My Classroom!

Well, I'm getting ready to go back to work - professional development next week (as if I needed to be developed professionally by an incompetent administration - oops did I think that out loud?) Anyway, I'm excited to go back - ready. This will be my second year of teaching, although I'm 37 and the kids think I've been doing it forever. It's been nice to move from Michigan to Texas and have a 'clean slate' as it were. "I've been in education for 7 years" But I don't add that 6 of them were as a secretary at a high school.... what they don't know won't hurt them. At 31 I decided to go back to school and get my teaching certificate - ended up with that plus 3 majors (public administration - yes they DO have a degree in 'bullshit'; geography and political science). So I now teach 8th grade US History- Colonization to 1877. I LOVE when we do the American Revolution and the Constitution - my absolute favorite subject to teach - the kids think I'm nuts, of course - but they seem to like the fact that I am a little nuts.





Anyway, the reason for my post, after all that background: I have always wanted to have a HUGE American flag in my room. After looking all over online to purchase, I realized that it was probably not something I would come across and think "Man! I got a DEAL!" They are pricey. I looked at a 6X8 footer that they wanted something like $50-$75 for - I'm just not willing to spend that kind of $$. My husband suggested I call one of the local banks (American Bank to be specific) because while he was out doing his job, he noticed several flags that were being retired from the bank and were going to the Boy Scouts to be disposed. I called - and they totally came through for me - they donated an 8X12 to me to use in my room.... now if i can figure out how to stick pictures into a post, I have a picture of my daughter standing in front of it...

Cool - I think it worked - Anyway, I just think it's too cool - and I can't say enough positive things about American Bank and their generosity. Now if only I can find more effective ways to get my kids fired up about history - ever tried to talk about federalism with a group of 13 year olds?? Try it and see if you can keep your sanity..... That's all for now.