Friday, December 19, 2014

Current Events Wrap Up for 2014


Today we viewed the final CNN student news episode of the year.  This program reviewed many of the major domestic & international news stories which we have studied in Social Studies.
In small groups, students reflected on and discussed the news stories that they thought were most important.  The majority of our students felt that Isis and Ebola were the two most important current events.

Other students brought up the recent Sony Hacking incident.  Many of our students thought that Sony should still release the film The Interview even with the recent threats which have been made by cyber hackers.

In the words of our students:
"Sony is giving in to North Korea.  What will North Korea or some other group demand that we change next?" 

"It's like they gave in to terrorists!" 

Other students expressed a concern for the safety of people going to see the movie.
"Sony shouldn't put anyone in danger even if the hackers are probably lying."

"Sony should put the movie online so no one has the chance of getting hurt at a movie theater.  If they do that, Sony can make money and the actors can get credit for what they did."  

In addition, students reflected on the Isis threat.  Working with partners, the class brainstormed a variety of ways to deal with Isis.  Students then reflected on the positives and negatives of each approach for dealing with Isis.

Student responses ranged and included:

  • Send in spies
  • Negotiate
  • Send in soldiers
  • Wait and see
  • Evacuate the civilians
  • Do nothing 
  • Targeted strikes
  • Nuke them
  • Make a coalition
  • Use tricks

A range of opinions were expressed and heard.  Students were encouraged to look at the issue from a variety of perspectives.

It is my hope, as a teacher, that students took a step in understanding that with every choice that is made, something is gained and something is lost.


It is my great hope that the lessons we learn from history and the critical thinking skills that we build on, will help our students become productive, deep-thinking members of society and our democracy. It is a great privilege to work with your children everyday.



Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.

John Dewey 


Monday, November 3, 2014

Election Day on the Beacon Team

On November 3rd Beacon students discussed the midterm elections which will be held on November 4th.  Students discussed the democratic process and the election cycle in our country.  

As a class we then spent time reviewing each of the four initiatives which will be on the ballot on November 4th.  Students watched a brief introduction to each ballot item and then listened to a short audio report which discussed the pros and cons of each position.  

After comparing the arguments for and against each ballot item, students had the opportunity to vote on each item in class.  The vote was conducted privately and electronically using polling software in class.  I have included results below each topic.  

We will discuss how our results compare to the state results in class in the coming days.

Question 1- Eliminating Gas Tax Indexing




Question 2 - Expanding the Beverage Container Deposit Law




Question 3 - Expanding Prohibitions On Gaming





Question 4 - Earned Sick Time for Employees.



Friday, September 19, 2014

The Power of Reflection


Today in Journalism and the Media we discussed student self-reflection. This will be an important part of ELA2 and build on the skills covered in sixth grade, as well as prepare students for eighth grade and beyond.

Students were able to respond to this prompt:
On your index card, write down two to three thoughts on the following topic:
Student Self-Reflection
Students responded with thoughts such as:
"It lets people set goals."
"Because it can be fixed and it can be made better."
"In student self- reflection you have to answer truthfully so you know what you can do better."
 
At the end of class, students wrote a journal entry responding to the question:
How are you standing out in a powerful way?
"I want to be viewed as a kind, friendly person and nice to every person around me and I want that impression to stick with me forever."
"I always push myself to be the best I can be and better than the person I was yesterday."
"I stand out by always being positive and always having a smile."
We used this video to help spark ideas:

 I hope this class activity sparks a conversation with your child about his or her powerful impact on this world. Have a great weekend!


Thursday, September 11, 2014

September 11, 2001 A Remembrance


On the thirteenth anniversary of September 11, 2001 the Beacon Team spent time learning about and reflecting on the terrible events of that day.  This year, most of our students were born after the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  We invite you to join us in remembering the important moment in the history of our nation.

In Social Studies:
Students reflected upon one of two questions at the start of class.
  • Why do we remember tragic events in our history? Explain.
  • In your opinion, are there any lessons to be learned from what happened on September 11, 2001? Explain.      
Students then watched a CNN Student News report in which September 11, 2001 was featured heavily as well as other acts of terrorism, past and present.

Following the student news report, we reflected in small groups upon what we already knew about the events of 9/11 and what we learned today in school.

Students finished class by reflecting on the following prompt.
  • Choose one of the following images from September 11, 2001 and explain why it is powerful.

Ladder-3-fire-engine-from-The-National-September-11-Memorial-Museum.jpg

Ground-Zero-Cross-41-e1393528497155.jpggloves.jpg

In Science:
Students were introduced to the geology of Manhattan, N.Y., its topography, and how Lower Manhattan was reclaimed from the ocean.  Underneath the city and in Central Park there is Manhattan schist which is the bedrock, a type of metamorphic rock capable of withstanding the immense weight of the Twin Towers skyscraper.  

Students discussed how the skyscrapers were built, learned what a slurry wall is and how that was essential to the support of the buildings and bedrock beneath it.

Students compared and contrasted images of Manhattan from 1609 & 2009 and discussed the process of reclaiming land from the ocean.


Arturo Recci Designer of the Slurry Wall




Twin Towers Being Constructed 


In Journalism and Media:
As our Warm Up, students responded to the prompt, "What words  come to mind when they hear "9/11."

Students shared their words and thoughts with the class, as we discussed this touchstone date in America's history. Students shared words such as powerful, crumbling, family, destruction, freedom, and learning.

We then watched the following video about Philippe Petit and his amazing feat of walking a tightrope between the Twin Towers:



The class wrapped up with a reflection on "What is the impact on the world when an event like this occurs?"

