Farewell to 2010

While we had a short week at school, the outside world gave us many newsworthy events that we all need to be on top of. First the most exciting news…congratulations to the UCONN Women’s basketball team for being the first team in history to win 89 games in a row. When ESPN commentators were talking about the success of this program they kept coming back to work ethic. This is a team that plays 110% whether they are up by one point or thirty points. A strong work ethic and doing one’s best under all circumstances are great attributes as you go forward in life. It is comforting to look back on events and know you tried your best.

Meanwhile, our Congress has been cranking out legislation that had been stalled for several months. On Tuesday, the Senate voted to lift the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” rule from our military forces. Many believe this will go down as the great civil rights legislation of this decade. The Senate also approved a treaty with Russia to limit nuclear weapons and provide for inspections of nuclear facilities, and it approved a special trust fund to help first responders from 911 deal with medical bills.

But not all the news was good. Tensions mounted on the terrorist front. Over a dozen suspects were arrested in London, and there were reports of small-scale plots to poison US salad bars and takeout counters. There is speculation terrorists may be shifting their strategy from attempting massive attacks like 911 to orchestrating smaller strikes that would cause the West to “hemorrhage.”

South Asia

We concluded our study of South Asia by working in groups with multiple texts and videos to help us respond to two questions: Is Pakistan a dangerous country? And what should the US relationship be with this country? You had excerpts from your UpFront magazine, Newsweek, and the New York Times as well as a video clip on pop musicians in Pakistan, a TED video on suicide bombers, and a CNN interview with Greg Mortensen, author of “Three Cups of Tea.” This wealth of information gave you a wide ranging perspective on this country but ultimately you have to make a decision. Is Pakistan dangerous, and how should the US relate to this country? This in class writing assignment was worth 10 points.

Task

Congratulations to all of you who handed in the task. Many of you met or exceeded the standard and therefore the task can go in your portfolio. For those who nearly met standard, you were still able to earn in-class credit. To help you improve the next time you are asked to do a reflection I shared with you a brief PowerPoint that went over strong and weak sentences from actual student essays. I hope you found it useful. My advice is to think before you write, give yourself time to rewrite and be specific…avoid generalities.

Enjoy

Now we have all earned some rest and relation time. No homework was assigned over the break but let me remind a few of you that revisions are due on January 3. I know you will keep up with the news and what is happening in the outside world.

A Time to Say Thank you

There are many who help make this blog an interesting, useful and helpful source of information for students and parents. I want to thank BABM, KLM, and MLM who give me the student’s point of view on the entries. They are especially good at pointing out the need for a consistent positive message no matter what the challenges are. They also provide technology support when I have goofed up an entry or inserted the wrong size picture. I also want to thank LEM who has been my faithful editor. His insistence on word choice and good grammar have made me a better writer. He has also been a constant source of encouragement when some weekend mornings I consider not writing an entry... “What, no blog?! Say it’s not true!” Finally, thank you to my faithful readers both near and far. While this is the last posting for the year, stay tuned for a special New Year’s kickoff!

An Exciting Finish

It is that time of year when everyone has one eye on the calendar counting down to our December break. Congress is no different and you saw a new sense of urgency this week as they tried to wrap up some key legislation before adjourning for the session. Congress conducts business for two years. A new session will begin in January with the swearing in of newly elected members. The session between the election in November and adjournment is referred to as a lame duck session. Members who were not reelected fully participate, but the party who “wins” in November has little incentive to conclude business, knowing that come January they will have many new members. This is acutely felt in the House this year as the Democrats have lost the majority and come January the Republicans will take over. The big bill on everyone’s mind was the tax bill. Congress finally decided to keep tax rates steady for another two years. Republicans interpreted this as good for the economy as it gave the wealthiest individuals money they could invest while many Democrats were critical of continuing the lower tax rates for the wealthy as a contributor to the deficit. Hidden among the thousands of pages of rules and regulations was a one year reduction in the Social Security tax. So keep on the lookout for a 2% raise in your paycheck come January when the FICA (Social Security tax) is reduced.

Happy Bill of Rights Day!

We took time off from our busy schedule to celebrate Bill of Rights Day on December 15. This is a great time to pause and think about how fortunate we are to live in a country that respects and promotes individual liberty. It is amazing that so many people do not know their basic rights, but you did a great job outlining our five essential freedoms under the First Amendment: freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. Bill of Rights Day was formally declared in 1941 when President Franklin Roosevelt asked all Americans to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the passage of the Bill of Rights. So when you walk into room 246 and see the bright lights you know it is time to celebrate!

South Asia

We used our chapter 25 worksheet to help build background on India and to use the vocabulary that helps tell the store of this country. Much of the history we learned about India was reinforced by our speaker, Captain Sexana. His PowerPoint presentation walked us through the rich history of his country and gave us a sense of the size and diversity of his nation. We also saw a clip from the NYT on outsourcing and interviews with young Indians and how they view their future. Our reading from The Economist gave us a well written argument on how India’s growth could outpace China’s. We took the opportunity to make a list of factors that would support investment in India, what the challenges are, and where we would invest money for future growth: India or China.

Our finally video was “India Rising,” an Emmy award winning documentary by PBS NOW. The video points out the reasons for a fast growing middle class in India and its impact on your life style. The growth of the middle class is causing prices for all commodities to increase. Are we on a seesaw? As India rises does it mean our own standard of living will decrease?

As we completed our study of India, we started on a quick preview of some of the statistics that help tell the story of Pakistan. This country has been described by Vice President Biden as the “most dangerous country in the world.” We will look at the statistics, do some reading and watch a few videos and then you can make up your mind…is Pakistan a dangerous country?

To add to the mystery of Pakistan and the US relationship with this “dangerous” country, the CIA announced on Thursday that they were pulling their top spy out of the country as his cover was blown by the Pakistan military intelligence agency. This is becoming a real cloak and dagger story with many twists and turns.

Naval War College Guest Speaker Series

Our speaker series started off with two dynamic and engaging speakers: Commander Sene from Senegal and Captain Sexana from India. Their PowerPoint presentations covered the history of their countries and brought us up to contemporary times. You could quickly see that both officers are enthusiastic supporters of their homelands. Their vivid descriptions and positive attitude make me want to apply for a visa and book the next flight.
As an audience, I want to compliment you on your attention and great listening skills. Speakers appreciate a good audience and I know our two international officers will go back to the Naval War College with glowing reviews. Next time, let’s work on questions. Speakers always enjoy thought provoking questions as it shows you were listening and it gives them the opportunity to bring out additional points. Our next speakers will be February 14 from Kazakhstan and Germany.

Current Events

This is an ongoing assignment and by now you should be earning high scores. You have a week to do the assignment so that is plenty of time to find an article and write your two paragraphs. When you need an event from a certain region let me remind you again that you can’t just go to the computer and type in the region. We must use our text and your map work to determine which countries are in the region of study. Some search engines put Afghanistan in South Asia while our text considers it part of Southwest Asia. By doing the regional map as your first assignment on the syllabus you know which countries are part of the region we are studying. I will return the assignment and you have the opportunity to revise.

Wrap Up

We are just about at the end of our 2010 school year and my goal is to finish our South Asia syllabus and return the tasks to you prior to our break. If we can finish our multiple text study of Pakistan (that will require you to do the few pages of reading in your text this weekend or on Monday evening) then we can all go home for the break without any formal homework. Yes, I know...keeping up with current events, watching the news, and knowing what is happening in the outside world are ongoing tasks, but it would be nice not to have any formal worksheets, papers or assignments, so let’s put in that extra effort.

