First Day of School Lesson

Instead of going over rules and course guidelines, I decided to start the first day of school a little differently...  

One of my first assignments for my ninth and tenth grade students is to write a personal goal essay.  Last year, one of my freshmen wrote a paragraph dedicating a personal goal to all of the things he wanted to be remembered for after he graduates. It stuck with me and I knew I had to incorporate that somehow in the following years. It is easy for the kids to write academic and athletic goals, but it is so much more meaningful if they think about character goals as well.

So, this weekend, I sent an email to the elementary teachers in our district. I asked them to look at the list of students I have, and when they recognized a name, write down what they remember about that student. I told them I did not want to know what student they were referring to, I just wanted a list of comments/words that came to their mind when they thought about those particular students. Because I work in an incredible district, my email was flooded with responses within a few short hours.

When class started today, I explained to the students that the way they carry themselves, the way they treat others, and the things they stand for are impacting those around them in more ways than they realize. It is natural that people form an opinion about the type of person they are based on how they act. To prove this point, I told them about emailing their previous teachers (some that they had ten years ago!) Then I shared this document with them…

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How do you want to be remembered?

In the next couple of weeks you will be working on a Personal Goals Essay. However, before we start writing the goals we have, we are going to do some exercises that help us realize who we are and what we want out of life.

It is important for you to know that you are making an impression on those around you every day. Regardless of your age, the way you act and conduct yourself will be something those around you will remember forever. When I showed your class list to your former elementary teachers, they proved this point. Here are some of the things they remember specifically about you and your peers. Some of them wrote the one word that came to their mind when they read specific names. Others shared very specific stories. Some of these thoughts were formed ten years ago and the teachers still remember them vividly when they see/hear your name.

• shy
• quiet
• sweet
• homebody

• laid-back
• goofy
• out-going
• hard working
• courteous
• helpful
• polite
• friendly to others
• "happy" singer
• Minecraft Civil War project

• won't eat donuts!
• popcorn seller
• got me Michigan candy cane ornament

• I received a picture of this student prior to school starting and looked into some very beautiful blue eyes matched by a sweet smile.  I wondered if her personality would match the picture, it did.  She was a very hard worker with a wonderful attitude and terrific work ethic.

• This student made an impression by the end of the year by the huge amount of "growing up" he did.  From an insecure and shy child to a confident and friendly student.  I can still see his big, dark eyes.

• Ahhh, those twinkly eyes, showing a bit of mischief, yet he was very shy.  He continued to be shy for most of the year and had a bit of mischief, but overall he was a very well behaved young man.

• This student was what many of us would call "all boy".  He was rough and tumble, did many things that I thought for sure would seriously injure him.  Yet in class, he worked hard and always enjoyed doing his practice.  I was impressed at how he lived life even at such a young age.   I hope he is still as happy and full of life as he was some many years ago.

• She was so shy.  I always felt like she wanted to say more than she ever did.  

• He got along with everyone--and worked very hard to make sure that everyone else got along, too.  

• He was sneakier than his family gave him credit for!

• He was always very blunt.  He just said what was on his mind and never held back.  

• His eyes always told you how he was feeling.  He was very expressive, even when he didn't want to be.  

• I admired her for her strength.

• I always knew she'd be a good leader.  

• She worked hard and wanted to learn.

• She only let a small group of people get close to her.  

• She loved to make others smile.

• He always wanted to do his best.  

• Everyone could always count on him.

• I remember being surprised when this student correctly identified the music playing as being a single from "The Travelling Wilbury's" a late 80's supergroup composed of George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and the late Roy Orbison.

• What a talker!
• Love that girl...but makes me shake my head. Always had to say, "Slow down! Think!"
• Amazing writer.
• What a kind student...always.
• Oh so polite...so respectful.

