Post date: Oct 31, 2010 10:23:13 PM
Good Evening Everyone,
This one is going to be short because our family is hosting a big Halloween party tomorrow and I need to get a bunch of things done before then, and also because many kids have told me that they don't read my emails because they are just too long. Sigh. Sad, but honest.
The academic progress for this week was not spectacular. Days were short (conferences), schedules/rooms jumbled (Battle Simulations), and distractions a-plenty (Spirit Week). Nevertheless, we did do a few noteworthy things. In English there were two highlights; the onset of our journey into The Hunger Games (book), and the students' exploration of their new Pixton (comic) accounts. Both of those two things had the students engaged and interested for uncharacteristically long periods of time. I am very glad for that and am looking forward to getting a lot of mileage out of both. The book is a captivating read, worthy of good discussion and a brisk reading pace. The Pixton service will provide a great way for students to express their knowledge of a topic in an unconventional and effective way. They've already created their profile comic pictures and are working on the first Pixton assignment which is to portray a scene from a book in at least three frames, including dialog and a variation in scene. I did have to reign in a few kids regarding the appropriateness of their pictures and remind them of the purpose of purchasing their accounts, but that is part of the learning curve and I've noticed a positive response already.
The conferences were very exciting for me. The discussions gave me valuable insights into family dynamics, parent and student expectations, and the ways in which classroom activities and academics make their way into life at home. I also was able to document a variety of things that I can do to make class better. In general the students are happy with the work that they are doing as well as the environment that we've created, but some suggestions included more writing opportunities, clearer due-dates, and a more demanding set of science experiences. The existence of parent-student-teacher conferences at the middle grades is very rare and in just a week I've become a firm believer that it is an extremely valuable practice. My weekly reminder of just how excellent DCS is.
Final thoughts: Family is the most important thing that we can have and nothing should supersede it's overall health. During the challenging times (ie. 8th grade) in which students need to individuate and parents need to allow space and the occasional flounder (not the fish), I am amazed at the resilience of family. My father engraved a quote onto a beautiful piece of walnut burl and gave it to Amy and I for a wedding gift. It says "In necessariis, unitas; in dubias, libertas; in omnibus, caritas" which translates loosely to "in essential things, unity; when in doubt, liberty; and in all things, love."
Sincerely,
Chris Heumann