This week, I could tell that my students were really getting antsy for summer vacation. I had a hard time keeping my 6th graders focused. Somehow grammar wasn’t as captivating as usual (said sarcastically, of course).
When I got to school on Monday, this is what I saw…
Someone had been busy over the weekend! It was a thoughtful gesture for the seniors.
On Monday, my 10-12th graders turned in research projects. I required them to research a social injustice and a person who fought against that injustice. They then created PowerPoint presentations. It took about three days to finish with the presentations.
The topics included Malcolm X, Helen Keller, women’s suffrage in England, women’s suffrage in America, abolition (Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe), and Apartheid. Students did an excellent job, and I was very impressed!
On Tuesday, students worked on their final exam projects and discussion questions for The Seventeen Second Miracle book…
On Wednesday, my 9th grade students turned in their research projects – posters that incorporated the research they had done about their respective social issues and activists.
On Wednesday, we also had our final Seventeen Second Miracle discussion. Overall, students enjoyed the book. Though it was predictable in places, the message was good and will stick with most of the kids.
Thursday was a very special day. Last week, my favorite radio station was hosting a fundraiser for tornado victims in Alabama. The wheels in my head started turning, and I came up with an idea…
The kids were very excited. I’ve heard them complain about the school’s uniform more than a few times. They were excited to donate money (this school is very service-oriented) while being allowed to wear something different.
By the time we collected and counted the money, we had raised $350! While that may not seem like a lot, you have to consider that there are only 104 students at my school. I would say that between 50 and 75% of them participated. Many students gave extra money. Teachers dropped in money as well.
The fundraiser coincided with another fun event…field trip day.
After school on Thursday, students climbed aboard a charter bus and departed for Six Flags in Atlanta.
What did that mean for Friday?
Hardly any students!
Whoop Whoop!
I was grateful for the quiet day. I finished grading the research projects and got my room ready for the next week.
Thus ended the week.
Next week will be a bit crazy as my students turn in their final exam projects (I decided to do things a week early) and I grade them, while trying to manage my very hectic first week of new EPI classes.
Still…I am one more week closer to the end of the school year! Woo hoo!
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