Throwback Thursday, In Flanders Fields, Etc.

The first day of testing really was an April Fool's joke.  Less than a quarter of the kids finished, and then the system went down. The story is that the State Testing Site was hacked.  It is supposed to be up again today. The fact that this test cycle doesn't really count or matter that much is a good thing. The data would be great, but we might not get the student results on individual standards anyway.  Tiny Town High is going with the flow--and not worrying about the test this year.  Whew! (We're still trying to take them--just isn't a huge deal.  Thank you, State!)

I am teaching "In Flanders Fields" in conjunction with our history teachers. They wanted the students to memorize it.  Since I didn't know it, I am memorizing it, too.  This is me--trying to recall it word for word.

            In Flanders Fields
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.
                          John McCraae

I think that might be pretty close.  The hope is that the students will look at the structure of the poem, learn the history of it, but above all-- know why the veterans hand out poppies on Veteran's Day.

And now to Throwback Thursday.

I'm not sure how this photo ended up creased.

Proof that my brothers adored me--

they just don't remember that!

Happy Thursday!