Messy Mosaics

My 6th graders are amazing! This new bunch of 6th graders is really on top of things--- they come into class quietly and do as they are told-- but they still have personality! So to reward them for their outstanding self control-- I decided maybe, just maybe, they could handle making a REAL mosaic-- one with cerammic tiles and grout! So I started them off by giving them the super cliff notes version of what a mosiac was-- the briefest of definitions. Then I gave them some black construction paper and tiny squares of colored construction paper. Their instructions were to sketch something that means something to them and then use the tiney colored squares to color it in. They could not let the color "tiles" touch so that the black paper (with was our "grout) could show through. Once they were done with this three day project, I dove a little deeper into the history of mosaics, what they represented, and some examples. After that, they were excited to make a class mosaic of our mascot, the WILDCAT!! These guys are working so good together--once they placed all the tessera (term used to describe the individual tiles in a mosaic), they began using an adhesive compound to "glue" them to the backboard. That's the point they are at right now-- grout is next. When the mosaic is finally complete, it will go in the main office.

I have had several administrators, teachers, parapros, and other support staff come into my room at various parts of the day just to look at what the 6th grade is doing-- in fact.... Ms. Shirley, our Secretary teared up when she saw the final design with all the tiles.

If you set the bar low the students will reach it. If you set the bar high the students will reach it.

(pictures coming soon)

Mungus

It's been a while, I know...

I'm around kids everyday, and many of my students have a severe case of mungus, and I have definately been affected when it comes to daily activities. There are always signs, but I chose to ignore them, and now, after not blogging for months, I can't ignore them any more. For those not familiar with mungus, let me explain it to you....

Mungus is when the iron in your blood turns into the lead in your ass.

So I'm lazy... I'll try to be better-- New Years resolution.

Update: Thanksgiving (I know-- it's been a while) was spent just out side of Elijay in a mountain cabin with my sister, her husband, their five kids, my mom and Jim, and Matt and me. It was a three bedroom cabin with a finished basement-- it was so wonderful! Yes there was a tv, and it had cable, but it was mostly used to play vintage N64. Matt and I bought two of our nephews some Red Rider BB guns, so while Jake and Ryan were taking aim, Luke occupied himself with the frisbee (which he can HURL like there's no tomorrow)! To make a long story short... we enjoyed our time together as a family-- our first holiday married.

At school I recieved a new bunch of kids for another 9 weeks. The other teachers around the building have really nothing but bad things to say about the 7th grade, but I found no resemblance to the rumors-- my two 7th grade classes were amazing! I cannot even begin to explain how much I looked forward to seeing them every day. They had spunk-- but respected my class and me-- they did outstanding work.

Though my 8th grade classes left a lot to be desired. They were lazy. This was their first year of not just getting a 100 for art just for showing up and I think it really suprised some people. Report cards just came out revealing what they earned in my class. One student came up to me in the hall and said, "how come you gave me an F?" I told him that I did not give him anything... he earned it. He continued..."what do you mean?" I reminded him that he did not even turn in the last major project (one which they had three weeks to work on and had step by step instructions for) and that all the major projects are worth 40% of their grade -- which he was aware of. He said, "but I wasn't here the last week of school." I told him that it was his responsibility to turn in his work and that I could not give him a grade for something that I did not have. I stayed after school with other students who were not going to be in school the last week so that they could get their projects completed and turned in-- he made no effort.

My 6th grade was only ok... they're still learning.

Christmas came fast-- the last day of school before the break nearly brought me to tears. I received a card from a student. The card's message was a standard one, "Merry Christmas," but off to the side in pencil was a note written...

Dear Mrs. Aurand, Thank you for everything you taught me. You have been like a mother to me, and that means a lot because my mother was never there for me. Merry Christmas.

I'm reminded by a poem by an unknown author...

As I walked along the seashore
This young boy greeted me.
He was tossing stranded starfish
Back to the deep blue sea.
I said "Tell me why you bother,
Why you waste your time this way.
There's a million stranded starfish
Does it matter, anyway?"

And he said, "It matters to this one.
It deserves a chance to grow.
It matters to this one.
I can't save them all I know.
But it matters to this one,
I'll return it to the sea.
It matters to this one,
And it matters to me."

I walked into the shelter,
The owner greeted me.
She was helping Misty learn to trust.
She was struggling I could see.
I said, "Tell me why you bother,
Why you waste your time this way.
Misty's only one of thousands,
Does it matter anyway?"

And she said, "It matters to this one.
She deserves a chance to grow.
It matters to this one.
I can't save them all I know.
But it matters to this one,
I'll help her be what she can be.
It matters to this one,
And it matters to me."

I know I didn't reach all my kids last semester, but whatever I did... it mattered to that one. That's why I won't let mungus get the better of them.

This semester has gotten off to a great start-- I hope to be better about my bloggling so that you can stay up to date on my first year teaching efforts!