Project show no fear....

First day...Good impression, attentive kids, some even excited. Yeah, I could be a teacher.

Second day...Fire alarm as class starts, scattered, talking, new kids, confusion. Shoot me now.

Ok...it will get better right? One bad day won't do me in?

Brenda, what if one kid won't. stop. talking.????

All together one big deep breath and a big giggle 9 weeks left. I CAN do this.

Show NO FEAR!

That was the advice I was given when I told my friend I would be teaching a class for the next 9 weeks full of 6-8th graders. I thought it good advice...now to follow through. Give me some guidance here...how exactly do you NOT show fear? I was also given the advice that if I DID show fear then to own it and to wear it. I guess I'm covered either way. I must have a mental defect though to take on such a project. The idea is to facilitate a group of middle schoolers to investigate a needy community, understand a need, propose an individual service learning solution then carry it out. Meaning each kid will be in charge of his/her own project and I get to facilitate. Crazy much? Yes. I put together a nice academic worthy course goal sheet for approval (even quoted Utah core curriculum and had Brenda revise for me) And my feedback? Wasn't this supposed to be about service? *laugh* Why yes, yes it was. Something much more ambiguous and uneasy to assess. Not to mention plan a curriculum for. But yes service. Service, service that empowers, meaningful service, service that changes people. Not the least of which the one who did it. Sometimes it's the intangibles that count in education...and sometimes you can't map that curriculum. And sometimes that might give someone an ulcer. :) Um...no I'm not afraid of no middle schoolers. :)

Unseasonable

Unseasonably warm...that was today. Ethan tried to convince me it was actually summer as we sat without coats eating rootbeer floats in the sun today. It was Disneyland weather. Ahh Disneyland it would actually be shorts weather were we to go this year. The year we went in January we missed a week of -10 so 50 degrees felt awesome. But I hear it's mid 70s right now. That could be why the stores are pulling out the capris and here I thought that was unseasonable.

Testing...

Can you see this? Maybe I'll post more now. :)