On Task

While the President and Congress wrangled over tax cuts, and the world looked on as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was jailed, and the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo, your efforts were focused on the “It’s My World” task. You had nine days to think about the prompt and to collect and analyze 3 articles on an international topic of your choosing. We went over the rubric twice and explained each requirement in an effort to prepare you for the assignment. Many of you came into the computer lab ready to write...congratulations for good time management skills! Those who were ready to write completed the task within the two-day allotment, while those who were still collecting articles had difficulty meeting the deadline. This was a very manageable task as it was just what you have been doing with your regular current events assignments only in an expanded form. One student even entitled the essay “Just a Big Current Event”... that made me laugh! The task was also your major project for second quarter.

South Asia

This week we also continued with our study of South Asia. You have completed your map and have taken notes from “The World Today.” You were able to use your map and notes for the quiz, so many high grades were earned. Many of you also started the worksheet for Chapter 25 which focuses on India. Some classes will complete the quiz next week.

As you could see from the photos we looked at in class, this is a complex region. We have the mountain kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan, the largest democracy in the world, India, and Pakistan, which has been described “as the most dangerous country in the world.” President Obama recently returned from a trip to this region and spent several days in India in an effort to boost our trade with a country that can help keep the balance of power in a region that is being encroached upon by China. It is crucial that India continue to be closely aligned with the US. A year ago, President Obama signaled to the world that our relationship with India was unique by holding his first state dinner honoring Prime Minister Singh. A White House State Dinner is an elegant and unique function reserved for the most important alliances. The President spoke eloquently about our relationship with India and Gandhi’s impact on our own Martin Luther King. Our contemporary culture honors India with the popularity of many Indian films including “Monsoon Wedding,” “Slum Dog Millionaire,” and “The Namesake.” A former Rhode Islander, Jhumpa Lahiri, winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, bases much of her writing on her experiences growing up in a household with parents who were from India. If you are looking for quality short story fiction, I highly recommend any of her books.

The current event for South Asia is due next week (12/13 for periods A, B, D, and E; 12/14 for period C). By now you should be earning high grades for this assignment. You have clear expectations and ample time to find and analyze an article. Make sure your current event is from a country in this region...some students type “South Asia” into Google and get different results...you must have an event from a country in the region as designated by our map work.

Guest Speakers

On December 17 we will be having an in-school field trip in room 212 during advisory to hear from the Naval War College International Officers from India and Senegal. This is a unique opportunity to hear about far off countries from a leading military officer of the country. Let me remind you that you are expected to arrive on time and to listen to our guests. This is the time when your best manners are on display. Time will be allotted for a question and answer period. We will be doing some background reading to prepare for the event. An in-class writing assignment will be assigned after the talk.

Check out the Newport Daily News student column for today...E.H. wrote a great article entitled “Students Go Global.”

Intraterms

Intraterms are due next week so we will take class time to update our status of assignment sheet and figure out your score as of December 15. Your task will count for the second half of the quarter.

When You’re Absent

While we have gone over the expectations and they are outlined in your room management plan, I want to remind you that when you are absent, you must arrange time (before or after school or during advisory) to come by and make up the work. You have 5 days to complete the work. If you do not make arrangements then you will receive no credit for the assignments. It is up to you!

Time For A Task

This was a week for congratulations: to our football team that beat Rogers and now goes on to the Super Bowl; to our wonderfully talented thespians who are putting on “Our Mr. Brooks” this weekend; and to our budding movie producers who have posted “Show Me Your Town” on the web. Was that our own S.A. holding the Dell’s cup?

Meanwhile out in the outside world, the FIFA (the organization that runs world soccer) has announced that the World Cup in 2018 will be played in Russia and the 2022 games will be played in Qatar. In their formal announcement, the FIFA, said “we go to new lands...” All I could think of was our study of new lands and how many all over the world are trying to see us as all citizens of the world.

It was a difficult week for Secretary of State Clinton as she was on the phone to world leaders trying to assure them of our respect and support even though WikiLeaks has released some damaging secret correspondence that describes world leaders in some very unflattering terms. This is a reminder to all of you that any correspondence can make its way to the web. Be careful!

“Over a Barrel”

This week you had an on demand writing assignment based on your reading of the UpFront article “Over a Barrel.” You were able to use your worksheet from the reading so if you had good responses to the guiding questions, you should have had a clear idea as to how to react to Tom Friedman’s quote. Clear thinking is the key to clear writing!

Afghan Profile

Using your text, the UpFront reading and the Goode’s Atlas, you developed a statistical profile of Afghanistan. I especially like Goode’s Atlas as the maps give us a great deal of information visually. Using the atlas you could discover the amount of clean water available in Afghanistan (about 22% of the population has clean water), you saw that the country has negligible exports, the people are suffering from malnutrition and only about 30% of the population is literate. You can see why the Taliban, an organization that offers food, clothing, shelter – and some degree of hope – to young people can be appealing. TED features a video on how the Taliban recruits youngsters to become suicide bombers and next week we will watch a clip.

Afghan Star

We watched a good portion of this documentary that shows you life in Afghanistan before, during and after the rule by the Taliban. The movie allowed you to see first hand what the country looks like and how the people are trying to restore their culture after years of Taliban censorship. You can also see that the show “Afghan Star,” modeled after “American Idol,” is teaching people about democracy. Afghans are encouraged to vote for the best singer, not the one from their region or tribe. We also witnessed one of the female singers who performed a simple dance on stage roundly condemned by the viewers. Her life was threatened so she immediately sought the safety of her family. The TV show is now in its fifth season and over 11 million people watch it each week.

Final Assessment

You had your announced final assessment this week. You had an open ended question and you were allowed to use your map to help you with your thinking. If you were absent, you have 5 days to make up the work. Don’t delay...come by and make plans to do the assessment during advisory or after school. Please note that after school help will now be available on Tuesday as our faculty meetings have been switched to Mondays.

Task

This week you received your portfolio task. You must select an international issue to research. You must have 3 current event articles to attach to your reflective essay. Your topic must be preapproved. While many of you were ready with a topic on the assigned day, some students still need to have an approved topic. The sooner your topic is approved, the sooner you can start collecting the news articles that you will need for the essay. I was out on Friday, so D period will have topics approved on Monday. We will go over the rubric again next week. Writing will take 2 days in the computer lab. This is a great opportunity to complete a portfolio task AND receive class credit as this will be your major project for second quarter. I have not assigned any homework since giving out the task so that you could spend your time finding the articles, reading and summarizing. To meet standard, your reader is going to look for your ability to synthesize and analyze the issue and come up with a solution or recommendation. You must also include why this issue is important to you and its impact on the world community.

And now we are off to India and Pakistan

You have received the new syllabus for our next unit on South Asia. The syllabus has been punched with 3 holes so you can put it in your binder. Staying organized is a critical step in meeting the stress and challenges of school – and beyond! We will start with a map and some reading to acquaint you with this area of the world. Hopefully you watched President Obama on his recent trip to India. Watching the evening news is a great way to prepare for your CWI class.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences

Thank you to all who came by to talk about the CWI class and student progress. It helps when we are all on the same page. If you were unable to get a time slot, please feel free to ask for a conference. I am usually available most afternoons (except Monday).

