The Keen Mind of a Teen!

This is the start of a new school year for Teen University. To start off, we asked the teens for any ideas or suggentions that come out of their young minds. They bombarded me with ideas that really caught my attention! They planned a "Teen U Kick Off!" during the first week, inviting all the teens from the Roseland community to visit Teen U in the form of a mixer. It was a success, and we have new teens for the year. Another plan was to fundraise by holding a basketball tournament in the Roseland Recreational Center. But the ideas that really stuck out to me were the suggestion of visiting Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and coming up with "reasonable" rules to reinforce in Teen University (which surprised me that they were so involved in making them).

The teens are very creative and full of ideas, and I am glad we are here, so we can make these ideas come true, and, with our help, encourage them to think like this on their way through high school and upon admission in college.

-Dranoel Wilson

University of Central Dallas: Class of 2013

This week Teen U students’ lived the life of a college student by going through a mocked freshman orientation. My co-workers and I turned 2101 building into a real university. The students went to different places in the university to learn about housing, registering for classes, meal plans, student organizations, financial aid and much more.

The students were giving handouts and instructed to act like their characters. They had to use their Id number to check into the orientation. After they checked in, they were giving a map and their own agendas to learn more about University of Central Dallas. For example, La’kyra was from Plano, Texas and majoring in Education. She had to go to the student union because she wanted to be active in a lot of organizations and did not know where to begin. Next, she went to university housing to fill out a roommate compatibility form because she had to live on campus and did not have a roommate. La’kyra and the other students loved role-playing. They were excited to learn so much about college life.

~Jamacah~

*Dallas City Hall*

City hall: I learned so much from the trip we took to City Hall. I learned about all of the AW3SOME CAREERS that you can have there which are council members, mayors, commissioners (chair and vice chair) assistants to the mayors, etc. The field trip somewhat inspired me to become a mayor one day.. because of all of the things they get and perks, nice offices, etc.

College Workshop: I enjoyed the workshop and I also learned A LOT !!!!! I had some great volunteers set up a somewhat 'freshman orientation" that was pretty cool. I learned almost everything that I need to know about college including some things that probably most college students don't even know.



I have had a fun time ! :) by: Julian Randall

"Miss Tameshia is stuck in the computer!"

Over the past few days, I've been dealing with a nasty stomach virus (gastroenteritis) but of course I didn't let that stop us from having Digital Connectors. On Monday and Tuesday, I held class from my couch via Skype.

As Mr. An setup the webcam for Digital Connectors, he allowed some of our After School Academy students to speak to me on Skype. Iesha, was walking in the hallway when she heard my voice. She was completely confused because she hadn't seen me all day and she didn't see my car. She quickly ran into the computer lab (Connect U) to investigate where my voice was coming from. She soon realized that my voice was coming from the computer. Then she grabbed Mr. An and exclaimed "Miss Tameshia is stuck in the computer!" She even offered to jump in and save me.

Soon after, Ta'Kyra and Amaryee (Kindergartners), asked how to spell my name. I quickly spelled it out for them. Within a matter of 3 mins, I saw a piece of paper held up to the camera. Unsure of what it said exactly, I asked Ta'Kyra to read it to me. "Tameshia, I hope you feel better tomorrow!", she said. It wasn't spelled correctly but it's the CARING that counts.

As the Digital Connectors filtered in, I continued to speak to Ta'Kyra and introduced her to my family including the dog. I wanted to sure her even more with Skype, so I had her pose for a picture and then shared my screen with her. I showed her the picture, I had just taken of her. Completely amazed, she asked Shannon (Digital Connector) to help her take a picture of me with their webcam. Mr. Phillip and Mr. An had a hard time pulling them away from Skype.

During our Digital Connectors class, I conducted a scavenger hunt of Web 2.0 tools. I created a video and had the students re-create it. I watched what they did via screen share and answered any questions they had.

Thanks to technology...I was able to conduct classes while I'm at home sick!

Roasting marshmallows on lava from a volcano!

Climbing a volcano and roasting a marshmallow on the lava from the volcano had to be the absolute BEST experience ever! And it cost under $10!

There's really no need for further explanation. Just watch the video.

Tale of a Mouse, Part 2

I enjoyed Tale of a Mouse at the South Dallas Cultural Center so much last week that I couldn't help but take kids again.

This time we took Iesha (sister of Niesha and Tatiana, both of whom attended last time), Shamaria, and Xavier. Iesha and Shamaria seemed to thoroughly enjoy the play and sat, enthralled, the entire time. Iesha quoted most of the play to Ms. Tameshia...thanks to her sisters re-playing it for her when they got home last week. (Iesha obviously hasn't learned the meaning of "spoiler alert." :) )

Shamaria and Iesha volunteered to participate in the tug of war:

Though the play was great, some of the best moments were when Mr. Harold (the director) allowed everyone to interact with the cast members and the props at the end of the play. Awesome job, South Dallas Cultural Center. Thanks for being in the community and allowing us to be a part of what you do!

