Bmeandering

Bmeandering

Sunday, March 20, 2011

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!

8 comments:

  1. very enjoyable photos, beth.
    i have been thinking how much i miss seeing green leaves on branches.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm glad that you had some good spots in your day to help get past the hard times.
    I love your photos and think they go well with that Psalm.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your photographs are inspiring...showing the glory of the Lord...of course they fit with the Psalm!

    Rough ride through Friday, you had! But I love the idea that your students get to do research on the internet...that has to be a real boost for teaching!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a creative idea for a research project! (And getting to watch To Kill A Mockingbird in class sounds WONDERFUL.)

    As for the photos, I think they are very apt.

    "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
    the world and all that is in it,
    You have founded them."

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Beth, Nice post... Oh how I remember those times while teaching--many years ago... You obviously are a very good teacher. I think it's important to let the kids learn more about modern-day slavery...

    I heard a radio announcement this week telling parents to encourage reading at home. The announcement said to find things your children are interested in (such as sports) and have books available for them to read... I thought to myself while listening to that spot on the radio: Well--duh!!! We should have been doing that for our kids all through the years.... Parents need to do more to help their kids LEARN... They leave it all up to teachers --and teachers can't do it all (as you and I know).

    Love your photos. Where is that??? Looks a little like Yahoo Falls in KY --but it's not. I love the path through all of the huge boulders...

    Great Psalm also. Hope you have a wonderful day.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  6. To answer Bestsy:The area is in southeatern Ohio. It's in the Hocking Hills where Old Man Cave is. There is a lesser known one called Ash Cave. Also there are two water falls: The Upper Falls and The Lower Falls. I haven't posted pics of them because is was August and they were a mere trickle. The main town is Logan, Ohio.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a testimony to God's creative and powerful handiwork.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful photos! Looks like a place I'd really enjoy visiting!

    I'm glad your students are excited about their research. We recently had an eye-opening lesson on human trafficking at church; many are unaware of its scope.

    ReplyDelete

I welcome your thoughts. Please let me know you stopped by.