Making Connections.

Today I received a message from one of the students, again Kelvin Rodriguez, who I had mentioned before some posts ago. He sent me a link to a beautiful text about life. Yes, it's that simple. It was a brief narration of a man, his experience with life and lack of, and the many questions he had for a larger being.

The student suggested that when I read the text, I should listen to a specific song called "Yellow Light "by the group Of Monsters and Men. I already knew the song since I am a big fan of the group, so I knew I would enjoy it.

It was a wonderful experience and once again I am fascinated by his ability to make connections between literature and everything else in the world. It is a quality that is truly admirable.

If you want to take a break for a few minutes, bellow is the link to the text.

The video for the song "Yellow Light" will be embedded bellow as well.

Enjoy!

- CLICK HERE TO READ THE NARRATION -

Last Day at School!

Today was an emotionally filled last day at school. The students knew it was my last day and since I entered the classroom they received me with a huge applause. It also helped that I came to class with two cakes, some juice, chips, some Coca-Cola and candy (maybe I won't get teacher of the year with all that sugar).

The students were very excited and I had been trying to hand them their letters but I kept choking up so before I was able to do anything, three of the girls came up to me, all teary-eyed. Now, I'm a crier so you can imagine my reaction when three students were crying in front of me saying they'll miss me.
One of the girls gave me a small decorated basket with chocolates and other gifts inside. Talk about surprises. I guess you can say that's when I lost it but there was more... the same girl had written an essay for me titled "A Good Person". It was such a beautiful essay. That girl was able to transmit so much and I was overjoued with the fact that I had made a difference and especially in her, I had made an impact. This journey has blessed me with so many incredible things and to finally see the results of it are fulfilling beyond measure. I thought at one point sharing the essay but that will remain a private conversation between us girls.

I do want to share this beautiful poem which was another gesture that took me by surprise. My favorite thing about it was not only the personal touch the student gave to the poem, but the fact that she used vocabulary words we had studied in class, she used a rhyme scheme (which we studied recently) and she mentioned the greek name activity which was done at the beginning of the semester.

Here is the lovely poem:

But wait, there were more surprises! After we ate 5 boxes of pizza (which was completely great), the students surprised me with a Thank you card, some chocolates and a photo album with pictures of my homeroom group as well as mine. It was a very emotional moment for all of us and I was part of the biggest group hug ever.

I can't even begin to explain all the feelings. After 4 months of seeing each-other constantly, I feel like I have made a new and huge, family. They are my Ohana :)

Some poetry, poetreats.

That was a bad pun but I guess it is a good title for this entry. Especially, considering the student it was created around.

During Unit 9.6 , my students started writing their own poetry. Since it was the last unit I'd be covering, it was done under a bit of a rush (I have to admit) but I got some good poetry out of there. One of the most moving, and I'd say, creative poems was from a student from 9-5. Kelvin Rodriguez wrote an amazing, imagery-filled piece of poetry that inspired me to write again. This student not only applied what was learned in class, butt he was able to develop beautiful ideas through description and I'm delighted to share it (with his permission of course).

Now, along with the poem, I have embedded a video that the same student had showed me. I feel like his poetry is having an echoing conversation with the video/film. So, please take some time out of your day and accompany in our brief journey through space.

The Awe-ing Universe by Kelvin Rodriguez Puello

It all started as a naive dream to go to space 
But at this moment i was inside a giant white and blue rocket ship 
As I ascended Into space I was dazzled by its beauty
All that was black and void was filled with shining speckles of light 
Beyond it there was a great shining yellow light,
That entity is what we called the Sun. 
Beyond that there was a cloud filled with green , blue and red colors
This was the thing that we called nebula, 
It was beautiful and magnificent, 
but this joyride through the wonders of this universe ended, 
I was sad because..... It was all a measly dream.

Saying Goodbye.

This journey has come to an end and it is something beyond, for lack of a  better word,  bitter-sweet. It's always a good feeling to know that you are about to close a door while a million others are will be creaking right the next second. Yet, this reality is distorted when you face the fact that that door means saying 52 goodbyes.

Since January I have been seeing very special and unique individuals every day. They are remarkable human beings who I have learned to understand and know. And maybe this sounds dramatic but for approximately 80 days I have heard the stories of my 52 students. From the twins that have a 23 ducks at home, to the Rubik's cube master. From the Michael Jackson fan to the Coca Cola addict. For approximately 80 days I have learned to appreciate them and care for them, I have known their pet-peeves and the things they love, and now I go. 

The funny thing about departures is that there's always something that you leave behind, as well as there's always something that you take with you. My affliction with airports has a lot to do with that. In the faces of the travelers you can always see a hint of either the leaving or the taking, like a painted canvas on the run. I don't know what I have left to these students. Hopefully I have left something positive in their lives, and I have contributed, at least, a building block for their skyscrapers of knowledge, but I know that my days at the school will define me as one of those canvases on the run. I'll do both the taking and the leaving.

That is why, being quite aware of my vulnerability in tears, I have decided to write each of my students a letter. Each of them is so different that there is no way I could possibly capture, or deliver a meaningful and true message if I wrote to them in general terms. Each of them will be addressed individually but with one binding and closing paragraph which all will be able to read. 

It reads as following:

There are many things in life that people can take away from you. They can take away your peace and your security, they can take your weapons and they can take your shields, they can take your home, they can break your bones but they can never take away your knowledge or truth.  That is the best weapon you can count on and the most valuable as well. Do not take your education for granted and do not rely on others to give it value. It is your job to value it and to make it grow. John Lennon once said “Love is flower, you’ve got to let it grow” but so is your knowledge. Water it, harvest it , and do not count on school to be your only source of knowledge. Read whenever you have time, feed your curiosity and learn about the people that came before you. This is the best advice that I can give you.

With care,

Megan Lou Garcia

I wish them all the best and hope they live bright lives!

They will never know how much they have marked mine

and how much they have come to mean to me. 

Thank you, my 52. 

Close to graduation

During this past week, my cooperating teacher gave me some pictures of the different groups. I used them to decorate the bulleting board which is always fun. Here is a picture:


The bulleting board has different motivational quotes.

April 8th is Dab Day!

Celebrating Draw A Bird Day! This is an unofficial holiday but it is celebrated in many places across the USA. Today I wanted my students to do something special in relation to what they called a "wacky" Holiday and made them draw some birdies in representation of something they hoped for the world. These were the results:

These little birds now hang from a wall in the back of the classroom! They give a colorful touch to that area and they represent the big nest we are as a classroom.

#Throwback to English Week

During English week I wanted to hit home with an activity related to Literature. Knowing that many of my students dislike reading, it came to mind that maybe they should be exposed to Literature from a different point of view. That is when I found this gem of a short film. "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" is a film that captivates the fantastical aspects of a reading journey and the euphoric and sometimes heartbreaking experiences one encounters when you are a book lover.

My students were at awe when they saw the film. The classroom was completely quiet an a lot of them were at the edge of their seats because even though it is not a thriller, it is a film that keeps you thinking what will happen next? 

Bellow, the film is embedded. Take some time to watch it because even though it is an animation, I'm sure you'll find something meaningful in it.

Also, to support this activity, I made bookmakers for all of my students and took some of my favorite classics so they could see them and skim over them. I encouraged them to go find a book they love because even if they might not realize it now, there is a book for everyone.

I encourage you to do so as well. Happy reading!