Flash forward to January 13. We had missed a week of school. I had the note to discuss the project with my kids still on my computer monitor so I wouldn't forget. I had a week to come up with an easy to complete project. My kids came up with the cutest idea of an ABC book based on what makes us a great school because of the school board's support. At the last minute, they changed it to a slideshow because we couldn't print and bind the books in a week. They brainstormed a list of ideas for each letter. They were creative. Do you know how hard it is to come up with something for J, Q, and Y? Leave it to kids. They settled on jump ropes and jungle gym, quiet kids (napping preschoolers) and a quiet room (time out room), and yellow school buses.
I handed my stay-at-school camera to my students, and they snapped away. I only had to add a couple of my own shots of things they couldn't access for themselves. Friday afternoon, I set up PowerPoint and showed them how to add photos. They completed the slideshow to the point that I just had to hit save. Last night was the board meeting. I had a handful of girls volunteer to make the presentation to the board. They were so poised. They made their teacher and parents proud.
The principal said the other presentations all had "things" to give them, so he wanted me to give them a "B.E.S." pencil. I couldn't stop at a pencil, so after a fit of sarcasm I came up with a School Board Member Survival Kit. I had to edit myself three times to keep from offending my "bosses". The kit and much more positively worded freebie are below. Enjoy!
