The end of May

The last week of May is almost always a 4 day week characterized by students who are a little less focused and classrooms that are sweltering. Most of this is true this year! The sweltering part being the only thing different. Luckily we have had a cool and rainy spring which does make what we are doing in the classroom much easier. I understand air conditioning in schools in Maine may not be worth the expense, but June is always uncomfortable with the heat. A good deal of days in May and September can be difficult as well. So far this year, though, I can't complain.

Students in all classes are working on their Final projects at this point and will continue this work until their Final period when they will present. In U.S. history classes students have learned about issues facing Native Americans in Maine. Students have been doing research on the Wabanaki tribes (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, and Micmac) in looking at where they are today. For the Final, they will be role playing a group hired by the Wabanki to testify to the Senate to pass the Native American civil Rights Act that would recognize a degree of tribal sovereignty. Student have to find evidence and craft compelling arguments in small groups. While they are not presenting they are role playing the Senate and must craft argument to counter the presentations. All U.S. history students in my school do this same Final project. Part of the reason we do this is to satisfy the State law requiring the teaching of Maine Native American History (LD 291), but also because the issues are very important.

(Welcome sign before entering the Penobscot Nation)

(view of Indian Island- home to the Penobscot Nation- from Old Town)

(A Birch Bark Canoe that was used by Henry David Thoreau in 1850. It has not been well cared for, but a little work and it will be good as new. The Penobscot are known for their Birch Bark Canoes)

Psychology students have been studying mental health and are choosing a psychological disorder to do a presentation about. In Ethics, students choose a current ethical dilemma facing our society and analyzed it using the paradigms and resolution principles we studied. They have to do a presentation with this analysis.

This is the time of year when my focus begins to shift away from teaching "new" concepts, and instead I am either coaching them on their preparation for the presentations, or dealing with other things related to the job. As a result, I feel like I am wearing multiple hats!

For example...
I haven been preparing awards for students who excelled in my classes.
I have put together my supply list for next year to leave to be ordered over the summer.
I have finalized teaching assignments for next year.
I have prepare the summer assignments for next year's AP class.
I have organized the Advisee Day out for my 9th grade advisees.

There is more to do, but much has to wait until school is truly over! When the scholl year does end I will have only 3 days before I leave for my Gold Rush experience in California.

Next week is the last week for Seniors. So in Ethics and Psychology will be the Final presentations. The other classes will continue working on their Finals. I was fortunate to be voted by the Senior class to be a Class Marshal. This means I get to lead them as they march into Graduation along with another colleague of mine. This is a great honor, and I have been lucky enough to have done it 2 times previously. This means I have to participate in marching practice next week as well as graduation next Sunday. It's hard to believe that there is only 12 school days left in the year and that I have kept up this blog the whole year. I plan to continue through the summer at least a few times until I get to the one year mark! Not sure if I will continue next year or not... to be determined later!