Count Day Russell Simmons Style!

Hello everyone.  I hope that everyone’s weekend is off to a great start.   Looks like Michigan has been hit with a bit of Indian Summer.  Close to about 80 degrees here today, I’m not complaining at all.  It’s absolutely beautiful today.

One of the most important days for any school district is count day.  Revenues are provided to individual schools based upon each student present only on this day. This is why a huge emphasis is put on students attending school on count day.  Desiring all of my students to come to class this day, I came up with a very creative idea.

Although individual school districts provide incentives  for students that attend school on count day, I decided to add an additional benefit.   Since all  students that attend my school  were able to were jeans this day,  I offered to purchase a bag of chips for my entire all males  sixth-grade  home room  if  we had a 100% attendance rating, and if every gentlemen would  wear a tie.   The good news is that all of my boys showed looking like little Russell Simmons miniature’s in their jeans and ties.  They were happy about getting those chips.  I for one  had eaten entirely too many.

A Monologue Show on Bullying Takes Place in Detroit October 29th at the Charles H. Wright Museum

Hello everyone.  Can you believe that the month of October is already here. Wow!  The leaves are changing beautiful colors of orange, red, and brown.  80 degree weather has now become a thing of the past.  I love fall.  It is the season  constantly reminding us that nature is and will always continue to change and transcend for the better.

Speaking of better, for the past several months, I’ve made it my personal business to keep everyone informed about my forth coming book titled, The Misfits,  a book based upon bullying for tweens and teens scheduled to be released this fall.    Recently, I had the opportunity to meet Kirsten R Byrd.  Founder of Busy B Productions, this young lady like myself, was concerned about the bully issue here in the state of Michigan and decided to do something about it.

Offering me the opportunity to assist with the project, I accepted. The casting call for this project took place yesterday October 1st at the Brighter Day Baptist Church.   It is with honor that I announce  Ms. Byrd’s  production, Stand Up Stand Out- a Monologue Show based upon bullying, will be touring in schools in the Metro Detroit Area.  I will be playing the role of Principal Wilson, a serious administrator concerned about the incidence of bullying taking place at Baker High School, Saturday October 29th at the Charles H Wright museum.  For further information about this project, contact Kirsten Byrd on facebook.

Trinity Film Festival in Detroit Michigan this weekend was awesome

Hello everyone.  I know it’s been several weeks since the last time I’ve posted.   In life we are thrown curve balls that can hinder our progress on a positive path. The most important thing is not to let obstacles deter us from our goals at hand.

Many great things are taken place in Detroit.  One great activity that took place this weekend was the The Trinity Film Festival.  Created by Marshalle Montogmery, Rocki and Janaya Black- the mission of the Trinity Film festival is to expose and shed light on films being produced and directed by Michiganders.   This fun-filled weekend consisted of both guest speakers presenting,  and  informative in-services  provided for individuals interested in getting exposed  and involved in the film industry.   The movie shorts were shown on Friday and the features were shown all day on Saturday.

Having experience as both actress and acting coach, I  was asked to provide a monologue actors workshop for the youngsters in attendance.  Tips on how to improve character development, and the opportunity to reenact two monologues from my second book, The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues Volume II were just two of two of the exciting things that took place during the workshop.   Directly after the workshop, I had the opportunity to interview the young ladies from the cast of the “The Girls Bathroom.”  Together we all had one amazing time.

People if you missed the 2011 Trinity Film Festival, be sure to catch it in 2012.

What a great first day of school Detroit Public Schools is Going Green!

Hello everyone, today was the start of another exciting school year.  At approximately seven-thirty this morning, twenty tween males entered my classroom excited and eager to learn.  Well organized with their school supplies at hand, we briefly discussed the classroom expectations, and what they desire to accomplish as sixth-grade English Language Arts students.

 The school I currently teach at has been identified as a ”Green School” representing  Detroit Public Schools.  Unaware of what a “Green School” is, I  explain to my students exactly what it meant and some of the great changes that would take place within our class and or our school’s campus.  After discussing some the components that tie into a ”Green School” such as recycling and tree preservation, I retrieved a list of everyone’s e-mail addresses. Curious to know as to why I asked for them, I explained to my pupils that from this day forward, I would be e-mailing their homework assignments and  imperative school information. They are excited about the change and so am I.

Back to the class room on Monday everyone!

   

Hello everyone.  I hope that everybody is having an outstanding Friday.  Isn’t it funny how fast the Summer months fly by?  As of  Monday August 29th, I’ll be checking back into my class room. 

As I reflect on this Summer break, I can honestly say that I was afforded awesome opportunities to both mentor Detroit’s youth, and promote my book series.   The cover for my third book titled The Misfits, is in the process of being created.  I am really looking forward to seeing how it turns out.  

Attending various networking seminars and social events,  I had the opportunity to  meet some new interesting people.  I spent a lot of time with my friends and had the opportunity to visit my family.  The Summer of 2011 has been great to me.

Effective September 6th 2011,  I will be formally introduced to my sixth grade classes.  As an ELA instructor I will instruct all  males in the morning and females in the afternoon.  I will post a status update informing every one of my first day of school with my youngsters.   To all the teachers going back to work, I wish you a successful school year.

