Putting on a Program

I'm working at a private school this year teaching middle school.  It has been a bit of a learning curve and that is why I haven't posted in awhile.  Anyway....

My class was responsible for putting together a short program this week.  We started discussing what to do about 3 weeks ago and my students got very ambitious and wanted to write a skit.   We did some research and figured out a theme and they got all excited about performing.  But...no one was willing or offering to write a script.  I think they expected me to do it and I just didn't have time.

Last week I suggested they come up with some songs or something because I truly didn't think we had time to write out a script, cast it, learn lines and practice ....all in less than a week. 

But they dug in and got it done.  A couple gals wrote the script and I edited it only a bit.  I compromised  and gave up a little bit of class time so they could practice.  I gave them some extra homework to make it up.  

Things did not flow smoothly--- people got their feelings bruised because they didn't think they got a big enough part,  and we had some absences that made us scramble.  The final touch was some snow and slick roads the morning we were to perform--so getting to school on time was tough.  

But.....they did it!   And it was great.    

What did I learn?  Don't underestimate students.  Always expect the best. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.  

 

Something to think about ...

"Education is the most powerful weapon 

which you can use to change the world."

~ Nelson Mandela                 

 

Library Time !

Earlier this year I had the great opportunity to sub as an elementary librarian-- now titled as a Media Specialist.

Media Specialists do not just read books and talk about books, but they must do everything media related.   On my day as a Media Specialist, I taught several classes in the computer lab.
I always feel like a kid in a candy store when I visit a school library.  There are so many good books!  You sometimes even see a bookworm !

A Teacher's Prayer

I saw this prayer poem framed and sitting on a shelf behind a middle school teacher's desk the other day.  I would think it is a good reminder throughout the day to keep the teacher's attitude correct.

Dear Father, hear me as I pray, 

for ever child that I teach today.

That each small face may be to me

A cherished photograph of thee. 

With patient sweetness let me guide

Each precious soul with love and pride.

That when I make a record sheet

No space may be left incomplete. 

Then grant me grace, each mind to give

A clear-marked rule by which to live. 

And they, dear Father, I beseech

That I may keep the rules I teach. 

Author Unknown                         

Planting Seeds

Don't judge each day by the harvests you reap 

but by the seeds you plant. 

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Building Roller Coasters

I spent time subbing in a middle school science class this week and they were working on a STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Math] project.  The concept had to do with energy.  The last time I had been in this particular class they learning about potential and kinetic energy.  Now they were putting everything they had learned into practice.

In teams of 3-4 people, they were given a task to design a roller coaster that was safe, worked, and was fun.  They teams were given a budget of virtual money and they had to purchase or rent the supplies needed to build the roller coaster.  For instance, tubing cost $1.25; marbles were 25 cents; and a measuring tape set them back by 50 cents.  If the team decided to use a prop of some kind, like a wall or a box, they were charged a dollar.  However, as the team made refinements to their plan they wrote it down and modifications earned them 50 cents for each one.

Most groups worked extremely well together.  They had already done their beginning planning and were going to build the day I was subbing.  I was amazed at the creativity.  There were loops, and double loops, hills, and jumps on these roller coasters.  Students were engaged as they tried their roller coaster out with the marble and then made any adjustments needed to make it better.

   

   

What a fun day watching our future at work !  

"We are in a Zoo!"

That is the comment I heard from a couple of  7th graders when I spent the day as their science sub.  The regular teacher had added a snake to her classroom animal collection and the kids had just seen it.  

The newest member, the snake, was out and about in his cage slithering around.  He got a bit shyer ( or perhaps was just tired) when I went over later to take his picture. 

The turtle looked like he was stuck in the log!  I think he may have just been chilly--although he did have a heat lamp nearby.  

The iguana basked under a heat lamp all day on his branch moving nary a muscle as far as I could tell. Must be the life!   

What classroom animals have you seen?