Sidewalk Chalk

Friday morning as I got ready, I heard the thunder and rain outside. I began preparing myself to be stuck inside my classroom all day adapting our awesome idea of sidewalk into something somewhat exciting for my students. When I got to school, we decided we would still try it because the three of us did not think we could stand another day inside doing review. We went outside to assess the rain damage and decided it wasn't going to work. As a last resort and last glimmer of hope, we checked to see if the media center was available for the day. We were so excited to find out it was! So, we spent the next hour planning and preparing for bringing our activity inside. We went to the workroom and tore off 80 sheets of black paper (our new sidewalk), numbered the tables in the library, drew up an example on the board, and greeted our students with a smile as the bell rang for 2nd period to start.

Chalk writes on black paper so we thought it would be no big deal. Well, they had poster size paper, which meant they had to stand up to write on the paper. Standing up makes them think they can roam about wherever they would like and talk to whomever they would like. It was hard to tell who was supposed to be where and who was working and who wasn't. By this point, it had stopped raining outside so we decided they could get over the wet ground and humidity and took the next groups outside.

Third period went to the black top where each group had a whole bus parking spot to make their study guides. It was not hot. It was humid. My co-teach said at one point, "I think I am going to melt." Surprisingly, they did not complain too much about the humidity or heat. But, black top is not the best surface to do sidewalk chalk. It was very uneven and hard to write on. It also took a lot of chalk to write a little bit. I used over half a piece just writing the numbers 13-20 when I numbered the spots.

(integer hopscotch)

So, fourth period we adapted a little more and went to the sidewalk along the side of the school. This worked much better! You could read what they wrote much better. They were in a more consolidated area so it was easy to tell who was off task and wandering around. And, the sidewalk did not eat up the chalk like the black top did.

We stuck with this plan of action for fifth period. The sun had come out by the end of the day so there was a lot of complaining about the heat, but I wanted to whine about it too so it wasn't too annoying. Next year, we'll have to add another aspect to the assignment because every class did finish earlier than we had hoped. But, overall it was very successful. Since we wrote in the area everyone has to walk through to get to the buses, we got lots of compliments from other teachers when the day was over. Too bad it has rained all weekend and it will all be washed away Monday morning...

Get Hyped

This week Brian Dawson from K97.5 came to Carrington on his EOG Tour. He has been traveling around to local schools giving a motivational speech trying to get students hyped up about doing their best on the EOGs. A popular DJ from a station like K97.5 is just the thing to get our student population more than hyped up. Along with this tour, he is offering the school with the most school spirit a party hosted by him.

Well, you see...Carrington is used to dominating in any competition. We were undefeated in every spring sport this past season. So, we were not going to let this competition pass us by without a fight.

The pep rally was on Wednesday and it was the loudest event I have ever been a part of. I have been to Cameron Indoor Stadium for Duke basketball games. I have been to an N'SYNC concert (when they were popular). I have been to Appalachian State Football games in the student section. I have been to some loud events and none compared to the noise level inside Carrington Middle School's gym Wednesday.

We had more than just the screaming of 1200 young adolescents. Our students made banners that decorated the inside and outside of the school. We recognized our spring sports. The band played. The chorus sang. A teacher rapped. A group of teachers did the cupid shuffle. And, to top it all off, our principal did the dougie. The students went absolutely nuts when they realized what was happening. At the end of our cupid shuffle, we all huddled up like they do at dances around the one person who is doing the best dance. Our principal had snuck in wearing a coat, hat, and sunglasses to disguise herself. Once she got all of that off, we opened up the circle as she did the dougie. It was awesome!

After all of the celebration, Brian Dawson came out and spoke to the students about doing their best. He explained that without an education, they will not be able to achieve their dreams. He explained how he was predicted to fail and was an average student at best BUT he has a two year degree, a four year degree, and a master's degree. He told them that if he could do it, they could, but they had to put their minds to it. It was a simple speech with a powerful message that we try to teach our students everyday. But, it is so much more meaningful coming from someone like him, a local celebrity who is successful in a career that interests them.

It took a lot of work and calling in favors from several teachers at school, but I'm so glad it worked out. It's nice to have a time of excitement about these crazy tests to relieve some of the pressure and help students feel like they can succeed.

I'll keep you posted about our party because I'm just sure he will pick us. Clearly, there's no one better. :)

Funny Sayings

I can't believe I forgot to write about the quotes of the week...they are good this time!

From one of my boys in my literacy class who could probably be classified as a genius...before he asked this question...He reads computer program manuals for fun. He asked me Thursday morning how to spell register. So, I spelled it for him and then he asked, "Now, which one is the 'g' again?" Meaning how do I write a g? Oh genius 7th grade boy who doesn't know how to write letters...

From one of my African American boys: "What are those spots on your arm?"
Me: "The white ones or the brown ones?" (I have some sun spots on my arm and it looks like little white specs on my arms sometimes)
Him: "The brown ones."
Me: "Those are freckles."
Him: "Oh. I don't have those."