It’s so hard to say goodbye.

Hello everyone.  It’s Adra Young your favorite tweens, and teens author wishing everyone a fantastic Thursday.  Yesterday was a very difficult day for me.   After six weeks of working with some of the most amazing kids in Detroit, my socialization skills program came to an end for the summer of 2011.

Each week we usually cover a social dynamic barrier and address it. Due to it being the last session of the summer, the agenda was changed for the day.  My special invited guest, and business partner authoress Tracie E. Christian  conducted her highly recommended workshop titled, ”Say It Loud I’m Black College Proud.”  The youngsters absolutely enjoyed  and welcomed the knowledge being provided.

After the workshop we ended the six-week socialization skills program with our unity circle and said our goodbyes.   I will never forget this group of youngsters I served this summer.  They are going to do amazing things in their lives now as well as in the future.

As a Michigan Teacher I’m Proud That the State of Michigan is Working on a Anti-Bullying Law

Hello everyone.  It’s your favorite tween, teen, and young adult author wishing everyone a terrific Sunday.  As you all know, my third book The Misfits is scheduled to be released in via e-book version September  of 2011.   The Misfits is a fictional read based upon a group of middle school youngsters facing and enduring challenges with bullying.

I asked myself today as a Michigan educator, what is this state as  a whole doing to remedy this terrible issue?  Are adaptations going to take place?   Will a certain policy be put into place for individual youngsters that partake in bullying?   What about parents, who are aware and know that their children are bullies and do nothing about it?   How will they be held accountable?

To tell you all the truth, I wish I had the answers to all the questions mentioned above but I don’t.   One thing I am sure of is that Michigan as a whole is currently working on a Anti-Bullying Law.  Click on the link below to see how the progress that is being made.

http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2011/05/school_bullying_law_debate_rek.html

One Amazing Time With Gail Perry Mason’s Young Adults At Wayne Community College In Detroit

As we are headed towards the end the summer here in Detroit,  I find myself being  blessed and afforded amazing opportunities to speak with the youth.  Several weeks ago, I was asked by  Gail Perry-Mason author of  Girl Make Your Money Grow to speak with her group of teens, and young adults.  When I got the call, I couldn’t believe it!   And as you can see for the picture above I gladly accepted.

For a solid week, these youngsters attended Wayne Community College under her supervision.  Her mission was to see that each student received  knowledge and resourceful tips on financial literacy.   Yesterday my presentation was based upon the Bill Gates Theory in regards to young adult expectations after the completion of  college.  Lucky enough for me they enjoyed  it and asked me to come back again the next day.   Although my stay for today was relatively short, the kids through their actions let me know they were happy  to see me once again.  Needless to say,  I would be honored to present at Gail Perry-Mason’s money camp for Detroit’s youth anytime.  Mrs Perry-Mason really cares about the well-being of  the kids of  Detroit.

Teens and Young Adults Address Both Disappointments in Life and Happy Moments

Hello everyone.  Is it just me or has the summer passed us all by too entirely fast.  This week at the Detroit Impact Center, I had the opportunity to talk to my young people  about how they deal with disappointing situations in their life.  Several of the scenarios came directly from my first book  The Everyday Living of  Children  and Teens Monologues.

Turns out my group of youngsters had a major disappointing factor in common.  Over seventy-five percent of the  group had belongings that were stolen from them.   These items were just not regular material things or objects.   Most of the items were passed on by loved ones who were deceased.  I asked the group how they dealt with items of sentimental value being taken from them.  One student stated that they were aware of who had stolen their belongings and simply refuse to have anymore dealings with that person.   Another student stated that they had addressed the matter in a confrontational way.  Lastly, one of my pupils indicated that the best way to get over a disappointing occurrence was to simply let it go and move on.  Being their age once upon a time in my life, I could honestly relate to every response provided.

Our next topic of conversation was based upon Happy Moments.  As everyone may know by now, I am the proud new aunt of identical  twin nephews.  I explained to my group that the birth of the twins and  working with them every Wednesday were two of my happier moments of the summer.     Some of  the happier moments in life for my students were spending time with their smaller siblings.  One of my female youngsters said one of the happiest days of her life was seeing her father after four years.  My favorite response came from one of my male students.  He said the happiest day of his life was seeing his little girl being born two months ago.

Reading & Rhythm on the RiverFront in Detroit

 

Yesterday was one amazing day in Detroit, Michigan.  I had an opportunity to be a featured author at the Reading & Rhythm on the  River Front in Detroit Michigan.  I honestly thought that the parents and the kiddies would not show due to rain.  Not only did they show. The children showed out!

They got a chance to stand on the stage and act as rock stars.  It’s amazing to see how the children ranging from the ages three to five are simply fearless when it comes to performing in front of crowds.  Oh what a great time I had simply watching them.

Tonya Allen of the Skillman Foundation read first and I came right after reading one of my favorite child hood classics titled Green Eggs and Ham.  By the end of the story just about every kid in the audience chanted in unison “Sam I Am.”   Serving as a featured author for the 2011 Reading on the RiverFront series was one of the highlights of my summer.