As we move closer to the end of the school year, the demands on our time seem to increase exponentially. This week you had to juggle class work, field trips, Capstone and the school play! That is a hefty order so I hope you have developed good time management skills. One of the biggest aids to keeping yourself on track is a calendar...sounds simple but if more people used not only a daily and weekly calendar but also one that shows the month you would find planning much easier. Knowing what you need to accomplish allows you to block out the time to accomplish your goals. Calling in sick, cutting class, asking to be excused to go to the library are not effective time management skills.
Congratulations to all of you involved in the school play...a great opportunity to laugh.
Congratulations to all of you involved in the school play...a great opportunity to laugh.
I also want to congratulate all who passed their Capstones over the past few weeks. Several judges have commented on the quality of the projects. Keep in mind to be successful you want to follow the rubric. Some students are being asked to revise because they did not address all aspects of the rubric (hint...hint...make sure to know your content standards). Judges are not being “mean” if they give you a “nearly meets.” What they are doing is holding you accountable and being fair to all students who must be judged using the same guidelines.
Just when you think you are too busy, lets think of all that our President has done in his first 100 days. Historians like to use the first 100 days as a way to look at how the administration will progress. President Obama gave a press conference on Tuesday to mark this milestone and answered a variety of questions on domestic and international issues. Since his press conference you can now add one more task to his to-do list...nominate a justice to the Supreme Court. Justice David Souter, one of the youngest members, delivered his retirement letter to the President this week. This is a pivotal opportunity for the new president, as his nominee, once approved by the Senate, could serve for decades and have a major effect on our country. Just this week we looked at the historic Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education, which ended segregation by determining that “separate but equal” facilities are in fact unequal and must be abandoned. This decision affecting schools legitimized the efforts of civil rights leaders to integrate all public facilities.
On a Sadder Note
On Friday, a high school student in Warwick was hit and killed by a school bus. In recreating the situation, the police have learned that she had her hood up, was possibly listening to her I pod and texting on the phone. All of these activities are normal and innocent, but multi-tasking can make us less aware of our surroundings. She apparently never saw or heard the bus as she went into the crosswalk. This is a tragedy for all involved and a stark reminder that we have to stay alert.
CWI/Comparative Government
This week we ended our Civil Rights unit with the start of our task. Your task will require you to apply what you know about the movement with the analysis of several documents. We practiced using the document analysis worksheet and marking up the text. When you get your document package you can decide what works best for you. Since you have limited time to write your essay, you must be familiar with the documents. You will have one class period to study the documents. You will need all the time in the next class to write the essay and will not have time to reread the documents, so be sure to read them carefully during the first class.
Your prior knowledge is based on our text readings, the “Time for Justice” video, the power point on the movement and our primary source readings. If you earned good grades on the quizzes then you have the knowledge you need to be successful on the task. If you struggled with the quiz questions, you need to go back to the text and reread the chapters. Your reader will be looking for outside information that you add to the essay. Vague statements and generalizations will not earn you points.
AP European
We are down to the last week. I have given you review packets that you can work on for homework and in class. I will also give you a list of key books and you can fill in their significance. You have worked hard this year and are well equipped to earn high marks for the test. Now you have to stay focused, get some sleep and then be ready to “kick butt” on May 8!!
One of you asked about friends signing up for AP next year, and I confirmed that Juniors and Seniors are eligible to take AP European. So please spread the word!
World History
Another unit, another war...I am glad we had a respite with Gandhi but now we are on to WW II.
You have your packet and should be reading section 2. Your cartoon assignments are due next class.
As you read, keep in mind that you will need to select a topic for your power point presentation. I will give you a list of possible topics but the best topic for you is the one you select. You will also be working with a partner. This is a great opportunity to practice time management skills and developing a work plan. More on this project next week.
Next current event is due May 7. It must be an international issue.
Just when you think you are too busy, lets think of all that our President has done in his first 100 days. Historians like to use the first 100 days as a way to look at how the administration will progress. President Obama gave a press conference on Tuesday to mark this milestone and answered a variety of questions on domestic and international issues. Since his press conference you can now add one more task to his to-do list...nominate a justice to the Supreme Court. Justice David Souter, one of the youngest members, delivered his retirement letter to the President this week. This is a pivotal opportunity for the new president, as his nominee, once approved by the Senate, could serve for decades and have a major effect on our country. Just this week we looked at the historic Supreme Court decision in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education, which ended segregation by determining that “separate but equal” facilities are in fact unequal and must be abandoned. This decision affecting schools legitimized the efforts of civil rights leaders to integrate all public facilities.
On a Sadder Note
On Friday, a high school student in Warwick was hit and killed by a school bus. In recreating the situation, the police have learned that she had her hood up, was possibly listening to her I pod and texting on the phone. All of these activities are normal and innocent, but multi-tasking can make us less aware of our surroundings. She apparently never saw or heard the bus as she went into the crosswalk. This is a tragedy for all involved and a stark reminder that we have to stay alert.
CWI/Comparative Government
This week we ended our Civil Rights unit with the start of our task. Your task will require you to apply what you know about the movement with the analysis of several documents. We practiced using the document analysis worksheet and marking up the text. When you get your document package you can decide what works best for you. Since you have limited time to write your essay, you must be familiar with the documents. You will have one class period to study the documents. You will need all the time in the next class to write the essay and will not have time to reread the documents, so be sure to read them carefully during the first class.
Your prior knowledge is based on our text readings, the “Time for Justice” video, the power point on the movement and our primary source readings. If you earned good grades on the quizzes then you have the knowledge you need to be successful on the task. If you struggled with the quiz questions, you need to go back to the text and reread the chapters. Your reader will be looking for outside information that you add to the essay. Vague statements and generalizations will not earn you points.
AP European
We are down to the last week. I have given you review packets that you can work on for homework and in class. I will also give you a list of key books and you can fill in their significance. You have worked hard this year and are well equipped to earn high marks for the test. Now you have to stay focused, get some sleep and then be ready to “kick butt” on May 8!!
One of you asked about friends signing up for AP next year, and I confirmed that Juniors and Seniors are eligible to take AP European. So please spread the word!
World History
Another unit, another war...I am glad we had a respite with Gandhi but now we are on to WW II.
You have your packet and should be reading section 2. Your cartoon assignments are due next class.
As you read, keep in mind that you will need to select a topic for your power point presentation. I will give you a list of possible topics but the best topic for you is the one you select. You will also be working with a partner. This is a great opportunity to practice time management skills and developing a work plan. More on this project next week.
Next current event is due May 7. It must be an international issue.
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