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January 30, 2006
Happy (Chinese) New Year
We discussed a little today about the Chinese New Year and the different zodiac symbols used in Chinese calendars. Most of the kids found out they are Monkeys – This really DID NOT surprise me. Haha We looked at the write ups for the dozen different animals in the Chinese calendar. The kids had a great laugh to learn I was born in the year of the Rat. When I read the description of the Rat – they literally howled with excitement at a pretty accurate description. Who would of ever thought learning about other cultures and calendars could be so fun.
We began our first formal writing assignment today. I chose a topic all of the kids could identify with – food! They are writing a through description of their favorite food. I say thorough because ninety-nine percent of the time with kids this age everything is “fine.” We have got to go so much further to be successful on the Writing Test. This is a fun activity that reinforces the idea of using all of the senses in our writing. Take a look at them at home and see what you think.
Posted by hlperson at 02:41 PM | Comments (3)
January 26, 2006
Different Kind of Fun
Yesterday we reviewed for our Vocabulary Test on Friday by playing a game I loved as a kid – Memory. We put the words on one side of our index cards and the definitions, synonyms, and antonyms on the other. We cut the cards in half, placed them face down, mixed them up and had a great time. Cora Beth won the competition in my homeroom and AJ won for Mrs. Wooten’s so they are really excited because they have earned a 100 on the test. Other kids got some Air Heads for their great job on the activity. I captured this image of Jemar really intently studying the game board and played around with it in Google’s free software program Picasa. I enjoy photography and working with the pictures I take so I had to share it with everyone. I really do think it turned out great.
Today we had a little PowerPoint fun to review for our test. Most of the kids had never seen Hollywood Squares but the competition was intense. The boys played the girls and they went back and forth in the fun and excitement. PowerPoint can be so boring but reviewing like this can be so much more fun.
In Social Studies we have taken a little quiz on the political map of southern Africa. In Mrs. Wooten’s class the grades were less than stellar. Next week we will quiz on the physical features of the region and I hope the kids are preparing and will do better. Some persuasion from home helps a whole lot.
Posted by hlperson at 01:42 PM | Comments (6)
January 23, 2006
Report Cards
Congratulations to all those who made the Honor Roll from the Buccaneers Team. It is great that so many of the kids have improved their academic performance and made this distinction. I hope that the entire team will make the Honor Roll these last two nine weeks grading periods and be proud of their accomplishment.
We began a southern Africa unit today in social studies and discussed in great depth how the region has been ravaged by the AIDS virus. This disease affects the people, the environment, and the economy in such a huge way. In their lifetime, these students will have to address this holocaust of human life and hopefully they will do a better job than we have. The percentage of the population affected by HIV and AIDS is staggering. In some countries, one in three is infected. This disease orphans whole generations of children. We will be testing on the countries of the region borrowing Mrs. Lipcsak’s video of Oprah goes to South Africa for a Christmas Kindness Project.
In Language Arts the kids have completed their paragraphs for the Family Trees. Some will be choosing to do a larger project for a Bonus Grade. Extra Credit is not something I do very often, so I hope the students will take advantage of this opportunity.
Posted by hlperson at 03:14 PM | Comments (7)
January 19, 2006
A New Semester
Well a new semester is upon us and we are getting back into our routine. Today we began Unit 7 in our Vocabulary Workshop book. I am a little behind where I would like to be but that is pretty common for me. The Workshop really helps the kids develop the vocabulary skills and words they need as they grow into young adulthood. I commented to Rachel today that her generation was loosing the use of verbs and the class knew what I was talking about. That is a step forward.
We worked on our Furthest Back Person Family Tree and so many of the kids came in excited about what they had learned over the break about their family. They had gone out and asked the questions to learn about at least three generations of their family and then drew it up on our Tree. Many of the kids had great stories to share. They had gone beyond the requirements of our worksheet and actually gotten interested in the learning. Who would of thunk it? Lashada went out and interviewed members of her family. She internalized the project and took ownership of it. As an educator who strives to get my kids to learn and ENJOY learning – this makes me very happy.
Posted by hlperson at 02:08 PM | Comments (2)
January 12, 2006
Today Was a Good Day
We took our nine weeks assessments today in Language Arts. Speaking with the kids after they finished they felt pretty good about them. That is always good to hear! There was a lot of AR testing going on. It seems the end of the grading period bring out the “rush to read” in the kids. I anxiously await the day when the kids don’t wait to the last minute. Having spoken with so many parents who battle to get them to read at home, I know you feel the same way.
