The hills are alive

Phew, I know you are all worn out from the hefty geometric workout, but now it is time to stretch out those vocal cords and belt out that toon from The Sound of Music. Before you get all crazy and start singing "Doe a deer a female deer" you need to check out the geometrically altered lyrics. Just look below and don't be afraid to give it a try. Once you get the rhythm and words down start including the hand motions which are in the parentheses. OK, next time I see you I expect you to be a pro.


Point, a point a dot or a spot (point into the air twice for "point a point", then make a fist "a dot or a spot")
Ray a beam straight from the sun (hold one arm towards sun with fingers extended)
Line two ways in which to run (hold arms straight out parallel to the floor, fingers extended)
Segment two point define the end (keep holding arms out but make fists with each hand)
Perpendicular two lines that cross just like a T (make a T with arms in front of you (see pic))
Parallel two lines that never cross (hold your arms like an equals sign in front of you with fingers extended (see pic))
Which brings us back to point point point (point into the air then repeat from beginning)


Check out my kids emphatically making parallel and perpendicular lines.

Are you ready to GEOMETRICISE?

Cause we need our daily dose of exercise and hey why not learn a little geometry too. So get up off your feet and get ready to join us.

1) make an 'L' with your arms...one arm extended straight toward the heavens and the other outstretched to the side and say "RIGHT ANGLE"
2) bring arms back in, crouch, stand up and extend arms into "L" position again and say "RIGHT ANGLE"

now that you got the idea we repeat this for acute angles, and make sure to say "acute angle" in your baby cutesy voice "a cute little angle"

lastly we open the arms way up and repeat the motions for obtuse angle, and make sure that your voice goes to a super deep low rumbling as you say "obtuse angle"

Budda Bing we can now identify angles...YES!!!!

March 5th, Sunday night 5 days until spring break. It has been a tumultuous time here in Shelby for the last month. My classroom, The SKC, the affectionate title for the Shelby Middle School Knowledge Corporation had been moving toward excellence. Students were learning, systems were working, progress appeared to be happening.

The students would spend the first 60 minutes out of a hundred doing a lesson. Introduction to new material, some guided practice, some independent practice a closing and BOOM the lesson is over. The remaining forty minutes were reserved for centers, activities to reinforce previously taught skills.

CENTERS
The system was self-sufficient. Students would self regulate, and practice their skills. A classroom full of students would remain focused for a twenty-minute activity, then rotate to a different activity and continue working with out teacher supervision for another twenty minutes. During which time I could pull students based on academic need and level and work in a small group situation to remediate knowledge deficits.

THEN THE STATE TAKES OVER...State take over occurred post Christmas but they didn't start getting their hands dirty until early February. The sate came in because we work in the worst district in the state, test scores low and achievement virtually non-existent. The state has hired consultants, implemented not well-laid plans and has driven what was a horribly underachieving academic district into total chaos. They come and repeatedly change plans and shift and alter keeping everybody off guard. We can only hope that this chaos is the necessary shake up. But then again we are talking about the state of Mississippi consistently ranked in the bottom three of national education. Add the icing to the cake...a MS state takeover has never been successful. Oh except for that one time when there was redistricting near Tunica to make use of a loophole to get the state out.


This impacts me b/c the head consultant who everyone has to listen to came into my classroom and said all this "froo froo”, yes she said froo froo, stuff had to go. She was talking about manipulatives and centers, key elements of a model classroom. I was floored it only took 6 freaking months to get my centers successfully running. But I have recovered from the trauma of this overhaul and am once again revamping and reorganizing to make my classroom successful within the confines of this state mandated system.

Well, I am ready to attack the last nine weeks of school with vigor in a relentless pursuit of achievement. So here comes a busy week but then a week off with a trip to San Francisco and some relaxation time on the farm.