmates!
The Huddle: If you were to say one thing to the donors supporting your school, what would you say?
Leilani: What’s that [donors]?
The Huddle: Donors are people who are giving books and supplies or volunteer time to help our school!
Ms. Shanab: Like, you know, that nice Nike sweatshirt you’ve got on, Leilani? From a donor!
Leilani: Then I’d say, “Thank you for the sweatshirt!” I like donors.
The Huddle: I’ll tell them you say thank you.
Ms. Shanab: I’ll also say thank you! I appreciate all the things. For example, I love that I can give kids their own copies of our ELA books. I love, love, love that because then they get to write in it and annotate. It just makes it much more interactive and engaging. So, I just appreciate being able to get the supplies we need and that the students need to ensure that they're successful while they're here.
Thank you to Leilani and Ms. Shanab for demonstrating how, even when early mornings and days of high-quality work can be tiring, United staff and students still show up with a smile and big goals.
Connection is a hallmark of United culture, and this is a glimpse into the dialogues that define our campuses.
