this week i began my unit on anne frank. last year, this was by far my most favorite unit to teach. it really encompasses what all teacher dreams of – being able to teach students about life as well as content. last year i really felt like i was building citizens as well as good students. i have the same hope for this year, and already my kids have proven how much they are really processing it all. this topic provides such great discussion tools… wow, it just makes me so excited.
anyway, i had a gem today – something that just makes me smile and i can stick in my pocket to pull out when i am having a rough day. afterschool, i popped into the gt resource room to see a few kids who were working on imovies. two of them were my current students, two were former students. sam, former student, asks me, “so, how is the anne frank unit going?” i said that it was good, though we just started it this week. sam turns to john and connor (both my former students) and says “you guys are so lucky. that is the best unit you will ever do. we read great stuff, we had fun talking about it, and then we got to wear costumes. it was awesome.” wow, that just about made my day. then sam says “guess what happened today? i was in ms. richardson’s class (my colleague who teachs 7th grade english) and she was talking about being creative. then she asked us ‘well, what would ms. walker do, she seems like a pretty good teacher?’ and we all started talking about all the great stuff we did in your class. it was so great and everyone got excited to talk about it.”
wow sam, you really just made my day… and actually, my week. it is such a warm, fuzzy feeling to know that what you do matters. thanks for that gem, sam, i’ll carry that in my pocket for while. 
now… on to american idol before tonight’s show.
who should go this week? DEFINITELY luke. he was TERRIBLE this last week and he was even worse this week. he is lucky he has a pretty face because that might be the only that saves him… even though it shouldn’t. the other slot is hard to predict. danny noreiaga? he is not great, but still entertaining? chikeze? he has ups and downs, but is pretty good. dred-locked jason? NO WAY! i love him and think he is wonderful. i will find it hard to watch this show if he doesn’t make it to the top 12.
females… all i have to say is, what the HECK were randi and paula saying? were they actually listening? asia’h was not that good and kady maloy was TERRIBLE. i really don’t like amanda overmyer, but she may pull through a round or two in the top 12 because she was much better this week. who will go home? i predict kady maloy and asia’h because they were the worst but i still think it’s possible that kristy lee cook could go too.
which means my predictions for top 12 are as follows:
boys:
- Michael Johns
- Jason Castro – my personal favorite guy
- David Hernandez – i think he is the underrated contestant
- David Cook – this week= WOW
- David Archuleta
- Chikeze – though i still think it’s possible that danny noriega could take this spot and be labeled the next sanjaya with a little more attitude and a little less hair.
females:
- Carly Smithson – AMAZING this week
- Syesha Mercardo – she is really good
- Brooke White – really liked it. excellent choice with the acoustic
- Ramiele Malubay
Alaina WhitakerAmanda Overmyer – MUCH better this weekAsia’h EppersonKristy Lee Cook – i am changing this because asia’h has not been good these past few weeks, and while neither has kristy been that stellar, i think she’s done better. i havent really liked what asia’h has done here since hollywood week.
anyway, after tonight i will get to grade myself and see how i did with my predictions!
