MHT: Students are the Stars

When I worked at the LA Institute two years ago the motto we always used was “The Students are the Stars”.  Seems like an appropriate title for this post, rating Episode 5 of the Magical History Tour!

The first four tours were hosted by yours truly, as I tended to record them when already traveling, making it difficult to bring along students.  However, one of the prizes in my incentive bag this year was earning a guest-host spot on the next episode of the Magical History Tour.  Thanks to Reuben for his lucky draw, off we went to Washington DC this February, along with Paris, Faiz and Evander.  Before we even left Gaston I knew that combo was going to make for a pretty fabulous show.

Overall I rate the episode a 9, with many of the reasons coming from students this week as we watched a Magical History Tour marathon in preparation for their final exam, where they will be designing their own episode.

• Students are significantly more entertaining as hosts then I will ever be.
• Evander’s ridiculous antics and facial expressions.
• Transitions between events and slides.
• Editing of the FDR Memorial tour guide- past episodes involved a lot of talking, but this one cuts them down into easy to digest segments.
• Music variety and choices.  Especially “Over There” which never grows old.
• The amazing dance moves at the end.  Although today they informed me I should never, ever do them again in public.  It’s okay if I choose to do it in the privacy of my own home.  Thanks guys…

-1 because I’m confident it can get better than this.  The challenge on their final is to create the best plan, and the winner will earn the trip and filming this summer.  The opportunity to top this one is exciting   Until then, enjoy Episode 5…

Ballin’ for JB

How have I not rated this yet?!?  I have no idea, but I’m excited to kick off the return of Rate Your World with one of the best events from the past few months.  I’ve updated very little since Javaris’s death, and I hope this follow up is proof of the impact he had on the community, as well as what his memory has done for the strength of the Pride.  Not only the Pride of 2012, but the entire school, 5-12.

Our Women’s Empowerment club on campus (which I am privileged to advise) made the decision shortly after Javaris’s death to host a Student vs. Teacher basketball game fundraiser in his memory.  I was immediately on board as I love anything that involves competition, beating students, and any excuse to talk trash to my kids.  In a loving way, of course.  The idea was to raise enough money to help cover costs of the funeral, as well as the sign that will soon be hung on the gym dedicating it in his name.  Boy did they ever do a great job.

The result= over $1,000 raised, an amazing evening of basketball, and an opportunity for everyone to remember Javaris and his love of the sport.

While I got to play (as is about to be shown), I also got to play with my new camera and editing equipment… hopefully this video will show you the many reasons I rate this event a 10.

The Magical History Tour

At the start of this year I began discovering how much cool historical stuff there was around, both in North Carolina and nearby in places like Washington DC and Gettysburg, PA.  While these things clearly all existed before, I was now viewing the world through a history teacher lens… all of these became amazing places that I would LOVE to be able take all my students.  As a matter of money and logistics, that was obviously not possible.

SO, The Magical History Tour was born.  The name was brilliantly created by my dad, after the famous Beatles song ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, which has also become the show theme song.  Inevitably every time I play an episode, students comment on the fact that I created a song to go along with it, as it sounds so much like ‘Magical History Tour’.  I obviously let them believe it.

Now on to the ratings for my favorite Magical History Tour moments…

MEETING ‘LINCOLN’ IN GETTYBSURG, ON THE 147th ANNIVERSARY OF THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS: 6

It was A.MA.ZING to be in Gettysburg on the anniversary of the event, and to get it on film.  However the speech was longer than anticipated, less historical and more about his life as a re-enactor, AND my camera battery died right before the end of the speech.  Plus, trying to get a picture with him was a TRIP, and it didn’t even come out that well

WEARING AN AUTHENTIC CIVIL WAR DRESS (HOOP SKIRT AND ALL) TO THE REMEMBRANCE DAY PARADE: 10

I had NO IDEA how much more fun parades were when dressed up in full Civil War gear.  So inspired that I even got my very own shortly afterwards…

Check out Episode 3: Gettysburg.

DRAGGING JILL AROUND DC AND MAKING HER FILM ME: 9

Her whining is almost funny.  Most of the time.  -1 for the rest of the time.

Leads to some good footage though

Check out Episode 2: Abraham Lincoln.  And there will be more to come in Episode 6: World War II.  That’s right, I somehow talked her into TWO days of city filming.

SECRETLY RECORDING PEOPLE WITHOUT THEM KNOWING: 10

Some of my very best footage has come from sneaky shots.  Including park rangers at the Lincoln Memorial and Independence Hall, the cheesteak guy at Geno’s in Philly, and the old man working the customer service desk at the Air and Space Museum.  Plus a couple open interviews with Confederate Soldiers and a WWII vet.  All in all, interviewing rocks.

Check out Episode 4: Philadelphia for some of the secret footage.

Now this Saturday I’m headed back to DC with four students for the first ever Magical History Tour starring 11th graders.  I CAN NOT WAIT.

Stay tuned for Episode 5