Summer School Shenanigans

 

Had a blast 'summer schooling' it with these gals!! 

This summer has been a 10 out of 10 for me so far! 

I'm not sure why because I've did nothing but work and chill but 

I've had a great summer.  I've actually felt pretty energetic for the first time in a long time. 

I signed up for two weeks of summer school, which I always try to have some fun with each year. 

I started each day with a current event reading from a nonfiction source, followed by an assessment / writing, and then PROJECT TIME (made up by me).

(See Ahead)

'2018 Eruption of Kilauea Volcano'  

This story is told from a 12 year old who attended school within miles of the eruption. 

 It destroyed so much of the area including Hawaii's largest natural freshwater lake!  

We followed with a study on what makes a volcano/ makes a volcano erupt, followed by making our very own. 

 

They did a great job and they were very creative! 

Adding a bit of the "scientific reaction".

'The Secret Life of Anne Frank' delves into the history of Anne's Diary and how it remains one of the best sellers of today.

We had a lot of great discussions on this one including how hard it would be to go from your life today to practically living in a large closet (annex) with two other families, dealing with your first crush and breakup in seclusion, and the threat of torture around every corner.  

It's just horrifying.

To think it all started with a politician who told people what they wanted to hear while using fear to ensure loyalty.

We worked on the The Butterfly Project after this reading. 

Learners each researched a child of the Holocaust and later found if they lived or passed.  

We found some surprising links to Anne's family (including her sister's best friend who was able to safely sneak to the states with her boyfriend). 

'Searching for The Titanic'

I heard many kids share conspiracy theories from TikTok that the Titanic was all a fraud (you know like landing on the moon). 

😖 #ihatetiktok

We did some investigating. 

We worked on this foldable detailing the events such as the original itinerary, the differences in the first and third class cabins, and how quickly the Titanic sank.

Homework:  Tell a family member all about The Titanic. 

 

We watched a documentary and learned about life for the surviving members.  

Another question was posed- Did Captain Edward Smith survive??  Some credible sources swear they saw him after. 

I thought a treasure hunt using a coordinate graph would be appropriate. 

First I had to organize the treasure....

YUMMM 

(just take my summer school earnings please) 

Finding treasure in the deep of the library was a lot of fun.

'Escape from Alcatrez'

This is still one of my favorite stories of all times passed down from a former ELA teacher.  Not that I condone those who escape prison, 

but come on these guys were so crafty!

Even at my house, verdict is divided.  

Darren says 'no way could they have survived that swim'.  Connor says 'they totally made it and there is proof'.

FYI- the FBI will stop investigating when the men turn 99.  I think that is this year, maybe? 

Nothing goes with this reading selection like an Alcatraz Escape Room!! 

This was a lot of fun!  All the kids were issued one ticket to Alcatraz where they got a tip on the escaped convicts.  

This must be a smart group because they all cracked the code for a jolly rancher. 

'The History of Rock/ Rap'

We had a great discussion on the question, 'has music gone too far'?

I feel it no longer protects children.  Today's lyrics don't hold back on the language involving drugs, violence, sex, etc. and there is no such thing as 'radio edit' versions now.   

Of course my kids defended their right to listen to what they like.  It was interesting to read the same defense kids had to Elvis Presley and movies like "Blackboard Jungle".  While I don't agree that kids should be able to listen to what they want at a certain age, I have to remember that they have Cardi B ...

and I had Madonna.  

These articles also share the critical role music had in ending segregation and bringing people together.  

Music makes the world go round.  

I had an 90% pass rate on this assessment piece. 

This lesson required another history lesson on: 

records, 8 tracks, tapes, and CDs.  

A lot of kids never heard of these things. 

#boomer  

I told them how album covers used to be an art form, and how we couldn't wait to go to the music store to check out our favorite artists and their new album cover(s)! 

Everything is so digital now and kids miss out on this experience. 