• Impressive kid.
• Scary...scary intelligent.
• Total perfectionist!
• Seriously? Get serious!
• An artist...totally.
• Love those artists.
• Love reading your work!
• You are good. Really good.
• Focus!
• I know you can do this...you are so so capable!
• Aah...the poets. This class is full of them.
• I'll never forget you...still make me smile every time I think of you!
• Silence...please!

So, now I want you to think about how you want to be remembered as you journey through your high school years.

What do you want your teachers, the staff, and your peers to think about when they hear your name 5, 10, 20, or even 50 years down the road?

Type your response below (you may either list items or type a paragraph).

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Because of the powerful list of comments from the teachers (and keep in mind, I had a completely different list for my freshmen), the students now had words/phrases/impressions they wanted to fit. The documents the students shared with me at the end of the lesson were inspiring. We will continue to revisit these lists and now the students have a starting point when they write their personal goal essay later this week.

This isn't just a lesson for students, though. We all need to think about how we want to be remembered. I really did some serious thinking about the type of teacher I want to be remembered as and they type of parent I want my own kids to remember. This experience is challenging, yet very necessary.

Chromebooks

The high school recently gained access to a Chromebook lab. The freshmen were the first class to be introduced to this lab right before Christmas break. There was an overwhelming positive response to the use of the Chromebooks in the classroom. In the pictures below,  the students are working on writing a holiday narrative. They can't wait to use them again for our research papers next week.

Research

The freshmen are busy learning the research process. This week, we are focusing on proper documentation of direct quotes and paraphrasing. In the pictures below, the students were working together on a paraphrasing activity. 

To Kill a Mockingbird Trial

Instead of just reading To Kill a Mockingbird, we turned the classroom into a courtroom and acted  out chapters 17-21. The students did an amazing job playing their characters and creating a visual to remember these crucial scenes in the book. 

College Application Week

November 3-7 was College Application Week in Michigan. There were various activities going on throughout the school, including giving all seniors time to fill out and submit college applications.

However, I believe it is important to talk to the Freshmen and Sophomores about college and what they can be doing at this stage of their lives.

We had a great discussion on Monday about college in general and what resources are available to them.

The powerpoint I used in class can be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1l9JqyWeYbaLKmQEzwQnhLgcZmQV--F6xlkMlncrho_0/edit?usp=sharing

I also shared a spreadsheet template I encouraged the students to make a copy of and start filling out. This spreadsheet will help them keep track of all of the things they are involved in, which will make college and scholarship applications much easier to fill out when the time comes. The spreadsheet can be found by clicking on this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10yUls0VIztBJXRCRyxEiUhg1iLBtSG2Si70d4WiPbA8/edit?usp=sharing

Students of the Week Oct.-Nov. 2014

After contacting the Detroit Pistons, they have given me access to tickets for four-five games per month. So, I have decided to give my Students of the Week their choice of Piston's tickets. 

In the middle of the month, the Piston's organization sends me a list of all the games that I can request. When that email comes to me, I will award all of the Students of the Week. 

When the email came this month, I had four awards for each grade level ready to give out. 

Here are the most recent Students of the Week: 

Michigan Author, Krista Bur, Talks to Sandusky Students

We were so fortunate to have Michigan author, Krista Bur, come to speak to the freshmen and sophomore classes today. She discussed the writing and publishing process with the students and shared many tips with them. It was a great chance for them to ask questions and learn from someone that has been through this process, which started when she was their age.

There are many opportunities to follow Krista Bur and learn more about her. The published book she shared with them can be found on Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Krista-E-Bur/dp/1494277808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415370663&sr=8-1&keywords=krista+bur+the+hidden

(She is also offering discounted, signed copies for our students. Please send me an email, ecarlson@sandusky.k12.mi.us, if you would like to take advantage of this offer.)

She also shared with them the organization she co-founded. This organization became a key part of the publishing process for her. It is open to anyone that would like to become a Michigan author.

http://www.michiganauthors.org/

Krista also has a Facebook page and a twitter account: @KristaBurAuthor 

Here are some pictures from our day with her: