What is the biggest mess you every got into?  Maybe it was a real mess and maybe it was more virtual.  Let me tell you about a real mess I got into when I was 5. 

Just over the fence from where we lived was an empty field.  Someone was going to be building houses on the land so the jungle that had been there was cleared.  All that was left was dark brownish-red dirt what had lots of clay in it.

Since we lived in the jungle of Borneo, Malaysia, just outside of the town of Sandakan (see map below).  It rained almost every day, usually in the afternoon and usually for an hour or two.  I am sure you can figure out what dirt with clay and rain water combine to make...of course, mud!  This mud was thick, the kind that keeps your shoe if you walk in it, the kind that will never give it back either.

Well this huge empty, brownish-red, mud bath as just over the fence from our house.  And since no one else was using it, it was calling to be explored!  So my brother and I did exactly that!  I have no idea how long we spent in the mud but when we came back my mom would not let us in the house! We had to be hosed off out side in the back yard.  We had mud in our ears, our eyes, our noses, between our toes and fingers and covering our clothes.  Apparently our clothes were so badly stained that they were never the same. 

That is one of the biggest messes I have ever been in.

What would you do if you could be invisible?  Perhaps you would play pranks on some of your friends or teachers, perhaps you would help someone without them knowing it, perhaps you would get back at that dog that keeps chasing you down the street or the bullies who always seem to catch you when no one else is around.

What would you do and why?

What are the qualities that are important in a friend.  Describe at least three and explain why.

My favorite movie changes sometimes even though I find it hard to beat some of the old classics.  I still enjoy "Murder By Death", "Blazing Saddles", "Roman Holiday" and "Princess Bride".  What is your favorite movie?  Tell me about it and tell me why it is your favorite.

Summer is full of different feelings.  These are usually different from the feelings I have during the school year.  I'm usually more relaxed and less worried.  I have time to think about what I want to do when school starts again.  What is different about summer for you?

Write at least one paragraph explaining how and why summer is different for you.

Most days when students see a substitute teacher in their class they think it will be a mixed up day.  Some students will take advantage of the sub and some will try to help.  I have never been a substitute teacher and it has been a long time since I was in an elementary or high school room as a student.  Tell me about the most interesting substitute teacher you have had.

It is supposed to be very hot here today, probably around 100 degrees Celsius.  When it is hot people go swimming, they eat ice cream, drink cold tea, play in the sprinklers and go to a place where there is air-conditioning.  Some people still do some of these activities when it is not hot outside, like this man eating ice cream when it it snowing! 

Describe an activity you do when it is cold that some people do when it is hot.

How have you done on your summer school goals? I made two goals for summer school.  First, I wanted my students to increase their understanding of how technology could help them learn on their own and how technology could help them create products which will grab other people's attention.  Secondly, I want to learn from my students what best meets their needs. 

I think I have done a fantastic job on the first one.  My student's project speak to that.  There are a lot of projects that I could not post because they were too large and those ones are even better.  I think I have done a good job on the second one as well.  I have not arrived, but I will keep pressing on in the area of assessing my student's needs.  That is something that I will never "arrive" at.  This summer has helped me improve my formula for a class I teach during  the regular school year.  During the summer I had in mind, the students I will have next year as well as the students I have had during the summer.  I wanted to create a course that I could teach during the "Study Skills" period.  The course I have taught this summer has been a opportunity to better prepare for that.  I plan to expand the course I taught this summer to create a course that will give the students an opportunity to improve their reading, communication, artistic, analytical and organizational skills.  All of these will be integrated into the projects that the students will complete.  All of the planning, organizing and implementing of the projects will hopefully increase their skills in all of these areas while having fun. 

More details will follow during the school year.

So, I was going to write about my least favorite subject but the best I could come up with was penmanship.  Last millennia, students would have to practice their handwriting skills.  We would have to print our letters by following a model letter.  We would print each letter over and over and use them in words.  We did the same in cursive, or handwriting as some call it.  Since this does not sound dramatic or tragic I'll write about my most favorite.

Art.  Not just any art class with any art teacher, but a Chinese art class with Mr. Roy Chang.  We learned how to make woven wicker baskets (no jokes about doing it underwater), we learned how to make lots of different kinds of pottery, we did a lot of brush painting and character writing with a traditional brush and ink on silk paper, we made the most amazing kites out of bent bamboo and rice paper.  Mostly I learned from Mr. Chang that art came with passion.  I learned from Mr. Chang that I should do my best the first time, be as careful as possible, be meticulous, always work in such a way as to say, "I did my best." 

I learned this from a lot of other people in my life too, but Mr. Chang's combination of love or art, love of people, high standards and integrity made an impression on my.  And by the way.  I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Chang from the time I was in sixth grade (at Latimer Hall)  until I graduated from high school.  Thank you Mr. Chang for being such a great example.

What is your favorite subject and why?