We went over the top 50 Album Covers of all time, 

and then designed our own. 

'The History of the Sneaker'

Sneakers are BIG in middle school (in case you didn't know). 

I know Connor wanted a special pair coming in at a whopping 350.00, where Santa promptly told him 'no way'. 

We read this article that took me back to the very first Jordan shoes. I guess I was closer to age 9 or 10 when shoes really became popular.  
I showed the kids my favorite shoes (they thought they were cool):

My brother had a pair that when you pumped the basketball it filled the shoe with air!!! 

(to play ball better even though he only played Nintendo)

We also watched a video on how advertisements have changed from the radio "soap opera" to NO DVR/ tv commercials ('yes kids we had to sit and watch commercials in my day'), to social media and youtube today.  

 Times sure have changed.

I had the students create, design, and advertise their own shoe.  They had a hard time coming up with an idea and required google to 'get ideas'.  Being a "boomer" has benefits.  We never had a small computer to 'help us with ideas'. 

(Which is how I can come up with all these projects with my own head.)

They later put their designs on a key chain while I played "My Adidas" by Run DMC. 

They turned out so cool! 

Summer session is out now, 

and you can find me by the pool!! 

See you soon.

June Reads

Let's get back on track with my reading blogs.  I've been super busy with the closing of my 19th year teaching!!!   It turned out to be a really good year, but I worked myself to death to make it that way and there was NO time for extras at the end. 

Finally, we are back to rest & health and on our way to enjoying our most favorite time of the year- 

SUMMMER! 

June Reads

These are my June Reads 

(in between my Turkish TV and Netflix).

House of Earth and Blood 

(Crescent City) by Sarah J Maas

I started this 800 page whopper while my students were testing.  I am not a huge fan of science fiction but I loved the Court of Thorn and Roses series.  Maas is fantastic at writing tortured but strong female characters.  

This book takes you into the very colorful and exciting 'Crescent City' where magic and creatures live their best lives.

We meet our main character, Bryce Quinla, who loves antiques, parties, and her best friend Danika.  Danika's death provides a traumatic event that changes the trajectory of Bryce's life forever.  She is eventually tasked with finding her best friend's killer while teaming up with a hottie hot, hot archangel named Hunt.  One extra I loved on this book was the online Fan Art.  I found myself stopping every few chapters and just scrolling through the art online.  It was like a provided comic book that came with the story. 

I gave this book 4/5 stars.  It almost felt like I was reading a teen drama with adult language/ situations, and sometimes the story would draggggggg on.  

Bryce and Danika 
BFFs

  

This is HUNT.  

(Yes, I realize I'm 43 and too old to be ogling an angel book boy.)

Book 2 was loaned to me as well, but I'm not sure I want to take another 800 page journey.  At the same time I'm kind of invested in Crescent City, ya' know?!
I might take on a chapter tonight (if Hunt shows up). 

Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown

I love me some Sandra Brown (I was introduced to Slow Heat in Heaven at age 20, and all I can say is 'Lordy-Day Honey, it's HOT!!')

This is a very different book by Brown.  

It takes place in the 1920s during prohibition.  After my read, I had no idea why this book was named "Blind Tiger".  I looked up the phrase and it is named for a speakeasy (a bar) during the prohibition era.  The custom was to display stuffed tigers to alert potential patrons of the availability of illegal alcohol.  The tigers were blind because the authorities did not know they existed. 

 

This book had all the makings of a 5 star read.  It had history, mystery, a handsome loner, a determined heroine, and a crooked police force. 

I only gave this three out of five stars.  I started this book on audio and a man read all the parts for all the characters (in a fake southern accent).  It was so annoying I just bought the book and read the other half for myself.  That may be what dropped a star (I'm not sure).   

Warning- There is also a VERY violent scene in this book that stayed with me for a while.   

