My Mighty Oaks of 2016-2017

There is a proverb that I refer to quite often in my classroom: Mighty oaks from small acorns grow. You will hear me refer to it often. You will hear me address my students as Mighty Oaks often, too. You see, my "kiddos" are acorns preparing to grow and let their branches spread. One day, we will all become mighty oaks who are wise, strong, decisive, confident, and honorable. I cannot wait to meet my newest crop of #mightyoaks. Come on in, kiddos, and let's plant some roots! Watch the video, please: The Giving Tree.

My Mighty Oaks

What a fabulous year we've had, my senior kiddos! I have enjoyed getting to know you all. I hope that graduation is not the end for us. My hope is that each one of you will stay in contact with me because I want to know about all of the amazing things that you guys will do in the future. It has been a privilege and an honor to spend the last thirty-six weeks with you. May God bless you on your journey...and, remember, "Great oaks from little acorns grow." YOU WILL BE MIGHTY! #goaldiggers #chaneyland

Testing. Testing. Testing...

On Tuesday, March 29, 2016, thousands of freshman souls will take the English I Texas state end-of-course assessment. These fifty-two goodie-bags represent my hopes, my prayers, and my personal encouragements for each one of my precious ninth grade students who will complete the arduous task of satisfying the state's ideals of what it believes a fifteen-year-old should know and be able to do in an ELA classroom, no matter what his/her background is: abused, neglected, homeless, hungry, sick, dyslexic, anxious, depressed, autistic, three reading grade-levels behind, unable to read and write in the English language, etc. Please keep in mind that those who regulate the state's assessments, those who create the assessments, and those who grade the assessments have likely never been a teacher, nor set foot in a classroom as an adult. The pressure on many of our students is insurmountable. My students know that this test does not define who they are as individuals, nor does the test have any eternal significance, yet the stakes are so high for them at an age where they are not mature enough to grasp its importance and, in many cases, unable to successfully satisfy the test objectives. They need reassurance and comfort - a little prayer wouldn't hurt either! Would you please join me in praying for all of the state's students who will be testing over the next two months? Thank you.

Say "Yes" to Your Future

"You have got to want to succeed as badly as you want to breathe."

Inspirational Video

A New Twist on an Old Tale

movie trailer

Thank You, Veterans

Thank a Veteran

Ode on a Grecian Urn

At the conclusion of our study of Keats and his "Ode on a Grecian Urn," I asked my students to do what legendary Mr. John Keating of Dead Poets Society asked of his students: “We must constantly look at things in  different ways…Strive to find your own voice…Break out before you lose it.” I instructed my students to look at the poem's themes in different perspectives, to see what is "heard" and especially what is "unheard," and to know that "beauty is truth, truth beauty." This assignment came in the form of an activity that I call "The Poet's Eye." I will be sharing my product with my students tomorrow, and I cannot wait to see what they will produce in turn! 
#GOALdiggers #chaneyland #WeAre Frenship #Ilovemyjob