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So far, we are off to a great start. Students are glad to be in school, and we are moving forward at a good clip.
On the downside, the 4:15 dismissal time is tough. None of us, students or teachers, are at our best by then. Late buses compound that problem. Teachers are really missing their lost planning periods, and kids are missing their PE and Music teachers, all victims of budget cuts.
But on the good side, here is just some of what we've accomplished so far:
We spent some of the first day helping 6th graders master lockers. We did it with a 7th/8th grade leadership group mentoring them, lots of practice time, and then a "survivor" style competition that required teams to find clues in their lockers...if they could get them open.
We've begun an art project. A project that requires research about a particular artist and the associated movements and styles, and the creation of an original product using that artist's style. The kids are excited and engaged in art history, research, reading, writing, and MAKING art.
And we're reading. 6th grade is working on proverbs; reading, analyzing, and then creating their own.
7th & 8th grade are reading and analyzing short stories. Today, at 3:55 when there is always a constant stream of interruptions before school lets out, 8th grade and I were intent on reading, and discussing, "Harrison Bergeron." People kept peeking in the window on the door to come in and interrupt for various purposes, and tip-toeing away because we only had 15 minutes to finish, and the room was alive with students focused on reading and anxious to add to the discussion.
Of course, we've handed out the reams of forms and letters to parents that we get from the office. We've gone over rules, expectations, procedures, etc.. We've done team-building activities. We've answered questions. We've been to the library. We haven't been to the computer lab yet; the network keeps crashing.
We're also busy learning, and glad to be there. After reading through a few threads this evening, and too many in the last week, bashing and battering public education, I thought I'd point out that more good things are happening at school this week than not.
As usual.
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