Hi Mansfieldians!
Welcome to Thursday of Spirit Week – Educator Appreciation Day! I have a special favor to ask, and since I’m one of your educators, you can consider it your way of showing appreciation.
Here is it – give some love to your first and original educators – your parents/guardians!
Some of you might be surprised to think of them this way, but it’s true. Your parents/guardians were there to help you from the very beginning and have served as the most constant supportive presence in your life. Your school teachers educate you for a year, sometimes two, but your parents/guardians are for life. They cheer you on when you’re on top, dust you off when you’re low, help you learn from mistakes, and, most importantly, love you, no matter what. That is some heavy duty work. Don’t get me wrong – it’s rewarding and I know your parents/guardians wouldn’t have it any other way. But, sometimes, it’s hard. Really hard. Seriously, absurdly, insanely hard. And, being middle schoolers, sometimes we forget to acknowledge all that they have done and continue to do to educate us about the world and ourselves.
So, today, on Educator Appreciation Day, do me a favor and celebrate your parents/guardians! Thank them for their support (emotional, financial, physical, academic, etc.). Make them a card or write them a poem. Do an interpretive dance or sing a song. You can help out around the house to make things easier for them, but make sure you actually say the words “thank” and “you” (preferably more than that – include specific details and some heartfelt emotions) at some point so they know you appreciate all of their hard work.
Okay, thank you for doing that. I really appreciate it!
Now, on to your work for today -you have four items for your Literature To Do list:
- Complete the 🥳Hooray for 8th graders🥳 form (5 – 15 minutes)
- Poetic Device Practice assignment (12 – 15 minutes)
- Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
- Appreciate your first educators – your parents/guardians (all day!)
Let’s get started!
- Complete the 🥳Hooray for 8th graders🥳 form (5 – 15 minutes)
- The 6th and 7th graders want to celebrate you in style, but we need some help!
- Please complete the form on Teams and let me know if you have questions
- Poetic Device Practice assignment (12 – 15 minutes)
- We will be writing our own poetry soon, so it’s helpful to review what we know about poetry.
- You can find some helpful review videos online and I have included one here (Feel free to turn off the sound and stop them at any point)
- Follow the directions and contact me with any questions!
- Daily Reading (20 – 35 minutes)
- Read for 15 – 30 minutes, whatever you have chosen, and practice a different analysis skill in your evidence column
- Contact me with any questions or concerns!
- Appreciate your first educators – your parents/guardians (all day!)
- Formally acknowledge the work your parents have done and continue to do
- Make a card, do a dance, sing a song, make a movie – do something where you clearly communicate the message “I appreciate all that you do! You do SO much for me and I want you to know that I see it and am forever grateful!”
- If your heart overflows with appreciation – show some love for your other educators:
- Friends
- Pets
- Coaches
- Siblings
- The tree outside that finally bloomed and taught you the value of patience
- …but, seriously, make sure parents/guardians are first and the most heartfelt!
Have a great day!