  Overall, I enjoyed the story, especially Thatcher and Laurel. These two characters went through hell and back.  You could not help but root for them to find love and peace.  The only down for me was that the characters were not fleshed out enough, and too many plot points wrapped up quickly at the end. 

Going There By Katie Couric 

 I love Katie Couric.  She reminds me of me- hyper, happy, and a Great Girlfriend!  

While other kids my age were watching 90210 I was all about the The Today Show (not kidding.  #geek).  

I think I was a pretty lonely kid, and upbeat talk shows like Rosie O Donell Talk Show and The Today Show seemed to put me at ease and make me laugh. 

I once had a dream of being a journalist or talk show host.  In the 90s, there was no team better than Matt and Katie.  They were so fun and funny!! 

Katie Couric as a child raising $$$ for the Red Cross

Going There...went there.  

This woman named names and told how she felt from coworkers to dates to Martha Stewart!! 

Katie also shared a lot of poignant moments in her life from finding out she was pregnant in her career prime to losing her husband early with two small girls. 

Of course, we all wanted to know about MATT.

In Bill Clinton fashion, I hung onto the belief that Matt Lauer was not a SKUZ and that he was being set up.   I think Katie battled with the same feelings.  

If you look at the index of her book, Matt was a huge part of her memoir. 

According to this book it seems the journalistic world is no better than Hollywood- 

ALL SKUZ!!  

There is still 'I'll get you to the top if you sleep with me' crap that should have died in the 20s.  

There were times when I questioned- Is Katie Couric trying to sell books here?  Is this real?  She was a fence rider when it came to Matt.  She would declare all of his wonderful attributes, share texts she sent promising to support and call him, and then she just ghosted the man when he was down.  It also didn't seem like it was for the victims, but rather for fear of tarnishing her own reputation.  (I didn't like that about Katie.)  

She did write, 

"I've come to realize that Matt could be an excellent professional a partner, a good friend, and a predator."

Meaning, there were two sides- one she knew and one she didn't know. 

I love the way her chapters were broken into short, small segments (like The Today Show).  There were 99 chapters in all.  I found myself stopping each evening to google search the historical events she would describe.  I watched countless videos such as the first morning Katie anchored The Today Show, the morning of 9/11, the day after the Columbine Shooting, etc.

At the end of the day, Katie Couric shared a very real story of her life that I enjoyed.  One of the things that annoy me in life is that if I'm not constantly peppy all the time, people pelt me with 'oh my gosh, are you mad at me?  are you ok? Are you sick?'  One colleague (many moons ago) accused me of having "multiple personalities" anytime I expressed stress, worry, or concern.  I realized I was doing the same thing to another woman named Katie Couric. 

I almost gave this book 4 stars because in my head I was wanting the peppy and upbeat "Katie 'Katherine' Couric" to show on the pages.  Instead I read about a deeply competitive woman who came from humble beginnings to be the success she is today.

She sacrificed a lot to be at the top.  They were sacrifices I wouldn't want to make but not for me to judge. 

This book made me so glad I didn't go into journalism.  I decided to upgrade this one to 5 stars. 

Let me know if you want to borrow this one.  It does have ice cream stains all over it because I was eating Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk while I was reading.  It seemed appropriate at the time. 

Paperboy by Vince Vawter

I began this one with my 7th graders after Christmas.  The bad news is we couldn't finish it.  We had to prepare for so many tests and exams at the end, we didn't have the time.  It's ironic that I can't finish reading a great book with my kids so they can pass a test that says they can read!?! 

This story takes place in around a very intelligent, baseball loving boy named Vince- 'Little Man'.  The problem is Little Man has a TERRIBLE stutter.  He has so much trouble expressing himself that you begin to feel for this young man from the first page. My students related immediately.  Little Man comes from a wealthy middle class upbringing with a mom and dad who can afford private speech therapy.  He also has a very close attachment to his nanny who he refers to as Mam.  Mam is an African American woman who is deeply religious, caring, and as sassy as they come.  She is literally a mom figure.  