A Time to Give Thanks

In between football games, parades, and eating turkey, I hope all of us took a moment to remember why we commemorate this day and consider how much we owe to those who suffered great hardships to establish a place in the New World where freedom and tolerance could flourish. Along with the early settlers, we must remember those who were living here before them and greeted the newcomers in peace and helped them survive. We must also bear in mind our debt to the Founders, who recognized the worth and value of each individual and sought to design a country where all would have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. We also owe thanks to those of succeeding generations, right up to today, who have struggled and sacrificed to bring the Founders’ vision closer to reality. No matter what hardships or misfortunes we may face, we live in a country that extols freedom and where opportunities abound. It is a heritage we must do all we can to nurture and maintain. Otherwise, we will lose it.

Finishing our study of SW Asia

We are just about at the end of our study of this region. You should have completed the worksheets on growing up in Saudi Arabia and “Over a Barrel.” If you need the articles, I put a link on last week’s blog. We will complete an in class assignment on Afghanistan as we use statistics from our text, a reading, and Good’s atlas to design a profile of the country. I also plan to show you parts of “Afghan Star,” a documentary about a talent show based on “American Idol” that is encouraging the Afghan people to celebrate their culture and learn about democracy through voting for their favorite singer. Final assessment will be an open ended question.

Dangerous situation in Korea

And while we have been reading about the challenges of South West Asia, North and South Korea have entered into a dangerous exchange of artillery shells and threats that have heightened an already tense situation. President Obama restated our commitment to the people of South Korea and backed up his words by sending the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier, to the region. The President has also called on China to work with North Korea to reduce tensions. Keep watching the news for updates.

Reflection on First Quarter

Your reflection letters were due last week. This is an opportunity for you to think about your progress in CWI and make plans for a successful second quarter. Parents and guardians appreciate hearing your assessment of your progress and plans for the future. And speaking of parents and guardians, we have another round of conferences scheduled for December 1 from 2-4. I have a few openings available if you are looking for a time slot.

Portfolio Task

On Monday you will receive the prompt for our portfolio task. It will be based on current events and the end product will be a reflective essay. This task will require you to read, summarize and analyze a major international event. You need to set aside the time to think about your event and its implications. Recently, Tom Friedman (remember Tom? ...quoted in our “Over the Barrel” reading...NYT columnist...author of “ The World Is Flat”) wrote about the need for young people to disconnect their cell phones and computers and take the time to concentrate, think and reflect on their tasks at hand.

Let’s go down to the Sea

On December 7 (Pearl Harbor Day), Dr. Robert Ballard (of Titanic fame) will be speaking at the Naval War College at 6:30 in Spruance Auditorium. Admiral Wisecup has opened this lecture to high school students. If you are interested in attending you may call 841-1068 or email eveninglecture@usnwc.edu to reserve a spot. Another great opportunity right in your own back yard!

Hard time for the Humanities

Today’s Providence Journal had an interesting lead editorial on the importance of the humanities. While the study of math and science have taken center stage in this age of technology, the editorial points out that “it is within the humanities that students are more apt to develop writing and critical thinking skills - where they will in essence teach themselves to learn.” Yet hard times are leading many schools curtail humanities programs, limiting students’ access to some of the most valuable rewards of a higher education.

Hearing from the Experts

The highlight of this week was our guest speaker, Admiral Phil Wisecup, President of the Naval War College. On Thursday he spoke to you about the need to reach out and understand other cultures as we are all citizens of the world. He stressed the need for education and especially recommended that you read, work on building a good vocabulary, and learn a second language. The Admiral also announced the speakers series that will begin in December. International officers from the NWC will speak to you during our Advisory period about their cultures and role on the world stage. We have scheduled officers from Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Chile, France, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Denmark, and Norway. This is a unique opportunity for you to hear about countries all over the world from high ranking military officers. The schedule will be announced in advance and we will be doing readings to prepare for our visitors.

Second Quarter

We have started second quarter and some classes spent time organizing folders. All of your work from first quarter should be saved as it will be invaluable to you when it comes time to study for the midterm. We have already had seven assignments for second quarter: your reflection letter, map of SW Asia, the map quiz, the UpFront question on SW Asia, the life as a refugee worksheet, the interviews with students living in Israel and a current event.

Conflict and Resolution

As you read about the experiences of teens living in this region you quickly discovered that violence and uncertainty are part of their everyday lives. The teen interviews gave you insights into how the Palestinian people have been stereotyped as terrorists even though most just want to live a peaceful and productive life. Hanan, the young lady who left the region to go to school in the US, described how her daily life was a struggle going through endless check points and encountering the military everywhere she went. Upon her arrival in the US she was amazed at the ease of travel and the lack of a military presence. At the same time, the Israeli students complained about living in terror even while undertaking simple chores of everyday life. Should they go the movies or mall when they are favorite spots for bombings?

Seeds of Peace is an organization that is working with Arab and Israeli teens from this region. Through recreational activities, camping events and education, the organization is trying to teach tolerance and acceptance. By planting the seeds of peace with the young, the organization aims to bring peaceful coexistence to this region. We also talked about how Sesame Street has gone international and is teaching tolerance and acceptance to the very young. We can only hope all these efforts will eventually lead to a nonviolent solution so all people in South West Asia can live in peace.

Over a Barrel

You have been given a worksheet to help you understand the article “Over a Barrel” in the October 4, 2019 UpFront issue. You need to read the article and complete the worksheet for homework. You will be using the worksheet for an in class writing assignment.

Growing Up Saudi

In class you had the opportunity to work with a partner on two articles about growing up in Saudi Arabia, as a young man and as a young woman. They live very different lives when compared to our way of life. They are a very strict and traditional society even though over half of the population is under the age of 25. We heard Robert Lacey, author of “Inside the Kingdom,” state that Saudis “hate” Americans for three main reasons: they see us fighting in Muslim countries, we support Israel, and they consider us a decadent society as illustrated by our clothing and reality television shows. Lacey went on to say that only through education will our countries build a better relationship. This was the same message Admiral Wisecup left us.

Finally, we saw a clip from The New York Times on “drifting,” a car racing culture that has emerged as a form of entertainment in a society that limits recreational activities.

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences

On Monday from 6-8 we have our first conferences. If you have signed up for a conference please make sure you attend. These are your grades and you should have the opportunity to review your progress and plans for the future with your parent/guardian. Your reflection letter should have set the stage for that review. I still have a few openings for December 1 conferences that run from 2-4.

Honoring Our Veterans

This was a week when we paused to remember and thank our Veterans. We especially mourn the loss of one of our own...Sgt. Michael Paranzino, a 2006 graduate of MHS. Sgt. Paranzino, 22, was killed in Afghanistan on Friday, November 5, while serving as a cavalry scout. He had been in Afghanistan for 7 months after serving a tour in Iraq.

As we read about areas around the world that are struggling with oppression we must recall the service that our men and women in the armed forces have provided over the course of our history. Without their unswerving support for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” we would not be the country we are today.

Admiral Wisecup

I am pleased to announce that the President of the Naval War College, Admiral Wisecup, will be speaking to all of the CWI classes on Thursday, November 18, in room 212 during Advisory. This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of the highest ranking officers in the Navy. He will speak with you about the mission of the college and the role the international students play. We have several students whose fathers are in the international class. We will work on developing questions you could ask the Admiral.

