Journalism Drama

Besides the fact that I heard Christmas music on the radio on my way home from school, it's been a good day. I'm tired, my feet hurt, and I am so glad to finally be out of the tights I wore today, it's rediculous!

I started my multi-cultural unit today; it went well for the most part. I had students come up with a list of what makes a culture and then in groups, they wrote about their own culture. I also had clips of music from around the world and had students guess where the music came from. The real work starts tomorrow when I try to motivate 130 students who generally hate reading to read various texts representing various cultures of the world. I decided to focus on a different culture each week and hopefully my plan works. We'll also be reading, as a class, the novel, Under the Blood Red Sun, which is detailing WWII and the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

One cool thing I did today that I'm still on cloud nine from is that I had all of my students help make the bulletin board for the unit. I found a map of the world (not the ugly one already hanging up--it's bolted to the wall) and had each student put their initials on the location where they (or their family) come from. It turned out really spiffy; the areas of Europe, Mexico, and Tonga/Samoa were the most covered. I hung it up this afternoon and couldn't stop looking at it! It was quite simple and probably laughable to many but I was proud of my genious!

I have some Journalism/Yearbook drama to report. As I wrote about perivously, I orderd sweatshirts for the staff (they should be done any day now). Monday, I had to e-mail the final count to the company so they could print the right number of sweatshirts. Monday morning (right after I e-mailed them) I had a student come in to transfer into the class. I quickly e-mailed them and said we'd need one more. Today, after the printing company has put the order through and everything, I had one student transfer out of my class... so now we'll be one sweatshirt more than we need. Quite the interesting experience with this student that transfered. He is from Mexico and, as far as I can tell, has very limited English skills. He's kind of been a loner in class, puts his head down all the time, and never really did much as far as work was concerned. He came to class about halfway through, requesting me to sign his transfer paper. I told him best of luck and sent him on his way. (Secretly, I felt a little relived that he was transfering classes...I couldn't quite figure out how to motivate him to do anything). After 3rd period was over and right before 4th, I saw him running down the hall. He came up to me and said, "Mrs. Hubert, I just wanted to let you know that the reason why I transfered class has nothing to do with you. I think you are a great teacher and for your first year you are doing great. I respect the work you do and was hoping to do better in this class. The teacher who taught journalism last year inspired me to take this class and so I gave it a try. The reason why I'm leaving is that there are people in the class that I don't get along with. It's not because of you." Of course, it took him about 4 minutes to get all that out, but I thought it was a sweet gesture. I told him that I was sorry it didn't work out and wished him luck in the class he transfered to (7th grade reading) and he said sorry about 20 times and I finally said to not worry, I didn't have hurt feelings.I saw him again after school and AGAIN he said he was sorry. Nice boy!! Another bit of journalism drama is the cheerleader who broke up with her boyfriend. She spent most of today drafting a lengthy and accusatory letter to said ex and had all the other girls involved, as well. Between the 5 of them, I believe she came up with what might be considered the meanest love letter recorded in history. How I would have loved to get my hands on that letter!!!

I have mucho to do tonight and not mucho time to do it. I'm rediculously hungry! And I'm VERY glad tomorrow is Wednesday!

Ciao!