I Love the '90s

Do you remember the '90s? Probably not that much, because most of you were babies during that time!

So, I thought I'd share a video with you to help you get in the '90s mindset as we're reading Zlata's Diary:



Wow, watching that brings back a lot of memories for me, as I was a teenager in the '90s. I'm sure you're familiar with many of the images from that video; many '90s tv shows, movies, and music are still popular today.

If you're interested in more '90s culture, visit Wikipedia's 1990s entry, '90s 411, or watch VH1's I Love the '90s or I Love the '90s:  Part Deux.

Bosnian War (1991-1995)

We are continuing our literature unit about children in war with Zlata's Diary, which was written by a young girl who lived in Sarajevo.

Most of you were familiar with World War II, Adolph Hitler, and the Holocaust; but I'm willing to bet that you don't know much of anything about the Bosnian War.

Learn about The Civil war in Yugoslavia 1991

Honestly, I'll be doing a lot of learning along with you.  The Bosnian War occurred from 1991 to 1995 - a time when I was growing up.  During the height of the crisis, I was your age and was more concerned with my own life than something that was happening in a land that I knew little to nothing about.  However, I wasn't totally ignorant, and I couldn't help but notice the pictures, videos, and statistics about the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.  The situation in Bosnia - and the town of Sarajevo in particular - was an eerie reminder that the hatred and racism of the Hitler era had not been totally eradicated.

So, as we read Zlata's Diary together, I will revisit an era of my life when I should have been more aware of the world around me.  I hope that, through our studies of The Diary of Anne Frank and Zlata's Diary, your eyes will be opened to see that, despite our advancements, many people in our world still cannot enjoy the comfort, freedom, health, happiness, and safety that we take for granted.

And that realization is the first step in making a change.  A change in thinking, speaking, and acting.  A change in the way we live our lives.  A change in our plans for the future.  A change that influences others.  A change for the better.

And it starts now.

Destination Dallas 2010

On April 21, we will embark on our seventh-grade Dallas trip!  WOO HOO!  We are going to have SO much fun! :)

To tide you over until then, I thought I'd share with you a few links to many of the places that we will be visiting in the Lonestar State:

Medieval Times

Dallas Holocaust Museum

Museum of Nature and Science

IMAX

Grapevine Mills Mall

Main Event

Sixth Floor Museum

Dallas World Aquarium

SO...  Tell me what places you're really looking forward to seeing... and why! :)

My Hero

This morning my 8th grade students and I are completing videos for a Bon Jovi contest on the Animoto website. Here is my entry... Enjoy!

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Kids and Technology

When Should Kids Get Cell Phones?

Read this article and share your personal opinions on this polarizing issue!

Movie Weekend

My husband and I had a date night on Friday... we ate at Ya-ya's (YUM!!) and saw Alice in Wonderland in IMAX 3D (AMAZING!!).  Did anyone else see it this weekend?  If so, share your thoughts!

Vote!

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