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

Our conference time is scheduled for November 22 and December 1. Letters will be going home announcing the details for the conferences. This is a time when all of us can sit down and review what you have accomplished first quarter and make plans for the next quarter. Maintaining the portfolio will allow you to show your parents or guardians the type and quality of work you have been engaged in. As part of our end of quarter activities, you will be writing a letter home explaining the content and skills you have been working on, what you accomplished first quarter, and your plans for second quarter.

Absences

If you have been absent, make sure you take the time to stay after school to find out what lessons and assignments you missed so you can stay current with your work. You have five days to make up missed work. You may also use Advisory time to come by 246 to make up work if you have asked in advance for a pass. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for missed work. According to the handbook, if you are absent unexcused, you may get the assignments but no grade will be earned for the work.

Group Projects

This week you received your grade for the Africa power point projects. I was impressed by many of the projects and from your reflections I learned that many of you enjoyed the opportunity to work in a group and to use technology. Group projects have unique challenges and the presentation I shared with you this week gave you some suggestions for future projects: you must plan, you must communicate, and you must follow the rubric. Groups that took the time to develop a game plan were successful. You have email, twitter, cell phones, Facebook, etc...you can communicate...you have to take the time and make the project a priority.

South West Asia

This week we started our unit on South West Asia, beginning with the map and map quiz. You were given a syllabus so you know what to expect for this unit. Maps are especially important for this region as you see how Israel was carved out of an area inhabited by Palestinians. You need to look at the complicated borders to see how division is further complicated by multiple sections of land inhabited by both Palestinians and Israelis. You can also see how Afghanistan’s opportunities are limited by it being land locked. And you can see the importance of the Suez Canal as a short cut from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

We also read about the “hotspots” around the world that President Obama and his administration must deal with. Of the top 10 areas of conflict, 4 were from the South West Asia region. After reading the article, you had to define the problem and come up with your solution. If you were sitting in the Oval Office and the President asked for your thoughts on the conflict...what would you recommend?

On Friday we spent time on a human rights web site gathering information about refugees from South West Asia and then we watched the presentation “Beyond the Fire” to hear from teens who are war refugees.

We also had our first set of current events for the new quarter. Doing your current events assignment is good practice for the portfolio task we will be doing in early December. The task is based on your ability to summarize and analyze a series of current events. At this point, you should be earning high scores for this assignment. You usually have about one week for the assignment and you have a rubric. Excuses for not doing the assignment include “I forgot” (it is written on the board for the week, and don’t you read the blog?) or “My computer is broken, my printer is out of ink, I have no paper” ( you do not need a computer to do this assignment...you can hand-write the summary and you can cut the article out of the paper or photocopy it). Students who do the current events are usually the students who earn the highest grades for the quarter.

Most classes received the worksheet on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Make sure to read the chapter in your text and complete the sheet so you will be prepared for our activities next week. Periods C and D are getting ready for a debate so you have an additional reading and a graphic organizer. Mr. Young will be leading you in that activity.

Are you watching the evening news or going on line to stream the latest broadcast? It is an efficient way to stay up to date and to build your background knowledge for our class discussions. Be in the know...

Aung San Suu Kyi released

Today brought the good news that the military leaders of Myanmar (formerly Burma) had released human rights activist and Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, where she has been confined for 15 of the last 21 years. This courageous and determined woman has been a persistent advocate for democracy and human rights. Her sacrifices remind us it is not just our uniformed services who must bear the burden of upholding the cause of freedom. We will study her more closely, and the movement she represents, when our studies take us to this region of the world.

Witnessing a Watershed

This will be a week that historians will be analyzing and writing about for years to come. The American people went to the polls on Tuesday and elected 60 new Republican members to the House of Representatives, making Republicans the majority party in that chamber of Congress. They are expected to elect Representative John Boehner of Ohio as their Speaker when they return to the new session in January. In the meantime, the lame duck Congress (made up of current members including those just defeated) is expected to debate the extension of the Bush tax cuts that expire December 31, 2010. Congress will have the difficult balancing act of lowering taxes while trying to reduce the deficit. How will they accomplish these goals?

Closer to home, the people of Rhode Island elected their first independent governor, Lincoln Chaffee. He is following in his father’s footsteps by serving as Governor. Even though he ran on a platform that included an unpopular proposal to increase the sales tax, he is widely known as a man of honesty and integrity and thus earned the vote of many who were tired of political games.

Africa

This week we finished our study of Africa by reading about famine, watching the clips from the New York Times (see last week’s blog) and researching groups that aid people in these desperate situations. We all need to ask ourselves if this is a crisis we should be more involved with. Should we be urging our government to do more? Should we sponsor an organization that helps feed the people of Africa, or could we purchase fair trade coffee or beads for life in an effort to help people become self-sufficient? One of the groups I am especially interested in is Heifer International. I have put their catalogue on the board if you are interested in seeing how a small amount of money can help purchase a pig, goat or sheep to help a family become self-sufficient. Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times is an advocate of micro financing, which lends small amounts of money, mainly to women, to help them start a cottage industry. Take a look at “A Powerful Truth” to see how this program works.

Our final activity for our unit on Africa was watching “War Dance” and writing an in-class reflective essay. I have provided you with a link to the web site so you can check on Nancy, Rose and Dominic. It is truly an inspirational story. I want to compliment you on your respectful attitude towards the movie. While it is not easy to read subtitles and hear much of the dialogue in a foreign language, you paid attention. While I have seen this movie numerous times, I am still moved by certain phrases, especially when Dominic says, as they are driving to the capitol, “I am excited to see what peace looks like.”

We also had our current events quiz. You wrote the questions and you were able to use your notes, so high grades should have been earned by all. We will continue doing current events and quizzes, so now you know the routine. Your next current event is on South West Asia. The current event is due 11/12 for periods A, B, D, and E, while period C has until 11/15.

Africa Power Points

Your reflection sheet and rubric will be returned next week. I hope you saw this assignment as an opportunity to learn about Africa but also to practice your group skills and presentation skills. While Capstone is a solo show, it is still useful to have practice presenting with a group. Using note cards and practicing your presentation are essential for a successful Capstone event.

South West Asia

Periods C and E received the new syllabus and the map assignment for South West Asia. Many people still refer to this region as the Middle East, but geographers have renamed it South West Asia in an attempt to sound less Euro-centric. Politically, militarily and economically, this region is of critical importance to our nation and poses some of our greatest challenges. It is likely events there will be affecting you for the rest of your lives, and as responsible citizens you need to be informed.

Extra credit question

The first to email (MHS accounts please) a correct list of the countries President Obama will be visiting on his Asian trip.

Reaching Out to Africa

This week with the help of technology we traveled to the second largest continent, Africa. Your projects clearly illustrated the numerous challenges, opportunities and successes of the different countries we visited. I hope you have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation of the people of this continent.

Your projects were impressive. You chose good photos to help tell the story. Your use of note cards resulted in smooth, confident presentations. Some of you are natural presenters, standing tall and speaking clearly and at an understandable pace. All of these skills will serve you well when it comes time for your Capstone presentation and in your future calling, whatever that may be. Finally, your reflections and self evaluations gave you the opportunity to think about the steps of the project and how you could improve. So often we get so busy that we forget to pause and reflect, a process that helps us advance in every field of endeavor.

