Today we started on some poetry. My theory is that kids like my little muffin-heads should love poetry since it breaks all the rules. Why hit them with rhyme and meter and stanzas when they can just go hog-wild and make stuff up for once in their lives? For this reason, I assign Found Poems…
D. is working on an independent project that requires him to stretch a piece of vinyl across a square shape. One of the corners keeps bunching up and misbehaving. R. is following our conversation: D: This is frustrating! I can’t get this corner to fit into the square. Ms. M: Are you feeling like you…
As I sit here watching these little turkey-butts take their state-mandated tests, I am reflecting on the various issues that have brought them to me. Here I will list phrases used on our placement information sheet and the number of times each is used if more than once, or if privacy allows. This is out…
April 25, 2010 This video clip disturbs me. Shall I list the ways or shall I invite my fellow caped crusaders to tell me themselves? And let’s be even-handed. What do you like and dislike about this video and related article (if you can read it without skipping most of it as I very much…
This story on NPR caught my attention today and made my heart a little wobbly. I’ve included the link to the story I heard, though there are many articles online. His words and the words of his staff speak to me. It sounds like he has left quite a legacy in education. Remembering D.C. Educator…
I have my 6th and 7th grade girls convinced that if they whine, I will get a nervous twitch. This is not technically a lie, since I do think it could kill me if I have to listen to as much whining as they are capable of … of which they are capable … that they are…
Disclaimer: Lest you think I am this brilliant, I am not. I did not create the beagle assignment below. It is from DownWrite Funny: Using students’ love of the ridiculous to teach serious writing skills by Randy Larson. In fact, I took a perfectly good lesson about a beagle and messed it up entirely. Today…
“If you ever teach a yodeling class, probably the hardest thing is to keep the students from trying to yodel right off. You see, we build to that.” Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy
Ms. M: Happy Birthday R. Here’s your birthday pencil! R: Is that all? Ms. M: (gives “the look”) R: I mean thank you.
As promised, here are the much anticipated photos of our Spirit Day project based on Faith Ringgold’s Tar Beach (see previous post here). The students are enjoying looking at the different squares and their small selves flying above the city.
Wear The Cape 