Moment of Clarity

y last post, about twenty hours ago, asserted that, "the way forward is clear." After writing those words and before falling asleep I figured within 24 hours something would come along and muddle everything up.

On the contrary, the way forward has become more clear and simple. Go figure.

I've been banging my head against the wall under the assumption that the next step required landing an illustrator before I could start Hooey's Kickstarter campaign. This fell under the idea that the book had to be completely done, or at least appear so, to shop it.

I am a fool.

The emphasis now puts the focus on the Kickstarter campaign as the way to complete the project. Of course, the Kickstarter campaign will hopefully answer an even more important question: Does this project have popular support?

So what now? Now I revisit the script I've written for the Kickstarter video, I talk to videographers, tighten up the choreography of the Budget Dance, find some eight year old talent and maybe even a band to play a little ditty. I focus on the video, get it rolling and continue to monitor the rest.

Project Update: In search of an English to Mexican-Spanish translator, I posted a project description on Guru and have already received one application. Getting the translation done while I work on the video et al should be a time saver.

Corpus Christi Chronicle #2

hile I wait to meet with an attorney at the Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), the principal of a school in that district (depending on how the first conversation goes) and a member of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC),  I've spent the majority of my time lately praying for Mariano Rivera and building the case for Hooey Savvy's Cookie-Wise Pablo through the requirements of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS; pronounced teeks) for elementary school students from kindergarden through fourth grade. Now that Mo's assured us he'll be back, I can focus on the task at hand.

The TEKS identify what students should learn each year and what they should be capable of. On its own, Hooey addresses the former, but not the latter. To correct this, I'm drafting a book-affiliated list of activities for students in or out of class. Activities include drawing key scenes from a given story, recording a version of one of the book's songs, taping a kids version of the Budget Dance (akin to "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes", but with rent, food and transportation among other items); writing a book review of Hooey; asking one's parents about their first jobs; and polling fellow students on allowance dos and don't as well as allowance going rates.

Fortunately, the TEKS do a nice job of laying out what they're looking for. I just have to meet that need with a little Hooey for each grade level. The social studies TEKS in particular already include economics and taxation (government) so I can clearly say that this or that chapter of Hooey will meet this or that requirement for this or that grade level.

Nap time, lunch and recess aside, what were your favorite educational activities in elementary school?