|
Back To
School Again
A Door to the Future from the
Struggles of the Past
Students
in pre-kindergarten through graduate level returned to school in
late August or early September. Many students and parents start
each school year with hopes and dreams. The African-American
student is often faced with many obstacles to a quality
education. Many of the things that impede this quality education
that our children are entitled to are not of their making.
While
we cannot change the pain and suffering of our past, we can each
do our part to make a brighter future for our children. We can
no longer afford to allow conditions of poverty, drugs, and
racism to shut the door on our children's future.
We
at ChickenBones: A Journal wish that each student is able
to reach his fullest potential and receive the quality education
that he or she is entitled to under the law. We must all do our
part. If our children fail, then we as a people will fail to
exist. Regardless of the past, we must reach towards the future.
We
asked several students, parents, teachers, and administrators
about their goals for this 2003-2004 school year. Their
responses:
*
* * * *
 |
Derian
(Age 5):
"I
am in Kindergarten. I like my teacher. I want to learn
to read more and count. I can write my name and some
words. I want to be really smart." |
*
* * * *
|
Lyric
(Age 8):
"I
want to be a better reader and writer. I like to read
lots of books. I want to pass to 4th
grade." |
 |
*
* * * *
Troy:
(Age 10) "I am in a new school. My school Halstead Academy
teaches us a lot about science and art. I love to read mystery
books. I want to pass to 6th grade."
*
* * * *
 |
Derek:
(Age 13):
"I
am in the 7th grade. I have a lot of classes.
My goal is to try to keep up with all my work and be
more organized. I like to read and do math. I am really
good at math and playing football." |
*
* * * *
Andrea:
I am in 10th grade. I need to get out of 10th
grade. I am having problems with geometry. My goal is to pass
all of my classes. I don't want to go to summer school again.
*
* * * *
 |
Mr.
And Mrs. Brantley (Parents):
"We are happy with the schools our boys are in this year. We want
both of them to do really well. We want them to perform
to the best of their abilities. We want for them both to
be well rounded boys who add something positive to this
world. We have taught them Christian principles. We want
them to be good people." |
*
* * * *
Kara
Scott:
(New Teacher) " I want to learn all that is required of me
so that I can be the best teacher possible. I want to be able to
help each child grow academically and as a person. This is a
learning year for me . I am teaching 7th grade. Wish
me luck."
*
* * * *
|
Kiwana
Terry
(Second Year Teacher):
"I
am so excited this year. In my first year, I had so much
to learn. This year I will continue to learn, but I feel
more confident. I
want each child to excel at a high level. I will
challenge each child to do his very best. I look forward
to a good school year." |
 |
*
* * * *
 |
Merlyn
Bell
(Thirty-Year Teacher):
"This year I will serve as the coordinator for 100 Book
Challenge. It is a program which challenges students to
read a 100 books or more. I want each child to read as
many books as possible. I also want to help with
strategies to meet the individual needs of the
students." |
*
* * * * Rita
Jeffers
(Principal) "One goal that I have for my students is to
increase their self esteem. High achievement and feeling
positive about ones' self are connected. Due to the high poverty
in this community and the lack of parental involvement, it
becomes paramount that the educators at my school along focus
strongly on Character Education along with the academics."
*
* * * *
 |
Yvonne
Terry
(Assistant principal):
"My
personal goal is that every child achieve in all areas.
We focus heavily on reading, writing and mathematics,
but I want to see students' multiple talents and skills
realized and recognized. I am proud of the gifted
students at Waverly Elementary Middle School. Each child
has great potential within him or her. I want to see
each stretch the door of opportunity wide open." |
*
* * * *
Building
Early Reading Skills
Through Experiences with Rhythm Instruments
By Barbara Alexander
Children are naturally drawn to music,
rhythm, and movement. Using rhythm instruments and children’s
natural inclination to music, teachers can foster young
learners’ critical reading skills that meet the guidelines of
Reading First while teaching important musical concepts.
1.
Identifying Syllables Game: The
Leader of the Band
Before starting a session with instruments,
have children introduce themselves by tapping the syllables in
their name, as in Lin-da (two taps). The class will respond by
copying the taps and then repeating “Lin-da is the leader of
the band.” Go around the room until everyone has had a turn.
2.
Identifying Oral Rhymes
Do a shared reading of a familiar poem or
nursery rhyme. After the first reading, ask children to play
their instruments as you read rhyming words from the text.
Instruct them to stop playing when they hear a word that does
not rhyme. From the rhyme “To Market, To Market” you might
read: pig, jig, wig, dig, hog. Children should stop playing when
they hear the word hog. Afterwards, for fun, read the rhyme and
let children play to rhythm of the text. Another fun book to
accompany with music is "Miss Mary Mack" (Scholastic).
3.
Phonemic Awareness
Have children sit in a circle. Hold up a
picture word card (e.g., cat). Say the sound for each phoneme
/c/ /a/, /t/. Ask children to clap out the sounds they hear and
chant the word. Call on one child to tap her instrument the
number of claps heard (the child should beat tap-tap tap for the
word cat). Ask the other children to copy the beat. Do this
several times with the whole group using vocabulary from
recently read books or other printed materials in the room (e.g.
ant, bird, farm). As an extension, put a basket of word cards in
the listening center along with a percussion instrument for
children to work with in pairs. One child reads the word, the
other child taps out the sounds heard.
4.
Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension
Read City Storm (Wright Group Publishing) or
any other book that has a good amount of onomatopoeia. Children
can dramatize the sounds by using their instruments to make
sound effects. Children may be as creative as they like in
representing the sounds. They will enjoy making sounds for words
like tap, swish, whoo, flash, boom, thump, and splash. Before
asking children to play the sounds, be sure to discuss each word
to make sure children understand its meaning in the context of
the story. Instruments that would work well with this activity
are drums, maracas, rhythm sticks, and xylophone. In this
activity, children will be able to support the fluent reading of
a story and learn how onomatopoeia is used in literature.
*
* * * * 
I
want to be a better reader and writer. I like to read
lots of books.* *
* * *
 |
Sister Grief: Defined and Conquered in Jesus
By
Yvonne Terry-Lewis
"Sister Grief:
Defined and Conquered in Jesus" is an engaging book
that confronts the universal experience of living
with death and dying. The author personifies the
personal loss of loved ones as "Sister Grief." The
book, partly autobiographical, provides a holistic
plan for conquering grief through faith, through a
special relationship with Jesus. This plan is
designed to help navigate one through the grieving
process. The book includes personal stories, poetry,
testimonials, letters, practical suggestions, and
strategies based on a love for the divinity in one's
life. Although the circumstances that cause grief
may be sad, this book is filled with love,
encouragement, and hope that lead one towards
spiritual health and wholeness. |
* *
* * *
update March 2010 |
