On Tuesday I taught about the history of Sierra Leone, a small country in western Africa.  We covered pre-colonial advancements, the colonial area, independence and the consequential civil war.  Heavy stuff for anyone.  

In any case, we also looked at the rise of homegrown Hip-Hop out of Sierra Leone which is played 70% of the time on local airwaves.  My assignment for the students was to compose a rap, poem or song to the people of Sierra Leone.  Here is one sample of what came out of that:

“I am thinking about life,

How your dreams blend.  I know this ain’t heaven,

but it ain’t the end.  You gotta fight for what’s yours,

with a message to send.  With the power and knowledge from deep within.

I don’t know your pain, but I feel the stress.  

A dumped, place, no food.  You all feel under.  

This just the beginning it’s far from over, 

You need to put your hands up, 

And dust the blood off your shoulder.  

No more nights under the pain or skin gettin’ colder,

it’s like lost opportunities waitin’ to hold ya.

You feelin’ so lost, like where is the composer?

I told ya, Sierra Leone, keep your head high,

‘Cause I done seen better days lookin’ in the sky.

—-Chris, 9th Grade World History

Day 1.  Dia Uno.  The First.  The start, a beginning.

Today marked the start of this year’s Cambridge-Harvard Summer Academy, essentially a summer school for the area’s public school students.  Some students are using the time to advance their studies, but most are attempting to make up a class they failed.  Interestingly a number of students only failed because of attendance issues (missing 20 or more school days in 2010).

In any case, what would make a first day even more difficult in World History 2.  Well, 100 degree temperatures without Air Conditioning might be a start.  Are you kidding me?  This is no way to get kids interested in the subject matter!   If my peers and I can barely teach, how do you first expect students to properly register the materials?  For being the most well-funded district in the state of MA, improper learning conditions seem simply wrong.

Otherwise, our class of 15 is off to a sweaty start.  I am excited about the prospect of having our teacher and the three CHSA interns supporting small groups of 3 or 4.  It is my plan to implement a “Blind Side” mentalty.  No kid will fall through the cracks in my group.  I may be blissfully ignorant, but I still think that I will succeed.

Day 2 tomorrow!