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April 25, 2006
Spring Break Recap
Spring Break is over and we truly are in the “short rows” (I know those of us over 30 from the south who have worked our summer breaks for new clothes money for school will understand that one). Only 24 school days separate us from the much anticipated EOG’s. These days tend to be extremely fast paced and hectic. It is my goal as a teacher that the work we have put into learning to be organized and responsible will be showcased by many of the kids during this period of the school year. Those who are borderline really need to work extra hard to be on top of things and might need a little extra support from home to get the job done. This nine weeks AR tends to get overlooked by some students who think they are already “done” and that is a shame because this nine weeks grades are important to eighth grade placements.
Today we played a couple of Review Games to get ready for the Vocabulary Test on Thursday. We played a Norwayne Stakes a horse race), What’s Behind the Box (guessing the image by removing pieces of the puzzle), and Wheel of Fortune (table versus table to accumulate the most points) and had a great time studying for the test..
Over Spring Break I had the opportunity to spend a day at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. I am teaming with another teacher from Wake County, some DPI staff members, and several professors from UNC, NCSU, and Fayetteville State to present a Social Studies Staff Development on Africa this summer at Exploris. It is a tremendous amount of work but I feel it will be a great learning opportunity for me. I hope that many of the teachers here in Wayne County will be able to participate and gain valuable materials from this two day collaboration. That way our students will benefit the most.
I also was invited to visit Washington DC, with Ms. Johnson’s 8th grade group from Eastern Wayne and with Mrs. Jones, Ms. Cox, and Mrs. Teel’s students here at Norwayne. It was a blast! I got to spend time in the Holocaust Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and lots of time on the Capitol Mall. One of the kids sat down on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on a beautiful sunny day with the sky that perfect color of Carolina Blue (Mrs. Purcell’s proof that God is a Tarheel fan) and looked down the Mall past the World War II memorial and the Washington Monument towards the Capital Building and remarked how he had “seen this on TV and had always wanted to do it.” I sat there and thought to myself that every time I have sat upon those same steps that have so impacted history, that I too felt that great satisfaction.
There is student dance this Friday evening from 7:00 to 9:00. The cost is $5.00. I am planning to be there taking some pictures and enjoying the fun!
This blog might be a wee bit too long, but I did not past last week. I should have – someone might have enjoyed hearing about my travels.
Posted by hlperson at 09:29 AM | Comments (4)
April 06, 2006
Binding the Feet
We finished up Unit 11 today in our Vocabulary. Our eInstruction test for this unit will be on Friday. We were a day late as I missed yesterday with a doctor’s appointment. Most of the student received a really positive note from the substitute which makes me extremely proud, as I know it does you. Mrs. Banks’ exact words were, “Great Class! Please don’t hesitate to call me again.” This is so refreshing as I often hear from subs in regards to other classes they would “never visit again.”
We have been reading folk tales and myths from around the world over the last week. I really enjoyed “Yeh Shen: The Chinese Cinderella” and the discussion we had on the ancient Chinese custom of binding a girls feet. Needless to say, our young ladies were not having any of that. But then they brainstormed a whole list of “tortures” that women of today go through for (perceived) beauty.
The Taj Mahal is without a doubt the most beautiful tribute to love any person has ever made. We visited the site in India today (digitally, but it still counts) and enjoyed some mini lessons on this fabulous structure with an incredible story. One day I hope that many of the kids will be able to visit this treasure and many others we have learned about this year in person.
Posted by hlperson at 01:45 PM | Comments (5)