the eugene bean

I only have 13 minutes before I have to get ready for work, but I also don't have much to say so this should work out perfect.

Yesterday I read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to my students. They enjoyed the book and could really relate to Alexander. These kids have bad days like you wouldn't believe. After we read the book, we made a list of all the things that make them feel better when they are feeling like the world is against them. They came up with about 40 things and we made a big colorful list to hang on the wall so they can be reminded of their great ideas.

Then we wrote stories. They titled the stories, Corrie (insert your own name) and the Wonderful, Fantastic, Terrific, Very Good Day. The stories could be either true stories or fantasy and they had to consist of what the student thought the Perfect Day would be. The stories were just awesome!

Some wrote about waking up and being told, "Surprise, it's your birthday!" They got chocolate chip pancakes and emeralds and rubies for presents. Another student had an automatic refilling coke machine in her bedroom. Another student was told there was no school because of snow. One woke up as a rich princess whose mother and siblings were her slaves. Another said his perfect day would consist of his real mother waking him up so he could get a kiss from her.

I'm happy I found a lesson that would reach inside these kiddos. They put their whole heart into this project and the results were terrific.

By the way, Ty is the only slacker so far in our daily chore routine. Come on everyone, help me shame him.