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Not a Show: Take One

9/2/2019

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Back in my RCAA days I did a passion project example.  My topic?  Stage Fright.  I learned a ton!  But when it came to the final product-- I failed.  Big time.  I could NOT sing in front of adults.  Just the thought of being heard by my two co-teachers made me want to cry.  I never performed the song I wrote ("A Whole New Term"), and I felt like I let down the student who accompanied me (sorry Michael).

Fast forward a year, and I'm teaching 5th grade.  Guess what you absolutely CANNOT be afraid of with 10 year olds?  Making mistakes.  I made tons.  Every day.  Every hour.  Mistake after mistake.  Learning opportunity after opportunity.  In the end, I learned more in one year of 5th grade than I probably did in the previous three years put together.  

So, to my 5th grade darlings (and all the darlings I was too afraid to sing in front of), here is a sneak peak of "Not a Show."  I sang this COLD.  Like-- I turned on the iPad and just went with it.  No practicing.  No previewing the lyrics.  

Frankly, my voice stinks.  It cracks, I mess up on lyrics, and I think I laugh at one point.  You can hear the air conditioner on in the background.  You know what doesn't stink?  Learning.   And after practicing this the first time, I'll work on it some more (maybe get some help from the choir teacher).  Then I'll record it again.  And again.  And eventually--- BAM!  It'll be awesome.
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Lyrics (draft #1- work in progress) . . .

Not a Show
The mac glows white  on the chapter tonight
Not a cliffnote, to be seen
A department of isolation
And it looks like I'm the queen
Test scores are howling ‘gainst  a swirling storm outside
Can’t care enough, heaven knows I’ve tried

Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the teacher you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know

Well, now they know
Not a show, not a show
Can't hold it back anymore
Not a show, not a show
Smile away and close my door

I don't care what they're going to say
Let the fun go on
Test scores never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how the research, makes demands seem small
and the numbers that controlled us, can’t stress us out at all 

It’s time to see what they can do
Surpass the limits, and soar through
more right, no wrong, no anxiety
We’re free

Not a show, not a show
I refuse to make kids cry
Not a show, not a show
It’s the hill on which I’ll die
Make a stand, and loud I say
Let debates rage on. . .

My lessons engage from the  bell until the bell
Our mind are grasping complex fractals all abound 
And concepts crystalize like they really last
We’re never going back, the burden’s in the past 

Not a show, not a show
We’ll learn life in the real world  
Not a show, not a show
That stressed out class is gone
Make a stand, and loud I say
let debates rage on
Test scores never bothered me anyway


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Happy Birthday Miss Lea!!!

3/21/2017

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Example Project: Stage Fright

2/5/2017

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I'm doing a project this term!  Check out this page to see the progress.  

I'll eventually need help with my product.  Who wants to help me put on a small show?

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Summer Days. . .Drifting Away. . .

7/22/2015

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I just got home from the Dominican Republic today.  Already my schedule is filling with all kinds of preparation for the new school year.  How did it go so fast?!?

My third mission trip El Almirante was incredible.  Our team constructed 12 bathrooms, held workshops for the kiddos, gave vaccines to over a hundred children, and began a new library for the community.  My favorite part is still getting to play with and get to know the children.  There were three little girls in particular who called me their American Mama and wanted to come home with me.  It broke my heart to say goodbye until I can return next year.  My sponsor child, Daniel, is doing well.  I got to bring goodies to him and his little sister when I visited his home.  



A weird side effect of working with children in another country is that I start to miss the kiddos at RCAA even more.  I wonder how your lives are going over the summer recess.  Well, I hope.  Have fun, rest, play, relax, and enjoy.  We have all kinds of things to look forward to next fall.
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TAGOS Field Trip

2/6/2015

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Your advisors are enjoying our trip. More details to come.

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Ice Bucket Challenge

10/31/2014

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It was a snowy Wisconsin morning in the 30 degree range.  All three RCAA advisors accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge that was brought forth yesterday during an ALS presentation.  
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Teach Like a Pirate

9/19/2014

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Ahoy! Today was national talk like a pirate day.  Mr. Jobb made it the whole morning doing so, and nearly lost his voice.  It was also election day around RCAA.  Two officers and three representatives were elected to student council after our assembly this morning.  All candidates did a wonderful job giving speeches. We are proud! 
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Here Fishy Fishy. . . .

9/12/2014

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Our fish dissections went swimmingly! We worked through the four phases of the project process, and this helped us learn how the production phase works.  


Students also got FREE T-shirts from the RCAA governance board.  They're pretty spiffy!  
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Welcome Back

9/4/2014

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Woo hoo for a new school year!  Things have been a bit wild the last couple of days, but it's clear we're going to have a marvelous school year.  Your advisors (and a few students) were relaxing after 3:00, and someone noticed the chocolate covered bugs among Ms. Watson's critter collection.  Of course they were opened-- and eaten.  YUCK!  I refused to partake-- even when Tommy offered me five bucks.  



Tomorrow is a noon dismissal day.  Don't forget to set up a ride home! 
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PBL Conference and "The Pit"

7/8/2014

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Mr. Jobb, Mrs. Watson, and I are at the WISN PBL retreat in De Pere, WI.  We spent our morning looking at schedules for next year, online portfolios, service learning, and expeditions.  These were all exciting topics (to your teachers, anyway), and we got SO much done.

Perhaps the most fun part, however, was seeing Phantom Knight Academy's bright orange pit.  Folks, we HAVE to fundraise for these.  Watch the video message below to see what I'm talking about. 

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Quiet on the academy front. . . 

6/19/2014

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It is too quiet! I'm in this building getting all kinds of work done (yay), but it isn't the same without students here.  There is nothing fun to report, no hilarious things that students have said.  This doesn't make for much in a blog. 


 I'll take a cue from my students and make this post look bigger by adding more images from the last day of school.
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Thanks, Kierstyn, for letting me model your sewing project.  Ole'!

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Luau Tonight!

5/30/2014

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We have our last Wolf Night of the year this evening from 6:00-9:00.  We are having a Luau.  You should wear island inspired attire (like Mr. Jobb, who is practicing his best hula).  It is $9 a person this time, BUT food and favors are included in the price!  Join us.  We're grilling out!

The minority awards banquet was last night.  We were able to honor five of our incredible students to receive recognition for their stellar academics.  

I included a crazy slideshow of your middle school teachers.  We're weird, but fun.  
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