Still waiting

Hello,

Chorus was cancelled today so I went into my contingency plan for our three plus hour afternoon with no breaks.  Dissecting owl pellets is a fourth grade tradition.  It is usually one of the most highly entertaining lessons for the students.  It is like a mini-treasure hunt where you search for puzzle pieces to identify the owl's latest meals.  I was bit dismayed at the lack of enthusiasm.  Some were extremely engaged, but many were ready for the next thing within a few minutes.  I'm glad some students took some unexplored pieces home to give them the attention that I know they wanted to give them.

I was also taken aback by the reaction to the class read aloud this afternoon.  The old man in The Cay, after protecting Philip from the Hurricane, dies.  The class didn't have much of a reaction.  It is extremely sad and it is hard for me not to get emotional when reading it.  I was amazed by the class reaction.  I guess they don't relate to the poor boy in the story who is now left blind and alone on a forgotten cay.  I don't know what to say about this.  I've never had a class with such a reaction.  I guess they just aren't connecting with the boy.

I'm going to run home to beat the wintry mix.

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea