break!

the last day has come and gone--time for a nice, big sigh of relief--aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! that's better.

today was a little hectic being the last day and all: my students were wound up, we had a raffle (with the grand prize being movie tix--oooo!), i brought in my drum kit, and the principal came in--all in one day! exciting and exhausting. rewarding and draining.

the drum lesson was fun. i used a brace map to teach about the different parts of the kit (i hope i used the right map...), and i let some student volunteers try their hand(s) at keeping time. a few of my students did really well. maybe some future drummers. too bad mr. garcia didn't try. the students would have loved that!

3 days

the final countdown (shout-out to all you europe fans out there!!!) has begun. exactly 2.5 days left in the 2006 school year for mr. c. wow. it's gone pretty fast. i'm definitely looking forward to recharging the ol' teaching battery, finishing the first semester of my masters program (too bad that doesn't end until december), and getting ready for 2007.

i'm also excited about bringing in my kit on wednesday--i'm going to use thinking maps to teach my students about my drum set. i think everyone will enjoy that.

brown nose

tomorrow about 40,000 (give or take 39, 660) teachers will be walking through my class to "observe" my writer's workshop. YIKES! why did i volunteer for this again? oh yeah, because i like my boss, and he needed volunteers. what a kiss up, huh?

about me

my pirate name is bloody morty flint. my wu-tang name is smiling leader. my first name is an acronym for july, august, september, october, november, and i share my middle and last name with my famous mexican movie/t.v. actor uncle, joaquin cordero. i teach 5th grade. i like to write songs, play drums and guitar. i have fun when i feel creative.

MOMS!!!

gotta give lots of LOVE to the best teacher i know, my mom,
GEORGIA KLINKERS!!!

30+ years of experience in public education.
40+ years of being a parent.
60+ years of living.

i've learned so much from her, just like the hundreds of students she's taught.

thanks for helping out in my classroom yesterday. my students and i greatly appreciated it!

you are always welcome in the room 75 tribe. i look forward to working with you again.

love,
your son

election eve

since it's election eve, here's another from the DiDacTicNaTioN vault. have you had enough of this yet?

DC

typical political, business as usual:
of the profit, by the profit, for the profit

sold individual, so pitiful:
elected officials that neglect the people
they represent only with our consent--
constituents and citizens--
never forget
we are the boss of these stuffed shirt snobs,
not lobbyists obviously sent to protect
corporate interests only concern:
the bottom line, wine & dine in return
for friendly policy that favors their fortune
and leaves communities not quite as important.

"the question's been the same since the start:
are we smart enough to conduct democracy?
only functions in a culture of rationality.
our primitive instincts kept in check by the
prophylactic of a liberal society," says somerby

and socrates (at the dawn/dusk of the west)
i'd like to take this opportunity
to suggest we improve our priorities--
demand more of our authorities:
NO WAR without JUST CAUSE;
enforce environmental laws;
social security is easy to fix
if we roll back tax cuts for the rich;
decriminilize consentual crime;
generate revenue from regulating vice;
fund prevention and education,
universal health care for the nation...

i get impatient, the current situation obtains:
government invasion, eminent domain.
they game the system--we don't resist them--
buck-passing bureaucrat don't bother to listen or
read, lest heed, our forefathers' wisdom

DELINQUENTS & DERELICTS of DUTY to UNION

ARREST THEM! PUT THEM IN PRISON!