The Front Porch Crew on Stage at Showdown
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Special Gift from West Jones Students
It was no secret at West Jones that I was an Elvis fan. I had a special made Elvis jump suit for the pep rallies. White with green trim and a Mustang on the cape. Some students got together and made this picture of Elvis as a goodbye gift. Notice that the picture is made of individual squares done by each student. That makes this picture a very personalized image of Elvis one I will certainly keep for life and cherish. The detail and realism of this picture amazes me. You are very talented students. Students thanks from the bottom of my heart. I miss all of you and wish to God I could return but now that's not in His will for my life. I will always say this West Jones students are the best and I was blessed for having spent the last ten years teaching you. Hope to see you around town sometimes.
The Walters/Elvis Grand Entrance
Below is the video of Mr. Walters as Elvis during the Country Music Showdown on June 5, 2010. Reed performed with his friends James Ducker and Uncle Arthur co-hosts of The Front Porch Show.
What Was "The Grand Entrance?"
A lot of people have viewed this video and may be wondering what this is all about. Ask any of my students this year and former students, and they will tell you. The Grand Entrance was my attention getter. It was different, some even say a little weird but it worked and the students loved it.
Here's the way it worked. The students would come into my room find their seats and start bell work. Bell work is a small assignment always written on the board in the same place each day. As part of my procedure, students would come in and do this each day. After the tardy bell rang all talking stopped and bell work was to be completed. I would walk the room to ensure the work was done. It was at this time that I would let the moment build (they didn't know exactly when I would start the music and pretty loud) and from the back of the room I would come to the front of the class with a montage of music. This was the Grand Entrance. Some days I would enter the room and dance to the music (No, I can't dance and that's why the students laughed a lot). Other days I'd get a little into it and jump up on a desk playing a stick like a guitar and then jump off. I had an announcer (yes I made these Grand Entrances in a recording studio) who would say at the end of each Grand Entrance. "And now it's time for Walters' Grand Entrance." There were some days when the students would actually clap probably out of pity for my bad dance moves. After a little fun and I had gotten their attention, the lesson would begin. Some Grand Entrances were done in relation to the lesson we were on and in the video below we were studying the American Revolution. So now you know. And yes I did this from day one till the last day of school. The last day was a very special one.
Here's the way it worked. The students would come into my room find their seats and start bell work. Bell work is a small assignment always written on the board in the same place each day. As part of my procedure, students would come in and do this each day. After the tardy bell rang all talking stopped and bell work was to be completed. I would walk the room to ensure the work was done. It was at this time that I would let the moment build (they didn't know exactly when I would start the music and pretty loud) and from the back of the room I would come to the front of the class with a montage of music. This was the Grand Entrance. Some days I would enter the room and dance to the music (No, I can't dance and that's why the students laughed a lot). Other days I'd get a little into it and jump up on a desk playing a stick like a guitar and then jump off. I had an announcer (yes I made these Grand Entrances in a recording studio) who would say at the end of each Grand Entrance. "And now it's time for Walters' Grand Entrance." There were some days when the students would actually clap probably out of pity for my bad dance moves. After a little fun and I had gotten their attention, the lesson would begin. Some Grand Entrances were done in relation to the lesson we were on and in the video below we were studying the American Revolution. So now you know. And yes I did this from day one till the last day of school. The last day was a very special one.