Powerful student answers included:

"The world gets wary of things."
"There is sadness in the world."
"The society will never be the same and never forget what happened."
"People become stronger and more alive as a result."

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

First Day As a Beacon

On behalf of the entire Beacon Team, we would like to extend a warm welcome to all of our new Beacon students, parents, and guardians.  We are excited to have the opportunity to work with your children this year.  On our first day, we introduced your children to our team and briefly discussed what we would be doing over the course of this year.  After this initial meeting, we ran a series of breakout sessions during which students discussed the following topics.

  • Growth Mindset with Mr. Rothemich: This is our overarching team philosophy, and it is the concept behind everything we do, both as a team and in our individual classrooms.

  • Multiple Intelligence with Mrs. Kuhn: This theory which was created by Howard Gardner describes the different ways that people can learn best.

  • "Get Your Learn On" with Mrs. Marino: This session focused on encouraging and empowering students to understand what they are capable of and to realize that everyone is both a student and a teacher.

  • Being Part of the Team with Mrs. LaPerriere: Students brainstormed and shared ways to create a positive learning environment and why procedures and discipline policies help all students to achieve.  
  • Student Survey with Ms. Hudson & Ms. Carter: Students were given the opportunity to respond and reflect upon several prompts related to their learning strengths and challenges.  

After listening to the music video below, students did one final reflection activity using the prompt below.

In a two- to- three paragraph letter to yourself, please answer the following questions.  You will receive this letter back on your last day of school.

  • What are you looking forward to this year?
  • What are your thoughts on Growth Mindset?
  • What is one goal that you hope to achieve this year, and how will you achieve it?


Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Beacons are Boston Strong!!

 
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/15/day-tributes-to-mark-boston-marathon-bombing-anniversary/

  

Why and how are political speeches compelling and influential?

Students viewed two speeches from the memorial service on April 18, 2013 given by Govenor Deval Patrick and President Barack Obama.  We reflected on the speeches.  Students shared what aspects of these powerful speeches resonated most with them.  Additionally, students discussed overarching themes that both speakers used to deliver hope,encouragment, and civic faith to the grieving citizens of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United States of America. 





Link to Governor Patrick's speech:
 
Student responses to this discussion:
 
"This bombing affected a lot of poeple, and it was very sad.  These speeches helped us to raise our heads high and keep running!"
 
"I think this was a tragic, terrible event, but it showed how Boston can come and be one.  Also, how we support each other, all love and care about each other-how we are Boston Strong!!"
 
"Both Deval Patrick and Barack Obama tied together a state and a country.  this made the speeches very impactful. Both Patrick and Obama showed genuine pride in our city, state, and country.  People like to feel pride, and the speeches gave us civic pride."
 
 

Friday, April 11, 2014

Beacons Reveal their Thoughts on Bullying



Image from http://mycalcas.com/2012/04/bullying/bullying/
 
Today we continued our ongoing discussion on the topic of bullying.  Our Beacon students have been working all year in ELA 2 to examine bullying in our schools and society, and discovering ways to use their voices to become change agents in schools as well as society.  In the coming weeks, I will be posting their editorials on bullying.

Our topic today focused on whether students felt that popular kids could be bullied just as much as outcasts.  Students read an article, watched a video and wrote a journal response on the aforementioned topic. 


The following are excerpts from student journal entries:

“I think that the worst kind of bullying is one of my friends going behind my back and saying something, then someone else telling me what they said.”

“I think, yes because the popular kids are popular for a reason or something they do and others might talk about you behind your back.”

“Yes, anyone can be bullied.  Also, the popular people aren’t any stronger than the people that get bullied.  It is just that they have more friends to keep them strong.”

“I don’t think popular kids get bullied, that’s just my opinion.  They have more backup and friends to stick up for them.”

Here is a link to the article we read in class today.

(To read article, click “close” on the pop up login prompt)
http://newsela.com/articles/bullying-popular/id/3278/#articles/bullying-popular/id/3273/
 
It is my hope that you will continue this discussion at home with your child.  The more we work together to ask questions, discuss and offer social responses to the problem, the better we can empower our children to use their voices to advocate for the type of society they wish to create.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Social Studies Survey and MCAS Testing

Thank you to all parents and guardians who responded to the survey that I emailed yesterday. I am grateful for the feedback you have provided.  I will use the results to continue tayloring my course to the needs of my current and future students. If you have not taken a moment or two to answer the survey, I encourage you to do so.  Please see the email titled Parent/Guardian Feedback for the link I sent it out on 3/18/14 at 1:06 PM.

Thank you Glasgow Caledonian University for this fantastic visual: http://gcucareers.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/making-feedback-work-for-you/

Just a reminder that we are in the middle of ELA MCAS Testing.  Academic scheduling will be impacted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.  We will be back to our regular schedule on Friday.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Virtual Field Trip

Beacon team students went on a virtual field trip to Ancient Egypt today.  Utilizing the school's computer tablets students were able to explore the ruins of Old & New Kingdom Egypt.  

At the end of the experience students were able to provide feedback to the teacher about the activity.  Feedback was overwhelmingly positive from students many of whom wrote about how much they enjoyed the ability to "walk" around and experience the achievements of Ancient Egypt.

" I really liked going through the pyramid of Khufu and getting to see the other pyramids and Cairo from the top of the Great Pyramid."
                                                                                  Student Reflection

Want to see the monuments of Egypt for yourself?  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/explore-ancient-egypt.html  
After opening the site click the Launch Interactive button and start exploring.