I taught three classes today- two evolution simulations, including collecting and graphing data, an introduction to evolution, and great discussions in both classes. The kids were fabulous, and seemed to "get" everything I was teaching. I had 3 adult visitors in the first class and about seven in the second class. Several told me later that the lesson was "awesome," which really made me feel good.
The third class I "taught" consisted of making a map of the walking trails on the campus using a GPS. The lack of technology here impeded us many times, but we got around every blockade, despite the kids rightly observing every five minutes that, "This just wasn't meant to be today." In the end, however, we had a decent map drawn on a huge piece of paper!
All three classes were enormously satisfying for me. I think the kids and all the visitors enjoyed them, too.
Staff meeting today consisted of the following discussions:
1. A volunteer group of high school students last week constructed a new Guard House for the school and repaired 130 meters of fence.
2. The Board of the school's U.S.-based Foundation (major fundraisers) will be here next week.
3. Computer Lab use
4. Upcoming Professional Day activities
5. Crafting a meaningful Advisory period once a week for all students- to be implemented next year.
6. Entering Grades
7. Prioritizing Parent-Teacher Meetings- parents of kids who are in academic trouble will be seen first, other parents later in the day.
8. A parent apparently slapped an out-of-line kid on the bus last week. There was a major miscommunication between the two of them and the language barrier has been implicated.
9. Kids are visiting a very unsafe Tarzan swing somewhere in the forest on school property.
10. Bad Behavior- what to do with students who are bullying others and being direspectful to teachers and school property?
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