Things to keep in mind as you prepare future presentations:

1.Make sure you understand all the terms you use...copying information onto a note card without understanding the content can be dangerous...one student used the term “emerging market” to describe the country and then immediately defined the word for us...great job!

2. You should be able to identify every illustration you use and say why you selected it; the illustrations are supposed to help tell the story...not distract attention from the point you are trying to make...if you are talking about tourism, an appropriate photo of a place of beauty or interest would support your point; if you use the flag of the country, know what the colors and symbols represent.

3. Not all answers are found on the web...some groups struggled with the opportunity slide (what could be the future of the country) and the success slide...these focus questions required you to think about the material you had read, analyze the different sources and then synthesize the information into a coherent prediction or assessment. It can be hard but it is a skill you need to practice.

4.Your source slide should list all the resources you used for the project. You will look at some sources and decide not to use them and those do not have to go on the list. The source slide is not a laundry list but a concise listing of the sources you found useful. When you do your Capstone, you will be asked to do an annotated bibliography which will require you to explain how each source helped you with your project. Students often list Google or Bing as a source...they are not sources but search engines. The sites to which your search leads you are the sources. Your source list also required a newspaper or magazine from the country.

Accountable Talk

This week we had our first accountable talk activity. Using two readings from our UpFront magazine, you had the opportunity to read, take notes, and process the information using our 3-2-1 strategy prior to conducting the discussion. Accountable talk gives students the ability to direct the conversation. It is your time to explore your ideas and ask others what they think about issues in the readings. You earned credit for your notes, contributions and reflections. If you struggled with this activity, we will have other opportunities. Get in the swing of things...contribute...ask a question...make a connection. All ideas are welcome.

Colonization of Africa

Thank you to Mr. Young for providing a primary source document lesson on colonization. Your graphic organizer helped you sort through the documents and discover the motives for Europeans to take over Africa and the impact colonization had on the continent. Many of the problems of Africa can be traced back to this time when others conquered in the name of God, glory and gold.

Famine

Some of the classes watched Nicolas Kristof’s video on “Hidden Hunger” and another NYT clip on hunger in Kenya. You had readings about famine in your text and two BBC handouts. We will continue to look at Kristof’s ideas for fighting poverty. This award winning journalist thinks differently about how to solve big problems. Instead of spending millions of dollars on grand projects, Kristof is a supporter of micro-financing. He believes small loans directly to individuals will have a bigger impact on the quality of life. If you want to read more about micro-financing I have given you a link to the Kiva website. We will also watch a slide show based on “Half the Sky,” a recent book Kristof and his wife co-authored. Last year one of our own MHS students did an independent study on micro-financing and helped a Mongolian woman buy a goat.

War Dance

Next week we will be watching “War Dance,” an inspirational and true story of a group of high school students from Uganda who participated in the country’s annual song and dance competition after undergoing horrifying experiences as captives of the terroristic Lord’s Resistance Army. The film is a powerful reminder that hope and healing are possible even in the face of some of the worst atrocities imaginable.

Watching the News

While there is no homework for the weekend, make sure you are watching the news. Our next unit on South West Asia will study an area that has been the main focus of international coverage since September 11, 2001. On Friday, explosives hidden in computer printer cartridges were found in packages being shipped from Yemen to Chicago. According to the CIA, over 600 Al Qaeda terrorists are using Yemen as a base of operation to plan international attacks.

Current Events Quiz Time

We will be having a quiz on our current events. Periods C and D have already submitted questions for the quiz and should be prepared with their notes next class period. Periods A, B, and E will write possible quiz questions on Monday and we will have the quiz on Tuesday. Now let me see...take good notes....keep my notes organized....write the questions for the quiz....use the notes for the quiz...could this be a trick or treat....no ....it is an opportunity to earn lots of points! Be ready.

Halloween

As part of our study of Africa, we looked at different organizations that help the people. One of the more popular groups is UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. Is any one trick or treating for UNICEF? If so, you might be interested in today’s obituary for Mary Emma Allison, the teacher who founded “Trick or Treat for UNICEF.”

Have a fun and safe evening...extra credit for those dressing up as historical figures or elected officials!

Preparation Pays!

Congratulations on a great spirit week. While I didn’t always recognize you behind your blue and white faces or unique costumes, it was evident that Middletown spirit was in great supply!

This week we continued our journey through Africa. You had two days to work in the computer labs with your partners on your power point project. Learning to work successfully with a group is a great skill to have as you get ready to enter the work force or go on to further professional development. Using your MHS email accounts and Acrobat allowed you to collaborate beyond the school building and regular class hours. As with any technology we have to be prepared for glitches. Your room management plan clearly stated that MHS email accounts had to be up and running by October 1. Many students were ready on time and that made the project start smoothly. Some of the paper work got tied up in the office but again with enough advance warning most of you were ready. You will need an MHS account for another project in the future so please be sure to make any necessary arrangements now.

A few last minute hints:

1. Read the rubric and then reread it; it is a very clear list of what you will need to do to have a project that meets standard.

2. Use visuals; limit writing on the slides; you may put all of your words on note cards that will be handed in.

3. Practice your presentation; be confident, be comfortable; you are the expert on the country.

4. Focus on the 3 main questions: what are the challenges, opportunities and successes of your country?

If you can think of any other questions, please post a comment and I will get back to you. Good luck…all projects are due by 7am on October 26.

Maps

Some classes have finished both the physical and political maps of Africa. High quiz grades were earned by students who took the time to draw a clear and well labeled map. Some classes are finishing up the physical map and your syllabus states that a quiz will follow.

Accountable Talk

Some classes finished the accountable talk activity while others will complete it on Monday. As promised, I have provided a link to “Africa’s Rising Stars” and “Armed and Underage”. Accountable talk encourages you to explore your thinking and your fellow students’ thinking about the articles. It is a student focused activity where you are in the driver’s seat…you decide upon the questions to explore. It is a great activity when everyone puts forth the effort to participate.

Current Events

You handed in your current event on Africa this week and many of you did an event from your country project. Some of you commented that you were able to learn some background knowledge about your country by reading the current event. Good idea!

Economic Worksheet

Some classes have completed this worksheet while others have it for homework. You had some class time so hopefully it should not take long to complete. This chapter will help you think through the history of economic problems experienced by many countries in Africa and what steps countries are taking to improve their economic opportunities. Think infrastructure…no business wants to locate in a place without a strong infrastructure. We have linked the need for good infrastructure to our own state as efforts are underway to link rail service with the airport, improve Quonset Point port, upgrade our roads and bridges, and implement education reform that will result in a competitive labor force. When all of these conditions are positive, companies will locate and invest in your state or country.

Federal Forms

Impact Aid forms were distributed and are due in the Main Office by Wednesday October 27. Those forms can bring in additional federal aid to our District so it is very important to have them filled out and returned as soon as possible. We all want to do what we can to make our District efficient and this is one way you can help out.

Happy Birthday LEM

The Power of Collaboration

An event watched round the world this week was the successful and joyful rescue of 33 Chilean miners who had been trapped underground for two months. Miners, engineers, politicians, and families all worked together to make this successful rescue possible. Collaboration is a powerful tool.

This week we had to cope with a short week and NECAP testing. Some of our classes were not affected and were able to complete activities such as the map quiz that other classes will be taking during the coming week. So let’s do a quick recap.

