Journal of the Day June 22, 2009

Tiffany past the journal of the day to Bertha and Bertha will pass the journal of the day onto Debbie.

We have six more active days before June 30th arrives. It has been a lot of fun with all the activities that have taken place with the DEMOs. Peggie has taught us a lot of technology helps to aid us when we go back to school this fall. The power of there is No wrong answer has managed to keep flowing through the classroom.
Bob arrived today and gave us the morning writing prompt: Write about someone that you have dealt with that is drug related and how did you deal with the situation as did Penny in her write about DAVID, which we were to read over the weekend. There were several incidents where the SI students had dealt personally with students and children with drugs. Tracy gave us incite to a situation where she also gave an example that she changed in her teaching experience. Though she felt badly that the child had received physical and emotional abuse from a parent who had used Tracy’s classroom as a stomping ground to correct the child’s behavior because of her embarrassment; Tracy changed that she would not allow a parent to come into her classroom, but would ask the parent to visit her on her planning time.

Macel and Crystal gave us Demos in French and Spanish . Macel brought forth the writing process using Napoleon as a writing project in which she allowed the students to create their own web site and use other sites to access information. Napoleon’s love for Josephine was evident in his poems and letters to her. This spring board gave Macel an opportunity to ask her students to write a letter or poem on how they felt about being separated from someone they loved. Carmen loves her man and he is the one being blessed. Debbie wrote about our sons that raise up above the call of duty and challenge us to stand strong also.

The afternoon came, I know because we went to lunch and I was able to look outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Crystal helped us to learn about beginning teachers who are in one discourse will move to a third discourse of a place of ambivalence, not knowing or limbo before they move on to the second discourse which would be their destination as a teacher.
We enjoyed the afternoon as much as the morning Demo. Crystal gave us the topic about Culture. Crystal wanted us to understand about connotations.
The connection was made between the “Decapitated Chicken” and Culture. The class was open to their views and recognizing that the meaning of the writer’s intent will change as the culture changes. Snake means evil in North American culture and means wise in South American culture. We agreed that the village people remained as with a mob mentality in both cultures. Aaron
expressed strong statements that the snake could represent beliefs outside of the cultural norm. We also oohed and awed as he stated the animal tamer represented the enforcer of the cultural norm.
Let’s remember Tonya and share her grief with the loss of her tiny precious grandchild. Lift her up in prayer. Mary would want us to remember her also, that she will be with us tomorrow.
It was said, “Is it raining?” before we went home. “Yes, it is raining!” I thought. I enjoy learning and experiencing thoughts between 16 other writers. I feel selfish in that I am taking more away from SI 2009 than what I have given to you as a whole. Thank you everyone for a wonderful learning experience and I think my fellows feel the same.
Oh! Yes! Remember the T-Shirts. I believe we’ll enjoy wearing them as a remembrance of our time together.