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An
Inside view
into Virginia
Public Schools
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Singing the alphabet backwards. |
"Now, let's practice singing the alphabet backwards."
I found myself in Beth Spelts' kindergarten classroom where the students were just beginning the day. The teacher asked a student,"Now, can you tell me what day of week it is?" After getting 'Friday,' as the correct answer, the class moved onto a tougher problem, figuring out what date of the month it was. They nailed this date as well, the 17th of the month of May. Then Beth had the class go stand in front of the classroom. "Stand just as you will when you sing to your parents today," she said while sorting several students to alternative places in the line. The kindergarteners then sang several songs--one of which involved a bunny and lots of hand and feet motions. "Now, let's practice singing the alphabet backwards," said Beth. The students then turned around and faced the wall, which placed their noses a few inches in proximity from the wall. This meant that all you could see was the backside of the students. They then sang the alphabet song. It was hard not to laugh.
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"Why, yes....we're miners!"
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"10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1..."
I jumped into a school bus and headed to ArcelorMittal for a field trip with Amy Zadnikar's 5th grade classroom. We shortly arrived at the plant and were greeted by several employees and given helmets, safety vests, safety glasses, and earplugs. After a short discussion of what they were about to see, the class boarded the bus and headed to the blasting zone. During the ten minute drive to the work site, the school bus would occasionally pass a mammoth truck hauling taconite. As we passed the trucks the kids pumped their arms up and down, trying to get the drivers to honk their horns. The kids were occasionally successful and a cheer went up in the bus as the deep bass horns sounded. We arrived at the blast site and after instructions from our hosts, the kids sounded off the countdown, "10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1..." In the distance, a cloud of smoke rose from a small part of the pit. The ground rumbled and a roar pulsed through the air. Of course, the kids cheered.
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This is how someone in Lisa's classroom asked another student to the dance. Look carefully to figure out how this was done. |
"What are some natural molecules you need for composting?"
I wandered into Lisa Rudstrom's Environmental Science classroom where the students were sitting at their desks as Lisa gave them directions. "Here are your guiding questions," said Lisa while pointing to the board. "I'm going to give you twenty minutes and then we'll talk some more about composting." For the next 20 minutes the students worked individually on the materials in front of them. Then Lisa stopped the class. "What are some of the natural molecules you need for composting?" Soon, answers such as 'hydrogen,' and 'nitrogen,' and 'oxygen,' were offered as examples by students in the class. "You also need heat," added the teacher. "I like going out and turning over my compost pile several times a week and feeling the heat." Lisa then started explaining the next project the class was going to work on. "You are going to make your own compost by putting together two liter plastic bottles, and cutting some holes," she said as she began her explanation.
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Random choir moment
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"No, that's my seat. Yours is over there!" |
I was standing in the auditorium balcony waiting for the high school choir concert to begin. The first choir, composed entirely of boys, was moving across the stage and positioning themselves in their assigned spots on the risers. Suddenly, a girl standing next to me, in the auditorium balcony, blurted out, "That's my brother." She pointed her finger to the mass of boys--I couldn't really tell which one she was talking about. "Which one is he?" I whispered back, knowing that Matt Krage was soon going to step onto the stage and take his position as the director. Once he did that the first song would begin. And I knew it was considered in "bad form" to be talking once the conductor strode onto the stage. The girl whispered back, "My brother is the one who drives me crazy with his singing around the house all the time." And then, without another word, she moved past me and took a seat in the audience.
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Advice for Parents
Marijuana is in the news everywhere. States are legalizing the use of marijuana for both recreational and medical use. Even kids today are more apt to use the line, "It's legal in some states so why can't I smoke pot? What's the big deal?"
I won't get into the great debate of whether or not marijuana should be legalized for recreational or medical use for the adult population, but I will wade into the other debate, which is--is it okay for kids under the age of 18 to smoke pot?
The answer is a resounding--NO.
Much of the reason for this resounding NO has to do with adolescent brain development. After the age of 11 or so, the brain undergoes profound changes in its chemical structure. In fact, the changes are so profound that the only other time the human brain undergoes this many changes is from the ages of birth to the age of two years old. In other words, "this is a big deal."
What happens is that, when adolescents smoke pot, it absolutely can impact their brain development. As one might expect, the more a teenager smokes pot, the greater the chance they are negatively impacting the development of their brain--forever. The hippocampus is particularly vulnerable at this age. The hippocampus, or hippocampi--because there are two of them--are located deep in the brain and are responsible for helping teenagers remember things--like what was I supposed to do today? And what is on the test for Friday?
As far as we know, when teenagers damage their hippocampi through smoking pot, the results are bad in almost every possible way that can be imagined. The ability to recall events degrades. Being able to remember facts and dates and procedures becomes impaired. Even the motivational level of the teenager will drop. As one can expect, none of these are conducive in assisting teenagers to learn. They might learn, but it won't be at the same rate as their non-pot-smoking friends.
Don't believe your teenager when they tell you smoking pot doesn't harm them. It does. The impact is particularly wicked for kids under the age of 18 and especially when their brain is developing and they are going through puberty.
As always, give our children little of what they want and lots of what they need.
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Photo opps
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"Look at these cool rocks! I'll bet there's taconite in 'em!"
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Seniors receiving their eagle feather at the Indian awards ceremony.
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"Why yes, I'm wearing bear shoes... Aren't they cool?"
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"Look at our new school forest shirts!"
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The headline says it all. Our current and future students send the Virginia and Eveleth-Gilbert communities a big Thank You!
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