By now all of you should have your syllabus for Africa. It lists the activities we will be doing as we get to know this large and diverse continent. All classes were assigned the Africa political map, and as the syllabus states, a quiz will follow. You may use your map for the quiz, so if you have a complete and easy to read map you should earn a high score. You also have been assigned a current event on Africa. Many of you decided to bring in an event based on your project country. That was a great idea, as that article has now given you some background information for your project.

All of the classes have been broken into groups and your leader selected a country out of the hat. You have a rubric that clearly outlines what your project must include. We are focusing on the challenges, opportunities and successes of your country. By working together you should be able to divide the work to make the project more manageable.

You were required to have your MHS email account ready to use by October 1. When all members of your group have accounts, you can use Adobe Acrobat to build the slides as a joint venture. Collaboration is a key to success in many endeavors, and this project gives you an opportunity to practice that skill. In addition, you will be presenting and using note cards... an opportunity to practice skills you will need for Capstone.

Some classes were able to watch the MSNBC story on the ancient city of Timbuktu. Western Africa was a rich region and home to wealthy and powerful kingdoms. Cities traded in slaves, gold and salt. Today, these cities have fallen into disrepair but there is a new interest in preserving the culture, especially the thousands of documents that were part of the Timbuktu library.

Some classes also met William Kamkwamba, “the boy who harnessed the wind.” William tells his own story as the young son of a poor farmer. His family was hard hit by a drought, and because of the lack of money he was forced to drop out of school. But he would not be defeated. By reading a book on electricity from his local library (which had just two shelves of books), he was able to put together a wind mill out of scrap pieces of PVC pipe and old bicycle parts. He soon was generating enough electricity for his home, the farm, and recharging people’s cell phones. William plans to use the proceeds from an award he received to conduct workshops in his home village in Malawi to teach other young people the useful skills he has learned. His is an inspiring story.

Right here in our own back yard

While reading The Newport Daily News I came across two articles of particular interest. First, Richard Saul Wurman was featured on the front page of Friday’s paper. He recently spoke at the Redwood Library, where he offered a partial apology for a remark he had previously made to a New York Times reporter describing Newport as “an intellectual wasteland.” But what particularly interested me were Wurman’s references to TED, an organization he founded that sponsors an annual conference on technology, education and design (hence the initials). One of its guiding principles is that bringing together creative minds from a variety of fields can lead to exciting new innovations. TED is one of my favorite web sites, offering brief but fascinating video clips of dynamic, thought-provoking speakers.

The second article was a brief story about Solar Sisters, an organization based on women selling to women products using solar power that will make their lives easier. This organization has been very successful in Africa. Check it out.

Spirit Week

Even though our football team was a bit short on the score board, we can all be very proud of the efforts they made on the field and as you know there is another big game coming up next weekend. We are going to have a grand time celebrating Spirit Week at school. So join in the fun!

Happy Birthday to BABM!

The Politics of Peace

Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese advocate for democracy, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. He was recognized for “his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights in China.” The Chinese government and its supporters portrayed the decision as a “desecration” of the award and a move to impose Western values on the Chinese people. Liu is currently serving an 11 year prison term for circulating a petition on the internet in December 2008 that demanded civil liberties and judicial independence. Contemporary China will be a major unit of study towards the end of this semester, and it is not too soon to start reading about this country that has a major political, economic and strategic impact on the United States and the rest of the world.

As you may recall, last year President Obama was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the third sitting President to receive it. Many people were surprised when a President who had been in office less than a year received what many consider the most prestigious award for public service. The statement accompanying it said Obama was selected for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” In addition, the Committee cited the President’s efforts towards nuclear disarmament. We should all pause and think about the implications of this award as we try to move towards a more peaceful world and to consider how we as Americans relate to the people of other nations.

CWI

We have struggled this week with NECAP testing and shorter class periods. If you have been absent any time this past week, your tests will be rescheduled and you will have to arrange to make up your class work after school. Time is available any afternoon except Tuesdays but keep in mind you have five days to make up missed work due to an excused absence.

This week we discussed different types of governments. Knowing how a country governs itself will give you special insight into its relationship with the rest of the world. In addition, we talked about how the size, location and shape of a country affect its ability to trade and to protect itself. Think about the disadvantages a landlocked country may have as opposed to a country with ample sea ports.

We also tackled a difficult chapter on economic geography. The text was loaded with new vocabulary words to help describe economic systems and activities and to measure economic output. These vocabulary words will be useful when you analyze your current event on business.

We had a quiz as we ended these segments. The questions have been a mixture of identification based on the vocabulary and an open ended question which allows you to apply the information you have learned. Full credit will be earned for responses that are well thought out and respond to all parts of the question.

Africa

Most of the classes had the opportunity to watch a power point presentation on Africa. By listening to the music and watching the photos you were introduced to the beauty and variety of people and landscapes on this continent. We also did a reading from an excerpt from National Geographic. I have many back issues available to you in the classroom. Please take advantage of this added resource when you have a few minutes.

While we can make some generalizations about the continent as a while, it will be more useful to look at Africa region by region. Your text has a map that shows the different regions. Many classes received the map assignment so make sure you use both the political map and the regional map to draw your own. You will have a quiz on the political map and you will be able to use your own to answer the questions. A good map should mean a good quiz grade.

As part of our study of Africa, you will do a group power point project on one country. Some classes have already selected their groups and countries. Your next current event is due starting October 14 ( check the board for your class period due date). I recommend you do a current event on the country you have selected to give you a head start on the power point project.

Interterm reports

Our interterm reports are ready. Many of you had well organized portfolios with an up to date status of assignment sheet. You will be pleased that all of your work is in one location as it will give you a head start for studying for the mid term exam. As announced for the past 2 weeks, if you did not have a folder with an up to date sheet, you were below standard. Take the time to organize your work and keep the folder in the bin so you can earn full credit. If you are below standard, you still have four weeks to bring up your grade. What is your plan?

Email

Is your MHS account ready to go? You can check your account by going to the Middletown High School web page...use your password...go to mail...type in your name and then check “Charlie Checker” to see if becomes highlighted...if yes...you are ready.
You must have a school email account to do the next project.

Columbus Day Weekend

We have a long weekend as Monday we celebrate Columbus Day. This holiday has come under attack recently as some historians have questioned Columbus’ role in history. How original was his “discovery”? Did he treat the indigenous people with respect, and if not why should we honor him? At the same time, many use this holiday to honor all great explorers no matter when or where they went as they opened up new lands and established links between peoples who previously had not known of one another.

Extra Credit

What Africans have won the Nobel Peace Prize? Be the first in your class to email me the correct response using your MHS email account to receive extra credit.

Religion and the World

This week we focused on understanding the elements of culture, and especially the role of religion. You had the opportunity to work on a group presentation focused on the five major religions of the world: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Using multiple sources (a good idea for any project) you highlighted key information: where and when the religion started, its main beliefs, and the number of people who practice it. We quickly recognized that three of the major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, have much in common: all three originated in Southwest Asia, are monotheistic, look upon Jerusalem as a holy city, believe in a holy book and practice alms-giving, prayer, and fasting.

Your current event this week was also linked to religion. Martin Marty, editor of the religious series we used for this project, states in his foreword, “to be informed citizens of our world, readers have good reason to learn about these features of religion that mean so much to so many.” Some classes were able to view the “60 Minutes” interview with the developer of the proposed Muslim community center in New York and the leader of the opposition. The interviews showed both sides of the argument. As we continue our study of the contemporary world, keep in mind how religious differences can lead to conflict. What can we do to avoid this conflict? Is the building of the community center an effort to heal, or an example of disregard for America’s loss?