This last weekend I went to a conference at THE University of North Carolina. Podcastercon was an interesting experience. Lately audio books and technology related projects have dominated my own studies as I search for more and better ways to motivate the kids to take ownership of their education. Honestly I was a bit over my head at Podcastercon. Most of these folks were actively engaged in the process and I am extremely inexperienced. Most embarrassing to me is the fact there were two middle school aged young men there from Georgia who were pretty adept at pod casting. The highlight of my day was when the mom of one the kids grabbed his elbow and reiterated that he and his buddy should “go everywhere together, even the bathroom.” Of course his response was, “Aww Mom!?!” in complete exasperation. I have heard myself say this to kids every time I have ever taken them on a field trip. It was really a highlight for me.
I hope that the kids enjoy their week off! The teachers have three workdays while they are sleeping late! Monday is Martin Luther King Day. Take a moment and reflect back on the sacrifices made by so many Americans to battle (non-violently) against segregation. Norwayne itself was the segregated school for northern Wayne County and many of the members of our community attended this school.
We should study history, so that we never repeat our past mistakes!
Posted by hlperson at 09:28 AM | Comments (4)
January 10, 2006
Learn and Serve Grant 2006
I have some great news to share with our team. Our classroom has been chosen to receive a Learn and Serve Grant for $2,680! Utilizing this money we will take older computers and learn how to install new harddrives and other hardware components. The students will then learn how to format the hard drive and install clean software - along the way learning all about copyrights and what is acceptable use in Wayne County. I plan to teach the kids how to preform the necessary updates of the software to keep them safe from viruses, ad-ware, and spybots. It is hoped that they will be able to conduct this same kind of cleansing process at home to better take care of their own computers. These computers we build will be donated to the Fremont Outreach Center so that more of our community will have access to technology. The team will lead lessons on how to use the software and how to conduct the updates of the protective software. We will add two Sony Mavica Digital Cameras to our classroom supplies and add 19" Flat Panel Monitors to our computers. It is a lot of work but well worth the expected outcome.
Posted by hlperson at 04:11 PM | Comments (3)
January 05, 2006
Rosa Parks
This week we have been working on one of my most favorite units of study – Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement. We have read a play about Mrs. Parks’ life. We have discussed why non-violent protests were the smartest action. And we have been amazed at how courageous the civil rights workers were. This is the second year I have taught this lesson to my seventh graders and I hope that we are as successful this year as before. Be on the lookout for more information about our lessons.
We are working on another vocabulary unit and reading My Furthest Back Person by Alex Haley. This story is how Mr. Haley began the process of writing his epic Roots. We will be working on a little genealogy project over the break. My hope is that it will spark some conversations and interests in our family histories.
I had a substitute this morning and an incident occurred. I am proud that one student came forward to let me know. Doing what right is sometimes extremely difficult. It seems that some of the students knew about the incident and others did not. I wanted to let you know so you could speak with your child if you wanted. Young people this age make mistakes and that is understandable. I try to reinforce the character education component of choosing “right” so the students will not look back with regrets. I always hope they will learn and grow smarter and stronger.
Posted by hlperson at 09:42 PM | Comments (3)
January 02, 2006
Happy New Year
I guess the best way to describe the kids today is – sleepy. It is obvious that many of them enjoyed their vacations and were not very excited about being back on this federal holiday – that goes for the teachers too:-).
We have about two weeks left of school in this nine weeks and then a little break to allow the high schools to flip on their four by four scheduling. All missing assignments and AR points need to be wrapped up by January 11th so that I can get them graded and in the computer for NCWISE.
Another change is in the making at Norwayne. Mrs. Wilkins has entered the relaxing world of retirement and Mr. Mario Re has been appointed Principal. 
Mrs. Anne Kosuda will step in as an assistant principal for the Cobras. Many of you with kids at the high school know Mrs. Kosuda from her active involvement with the Teacher Cadet program and her stellar performance in the Social Studies department. Anne is Wayne County’s 2005 High School Teacher of the Year and serves on the Board for the North Carolina Social Studies Council. She is a super lady and will bring much energy and enthusiasm to the Cobra Campus.
The New Year also brings a new venture. As many of you know I shoot a lot of photographs for the various schools in Wayne County through LifeTouch Photography. I am always being asked for good pictures of the kids and I have never minded sharing. It was getting to be a bit much to manage so with the assistance of a great friend I have started a service for the folks I serve- ncpics.com. NCPics.com will allow you to browse the pictures I shoot at different events and to order prints in different sizes online. Alvin and I figured out we probably need to sell six prints a month to break even – with the domain registration and Internet hosting. Whereas I would like to break even, I do not mind spending a little money making the pictures available to interested friends. Take a look and let me know what you think.
Posted by hlperson at 09:03 AM | Comments (4)