I am rather upset right now. Today was a great day and I used my digital camera NUMEROUS times...I had some AWESOME videos to share...and it looks like I deleted them. I transfered the pics from the Camera to my school laptop but it looks like it downloaded the pics but not the videos. I am now extremely sad and rather upset. I had this awesome clip of the debate today, and a video of NOWR arguing with both parties (and one candidate) after the debate because Alex shocked them with a statement about abortion. So, normally those kids have a hard time staying on task but this time there was a group of 10 students debating abortion and stem cell research in the corner! I was so happy! The rest were busy working away. The media pieces from today were amazing. I will try to put one on here.

But...what I wanted was to show those videos...bummer. I guess I'll just put pics in.

Here are the Candidates during their debate (Did you know the word candidate comes from the name of a toga that people who ran for political office wore? It was bleached bright white and was called a "candida"...I know this because Gil and Joe taught me this in their presentation on Greece!)

EARL put out their issue ad today. I think it's pretty awesome. I think Terry's a pretty awesome artist.

Ok...5th period. We went to Jamaica today. They're presentation was great. They came after school yesterday and decorated my room. When the students entered they walked through red, green, yellow and black stripes to the sound of blasting reggae music. They do not understand the concept of a proper volume level. I was very concerned that they were going to either blow my speakers or be a disturbance. People kept poking their heads in while they were walking by during passing period. But when I went outside I realized that you could really only hear the music in the room or right outside the door. I was impressed. We have really good sound proofing...so...I let them play the music loudly, though not blasting. Anyway, we learned about the history of Jamaica, about fashion, had a Jamaican dance party, learned to speak in Jamaican, had really great food, learned to play the Jamaican drums, and then they had the kids finger-paint to show what they learned (with homemade paint!). It was a group of all boys but they decorated my room, cooked a whole bunch of food (baked a sweet potato pie!), and made homemade finger paint! Anyway, we hung the painting up on the wall and then we had extra time so we took a class picture.

Beginning Fingerpainting

My 5th Period class!

They wanted this picture for some reason. I have a feeling it will show up on my Facebook group...Sheesh...I never realized how much shorter I am than them!

7th period worked hard again today. They're doing an Olympic simulation. I'm guessing you'll hear about them tomorrow. They have done SO MUCH WORK! Seriously, it's impressive. Tomorrow they have to present their program to the International Olympic Committee so I will probably have pictures. They have to be formal and dressed appropriately so I have high hopes. I'm sure they'll blow me away. They always do. Monday is the Olympics!! (They want to have a human torch. I nixed the lighting-someone-on-fire idea.)

Reflection: I'm sad I lost those movies. I'm proud of my students. I'm tired of grading (that's what I did today until 7:45). I agreed to chaperone Prom....I have no idea what I was thinking.

Related Items