Finally, you did a map on world religions. This is the first of many maps you will work on this year. We talked about what makes for a good map and this activity allowed you to practice those skills.

We ended our study of religion with an announced quiz. You had time to review your notes. How did you do?

Population Geography

We continued with readings on population geography from your syllabus. As part of our reading, we practiced bold to bold notes, a strategy that allows you to outline a chapter very efficiently. Yes, it takes time to do the outline but you will find using this strategy will help you a great deal in understanding the material. We followed up the next day with a jeopardy style game that gave us the opportunity to review key terms. This led us to the discussion of how population size can affect a country and how age distribution can affect policies. We also had the opportunity to watch a video clip where Hans Rosling explained population growth in the world using plastic bins.

Political Geography

You have a worksheet to help guide you through the next section of our text. You have your syllabus so you know what is expected.

Email Accounts

You are required to have a MHS email account. The room management plan clearly indicates the need for an account by October 1. Many of you have accounts but if you do not it is your responsibility to see Mr. Fontaine, Mrs. O’Donnell or Mrs. Gill to get the paper work. You will need this account for our upcoming project on Africa. Yes, I know many of you already have private email accounts but you also need a school email. You will find out in the business world that work and private activities must remain separate and this is good practice for you in maintaining two accounts. I will be passing a list around next week where you will need to list your school email.

Interterms

We are almost at the halfway mark for first quarter. You updated your status of assignment sheet on Friday so you know your grade. Interterms will be based on your work and your folder. You must have a folder with all of your work in the class bin in order to meet standard.

Revisions

On some assignments you are allowed and encouraged to revise. This is an opportunity for you to have a second chance at the assignment and therefore improve your grade. As I have noted before, Thomas Jefferson revised the Declaration of Independence over 20 times, so we know from this and many other examples that even the best writers can greatly improve their work by revising. If you have been asked to revise, please return the revisions the next class day. If you are not going to revise, please write this on the assignment and return it to me for some credit. It is your responsibility to return revised work in a timely fashion.

PSATs

It is that time of year when Juniors have the opportunity to take the PSAT’s. This is great practice for the SATs, and if you receive a high score you can become eligible for scholarships. Many colleges also use this score to identify students who may be interested in their school. After you take the test, you should start receiving information in the mail about various programs. Take the time to find out about the wide variety of programs available

NECAP

Juniors will be taking NECAP tests this week. It is important to do your best on these exams as they are part of your record and scores are a reflection of our school. It is always nice to read good things in the paper about how well our students perform on these exams. Good luck!

Are you watching the news?

Keep in mind that watching the evening news is going to help you better understand the issues we talk about in class. The newscasters select the big stories and within 2 or 3 minutes give you the key information. By watching the news on a regular basis you will be able to ask questions and make connections with the topics we discuss.

The Lens of Culture

This week we focused on the elements of culture and how understanding the attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of other countries will aid us in understanding their point of view or perspective on world issues. All countries do not believe the same things and as our value assignment illustrated, even within a country different people espouse different values.

One of the major components of culture is religion. Your current event assignment (September 28 for periods A,B,E and September 29 for periods C and D) must be linked to religion. You should aim to find an international article but you may also use a national article. Consult your rubric which is on the back of the current events assignment sheet to earn as many points as possible. Students who consistently exceed the standard on their current events assignments earn high quarter grades!In addition to our discussion of culture, you worked on a review sheet with a partner. This was a great opportunity to review the key vocabulary for this section. For homework, you have your world religion map which is due next class period. Make sure to use your rubric.

Five Themes of Geography

We started the week with a quiz on the five themes of geography. This was an announced quiz so you should have been prepared. In addition, you were allowed to use your class notes on the quiz. While most of you were prepared for the quiz, some students did not take notes or did not have notes the day of the quiz. As upper classmen, you need to work on taking care of your own responsibilities and not wait for someone to tell you what to do. Note taking every day is a skill that will serve you well as you head off to college or the world of work.

Revisions

From time to time, you may have work returned that needs revision in order to meet standard. You may make the changes and return your work the next class period. This is an opportunity for you to make the changes so you can earn passing credit. Please return the original work with your revisions so I can see how you incorporated the changes. Remember, Thomas Jefferson revised the Declaration of Independence over 20 times, so I want to give you the opportunity to put forth your own best effort as well.

English as a Second Language Students

We are very fortunate to have students who are visiting Middletown for the year while their parents attend the Naval War College. If you are a student with English as a second language, come by and see me for glossary guides in your own language. Our text provides a variety of glossaries in other languages that I will be happy to photocopy for your use. You are also encouraged to bring in a pocket translator to use in class. We want this year to be a good experience for you.

October 1 Email

We have talked in class about the need for a school email, and it is part of your room management plan that you must have a Middletown school email account by October 1. We will be using these accounts when we do group projects and our first group project is fast approaching. If you need the permission forms, you may see Mrs. Gill or Mrs. O’Donnell or ask in the Main Office.

Staying Organized

This week we set up our class folders. You were given a status of assignment sheet and a list of all of the assignments to date. All of your graded work must be in the folder. You are responsible for keeping track of your work. Your folder is checked from time to time. All folders must be up to date by interterm week in order to meet standard.

Monday Homework Sessions

Starting September 27, you will be advised to stay after on Mondays if you have not completed your homework. I have set aside this time to help those students who are struggling or for students who have decided they do not want to do their homework. If you do not stay for this session, then I will be reporting to the Administration that you were given this opportunity and it was your decision not to stay. So, you need to decide….do homework at home…do homework on Mondays after school…

Pizza and Pirates

On September 27, the Middletown Public Library (one of my favorite places) will be sponsoring a pizza and pirate event from 5:30-7:30. Come and eat pizza and learn about pirates of Newport. Free tickets are available by calling 846-1573.

Happy Birthday

Birthday greetings to MLM…a faithful blog reader and technical supporter!

Looking At Values: Ours and Theirs

This week we had a shortened work week as voters went to the polls in Rhode Island to select candidates to represent the Democratic and Republican parties in the November election. Rhode Island will also have a viable Independent candidate for governor as former Senator Lincoln Chafee is running. So while we lost a day of school, we also had the opportunity to observe our electoral process in action and celebrate our opportunities to select our own leaders.

On September 17 we celebrated Constitution Day as we recalled the founding mothers and fathers who helped establish our country and gave us the freedoms and opportunities we all enjoy today.

Are You Organized?

This week you were issued a text and given a Unit 1 syllabus. Please cover your text and plan on bringing it every day to class. Your Unit syllabus should be in your 3 ring binder alongside your signed room management plan, the current events assignment and your hints on doing a summary. I will check your notebook from time to time to make sure you are staying organized. In addition, we set up our student folders. You are responsible for keeping your status of assignment sheet updated and all of your graded work in the folder. Keeping track of your grades will allow you to monitor your progress in the class. It will also be a great resource for you to use when it comes time to study for the mid-term exam.

Current Events

We had our first round of current events this week. Most of you did a good job and followed the rubric. Keep in mind that we are focusing on major international issues. Make sure to use your own words for the summary and write 5 to 7 complete sentences for each paragraph. Your next current event is due September 22 if you are in period A,B,C, or E. The current event is due September 23 if you are in period D. We do current events about once a week and it is a great way for you to earn lots of points.

