Paper Folding

The students in my class have been working on a week long research project about the biomes. The students were asked to research all the biomes and find out the precipitation, climate, vegetation, and animals of each. I gave the students science fair poster boards to put the information on. The students were asked to find a picture of each biome and to tell an interesting fact about each biome. The students had the option of using flip books to organize their information about each biome. Both the students used this option for their projects. In order to make the poster boards look filled, I provided the students with large construction paper. On Friday the students presented their posters to the class and described each biome. For this project I created my first rubric. I was impressed by the students creativity and knowledge. I feel as if they learned more by doing research than I could have taught them in lecture. I thought both students did an excellent job on this project. The hardest thing for me is grading the project.

Questioning Technique

I asked the students to write down any questions they had about my class on an index card. The students turned in the cards with no questions. We only have two students. They both said they had no questions. Then, the next day I asked the students to write on the card a positive and negative comment about class. Both students responded by saying they wanted to do more activites. Their positive comment was also they same. They both said that they thought I was a good teacher. The positive comment really meant a lot to me. I feel as if I have developed a good relationship with my students. By building this relationship I feel that I can help them more. I just wonder when school starts if I will be able to do this with all of my students.

Focus Paper

Wow, this is my first blog. I keep thinking to myself that I am so lucky and blessed to be involved in this program. Then, I begin to hear the horror stories. But then I think to myself that it will not happen to me. Let's be realistic the horror stories can happen to anyone, especially to a sweet lady like myself. Yet I still feel blessed to be in a situation where I can truely have an impact on someone's life. This is my chance to give back and make a difference for the better in someone's life.
I chose to read the focus paper written by Ruth Kuhnau entitled "Tactics to Avoid Integration." I really enjoyed this paper. I learned a lot about the state of Mississippi that I did not know. I learned that the Mississippi government was very involved in these tactics to avoid integration. It is hard for me to believe that some of the agencies formed to avoid integration were government funded. Also the amount of governors involved in these agencies was alarming. It seems as if the people who were trying to integrate Mississippi were fighting an uphill battle. Things have not changed much since then. The people of Mississippi have become experts at avoiding integration. The school are still segregated because of the numerous private schools throughout Mississippi. Inspite of all of this I am excited and ready to jump on board and help fight in this uphill battle.