Read Aloud

I started reading the book "Cold Sassy Tree"out loud today. The setting is a town in Georgia named Cold Sassy. I told the 8th graders they could draw while I read, which was met with HUGE excitement. That was strange. What was also strange? The fact that they ALL drew cold, sassy, trees...


Oh, and a poetry bird reading his works

And, naturally, a jazz bird

Cross Country

Turns out our friend doesn't limit himself to just holding dogs (which he did again today). During our meet today we looked over and saw him holding a small child. Telling your team member not to pick up children and carry them around, just another day on the job.

History

As I was grading a quiz today, I came across some real gems. Just an FYI, the period after the Civil War is called Reconstruction...

What was the time after the civil war known as?

It was known as the dark ages.

 

What was the time after the civil war known as?

The Great Depression.

What was the time after the civil war known as?

The 80's

I also enjoyed this answer about Washington State geography:

Name one island in Washington State:

hawiai

I swear I'm teaching them!

Future Artists of America

Behold the splendor of 8th grade drawings...

 That's the cast of the Wizard of Oz. Obviously.

 Creativity at its finest. s

In this case, it's probably for the best that they had the animal saying the noise it makes.

Life Story

"My name is _____, I am 13 years old. I have 1 brother, 2 dogs and 1 cat. My hobbies include being a puppeteer and playing on my NES. I like anteaters, frozen waffles and television. I dislike sushi seaweed, vicious dogs and fast moving objects. In the future I hope to become an efficiency expert and live in a reasonably good home. I am an 8th grader and hope to keep all my grades up. My favorite President is Woodrow Wilson and my least favorite is Franklin Pierce."

I really think the highlights there are the future career choice and the favorite president. Never a dull moment grading around here.

XC

While coaching cross country this season, we've had several injuries. I've lost count of the number of students who have allegedly somehow rolled their ankles at practice, but our major injuries have come by way of trampolines, soccer, somersaults and other such daring feats of athleticism. It may come as no surprise that we literally lose every meet by at least 20 points.

If there was a score for sportsmanship and heart though, we'd win. Our kids might come in dead last in a clump, but they are running together and holding hands across that finish line. And that's a team.

I should also point out our kids who come to practice and meets and are injured, like one of our 8th grade friends. He can't run right now, but somehow miraculously is cured when he needs to jump over tall bushes. His favorite activities include straight legged running because he thinks we won't consider that actual running, getting sassy when we tell him he has to walk so he won't hurt himself more, and high fives. He's easy to spot, he's the one holding a random dog he's found everywhere we go.

Middle school sports are where it's at.

Life Goals

"When I grow up, I'm going to enter a beard contest"

Shoot for the stars my 8th grade friend, shoot for the stars.

Tentacles

After reading an article with my 6th grade study skills class:

"Well, they have a lot of testicles"

"You mean TENTACLES"

"Oh, yeah... so the testicles..."

I gave up.

Scattegories

I asked the groups to brainstorm words for each category that started with "M" and then heard this from my desk...

"We need a sport"

"Oh, I know! Motor-boating!"

He thought it was a really great idea too. Luckily they didn't catch on and nobody saw me giggling to myself like the mature adult that I am.