After a morning of meetings, I was able to start the day. I took the kids downstairs to the computer lab to do research on their project about modern day communication (aka twitter, facebook, cell phones, skype). I made them a graphic organizer to help guide them in their research and most kids plowed right through it. I also made a point that they were getting graded on time management. Now, this is something that Budi and I usually don't grade on - but we have some space cadets that could sit in front of a blank screen for an entire class period and not let it phase them. How that works, I have no idea!
Anyway, as the kids worked, Budi and I set up a recording session for our Christmas pageant audio. Due to a few select kids not knowing their lines or getting stage fright and the lack of properly functioning microphones, we decided that the audio would be recorded pre-performance and the kids would lip-sync and act. Brilliant idea kudos to Budi - I wish I thought of it myself. But hey, I'm glad he did. We make one heck of a team.
After break time I had to head to Grade 6. We are closing up our unit for the semester by focusing on some random skills that happened to get tied into the curriculum. Today we focused on dictionary skills. After discussing very important means and functions of dictionaries, we did a relay race. It turned out to be fun and the kids loved it. I know they really needed a break after we buckled down for the autobiography and persuasive papers for the last 2 weeks.
Lunch was really relaxing until I discovered someone left a wet paper on top of Baby Jesus' face and ended up tattooing the word "orange" on it's cheek. There was some major scrubbing in the bathroom sink and many chemical substance attempts to remove it - but no such luck. Baby Jesus is stuck with a tattoo! The kids had a cow when they realized Baby Jesus was tainted! My goodness talk about over reacting!
Anyway - we spent the better part of the afternoon getting dressed in our costumes and doing last minute alterations (thank goodness for safety pins). They looks so stinking adorable! Teachers were popping their heads in after seeing random children book it to the toilet to get changed and come back wearing angel wings or man-dresses/togas for the shepherds. They were absolutely picturesque! I cannot wait for them to sport off their costumes next week.
However there is one minor thing we have to get through - 16 people through costume changes in under 3 minutes. Sometimes those kids work backwards under a time constraint - which definitely doesn't help the matter. We've recruited some of the specialist teachers to help with the costume changes, so I think that will help.
We did a quick read through and explained some of the logistics. With each day that comes closer - I realize that we have limited time and that it's time to crack the whip (as I tell my students). I think they are more nervous than I am. They have no reason to be though, they have been working diligently on this pageant and they will do great (especially now that we are pre-recording the audio).
With tomorrow being holiday, I have to make duplicates of stage blocking pictures so I have a few books the students can page through. Also I am doing some online recruiting of my Grade 6 students to help me label each character's placement on the stage. So that will keep me busy for the most part of the day.
Blessings to all of you! I look forward to seeing many of you soon (although I don't particularly look forward to the air travel it will take to bring me home).
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