Things really change for Little Man when he takes over a paper route for his best friend.  There he becomes entangled in the lives of those he delivers.

We have:

Mr Spiro- a Shakespearian wordsmith who challenges Little Man in every way that is good. 

Mrs. Worthington- Little Man's first crush.  Things get a little weird in this part of the story because apparently Mrs. W. has a problem with men and alcoholism.  This certainly provided some talking points (and remarks) in 7th grade. 

TV Boy- a boy who never talks to Little Man but literally stays glued to the TV.

Ara T- a very, very bad man who patrols the area with his cart full of junk and stolen goods.  Things take a twist when Mam gets involved. 

This book deals with everything from racism, paternity, violence, theft, expression, alcoholism, and in general what it means to fight to be yourself. 

I gave this Newberry Award winner 5 stars!

See you next month (and keep reading). 

Who at the Zoo!?!

Summer is here and life has been moving NON stop. 

So far, I've blogged 6 whole times for the year.  

🙄 

Ages 16, 10, work, and life don't leave a lot of room for rest and reflection. 

At the same time I find myself in a weird phase of life.  I have two kids getting older each day while I try to adapt to my own changing role.  

Connor can work, drive, and is so much more independent now.  

(The child literally has two years of public school left!!  I can't even begin to tell you the emotional journey we have been on since kindergarten.)

It's true that girls hit a maturity curve much faster because Carlee prefers clothing, the solitude of her room, and long talks with her friends (with her door shut).  

I find myself trying to walk a fine line between being involved and being wayyyyy too involved.

Additionally, I think the past two years in education have completely consumed my life due to the ongoing impact of 2020.  Any other educators feel it!?!   Not to mention the political tension and response of the christian community of the past two years has put me at a spiritual standstill.   I'm kind of roaming around on MoMZombie autopilot. 

In short- I'm a hot mess. 

Luckily, this blog has carried me through many hot mess moments and it's ok.

We shall overcome. 

This weekend provided a little fun trip to the -

ZOOOOO!

Who at the Zoo?

We at the Zoo! 

Connor's Zoo Love is still going strong folks.

Y'all I'm going to start crying.

Isn't he sweet!?! 

Remember when he made his own zoo??

Connor's Zoo

 But seriously, 

he really loves the zoo....↓

We had planned to stay one night but we had so much fun that 

I booked us another night!! 

YAY! 

The Zoo was A for Awesome, but it was a bit hot and tiring as we moved from North America to Africa.

Connor's endless energy kept us going.  

I wonder if the Zoo is hiring??  I think he would make a great addition.

At the very least he could exercise ALLL the animals each morning. 

How big is your wingspan?  

Despite the heat, the animals were out and about. 

Say "Lion King"! 

It was great to spend time with family and see the  NC Zoo.  It had been years since I have visited.   

Here are a few snaps I captured:  

Tru and Car ready to take on the jungle. 

Connor and Aunt E. entering the snake pit! 

Caught in the Web 

Growing Pals 4 Life

I made Connor pay 6.00 to enter the butterfly garden with me (the girls were on the carousel).  

He was a good sport.

It was so beautiful, I had to pay for the girls to go after.

There were butterflies fluttering everywhere!  

Carlee at the wishing well (taking FOREVER to make a wish).

Look at all those wishes!  All proceeds go to polar bears. 

Finally Princess Carlee just sat in the middle of the trail.  

I think she had enough walking for a lifetime. 

 Picking up her very own elephant and snazzy gift shop necklace 

made it much better (and we promised a tram ride in the near future). 

After so much walking, 

we enjoyed our hot tub and pool time. 

I don't think any of us could get out of bed without pains the next day.

It was worth it.  

A beautiful God given day with family & The Zoo! 

Here is our video: 

Bob Cat Catchers- USA 

The rarest of the Animals-

Until next time Fam. 

💗