February 2011

We did lots of math problems during the month of February.  I had one student who had shoulder surgery and couldn't write for a few weeks.  She would tell her mom her answers for her homework.  I had to take pictures of our problems and record class sessions in order for her to catch up on the work she missed.  Nothing like trying to be innovative!  She is doing much better and is actually doing her own homework again.

Lest you think that all we do is compete in speech competitions, let me mention the math poster contest that my algebra students entered at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.  Each student designed a poster on "Math in Tennessee: Science and Industry."  We then entered the top posters in the competition and actually had three winners.

My nephew Austin is one of my math students and his poster qualified for the competition.  Of course, it was a basketball poster!  I was thrilled to have Tony and Darla go with us to UTC as chaperones on the day of the competition.

The best part about having several winners was that they actually received prize money!  Here is Lydia who won $200 for first prize.  Not bad for a poster about the "Cupcake Industry" in Chattanooga.  I guess she'll be able to buy lots of cupcakes!

On February 15 we had over 40 students from our school compete in the TACS district speech competition.  It was the first level of the competition that we are involved in every year.  We did not have much competition at the district level, but I always challenge the young people to know their pieces well and do their best.  This is the senior high reader's theater group.  They performed an engaging version of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."  This is Brom Bones and some "ladies."

This is the senior high choric speaking group who performed "Casey at the Bat."  We even had matching baseball shirts with everyone's last names on the back.  The group looked really sharp and wowed the audience with their first live performance.  We also had a number of individuals in senior high as well as a duet act that did a cutting from "Shadowlands" which is the love story of C.S. Lewis and his wife Joy.

Then we also a junior high reader's theater group.  Here is the group performing "Sideways Storied from Wayside School."  Most of these students are first-timers and I thought they did very well at the district competition.

Finally we had a junior high choric speaking group who performed Mark Twain's "Punch in the Presence of the Passenjare."  This fun story tells about a man who gets the torchering jingle "Punch, brothers, punch with care, punch in the presence of the passenjare..." stuck in his mind.  By the end of the performance everyone in the auditorium had the jingle stuck on the brain and lips.  I was so proud of this group because they are all 7th graders and one boy is in 8th grade.  My nephew Rylie is the one with his head up snapping his fingers.  He is my nephew that just can't wait to be in a play.  I'm in the process of training him!:)

Whew, it was quite a month between schoolwork and competitions.  However, at least the snow held off and we were able to get everything done.  Now on to TACS state competition and the long awaited spring break during the month of . . .

March

(coming soon)