DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Jack's House
HTML https://jackshouse.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Jack's Blog
*****************************************************
#Post#: 3357--------------------------------------------------
Summer Movie Series
By: Jack Date: January 31, 2018, 3:13 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who are new, for the last couple of years, I've
shown movies by the pool each Friday of the summer. The thing
is, these are invitation only, and to be invited, you have to
complete a project. The projects are pretty wide-ranging, from
various science projects to history to cultural to book reports.
The idea really is to get the kids to expand their horizons,
explore new things, and exercise their minds.
The movies aren't anything fantastic. The first summer we did
just random stuff. Last year, we did old Disney movies,
centered around the Medville College movies (like Absent-Minded
Professor, the four Kurt Russell movies, as well as the Merlin
Jones movies and the Shaggy Dog). We get out there in our
suits, we grill burgers and dawgs, and then we watch some
cartoons and movies. That's not that big a deal, but it's
something the kids earn, and it's something... special for them.
I've already had questions about what we're going to do this
summer.
I have also had requests to expand it.
As for expanding the project, it's just not happening. I don't
mean I won't let any new boys in. I might reach out to some of
my students this semester. Some of them really are discipline
problems, but a lot of them seem to be pretty good kids. What
I'm not going to do is reach out to do scores of kids each week
One of the things that worries me most each time I take in a new
kid is that it'll take time from all the others. I only have so
much time to give, and sooner or later it's going to run out.
I am trying to get a group of other people together who can
organize something on a community level to do the same thing,
but I feel like that's just a point I'm not ready to go. Of
course, it's hard to do this kind of thing for a huge group of
kids, so I don't know how well it'll work out.
As for this summer....
I'm still adjusting to my new medicine. It's been just over
three weeks so far, and I'm adjusting, but I am still kind of
tired in the afternoons, and I need at least a short nap most
afternoons. Hopefully that will pass by summer, but one can't
say for sure - especially not this far out.
I've decided that I'm going to hire some people - probably
Chandler Hardy, Connor Joyce, and Ethan. They're all three
smart and responsible. Connor and Ethan are both great big
brothers, and while Chandler is an only child, I've watched him
for a couple of years now, both as a Den Master for Cub groups
and working with the young, incoming Scouts, and he's great with
them.
With their parents permission and input, I want to work out a
fair pay for them to run a lot of the details, like keeping
track of all the projects and who's completing them. I can
still have input and help with that, but those boys will bring a
fresh view, a lot of energy, and they'll free some time up for
me.
I'm sure they'll be willing and able to put together a big list
of potential projects. Now I just have to decide what movies
we're going to watch this summer.
#Post#: 3360--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Zyngaru Date: January 31, 2018, 6:55 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Jack.
A lesson I had to learn and it took me many mistakes before I
learned the lesson and started putting it into practice, was the
lesson of saying "No." I started my Christian ministry
believing if I was asked to do something I had to say "yes,"
until I was overwhelmed. Learning to say "No" was the hardest
and best lesson I learned. Then I could minister effectively
and not just so-so.
We cannot be all things to all people. We cannot do all things
that is requested of us. If we try to do all things, we will
not do any of them well. If we learn to condense our efforts
into a small amount of projects, then we can do them well. So
learning to say "No," when you want to say yes because it is
something that needs to be done or it is someone that needs to
be helped, is the most difficult thing to do.
I'll leave that like that and let you chew on it.
As for movies. I have a very long list of movies that I love.
Everything from "Flight of the Navigator" to "Ender's Game." I
know you will find a theme or genre that you want to use and go
from there. But if you need any ideas, just ask. I love my boy
movies.
#Post#: 3364--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Jack Date: February 1, 2018, 4:31 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Learning to say no is hard to do - especially when helping can
be a fun thing. Still, as much as I wish I could help everyone,
I owe my boys what they need, and what's left after that needs
to be used wisely (including for myself sometimes). I'm not
even sure that agreeing to teach a half day this semester was a
good idea (though I'm enjoying it so much I can't regret it, and
doing so was a huge stroke to Daniel's ego, so worth it just for
that). No, this is something I leaned to be very careful about,
but it's still sometimes hard not to feel a little guilty.
As for movies - my problem is not thinking of any: it's
narrowing the list down.
#Post#: 3371--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Zyngaru Date: February 1, 2018, 9:10 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Narrowing the movie list.
My suggestion is pick a theme. That will cut the list down by a
lot. Magical creatures, aliens, animals, cars, and etc. Then
pick the movies you like the best in that theme. Maybe even
some that very few would actually know exist or watch.
Example in Magical creature theme, movies like, "Mee-Shee" and
"The Last Mimzy," Not common movies but fun ones.
Animal theme, Movies like "Duma" and "Second Hand Lion."
Good luck in cutting the list down. There are just so many
movies out there.
#Post#: 3373--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: kalico Date: February 1, 2018, 10:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Sounds like a good plan on bringing in the boys to help and
can't wait to see what your line up is for the movies
Good luck and I hope by summer your feeling back to yourself
Hugs kal
#Post#: 3377--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Jack Date: February 1, 2018, 5:16 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Actually, one of the things I'm considering is the opposite of
that - coming up with a whole lot of categories, and then
showing a great movie from each one, a different one every week.
#Post#: 3381--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Zyngaru Date: February 1, 2018, 7:16 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
That might keep the boys attention better. The hard thing about
that, is trying to pick just one movie from each category. Good
luck.
#Post#: 3387--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Jack Date: February 2, 2018, 4:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I've done it both ways - once just showing movies (mostly
animated, I think) and once showing the Medville series. Both
ways work and have something to recommend them.
I'm having several people over this evening to play Risk
(adultish people), but the Joyces and Mandy Hardy are included
in that, and those are supposed to arrive a bit before the other
guests, so I can discuss my proposal with them. I'm fairly sure
they'll approve, and if so, I'll probably turn a lot of the
things like what moves over to the boys.
#Post#: 3393--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Zyngaru Date: February 2, 2018, 8:27 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The one fallacy with letting the boys pick the movies would be
the boys ages and lack of seeing what is out there. There are
so many movies, they do not even know exist.
On the pro side, would be that the movies they pick will be
movies they already know they like.
One of my favorites is "Dracula Untold," but that would be too
graphic for the boys, but the kid friendly version, "Littlest
Vampire" could be fun for them.
Sorry. I can't help myself. I keep remembering movies.
#Post#: 3400--------------------------------------------------
Re: Summer Movie Series
By: Leti Date: February 2, 2018, 11:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
You can do movies from one director, or with a known series,
like Spielberg (Jaws, E.T. Close encounters of the third kind,)
or maybe Indiana Jones.
We do marathons some times!
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page