Living History Museum

With dimmed lights, presenters ready and our professor's anouncement, the grand opening of our Living History Museum commenced!

The Living History Museum today was so much fun. This is a wonderful new way to learn about history. In class today, the historical people represented included Ruby Bridges, Jackie Kennedy, Louisa May Alcott, Florence Nightingale, Mahalia Jackson, Jackie Robinson, J.P. Morgan, and Cleopatra. I don't remember the names of the others but they were: history teacher/astronaut (awesome costume), a major league female baseball player, female fighter pilot, and congresswoman. We have another Museum day left and it will be great to see and learn about many more people. I hear that Calamity Jane, Bonnie Kate, Anne Sullivan, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton will be there! I love the fact that everyone presents in first person during their talks. It is just like we are sitting down and listening to our grandparents tell us stories of their lives.

Fact, Question, Response

FQR=Fact, Question, and Response.

I enjoyed this approach to reading the articles on Monday. I think that this a good process for students to track the mental responses that occur while reading. The article on the 1st Thanksgiving surprised me. I actually had what could have been a text to self or text to text experience while reading. I remember learning in elementary about Squanto's life. I know that it was historically innaccurate. I watched the movie Squanto: A Warrior's Tale. Even though the movie was innaccurate, I didn't grow up thinking that Squanto's life was easy. And I remember finding it interesting and wanting to know more. I think that we owe it to our studdents to at least let them know that parts of what they may learn about Thanksgiving in school is false. I hope that I will be able to present information about the first Thanksgiving in a way that will give students a better picture of the true story. Because the true story is very eventful and filled with good as well!

But on a side note! The Thanksgiving tradition has surely evolved into a wonderful celebration with family, food and football! That is something to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Nearing the End...and the Beginning

As I was looking through my planner yesterday, I realized holy cow! We only have 4 more weeks of school and then exams! That means less than 30 more days of being the student. This semester has been an event filled one with homework assignments, projects, and for me, wedding preparations. Even though this semester has been stressful and frustrating at times, I feel like I have gained more understanding and knowledge about actual teaching and what the career will be like. And I have to say, I know I have loved it!

The end of the semester also means the nearing of my wedding!  My mom has been soooo helpful in all of the planning. We haven't had to finish many things during the semester besides some little details. I am so thankful for that because it has taken a lot of pressure off of Corey and I. Right now I am so ready to start the new chapter of my life. We have so many plans that we will soon be able to see play out. It will be really cool to see what happens.

For me the end of this semester means the end of essays, presentations, and exams as we have known it for so long and the beginning of lesson plans, centers, and reading corners among a lot of other things. Not to say that we will not be learning anymore. Our goal as educators will always be to remain lifelong learners.

And I hope our BLOCK family will stay in touch after this semester. We have such a great group of people!

See you all Wednesday!

Hands On!

Today at my placement, I had the priviledge of traveling with the first grade classes on a field trip! We drove down to Hands On and piled out of the bus (I hadn't been here since 3rd or 4th grade). You could feel all of the students' excitement as we lined up, walked down the street and stepped through the doors. After the instructions given by the musuem educators, the students were divided into groups and sent to their section of the museum. And boy did they have fun! It was great to see the same students I see every week in the same setting, playing and exploring every aspect of the museum. Part of me wished I was a kid again to have an excuse to jump in with them and play around (even though I still did in some places).

I did learn today that kids will surprise you. I saw students who usually seem bored or reserved in class getting on the stage with a play guitar and discover other interesting exhibits while really getting into it. I loved seeing this!
I think today I realized the most about how often elementary students need guidance. They needed help understanding the function or reason behind some of the exhibits. And it was fun going alongside of them and helping them understand. 

Overall, it was a great experience to see the students explore and discover new things and just have fun.