Scared of the talking skull

Sad mouse










Mouse bargains with elephant

Shamaria being Arumbaroo









Shamaria posing with Bird




















Iesha thinking like Arumbaroo

Niesha--Actress and Play Director

Niesha (9) and Tatiana (6) were chosen to go see Tales of a Mouse at the South Dallas Cultural Center this past weekend.

At the beginning of the play, Mr. Harold (the director) informed the audience there would be audience participation and everyone needed to help. He then immediately asked for volunteers. Niesha raised her hand on the very first opportunity and was able to lead the audience in a call and response exchange. Toward the end of the play, they asked for volunteers again. Niesha quickly raised her hand again and Tatiana went out as well. They got to be a part of the Elephant and Hippopotamus tug-of-war!

After the curtain call, actors allowed the audience to take pictures and hold some of the props (like the spear and mask). As Niesha held the spear and after the picture was snapped, she transformed into the role. She began creeping along the side of the stage...just as they did in the play. She started repeating the lines verbatim. A few other kids joined in, including Niesha's sister and some of the actors from the play. Niesha began directing people (including the actors!) to, "Stand here," "You're supposed to move like this," "You say this when you walk," "You're supposed to run that direction!" Niesha had already memorized lines in the play and was now becoming the director!

It was a great event. The play continues through this weekend. I'm hoping to take some more kids and teenagers this Friday. Hopefully we'll see you there as well!

Dr. Iesha

For the last two weeks I've been going to physical therapy to rehab my knee.

I'm a big believer in exposing kids to new opportunities and careers. So as I left therapy the first day, I asked my physical therapist if he would mind if I brought a kid with me the next time. He said he didn't think it would be a problem.

So...each time since, I have taken a different "kid" with me. Warzandrielle, a sophomore, was first. Hayzul, a 4th grader, was next. Brittany, a sophomore in college was next. Each of those guys seemed to enjoy the experience. Warzandrielle celebrated with me when I came home and told her my knee had healed enough for me to make an entire revolution on a stationary bike. Hayzul learned what a quadricep, a hamstring, and a calf muscle was. And Brittany decided that she just might want to change her major from Political Science to Sports Medicine.

So, tonight, when Danielle (our After-School Academy Coordinator) brought Iesha (2nd grader) to me, I thought she had asked someone too young. On the way there, I talked to her about what we were going to be doing. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She said a doctor. I figured at least that was a start.

Once there, as I worked on the bike and then the shuttle machine, I tried to give Iesha some similar activities so she could work the same muscles I was working. She did the exercises, but seemed just as content watching me and everyone else doing exercises.

After doing a few exercises, one of the therapists allowed Iesha to shut off the timer and asked if she was going to read the next exercise on the clipboard. Iesha, being as quiet and shy as she is, didn't respond. Feeling that it was ok for Iesha to look at the clipboard, I asked her if she was going to tell me the next activity. Next thing I knew, the beeper went off. Iesha took it upon herself to turn off the beeper, take the clipboard off of the counter, and begin to read me the next item on the list, "Is-o-met-ric..." she began.

She wasn't being silly. She was very intent on her job. She took on the role so well that I could see shock but a pleasant, surprised smile on my physical therapist's face as he watched her. He proceeded to ask Iesha what I was supposed to do next. Very intently, she looked at the chart and did her best to figure out which exercise was next and how to pronounce it. As we finished up, he smiled in a very pleased way and commented to her in a very genuine way, "We need to hire you!" He went on to say that child labor laws would prevent that, but I got the feeling that had Iesha been about 10 years older he would've hired her on the spot! When we left, my therapist very seriously asked her if she was going to come back.

As we got in the car, I loved watching the smile creep across her face as I told her from now on I was going to refer to her as Dr. Iesha.

Ask Iesha what she wants to be now and I think she just might tell you, "Phy-si-cal thera-pist." It's a big career with a hard name. We've just got to work on saying it.

Junie B. Jones, meet Hayzul

"We're going to see Junie B. Jones!!!!!!!!"

That's how Hayzul greeted me as I walked into the ASA on Friday.

Hayzul and I went to the Dallas Children's Theatre with the tickets from the Free Night of Theater offered by the City of Dallas.

Evidently, Junie B. is a pretty popular character. I think I realized why. Hayzul *is* Junie B.! Hayzul was so into the play, I don't even know if she realized she was rolling her eyes and sighing when Junie B. got sent to the principal's office for "no apparent reason"...as if she, herself, were the one marching to the office. I watched Hayzul growl in frustration and exasperation at Junie B.'s best friends. I think Hayzul's life was being acted out on stage.

After the play, we topped the evening off by stopping by 1/2 Price Books. Seeing how much she liked Junie B., I wanted to get her an Anne of Green Gables book. I think she'll like "Ann with an 'e'" a lot, too. I can't wait to talk to Hayzul about it!

See pictures from the play below:

Hayzul getting autographs








Hayzul with Junie's classmate Jim







Hayzul with Mrs (the teacher) and Grandma







Hayzul with one of Junie B.'s best friends







Hayzul with Junie B.'s classmate












Hayzul with Junie B.'s best friend, Grace







Hayzul and Junie B.