20% Update - Week 5

Mr. Stevens, how do we make our website spicier?
- Student from 1st Period

I really thought that this was going to be the sound of my room when I returned for 20% time tod

Being absent with pink eye for 3 days in the middle of the week is horrendous, but my students are truly amazing and the power of technology allowed me to stay updated on what we were doing while I was gone.  Through Edmodo and Remind101, I was able to interact with the students and find out what I should expect before I even walked in the door this morning.  Moving on, today was 20% time, and we were about to be on the verge of something great.

To start off their 20% time, students were asked to complete a Google Form so that I could aggregate all of their data into one place that will be easy to refer to as they continue their projects.  See below for the results.  For the form, try HERE.

Now that we have embedded ourselves into the projects, their products are beginning to take form.  I encourage you to take a peek at some of the websites andtumblr accounts that they are creating- fairly impressive.  The students haven't had any training in web design, so take it easy on the aesthetics and flow, but the content that they are finding is making me happy.  When I'm walking around my room, I'm learning.  That's right, the teacher is learning.  Students are talking to me about how a shoe designer made it famous.  They are talking to me about the history of the trombone (quite interesting, actually).  Others are working on their PSA for animal abuse awareness.  On that note, let's get into our mentor count for the entirety of the 20% time:    

Mentor Count: 3

This week was crazy because of my mid-week medical vacation, so I didn't have a chance to get enough mentors in to speak with students.  However, so far in the process, we have had the following professionals come in:

Web Designer (in person)
Actress/Singer (Skype)
Nutritionist (in person)

The nutritionist has had the most impact already because of the connection that she made to the girls.  The group she came in to talk to was interested in improving the health and diets of teenagers.  As we all know, Hot Cheetos and filth fill the plates of our students during the school day, setting them up for a lifetime of unhealthy eating habits.  Even more unfortunate is that this food is free, thereby enabling students to engage in this hidden danger of unhealthy eating.

These students are normally shy and reserved, but opened right away when their mentor showed up and started talking with them about the reality of eating habits.  The original focus for these girls was to bring an awareness to healthy diet.  However, based on the discussion today, the nutritionist is planning on setting up a "Girls Class" at the gym she coaches at and having the students recruit others to come in and learn about nutrition and exercise for free.  FOR FREE.

Once the boys heard about it, they wanted in as well.  Now, from that, we have about 30 students who are interested in going to a gym to learn about living a healthy lifestyle.  Even if their presentation is atrocious and the final essay doesn't size up to the rubric that we will be creating, how can I not say that these students have mastered their topic?  They have, by their actions in this conversation with a nutritionist, affected a positive change on over 2 dozen of their classmates and the class hasn't even started yet.  Get that many students interested in "healthy lifestyles" at that age and I'm counting it as a win.

Plus, aren't we supposed to be making connections with the community?!?!
SCORE

What's to come

I can't wait for 20% time already.  Next week should be even more incredible as the projects take shape even more and the mentors increase.  Next Wednesday alone, we will have:

• the nutritionist coming back in to speak with her group and another about healthy eating and proper exercise
• a couple ladies from Animal Samaritans coming in to speak with our animal abuse PSA group about what they can provide
• a local high school basketball coach come in to work with a group on perfecting their jump shot
• a NICU nurse coming in to speak with students about the difficulties and joys of being on the caring side of a tiny gift of life.
  

Don't get me wrong - there are some struggles.  I have a group who has done virtually nothing because they can't seem to find something that they are truly interested in.  We had a solid discussion today about where they plan on going from this point, considering that we are 5 weeks into the 20% project.  I have no doubt in my mind that they will do incredible work when they find something that they are passionate about, but I need to be patient.  That's the beauty of the 20% project - I have the ability to be patient.  Pressure will be applied and expectations will remain high, all while they are working toward finding the answer to a question that they have yet to ask.  Gotta have faith, right?!

Until next time...

Happy Fishing