Category Archives: school

Last day

Posted on June 10, 2016 by jyourist

Today was the last day in my classroom. I am now retired.

Posted in retirement, school, Teaching | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Misochronism and 8th grade graduation

Posted on June 8, 2016 by jyourist

The end of the school year is enormously busy. And if one is retiring, activities are even further ramped up— including this year being asked by the student body to deliver the faculty address at 8th grade graduation. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Annotating To Kill a Mockingbird

Posted on May 26, 2016 by jyourist

My student’s amazing graphic annotation of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Posted in animation, creativity, school, students | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Outside together in the sun

Posted on May 21, 2016 by jyourist

Yesterday my friend Michael came to my school. Because my advisory had raised money ($500.00) for the La Casa Norte fundraiser (see earlier post), he thought he would say “thank-you” by screening the film Alzheimers: A Love Story at school. … Continue reading →

Posted in LGBTQ, relationship, school, students | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

I replace cowboy man

Posted on May 17, 2016 by jyourist

I discovered this image, drawn in mud, outside on the school building today at 2:07pm. Couldn’t tell whether the cowboy had a bandana around his chin or just 5 o’clock shadow. The mud saber is awesome.

Posted in photography, school | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Respite from school

Posted on May 13, 2016 by jyourist

Yesterday a small group of students and I did some clean-up work in Washington Park not far from school. The weather was absolutely perfect— that mystical gray of almost rain without any hint of chill in the air. Armed with … Continue reading →

Posted in nature, photography, school, spring | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teachers on a four day trip to Washington DC with 130 8th graders

Posted on May 7, 2016 by jyourist

The photo above is what teachers indulge in when they are on a four day trip with 130 high energy and healthy 8th graders in Washington DC and they can’t have a drink. The photos below are some of what … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Some middle school students’ answers on their World War I test

Posted on April 29, 2016 by jyourist
Posted in school, students, Teaching, World War I | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wordless three-ring circus

Posted on April 28, 2016 by jyourist

I do a lot of group work in my classroom so instead of desks we have a variety of large tables, four of them to be exact. There are lots of ways we arrange them depending on what we are … Continue reading →

Posted in school, students, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ninja

Posted on April 10, 2016 by jyourist

Whenever I give students a break during class or sometimes even before class begins, a group of kids, mostly boys, play a game they call Ninja. They stand in a circle or a loose circular clump and strike a stationary … Continue reading →

Posted in dance, school, students | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments