Easter 2020- Your Classmate's Experience

After the last challenge posted, one of your classmates chose to write about their experience during the tornado that devastated Covington County. I was given permission to publish it here anonymously.

I challenge you to use them as inspiration and send in your writings of your experiences during this time. 

Easter 2020

  Easter 2020 forever changed my life. I’ve never cared much for bad weather. Living in South Mississippi, we get a lot of it this time of year. We always get tornado warnings but they almost always miss us or never touch down. This Easter, however, that was not the case. I will never forget what it was like in those excruciating moments before the tornado, during the tornado, and after the tornado.
Just like any other time that there is bad weather, me and my family went to my grandparents house, which is located right across the road from our mobile home. We left around 2 P.M. to walk over there. About an hour and a half later we started hearing what we thought was thunder but we quickly realized  it was actually a disastrous tornado in Bassfield. As soon as we realized this, me, my brothers, and two cousins got into the bathroom as my mamaw started putting things on the counter of the bathroom in a box. This was to be sure there would not be anything that could hit us. It was terrifying to be in the moment of possibility and unknown. We stayed in there for about twenty minutes before things got really scary.
After about twenty minutes of sitting in the bathroom I got up to walk out. As I was walking into the hall my aunt pushed me back into the bathroom and in a frantic terrified voice said, “It’s coming!” just as the power went out. There were ten of us in the bathroom all trying to cover up with pillows and thick blankets.  I could start to hear debris hitting the house and creaking and cracking. The walls started shaking and then there was a big bang. It was at that moment I thought me and my family were all about to die. I had never felt so hopeless and scared in my entire life. What felt like forever only lasted a couple seconds and things strangely got calm.
Once we were all sure it was over we got out of the bathroom only to realize the big bang we all heard was a tree that had fallen through my grandparents' living room. We walked to the front door and all you could see was trees that had fallen and the destruction or demolition of homes. We were trapped in and had to climb out through trees. We only had one vehicle left out ten that were parked before the storm. When we left we were trying to get somewhere else out of fear we were going to get hit by another tornado. We watched people get pulled out of rubble of what used to be their homes. The next day people started showing up and helping and everybody came together. Even though we had just experienced something that will stay with us forever, it was great seeing the community come together to help each other in this tough time.
In conclusion, Easter 2020 is a day that I will never forget, especially the short amount of time before, during and after the tornado. It was terrifying hearing everything and even harder seeing my family's homes destroyed. \it was also truly amazing seeing everybody who came together to help and who cared for us, that is the beauty that comes out of disaster.

Your Account Matters

Hello! (Fighting the urge to call you all cool cats and kittens 🙈)

First, check out this article and images from before and after the Easter tornado of 2020. 

Easter Tornado Article

You guys are completely capable of writing about your account of the storm also, even if you didn't sustain damage. Maybe you saw the damage later, or have a story to tell after hiding in the bathroom and listening to the weather man. 

I challenge you to write it! Follow these steps, write your article and share it with me! Maybe we could even get you published!

I'm going to link in the Wiki link on how to write an article, and then I'll post the images with a shorted version in this post. 

How To Write An Article

First, understand the different kinds of articles. Yours would most likely be a News or Feature article.

Your main topic is the Easter Tornado, but that is your angle? Mind map your ideas like the image above!

Research any information you need! Make sure your sources are trustworthy.

Use that information to create an interesting angle, something that makes your article unique.

Create your solid argument or talking point! Everything will build off of this.

List out the sources you will use. Which ones are primary (face to face interview with a victim) and secondary (using an already posted article of storm damage for information).

Remember, sources have to be reliable. See above for reliability reference.

Write to your audience! Consider all of these things about your audience. Your audience will be the population of Covington County.

Map out your outline like the image above. This is the most important part of coherent writing. This keeps you on track and your writing clear.

Follow this check list for your article. You'll be doing a newspaper article. You'll need check mark 1,4 and 5!

Create your eye catching headline to title the finished product! Write it, title it and turn it in to me! If you give me permission I'll try to publish the best articles sent in, (formally or informally).

If you have the time and resources I really want you to try and do this. Years from now you'll have been someone who marked your own account of history as it was made.

Love you all to the moon. I miss your sweet faces more than life.

PHOTOS- Send Yours In!

I'm going to link in a Google photo album of photos from you guys this year. Many of you sent photos in, some of the photos are displaying the work you all did.

I just want to remember each of you and how much I enjoyed you all in class. Please enjoy the album and send more photos in to be added.

Let's try to stay positive and hold onto the memories we made. Love you all!!!

Mrs. Layton's Class 2020 Photos

Easter Tornado Check-In

I LOVE YOU GUYS.

Are you okay? Are you safe? So many were affected in the storms and have suffered unreal loss.

I want to check in, I've tried hard to keep in contact with all of you and am worried sick about those I haven't heard from.

Stay strong, positive and build each other up. 

I want to challenge you to document this experience. Write it down (or type it). Talk about what happened, how you felt about what was happening, how the community came together afterwards. If you want to share what you write (or type) don't hesitate to send it my way. I want to hear about your experiences, because your story matters.

Our district has not addressed the governor's decision yet, BUT Tate Reeves has called for schools to remain closed for the remainder of the semester. I'm not sure what that looks like for your educational expectations or our start back date. I promise to keep everyone updated as the district updates us.

Stay safe and know I am praying for each of you. I miss you so much it is insane.

Resource Update!

Some people don't like to read, I GET IT! Good news to you non-readers, Audible has a ton of free audio books right now! All you have to do is listen, (it is an app also!) while still being productive at home. You can count those audio books to Book Bingo OR this new reading challenge!

Remember, if you complete the challenge or score Bingo you're in for some brownie points when we make it back to school.

Can You Be A Light?

One day during our first semester, Jordan Barrett invaded the privacy of my desk to be a light that I didn't know I needed. (Quick shout out to Jordan for drawing this poster of Macbeth and just being Jordan on a regular basis).

These are anxious times, we don't know the full extent of what is happening. We can't control the virus or how our government responds, but we can control how we respond during these times.

I challenge you to be a light. Get creative, do something to brighten someone's day and send me a remind message, an email or comment on this post to tell me what you did to make a difference.

What I Like to Read

Hey guys! Since I've challenged all of you to read more I thought I'd give you a fun resource. I have an app called GoodReads. It has a desktop site as well. I created an account connected to my Facebook and am able to track books I've read, am currently reading and want to read. I can challenge myself using the app and see what my friends are reading. It also gives you recommendations based off of books you've read and enjoyed.

You can check it my profile and see what books I've read and want to read here -> Mrs. Layton's GoodRead Profile

Go make your own profile and share with me so we can stay connected as we read! 

GoodReads

Stay safe and enjoy this break the best you can. Make a few TikToks and read a little for me! Love you all!!!

BINGO

Okay so there is a company called Bookish that allows you to give your opinions for the opportunity to win free books. You can check it out here -> Bookish

They have a BINGO game I challenge you to play! 

If you can get BINGO and prove it when we get back to school you may have a chance at some extra credit! Don't forget to use your free space in the middle.

Mississippi Text Exemplar- START READING!

You'll notice that I added photos of the Mississippi Text Exemplar. These are texts that you are expected to be familiar with by the time you get to college. Some of these we do read in class. (My seniors usually read Beowulf, Macbeth and 1984). I added lower grade level lists because they are still important and usually not taught in school due to limited time and testing. I'll add a personal reading list as I build it.

Have you read any of these? Leave a comment and tell me what you've already read and/or what you plan on reading during the Corona Crisis!

I love and miss you guys terribly! 

Covid-19 Can't Stop Us

I MISS YOU SO MUCH

No, really. I miss you. Even those of you that work my nerves from time to time, I miss you. The way you complain about the work, make fun of my driving or being a little late, or even argue with each other. There is a comment section here, keep that environment alive for me and comment something you remember most about my class!

I've called parents and guardians for every student I teach, if I left a voicemail and you still want to talk don't hesitate to text or call back!
many of you know, we aren't taking any grades right now. I do have some "assignments" for you during this time to keep you sharp and ready to start back (whenever that may be).

I'm not talking about CommonLit (but parents, if you want some extra work I highly recommend CommonLit!)

I want to challenge you to read. It can be ANYTHING that interests you. I recommend a novel but ANYTHING would be awesome. I'm going to add a booklist in the next few posts, things that are actually interesting to read and also prepare you for college (or English III if you're in my 10th grade class). 

If you already have ideas of what you want to read, tell me! Don't be afraid to use the comment section. You also all have me on remind and can text me through there as regularly as you'd like. I'm available, 24/7, for you! 

Tell me what's going on these days for you? How has the Corona affected your life? 

IF YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME OUTSIDE OF THE COMMENT SECTION:

Email:

alayton@covingtoncountyschools.org

Remind 101:

Text- 81010

Message-

1st Block- @1bl2slayton

2nd Block- @2bl2slayton

6th Period- @6pdlayton

4th Block- @4bl2slayton

Parent Group- @2020layton