Weekly Psalms, students, research projects, and Hocking Hills

Saturday night and still no Psalms. 

 It was a tiring week that ended

with me sending three boys to the office second period

and

making three other boys stop watching basketball (on in the library!)

and

work on their research projects instead (6th period).

 

That same period

I wouldn't allow a girl to work on her history homework instead of researching

her project.  

Then seventh period two boys were roaming the halls instead of sitting  in my room

watching To Kill a Mockingbird.

I was not a happy teacher throughout parts of Friday.

I was also not a popular teacher throughout parts of Friday.

Popularity is over-rated.

Happiness is not.

So I looked and found it:

 Testing is over and for that I'm grateful.

A quiet girl rattled on and on to me about her home

and her dogs and her life while we waited to be released from the testing rooms

to our regular classrooms.

I didn't know she could talk that much

or

 smile that much!

 The other 27 students in sixth period

were busy researching their projects on modern day slavery

and excited and shocked and curious and astounded.

They chattered and wrote and brought up sites, crying out,

"Hey, look at this!"

Some topics: child brides in Afghanistan

boy soldiers in Uganda/East Africa

human trafficking in: France

human trafficking in India

also in Ohio (yes Ohio)

and Texas

Nike's sweatshops

Chinese sweatshops

Hong Kong (not sure what direction that one is taking)

This is a follow-up to our American lit unit that touched on slavery

the underground railroad, and the Civil War.

They thought slavery had been eradicated.  That bothered me.

They are our future. 

 Shouldn't they know what's happening,

 so maybe just maybe

 they can help stop it?

Besides, I was tired of reading research papers on legalizing marijuana,

right to life vs. abortion, pros and cons of capital punishment, etc.

The projects have to be multi-media and their imagination is the limit.

I'm excited. 

 So are they--except for the three boys who wanted to watch the basketball play-offs.

Wah! (Big smile on my face).

{The girl trying to do history ended up finding an outstanding news video clip
on her research topic.
She was thrilled.  So were her group mates.  So was I.}

  Time for the weekly Psalms.               

Here are some pictures from our vacation in Hocking Hills this past summer.

I'm not sure how well they fit with the Psalms, but I wanted to use them anyway!

O Lord God of hosts, who is a mighty one like unto You, O Lord?

And Your faithfulness is round about You.

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;

the world and all that is in it,

You have founded them.

 

The north and the south,

You have created them;

You have a mighty arm;

strong is Your hand,

Your right hand is souring high.

 

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face.

Blessed (happy, fortunate to be envied) are the people who know the joyful sound;

they walk, O Lord in the light and favor of Your countenance!

In Your name they rejoice all the day, and in Your righteousness they are exalted.

For you are the glory of their strength [their proud adornment],

and by Your favor our horn is exalted as we walk with uplifted faces!

For our shield belongs to the Lord. . .

Blessed be the Lord forevermore!

Amen and Amen.

Psalms 89: 8, 11 - 18, and 52

Blessings to you as you finish up your weekend!