My Passion Project

As I mentioned in the last post, my class is working on Passion Projects. While we were discussing passions, I gave the kids an example from my own life. I used to have a career in media, but I wasn't satisfied. I didn't feel that I was doing what I was made to do. I told them that my passions are being creative and building relationships and my talents are working with kids and teaching. So, I combined what I love and what I'm good at and now I have a job I am passionate about.

One sweet little boy raised his hand and said, "Mrs. McD, you forgot one of you passions." I fully expected him to say it was chocolate, coffee or Diet Mt. Dew. But, he said, "You love to help people who need you." Oh my! What a moment! These kids are so thoughtful and insightful. I had never thought of that as one of my passions until I found myself head first in this big project and a child pointed it out to me.
I DO LOVE TO HELP! But, I must be honest. I get more out of it than I am able to give. It is truly satisfying for me to see a need met because of an ability I have. Does that diminish the deed? I almost feel guilty saying that. But, maybe that's why it's a passion.

All that to get to this...my husband and I went to Pleasant Grove yesterday to deliver backpacks and supplies that were donated by a school in Georgia. PGES is fine, but they have over 100 families in their school that are displaced. They said the kids have toys and schools supplies and backpacks to choose from. Every child skips the toys and goes straight to the back packs. I wonder why that is. My guess is that it is part of their identity. They are students and that is a unifying symbol. Bless them.

The principal told us that the barricades are down, so we should go see some of the damage. I felt that I was intruding on the community, but I think it is important to take in the imapct first hand.

It was horrible.



Complete widespread destruction.

Praise the Lord they didn't lose any children from that school.

I also received an email from the principal at Cullman Christian school with a list of items they need. The school is a complete loss. They teach pre-K through 12th grade there, so they need everything.

Here is the list...please let me know if you can help:

So, this is my own passion project. I want to help people, I have connections with other compassionate teachers, and I have a room full of kids who want to do their part. I'm researching, learning, and teaching along with my children. Ain't the teaching life grand?

My Own Learning

In my classroom, we are working on Passion Projects. We started by talking about things that make us exctied, what we are good at, and what we want to know more about. I gave them the example that I love to be creative and build relationships and I am good at working with children, so I combined my passions with my talents and now I'm a teacher.

After each child brainstormed their passions, talents, and interests, we started interviews. Each child talked to teachers, parents, and friends about what they thought. Based on all of that information, they each chose a topic based on their passions, talents, and interests. Then the research began! Teaching 1st graders how to research has been very interesting, but very fun! They are so excited each time they find new information. I think they are starting to realize how much learning there is to do! I looked up at one point and there were at least 6 kids gathered around a computer learning about predator/prey relationships and describing their learning to each other. They are so engaged!

Once we have gathered all of our information, we are going to present our learning to each other in any way each one chooses. One child is going to do a news report about September 11th. Two girls are working together to learn about baking. They are going to do a demonstration a la Martha Stewart! Another child is learning to play a song on the guitar and yet another is creating a billy goat habitat!

I can't wait to see and report the final results!!!

Spreading the Love

So much to report!

First of all, I went to Concord with several other Hoover City Schools teachers on Wednesday. We helped cook about 1,000 hamburgers and hot dogs, played with kids, and delivered food in the community. Blue Bell Ice Cream even provided dessert for everyone. It was nice to watch the kids have fun, but difficult to go into the devastated community. We saw first-hand how powerful that storm was. We saw how tornadoes have no reason to them. You could seeuntouched houses standing next to blank foundations. And houses completely destroyed with a perfectly untouched mail box out front. There is no way to prepare for what you see.

Seeing these things can only give you more resolve to help. I realize how very blessed I am to be one of the citizens of this area who is able to provide support. As I said in a previous post, it truly is better to give than to receive right now.

At school, we are collecting baby items, cleaning supplies, food, and backpacks for tornado victims. The kids get out of their cars during carpool and see this:

They are so thrilled to be part of the solution to this HUGE problem. They bring their items to our safe little school so that we can send them to temporary classrooms in areas like Tuscaloosa and Pratt City that no longer have their schools. I am so proud of the little philanthropists we've got at Trace!

Jennifer Wagner in California has done a FABULOUS job of putting together a website and networking teachers around the country who want to help. We have recieved emails from teachers who have so much to give. We've already received cash donations and boxes are on their way full of school supplies. It is amazing and humbling and exciting to be part of it! We are still looking for teachers who want to give and teachers who want to receive. Please check out our website and spread the word. We don't want there to be a single classroom, teacher, or student who does not have what they need to thrive in school. What one person does is just a drop in the bucket, but what we can do together can fill a bucket!

The local Fox affiliate found out about all of you who want to help and wrote this article. They call it my project, but it is OURS! I'm just a contact person.

We went to a church in Tuscaloosa County that is now a relief center for tornado victims. We were looking for something we could do with my husband feeling under the weather and stumbled on a facebook post that said they need supplies. We showed up with a car full from Sam's and stayed for most of the day. We unloaded trucks, cars, and even this bus all the way from ILLINOIS!!!

There was a table full of backpacks from a school in Georgia. They are now in my car and headed for precious students who need them!

Thank you all who have already given. Thank you all who have been thinking about and praying for the victims. Thank you all who will find it in your heart to give in the future. We will be keeping an eye on the flooding along the Mississippi River. If there is a way for us to spread the gifts towards them, we will!

I will try to update as we deliver. I'm sure there will be several stories of hope!

Overwhelming

It is overwhelming how much help is needed.

It is overwhelming how many people are willing to help.

It is overwhelming how many ways there are to show support.

It is overwhelming how many people will try to stop something good.

The good that is being done cannot and will not be stopped. Teachers from all over the country want to find a way to send money, supplies, and cards to those hurting and in need. Children are finding ways to provide for other children.

I am overwhelmed that I am in the position to help. It could have been me. It could have been my home. It could have been my school. It could have been my students. The saying "it is better to give than to receive" couldn't be more true. How fortunate are we as donors?

In This Storm

As I'm sure you know, much of Alabama was ravaged by terrible storms and tornadoes on Thursday, April 27, 2011. The state has now been declared a category 1 disaster area much like Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and New York after 9/11. Several are dead, more are injured, and many are still unaccounted for. The state is in shock, but banding together to make a difference.

Several schools, students, and teachers have been affected in unimaginable ways. They need our help. Teachers are naturally big-hearted people. We do what we do because we love our jobs and we love our kids. It is time for us to work together and help our colleagues and their students that they love.

Jennifer Wagner of PBJ has created a website with several ways for teachers to help. There are so many needs and so many things we can all do. There is a way to donate cash, Scholastic bonus points, teaching materials, and gift cards. We would love to receive "thinking of you" cards from children to children as well. These items will be sent to me and I will work with my colleagues to get these gifts to the appropriate places. I plan to contact as many school officials as possible to make sure we are meeting every need we can in the best way we can.

Something else you can do is let me know when you hear of a need. We want to know of teachers who lost supplies, schools that were completely destroyed, or teachers who have lost personal property, such as homes, that could use support from other teachers. We all know how much of our energy (and time, emotion, money, etc.) goes into our jobs, so they will need support in many ways.

I know of 2 schools that need EVERYTHING for their children, including snacks, underwear, shoes, and clothing. Please decide what you can do and DO IT. Please spread the word.

You can find me on twitter @TeachingMcD.