The fruits of our labor…</h1> <article> <h1>The fruits of our labor…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:17:47 +0000</p> <p>The school year is already well underway, and it is hard to believe we already have a whole week under our belts! My favorite part so far has been seeing the fruits of our labor from last year. <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/08/19/the-fruits-of-our-labor/#more-16" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>We’re goin’ to the ’ship…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:39:59 +0000</p> <p>I am pleased to announce that my homeroom class is in the championship game for the JA kickball tournament! <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/04/23/were-goin-to-the-ship/#more-14" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Dreams…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:14:51 +0000</p> <p>Way back on MLK Day the kids learned about Martin Luther King Jr., his accomplishments, and studied his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Then they made mobiles expressing their own dreams. Each mobile included students’ dreams for themselves, their school, family, and country. I recently took the mobiles off the bulletin board, but they are too interesting, inspiring, and moving to be forgotten. Their dreams for America are my favorite so I have put those first. Here are their dreams: <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/04/10/dreams/#more-13" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>A good laugh…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:01:17 +0000</p> <p>Usually the kids and I have a good time throughout the day, we smile, laugh, and for the most part enjoy a positive relationship. But, the comment of one student today made me stop in my tracks and laugh out loud. <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/04/10/a-good-laugh/#more-12" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>An interesting field trip…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 01:09:32 +0000</p> <p>Last week was a crazy week, not only because I have several projects in the works (career day, spirit week, and a week-long interdisciplinary unit) but because our lead teacher was out sick and put me in charge…YIKES! On Wednesday we took a field trip to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum without the lead teacher. <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/03/12/an-interesting-filed-trip/#more-11" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>So social studies will be tested…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 03:08:30 +0000</p> <p>On Thursday and Friday I attended the NCSS Great Lakes Region Conference. It was a great experience and I learned so much; I will be sharing more of what I learned as I go through all the information and sort it out.</p> <p>I attended a breakout session on the state testing and standards in Indiana. At this session, I learned that next year, 7th grade social studies will be tested on ISTEP. Now, I knew this was coming, but had been told by my principal that it was years away because of a lack of funds to create a test. My feelings about this are mixed. <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/03/02/so-social-studies-will-be-tested/#more-9" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>41 Best Science Fair Experiments</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:37:12 +0000</p> <p>In honor of our science fair this afternoon; check out these <a href="http://www.photobasement.com/41-hilarious-science-fair-experiments/" target="_blank">science fair projects</a>!</p> </article> <article> <h1>A feeling of defeat…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 02:22:42 +0000</p> <p>Today was a pretty good day. For the most part, the students were kind to each other and to me; I am so proud of my homeroom class. At the beginning of the year they had been labeled the “bad class,” but in the past weeks they have really turned around. <a href="http://seemeafterschool.com/index.php/2008/02/26/a-feeling-of-defeat/#more-8" class="more-link">(more…)</a></p> </article> <article> <h1>Who I am…</h1> <p>Mrs. Ward — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:26:16 +0000</p> <p>After a sick day spent reading teacher blogs, I decided that should try my hand at this. Here it goes…</p> <p>I teach 7th and 8th grade social studies at a charter school in Indianapolis; our mission, in a nutshell, is to provide a middle class education for underprivileged students. We have a beautiful building (air conditioning!) and many resources (my classroom has a smart board!), but we also have a lot of very needy, troubled students (87% free & reduced lunch). Everyday is truly an adventure.</p> <p>My husband and I moved to the Indy area when he took a job here. I left a position teaching sophomore, junior, and senior special ed. at an inner-city public high school. It was a huge change; thankfully my student population, aside from age, is relatively the same. I love teaching inner city kids. Some days I think I want to throw in the towel and teach in the suburbs, but deep down I know I would never be happy there. My students need me, and for some of them, the other teachers and I are the only thing they can depend on.</p> <p>Since this is my first year teaching in my subject area, in many ways I am a first year teacher. This is where I will share successes and failures, fun stories, and my observations of the world of education. Enjoy! </p> </article> </main></body></html>