The week before Thanksgiving is wonderfully short. Monday is the only day with a normal schedule. We hold our monthly assembly on Tuesday because we don't have school on Friday, and Wednesday is an early-release day, and I doubt anything academic happens in most classrooms that morning. Then, we are off for a four-day weekend of gluttony and too-much family time. So, when I meet with Blake during our usual time on Tuesday, there is an extra buzz of excitement in the halls.

"How are things going?" I ask after he uses the bathroom, same as always, and we take our seats in the tutorial room.

After Friday's meeting with Blake's mother, I talked to Ms. Dunn about having Blake use the single-occupancy bathroom everyday before math. She kicked herself for not recognizing his fidgety behavior for what it was, but I assured her that we all missed it. So, starting yesterday, Monday, Blake has a special bathroom pass that he needs to use everyday before math begins. I'm curious how day one of this plan worked. If I'm right, and using the bathroom helps him focus in the classroom, I just may have lost myself a student.

But I guess my question wasn't specific enough, because Blake responds, "That assembly was so cool!"

"Was it?"

"Yeah, there was a guest speaker who was a member of the Wampanoag Tribe and he told us all about the real first Thanksgiving." He is almost vibrating with enthusiasm.

"Wow, I wish I had been able to attend," I say truthfully. I usually am able to make the assemblies. Sometimes I even run them, especially when we are gearing up for state-wide standardized testing. But today I used the time to get caught up with some paperwork that I wanted off my mind before the long weekend.

"Hey, is it true that we're going to have an assembly about being trans?"

The question catches me off guard. "What? Who said that?"

"My mom said something about there being a class to teach kids about gender, and she said it would be for all students, so I just sort of assumed she meant an assembly." He looks at me hopefully, his raised eyebrows becoming hidden behind his dark bangs. "So, is it true?"

Huh. An assembly. That was not what I had had in mind, but now that Blake has suggested it, maybe that would be a good idea.

Ok, so, yeah, cramming a bunch of kids into an auditorium to talk about something sensitive very well could be a complete and utter disaster. However, so many of the teachers seem to be reluctant to facilitate this conversation that it would probably be a good thing for all students to get one consistent message.

And, along that same train of thought, there is no way to know if the teachers who have agreed to talk about these subjects in class are actually doing it justice. Sometimes talking about gender can be a fucking mine field. There are so many opportunities to put your foot in your mouth and say something offensive. I feel that way, and I'm trans myself.

After taking far too long of a pause, I decide to side-step his direct question. "Well, do you think that an assembly would be a good idea?"

He doesn't hesitate. "Yeah! I mean, if the speaker was anywhere near as good as the guy today. I think it would be really cool." His earnestness tugs at my heartstrings.

I haven't reached out to the LGBT educator's group yet. Or, to Aiden Mills specifically, for that matter. Between my adventure this weekend at music class and preparing for my parent's arrival tomorrow, I just haven't had the bandwidth. But I make a promise to myself to do it during my next prep period.

"What kind of things would you want discussed at an assembly if we had one?" I continue to probe.

"Oh, um..." A bit of a hiccup-laugh escapes from his throat as he thinks. "At the group that I attend – you remember, the one I told you about – we sometimes talk about how different everyone's experiences are. You know, we talk about terms and stuff, too. But mostly it's about just being nice to each other and, yeah, I think that would be good for kids to learn about."

His suggestion reminds me a bit of our sensitivity training, and that of course makes me think of Danielle. I wonder if she has a presentation that she gives to students. I mean, she must, right?

I grab a post-it note from one of the compartments of the supply caddy and scrawl a quick reminder for myself: Sensitivity Training Student Assembly?

"You have so many wonderful ideas, Blake. To be honest, I hadn't really been thinking about an assembly, but it's definitely something to look into." I take the post-it note and stick it on the clipboard that I use to collect observational data during our sessions. "Do you feel like kids in your class are nice and understanding?"

"Yeah, of course. Ms. Dunn wouldn't let anything happen," he says earnestly.

"Good," I say with a nod. "And has anything new happened with Danny?"

His eyes drop to his shoes. "No."

I decide to pivot the conversation back to where I initially wanted it to go. "Well, how did using the bathroom pass work yesterday?"

"I went to the nurse's before math. No one bothered me, if that's what you mean."

"That's good to hear. But, I'm also curious, how was math? Were you able to focus better?"

"Oh yeah, I think I did. We learned the box method and I even remember it!" he excitedly shares.

"Really? After just one lesson you already know how to multiply two-digit numbers using the box method?" I say, matching his excited tone of voice.

"Let me show you," he says proudly, grabbing a dry erase marker and drawing a box on his mini-whiteboard. "Give me two numbers, Mr. Graham."

"Yes, sir," I say. "Show me how to multiply twelve and thirty-four."

As he gets to work, first writing the numbers in expanded form and then solving for each partial product, I can't help but shake my head. Could such a simple solution really make such a big difference? A special bathroom pass can help someone gain focus and increase learning in math class? I'll wait to see the data on his next test before making a decision to stop pulling him from class, but I have a feeling that Blake just might win my most-improved-student-award. And what did I even do? Nothing math-wise, anyway.

Even though I'm not sure what I've taught him, he is certainly teaching me a few things. Like, for instance, how persuasive a strong assembly presentation can be. I'll get the planning started and shoot out some emails before the end of the day, although, with the holiday fast approaching, I doubt I'll hear back from anyone until next week.