I had my hair pulled back one day this week, which I don't often do. So, many of my students were commenting on it. One asked if I was going to wear it like that again tomorrow. I explained probably not because I would have to take it down and wash it. We then got into a conversation about how I have to wash my hair often or it gets really oily. Then, I hear from the back of the room from one of my boys: "That's a lot of shampoo!"
I had never thought about it before, but he's got a good point!

Appreciate

This week was teacher appreciation week and it was a fun one! Monday morning these lovelies were waiting for me outside my door.

Wednesday was early release and the faculty and staff were treated to a delicious lunch by the PTO complete with goody bags for everyone! Yay for tissue and hand sanitizer! AND a Chick-Fil-A coupon! The PTO also had a drawing for door prizes everyday. Each teacher won something and I got the cutest set of notepads and pens. You can never have enough note pads as a teacher.

Then, on  Thursday, the best. gift. ever. came (okay...maybe not best ever, but still a great gift). I was sitting at lunch and saw the secretaries bringing in some arrangements with these cute balloons flying over them.

I assumed it was something being brought in for all the teachers. Each day we had received some little surprise in our box. When I got back to my classroom, an edible arrangement was delivered to me with chocolate covered pineapples in it! YUM!!

I was shocked that everyone was getting one of these. They aren't cheap and we don't even have enough money to buy paper to make copies. Then, I learned that it was from one of my students. She and her mom were so sweet to think of us and get us one of these. It was delicious!

I finished out the week of appreciation receiving several other gifts from other students. It was such a nice week for teachers. At this point in the year, we're doing EOG review, which can get really boring for teachers and students. When students are bored, they get into trouble. When teachers are bored, they get frustrated really easily. So, it was nice to be reminded this week that we are appreciated and that we have awesome students!

As we prepare for EOGs, our principal encouraged us to think outside of the box as we did some corrective instruction on concepts students didn't show an understanding of on their assessment. She mentioned switching students around or combining classes...she just wanted some extreme change in how we approached this time of corrective instruction. So, as a math team we decided we would review in our classes and then on the two Fridays before EOGs, we would all come together for a common assessment. Yesterday we did that.

I'll be honest, we were worried (real worried) about having 90+ kids in one spot (the media center), but they did awesome! We could not have asked for a better day from them. We grouped them heterogeneously based on their achievement in class. We placed 1-2 strong students in groups with 1-2 students who needed a little more help with the concepts we had reviewed. Then, they took a group quiz of EOG practice questions. They were allowed to use the people in their group, their notes, and any of the math teachers for help. It was incredible to watch. Some of the students who can be major behavior issues in the regular classroom (the ones we were real worried about) stepped up and lead their group. They were the one explaining the problems and keeping everyone on task. There were other groups with students who tend to do nothing on a regular basis who worked harder yesterday than they have on any assignment all year. We were so excited to watch them do so well. And, all of the math teachers got to hang out together all day, which was fun for us too!

Next week we're taking them all outside to do an assignment with side walk chalk...stay tuned for the details of that! Going outside adds another level of craziness so we're hoping for another amazing day from them!

CCF

**WARNING** Picture OvErLoAd.

This past weekend Stephen and I went to Boone for the CCF, Campus Christian Fellowship, banquet to honor Stephen and all of the other graduating seniors.

 

CCF is the campus ministry that I was involved in throughout my four years at Appalachian. The people of CCF became my church home away from home. I didn't realize how much I missed them and the community we had together until I was back with them this weekend. Every Tuesday night at 9pm we met in Legends, a local entertainment venue in Boone, for worship and fellowship. Then, once a week I was involved in a small group through CCF with amazing girls and awesome leaders! Our times together were never lacking in worship, laughing, loving, encouragement, and fun times!

We led youth retreats together.

  

We went to Africa together.

 

  

We baptized one another in the river...cold or warm.

We took beach trips together.

We spent endless hours together in small groups.

 

  

We got burnt together.

We took spontaneous camping trips together...in the rain.

 

 We encouraged one another.

  

We tailgated together...in rain and shine.

 

 

  

We made friendships that will last forever.

 

 

We loved one another...

 ...A LOT!

 

We prayed for and with one another.

We took a ridiculous amount of ridiculous pictures together. It is probably one of our favorite things to do! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And we worshiped together. 

 

 

 

 

They say enjoy college while you can because you'll never be surrounded by so many peers at the same place in life ever again. I didn't realize how much I would miss that, especially from this community of people. Other than the relaxed schedule, this is what I miss the most...being with such a strong community of believers at my age and at the same place in life as me. I was blessed to get to be a part of this community of believers as we grew in our walks with the Lord together. I got to see this group of seniors come in as freshmen. The growth that they've been through, the encouragement they've been to me, and the leaders that they've risen up into has been incredible to watch. Two of our strongest male leaders came their freshman year because they had an older sister reporting back to mom about their extracurricular activities. They came together so the other didn't have to hang out with "those weird Christian people" alone and they say they didn't look back and wouldn't change a thing. I remember how important and strengthening it was for me when I was first discipled by my youth pastor in high school. It was cool to see CCF be that initial place of discipleship for a lot of these seniors and now to see many of them going directly into ministry after college. God is so good and I am so thankful I got to be a part of this ministry in college.