Values

This week we also discussed values, that is, what is important to you, to our country and to the world community. While many of you selected freedom or democracy as your top value, many people in other countries would select stability and security. National Public Radio had an interesting interview with a woman who was running for a seat in the Afghan parliament and her platform was focused on bringing stability and security to her country. She has already lost two of her five children to violence. We are fortunate to live in a safe and secure community. Keep these values and the ranking of values in mind as we look at world issues and try to develop empathy for those living in very different circumstances.

Goal Sheet

Some classes had the opportunity to watch a clip from President Obama’s speech to the students of the United States. Using this clip as well as the “Business Week” article you have some guiding questions to respond to and turn in next week. This sheet prompts you to think about your goals for the year and how you plan on accomplishing them. Just as we need a map when we are going to a new place, we need a goal sheet for the start of a new school year so we can monitor our progress. This assignment is worth 10 points...take time to answer the questions in a thoughtful manner...use complete sentences...check your spelling...and take pride in your work.

X Period

If you are late to class or you are not turning in your homework, you will be required to stay after for an X period. During the X period, you can work on your homework or complete a class assignment. If you do not stay for the X period, you will have to stay for detention. Let’s work to get to class on time and have your homework completed so you don’t have to stay for this after school period.

Welcome Mr. Young

Mr. Sam Young, from Salve Regina University, will be working with us this year. He will be in the classroom every Monday during the first and second quarter and will be teaching lessons and assisting you with your work. During the second half of the year Mr. Young will take over many of the duties of the classroom. It is always exciting to welcome a new person to our learning community.

Open House

The MHS Open House is scheduled for Monday, September 20, from 6:30 to 8:00. This is a great opportunity to walk your parents/guardians through your schedule. I look forward to greeting you on Monday evening.

The Middle East Gets Top Billing

On Tuesday I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sit in on a class at the Naval War College that focused on conflict in the Muslim world. The presentation included NWC faculty and two guest speakers from Rhode Island College. The goal of the session was to educate people on the beliefs, values and perspectives of the various Muslim communities. We reviewed their rich and varied history and learned some Arabic words which would help promote understanding and respect. The same day, I attended an evening lecture at Salve Regina University by Syria’s Ambassador to the United States. He spoke to a full auditorium and stressed the importance of understanding the Arab point of view while trying to solve some of the problems of the Middle East. He urged Americans to support the efforts of the Palestinian people to establish a safe and secure homeland and said Syria could play a constructive role in helping resolve the conflict.

Extra Credit

On September 18, 1793, George Washington laid the cornerstone for what building that became the center of our capital city and a symbol of democracy? Be the first to email me the right answer using your MHS account and earn extra credit. If you don’t have your MHS account, you may write down the answer and give it to me Monday morning.

Welcome Back

Welcome back to a new school year and to our new blog for 2010. I know the first question you may have is why I named the blog MHSCOTW. I believe that all of us should start viewing ourselves as “Citizens of the World.” If we thought of ourselves as parts of a bigger community than Middletown, or Rhode Island, or even America itself, our world would benefit. I think this global thinking would lead to less strife and more cooperation. This idea truly hit home when my son graduated from an American university and was hired by a German bank that immediately sent him to London, then on to New York City, India and Tokyo. His story is not that unusual for recent college graduates as more businesses have an international presence. History also shows that in this age of globalization problems in one part of the world have a way of spreading far beyond their original boundaries, affecting other nations and people in unpredictable ways. The events of September 11, 2001, whose victims we commemorate this weekend, are a tragic reminder of that fact.

The blog is a way for us to review what we worked on during the week and to provide additional information on a variety of topics through links. You will notice that the entries include highlighted words which are active links to other sites where you can read further about a particular topic. For reasons of time and space, the blog is not an all inclusive wrap-up of the week, and because five different classes will be using the blog, it cannot provide detailed information about homework.

I hope you enjoy reading the blog. Please feel free to offer recommendations.

Contemporary World Issues (CWI)

This week we spoke about how all of our lives are affected by events in other countries. As advances in technology make our world grow smaller, our economies are more and more linked together and it is important for all of us to understand global issues.

You have been given the current events assignment and rubric. We practiced finding articles about international issues and we spoke about writing the first paragraph to summarize key facts and the second paragraph to offer your own thoughts on the subject. Keep in mind that you have several days to do this assignment so you have time to solve any problems that may occur. Maybe you don’t have a paper at home... maybe you don’t have a computer or printer... maybe you work on the weekends... these are all potential obstacles, but you can surmount them. Make sure to take advantage of the school library or the public library on West Main Road. You can use this assignment to start the school year off with a great success! Your assignment is due Wednesday or Thursday (depending on class period)

You will find that your understanding of the issues we discuss in class will be greatly enhanced by watching the news or reading a daily paper. Next week we are scheduled to start receiving UpFront, a magazine produced by The New York Times for high school students. This is a major investment on the part of the District and I know you will appreciate having this opportunity to read a world class publication. As good thinkers and policy makers, we will also be consulting other sources, such as The Wall Street Journal, the international press, and news web sites. If you have a favorite, please bring it in and we will add it to our list of resources.

Room Management Plan

Please make sure you have read over the room management plan. The signed plan (by both student and parent/guardian) is due on Monday or Wednesday of next week (depending on class period). This is considered a homework assignment so make a good impression by being on time.

Supplies

Each student needs to have a 3-ring binder, a pocket folder, a small box of colored pencils and pens/pencils for daily use. Please be ready with your supplies next week as we all want to work on staying organized.

Pell Center

We are fortunate to have a world class university, Salve Regina, right in our own backyard. From time to time they have guest speakers and many of these events are open to the public. On September 15, the Ambassador from Syria, Imad Moustopha, will speak about the US and the Middle East. The lecture starts at 6:00. You need to call or email the Pell Center to reserve a seat. If you attend, please pick up the brochure from the event and bring it to class. You will earn extra credit for this event.

US Senate Scholarship Program

Each year, two students from every state are selected to participate in the US Senate Scholarship program. To be eligible for this event, you must be a Junior or Senior and serve in some leadership position, such as Student Council, class officer or the SITE council. Students selected to represent Rhode Island earn a trip to Washington DC and a $5,000 scholarship. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please let me know.

Calling all Future Journalists

Sheila Mullowney, Executive Editor of The Newport Daily News, will be meeting with students on Wednesday September 15 at 4:00 in room 212 to discuss careers in journalism. If you would like more information about this event, please speak with Ms. Clark.

Extra Credit

After reading this blog, email me with a comment or a question (using your MHS account) and earn extra credit. If you do not have a school email, please write out a comment or a question and hand it in during class time. All comments/questions are due on Monday.

A Time to Pause

Please take a few minutes on September 11 to remember the people who lost their lives on that day in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC. Think about what each of us can do in our day to day lives and interactions with others to make this a more peaceful, compassionate world and get beyond the forces of hate and intolerance that divide us. Learning all you can about other nations, peoples and cultures and why they think and act as they do is an excellent way to start.

In Closing

We are fortunate to be members of the Middletown school community. We have a great school with wonderful students and a supportive faculty and administration. I know we are going to have a great year. Please do not hesitate to see me if there is anything I can do to help you make it as much fun, as safe and as productive as possible.