ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE

in the mission statement

at ELA,

HISTORY

is strongly emphasized

and is to be integrated

in ever subject matter.

i do not know how the idea was born.

i do not know why 1863 was chosen,
but i am sure
the gettysburg address anniversary
had something to do with it.

january 24, 1863
upon leaving my home
noah took one look at me
with bulging eyes
"you look so old and so real"
(newsflash...in a month
a half century and i am real...)

the moment i put the opticals upon my nose
and laced that last boot,
sternness, somberness and
seriousness encased me in such a way
that i did not know how to act.

 i visited classrooms
and observed with my
picture box.
i was in amazement of the many
individuals that came dressed in character.

students were assigned to a
ONE ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE
alphabetically
accomplishing two purposes
school with siblings
school with a range of ages

no electricity,
just the natural light and lantern
boys seated on one side,

girls on the other
students wrote on slates
with
chalk
there were spelling bees
lessons on cursive
recitations
schoolyard games

teachers were stern
non complying students
stood with their nose to the wall

for the semi full

experience...

press the smile box slideshow below

This free photo slideshow generated with Smilebox

BACK TO SCHOOL ???

the second day of school

was "BACK TO SCHOOL 

MORNING"

for the parents

and so

noah and myself went to school together.

this was my opportunity to meet noah's teacher,

become familiar with classroom policies and expectations.

noah went to his classroom

while the parents went to a general meeting in the gym...

"jordan ridge air conditioning project on schedule"

YEA !

while the students were at recess,

parents visited temporay classrooms 

at this temporary school.

i sat in noah's desk at the front of the classroom

YEA !

i saw noah was seated next to one of his best friends

that could be

YEA ! or NAY !

the school is also participating in the 

"leader in me" program

so i have an advantage in the vocabulary department

YEA !

transfer vocab into action

YEA when it happens...

 as a child,

my parents would attend a

"BACK TO SCHOOL" night.

the following morning,

i would find a handwritten note
from them

somewhere inside my desk.

i can't begin to express

the feelings

that accompanied such a 

simple,

thoughtful,

gesture.

quickly,

i tore a piece of paper and wrote

a note to my son.

i glanced around the room

and thought this poster ought to hang in my home

with a few adjustments

1.  RIGHT TO 

THRIVE AND GROW

my responsibility is to make sure i am improving daily

and allowing others to do the same

2.  RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE

respect others

3.  RIGHT TO MY THINGS

respect my property 

and the property of others

4.  RIGHT TO AN 

INOFFENSIVE

ENVIRONMENT

talk nice and participate in 

appropriate and wholesome activity

i too have responsibilities to help my family be

successful

where do i begin?