tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193762.post7494191169860198077..comments2023-07-20T03:10:07.458-05:00Comments on Bluebird's Classroom: Of Algae, S'Mores, Sunburns and Screaming 7th Graders - a Wrap upUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193762.post-86997504575357414342007-04-29T19:20:00.000-05:002007-04-29T19:20:00.000-05:00I've been saying for years that what our toughest ...I've been saying for years that what our toughest inner city middle school needs is a good outdoor-ed. program. I get poo-pooed a lot. <BR/>What an amazing series of posts, Mrs. Bluebird- you rock.Mrs. Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730747441676219265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193762.post-74546544299216599262007-04-29T15:44:00.000-05:002007-04-29T15:44:00.000-05:00We just got back from our 5th grade day in the woo...We just got back from our 5th grade day in the woods; our story is your story, just condensed. We went to the Girl Scout Camp and just stayed the day, but the bonds that formed and the self-confidence those kids got is amazing. They did scary things they never imagined themselves doing. We are talking about making it an overnight trip next year.teachergirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05655615013367705872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193762.post-55494937251378701302007-04-29T13:31:00.000-05:002007-04-29T13:31:00.000-05:00I'm all verklempt now. It's amazing how one weeke...I'm all verklempt now. It's amazing how one weekend can change a child permanently--and in a good way, which is probably something we can't say too often about what can permanently be done to a child.<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry to say that I'm probably raising my kids to not know about s'mores, stars at night, walking in the woods, etc. We are just not into the outdoors much, but thanks for reminding me that those were the things I enjoyed with my family when I was young. And it doesn't take much--we didn't go camping, but we "went to the mountains" to drive and picnic any chance we got. We rode our bicycles along country road at dusk. We noticed the world around us.<BR/><BR/>You don't have to take students on a weekend trip to establish relationships. When I directed drama, I always formed the closest bonds with those students--even their parents admitted I probably had more influence over their teens than they did. We can form relationships in our own classrooms, but I think relationships form much faster in smaller groups and outside the regular academic day when we can all be ourselves.HappyChyckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00586840416488114845noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193762.post-23628407805546578032007-04-29T12:32:00.000-05:002007-04-29T12:32:00.000-05:00Everything you said, and then some!I once worked a...Everything you said, and then some!<BR/><BR/>I once worked at a low-income junior high. One of our vice principals, I don't remember on what academic grounds, took a busload of students to Fort Ross and the Pacific Coast. He described the wide eyes on so many kids, how he thought the bus would roll over, as everyone rushed to one side of the bus for their first-ever view of <I>an ocean</I>.<BR/><BR/>Here in Sacramento, we're two hours from the coast.<BR/><BR/>Yes, many kids do without so many things. Doesn't it feel good to give them some of those experiences?Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15193762.post-60347864965673196402007-04-29T00:04:00.000-05:002007-04-29T00:04:00.000-05:00It's Liz from I Speak of Dreams. I'm involved wit...It's Liz from <A HREF="http://lizditz.typepad.com" REL="nofollow">I Speak of Dreams</A>. I'm involved with a small, private, all-girls, all-middle school in California, in which 20% of the girls are low-income--on full or part scholarship. <BR/><BR/>The <I>very first</I> activity in the school year is that the entering class (6th grade) goes off for a three-day, two night camping trip with their teachers and key administrators, and the 7th grade is off-campus for two days for "boot camp" for the major project (enterpreneurial class). So the 8th graders are on campus all by themselves!<BR/><BR/>Some parents complain about the "non-academic" nature of the camping trip, but it is an incredibly valuable part of the school year, allowing girls who are strangers to become acquainted, getting the science year off to a bang, and getting the students and faculty/staff acquainted.<BR/><BR/>Yes, you <I>were</I> brave to go off with the 7th graders. I wish all schools had the capacity for off-site environmental education.Liz Ditzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03455722013211350247noreply@blogger.com