I like high concept lessons,

Especially when they work…even better when you have them on tape. I now have indisputable video evidence of my teaching ability. Also, I have indisputable video evidence that my 5th period students are too wacky to get mad at. Goons... but hilarious all the same.

I wanted to come up with a really cool lesson for the Middle East, something that the kids would remember and have fun with. Then *BANG,* like a flashbulb full of napalm to the brain, it hits me...bazaar. We recently studied the modern culture of the Middle East, which still has a number of traditional marketplaces, or bazaars. I spent the last week collecting free stuff from people all over Blair County and after about five days of begging, some in-person groveling, and a trip to the Dollar Store, I had myself a fully-functional Middle Eastern-style bazaar, complete with a cool accent and haggling.

I had the kids answer questions for play money, then they got to wheel and deal with yours truly. I had a blast. The kids really got into it, and if anything, I got plenty of laughs. Good times, good times. I don't know how many more times I could put that much effort into a lesson, but it’s nice to get a payoff after all that footwork and worrying. Plus Tyrone Tech Support hooked me up with a DVD of my 5th period. Sweet.

Well, I just wanted to tell you guys about it. If you see me around, you can ask to see the DVD, it’s awesome. Just saying. Well, I have to run, I made Fettuccine Alfredo for the 7th period tomorrow and I need my sleep. Be well.

Yes, Yes, let's make deal, very good price.

DePiro Rules

Posted by Adam DePiro at 1:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Like a big chubby Phoenix from the ash, I'm back and I'm salty,

When I made the jump to Tyrone Area High School, a light just seemed to come on. The clouds parted and angels began to sing. I was in my element. Don't get me wrong, I loved Civics, but World Cultures is so where it is at.

I get to take my love of contrasting groups, themes, movements and personalities to a global level. I seriously have the two best units to work on: the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. If I can't make them interesting, I should probably find a new profession. I got to warm up a little bit with Russia, but now I'm full bore at Arabic culture, the development of monotheism and modern conflicts in the region.

I don't like to compare my experience at Penn Cambria and Tyrone, but I did have some of my best lessons during the week of the PSSAs. At Penn Cambria, I did a whole week on the Civil Rights movement and I got to do a lot of different things for the Middle East. We watched a video on Genghis Khan, read articles from both sides of the Gaza strip and even had a guest speaker.

The guest speaker experience demonstrates one of the big differences between the Mount and other schools. I was able to get Shamim Rajpar from the library to come and talk to my class about traveling and living in other cultures. She totally faced all of my classes. At first, they didn't know what to think of her, but she had such an interesting story and such an obvious love for her work it really touched the kids. Plus she brought a truckload of wicked cool stuff from all over the world. Girls in my 8th period went nuts for the ostrich egg.

There aren't a lot of schools that I know of that you could get a staff member to take a day off and come into a high school and talk for three periods. That's just the personal attention that is the Mount's signature. To any of you lazy high school seniors that have already checked out for the year, I'd give the Mount a look-see. I must retire now…many lesson plans to write, youth of America to teach in the morning. Sleep tight.

Face and/or POW!

DePiro Rules!

Posted by Adam DePiro at 1:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hello Mounties,

It has been quite a while since I've had a chance to blog. It’s just one of a hundred things that have taken a back seat to my student teaching, which has basically consumed me for the last 2 1/2 months. Weeks just fly by, I barely notice them. I resorted to my default policy in life: Just keep attacking. Deal with things as the come, things are going to go wrong, you just need to overcome them.

That could be the motto for my placement at Penn Cambria, things just kind of broke up on re-entry there. I’m not quite sure what it was that made my time there such a difficult experience. To be perfectly honest, I just don't think I'm 8th grade material. I tried really hard to be interesting, but I just came off as boring. I’m putting that on myself because Van was placed right down the hall from me and he did awesome. He's probably got a science gig lined up for this summer there and I know he's gonna do great.

I was feeling pretty down after my experience there, but the kids did clap for me on the last day so I'll call that a victory. I would like to thank my Co-op Cristy Evans and the rest of the faculty and staff at Penn Cambria Middle School who were all super nice to me. Since that mighty struggle, things have been going much better…super-sick awesome, in fact. You can read all about it in "Where have I been, Part 2: High School." There isn't any sweet choreography or big dance numbers, but it is pretty exciting. We will continue this soon Mounties, but for now, peace.

If you plan to teach 8th graders, get used to the smell of AXE, yuck city!

DePiro Rules!

Posted by Adam DePiro at 1:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)