Veteran's Day

No school today as we honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect our way of life and the life of people from other countries.

Yesterday, during "Jaguar Literacy time," we had a very young veteran visit our classroom. His name is Shawn, and he is my 20 year old daughter's (Rebecca) boyfriend =), who has been a veteran for 9 days. He was stationed in Germany for several years, but he spent 15 months in Iraq during more troubled times. He talked to the students about when he joined the army, right out of high school, and how the army is a lot like school. You have to work for a common purpose whether you are friends or not. If one person in the platoon messes up then everyone in the platoon takes responsibility, a connection he made after hearing about a "strings" incidence where everyone had to take responsibility for the action of several students-too much talking.

The students "grilled" him for 20 minutes, and would have continued asking questions if I hadn't let the poor guy off the hook. Shawn did not talk about certain things, even though students asked the questions, because we felt and said they were not "fourth grade appropriate." Several of the students had connections to what he said because they have close relatives in the military.

Shawn did an amazing job with the students and I truly appreciate what he has done over the past 4 years and the fact that he shared it with my students.

After Shawn left, we talked a little more about his experiences and then talked about Veteran's Day and what it really means-who we are honoring. We discussed all the grandparents, brothers, sisters, and other family members who have served or are now serving our country in this way. I hope the students have a better understanding since his visit.

To my grandpa, dad, brother (who is in the Navy at this moment), many many cousins, Mrs. Osborn's son David, and all the men and women who have served (or are now serving) our country...THANK YOU.