Day 13

It's Friday! So today was the deadline for my Gallon Guys to be turned it. We've been talking customary units of capacity this week and to help scholars remember the relationships between the units I asked them to create what looks like a person - and sure enough the ended up creating a likeness of someone familar. Check out their artwork below. I think it's worth mentioning that these assignments didn't count for a grade, although I never really stated that. I gave them a week to put together. Some went far and beyond, adding heads to the gallon "torso" while some decided they didn't have to put that much effort into it. I used the activity to talk about character - I gave them an assignment that was math-related with little direction or criteria for success just to see what they would come up with. Sometimes we base our actions on whether we're being held accountable to a grade or a checklist of requirements we have to meet. Sometimes we base our actions based on who we are as individuals. I challenge my scholars to thoughtfully choose to base their decisions on who they are - not on what they get or who they will please.

Today's bow tie was hand-crafted from a soldier's uniform by Elle over at xoelle.com. I wear it with pride for multiple reasons - one because it was my first purchase at Elle's shop; the other, and more importantly, because my father was a serviceman for many years and wearing this tie is a small tribute to him and what he's meant to me in my own quest to be formidable father. Fun fact: the best Christmas gift I got this year was a pocketknife he handed down to me that was in his possession for over 30 years!