Jeopardy

LA9:

Did any of you watch Jeopardy tonight? The Final Jeopardy question was about a dystopian novel we discussed today while taking notes . See if you can figure it out:

[[  "Books leapt and danced like roasted birds, their wings ablaze with red and yellow feathers" is a line from this novel.  ]]

Hint: it's a novel about burning books!

Mansfield Reformatory

Recently, I took the NR 9th graders to the Mansfield Reformatory.  We had been nearing the end of a unit titled Preventing the Past:  Patterns in History, which began with research on the Holocaust, reading NIGHT by Elie Wiesel, then researching and connecting modern topics to this such as genocide, human trafficking, racism/sexism, etc., and on to looking at methods of reform as ways to prevent pattern of the past.  


While at the Mansfield Reformatory, we observed the name, outer structure, inner structure, and daily schedule and expectations in order to analyze how these were used to reform prisoners and if they were effective methods of reform.  


Overall, the field trip was great!  The Mansfield Reformatory is such an interesting historical place with amazing architecture, tons of history, modern connections (Shawshank Redemption, Air Force One, and even a Lil' Wayne music video have been shot in the Reformatory) and more!  Did I mentioned that the cells, 600 of them, make the the largest cell block in the world?!?!  This has put the Mansfield Reformatory as #27 on the Top 100 Things to See Before You Die!  We can now check that one off!


Check out some of the photos from our adventure:

Scene from Shawshank Redemption

Eric in a coal-burning nook.

Austin looking down from one of the rows of cells.

Brittany in a cell!

Giant cell block.

Yes, Ethan, that IS an electric chair! Eek!

Me, inside of a cell!  Don't leave me here, please!

An elevator in the chapel.

Old books and records from the hospital and library.

Our tour guide explaining that all inmates were required to take showers on Saturdays.

Field Trips = Great Success

On Thursday, March 15, I took the 7th grade class to the Toledo Museum of Art.  Being my first field trip since I have been here at New Riegel, and especially because I was going to be taking 7th graders to a quiet, fancy museum with expensive breakables, I was extremely nervous.  I had high hopes and numerous educational goals for the trip, but I was still nervous.  


"What if something goes wrong?  What if the students aren't inspired or interested in the artwork?  What if the students come out with no gain towards the educational goals?"  These were only a few of the many thoughts keeping me up Wednesday night.


After much over-planning, I started my morning with a soy latte to give me energy and soothe my nerves, then came to school mentally prepared for whatever outcome the field trip was going to give.  Let's just say WOW, I was surprised...


The field trip was incredible!  :)  The students were energetic and excited, yet quiet and respectful.  I can't explain how thrilling it was to see students standing in front of a piece of artwork, taking notes, discussing its details, explaining what it makes them feel and think of, etc.  Those moments alone were inspiring to me!  At one point, when I asked a student if he was finished looking at/taking notes of a particular piece, he replied, "I'm done, but I don't want to be done" with passion and sadness in his eyes.  THIS is what field trips are made for--to not only fulfill an educational goal, but to also ignite a passion and respect for something unexpected, and to expose young people to art, different cultures and different perspectives.  


It's interesting how things work out.  My original goal was for the students to come home with more knowledge and understanding than before they went to the museum, but it ended up that they weren't the only ones.  I, too, came home with more knowledge and understanding:  I realized that all the stress, time and insanity of planning the field trip was beyond well-worth it.  The moment when you see your students excited to learn, explore, and engage in something new, especially art/culture, is the moment when you're reminded why you chose to teach in the first place!