Dear Students and Families,
You may have noticed over the course of the first trimester that I have been gone a fair amount. Some of that time was taken to care for my children, a couple of days were for myself being sick, and some have been to take care of my wife. Now she is having more acute issues that require me to devote more of my time and energy to her. So I have decided to take some extended leave (at least for the end of this week and most of next week). I have met with Mr. Olson, my replacement, and will continue to consult with him about curriculum so that the students experience as little disruption as possible. I will also still maintain an online presence via mrtalmadge.com and edmodo.com. In addition, I will be checking my email if you should have any questions. Thanks for your understanding and patience.
Mr. Talmadge
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Mr. T's Holiday Challenge
I was watching TV last night and happened upon a certain talk show that will be ending next year. The hostess was interviewing two Pulitzer Prize winning authors about their most recent book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. I was moved by the the horrendous stories and thought that perhaps my students would be interested in doing something this holiday season to help women in need in the developing world. So, I proposed in class today that we have a little competition to see which of my classes could raise the most money to donate to a worthy cause in support of women. The talk show I was watching provided many options for how to give, but two in particular caught my eye. One, costing a mere 250 dollars, helps an Afghan woman to start a business. Another, for about the same amount, provides a "School in a Box"for children in emergency situations that don't have access to traditional schooling. So, I will be putting 4 collection boxes in my room, one for each class. Let's see over the course of the next two weeks which class can raise the most money. For an inspirational video on the topic, click here.
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