Brainwashing

WOW.

So today we wrapped up our Cinderella unit, you know, now that they actually went to see the musical. So in order to be able to include our other students in the convo, I showed part of the 1997 Cinderella starring Brandy, Whitney Houston, and Burnadette Peters (and more...!) and when I asked what were the differences, you know what each class told me within the first three answers? "She's Black in this one." And I was going to talk about that, actually, and use it as a great lesson, so I asked "Yes, but does the actors not being white ('cuz remember the prince is Asian) change the story?"
They all answered "yes." When I prodded, they said that their blackness made it more hip-hop. I pointed out that there was no hip-hop music, and that all the songs were exactly the same as the Julie Andrews Version. They tried to tell me that skin color affects the way you play a character. I disagreed. Finally, I converted all of their thinking.... Crazy to think I had to convince 5th graders that skin color didn't matter.

*ugh*

I'll post pics from Spring Break soon. I just had to vent.

Wow... I stink at this

I'm leaving on a jet plane in a mere 4 hours, and it just hit me: I haven't blogged in a month. I am completely unreliable. Let me tell you, though, that it is because I've been BUSY!

Firstly, as many of you know from my Facebook picture, I'm growing out my hair. "Why?" you ask? Well... In the words of my Grandfather, when I don't have any left, I'm going to have wished I grew it out at one point! Plus, I'm actually liking the length a lot. Only thing is that it's in this in-between length, and it needs to be thinned. I've got a little fro thing going on in the mornings. I want it to grow longer so I look like this: (Henry Cavill: The Tudors. I got into the show. Not bad.)Hmm... otherwise we're gonna go see Cinderella at the North Carolina Theatre!! I'm taking 82 kids to see it. Well... "I'm" meaning JTOH. I'm actually gonna be in WA for the Holiday and Spring Break. Oh: They all say "Theatre" Thee-aee-ter.... Three pronounced syllables. I think we speak funny in WA... hahaha

More cultural differences: Everyone at school was wishing me a Happy Easter. OK. Sounds good to me. But at school? Having Easter Egg hunts? Putting up Easter Bunnies on the windows at the front entrance? I suppose its not putting up pictures of the Risen Christ, but hey... Still so foreign to me. hahaha.

What else? I don't know... My kids have all learned to play the piano, they ROCK, and they are amazing. We are going to do a Jazz unit after break based on The Princess and the Frog. I'm stoked. I think I'm even gonna have my kids sing one of the songs from it for our Spring Concert. I can already feel the end of the year bearing down upon me, yet it seems so far away at the same time. So much to do in so little time!!

Wish me luck on my plane ride. I'll see many of you at Mass on Friday and Sunday, and my fellow Newmanites at Easter Vigil.