Shaping Your Future

Midterm

Congratulations for all of your hard work this week. We finished our midterm exams and are ready to start the new semester. Your exam was a mix of open and closed questions. While an open ended question gives you the opportunity to write from many different perspectives, you have to be careful to avoid generalities and sweeping statements. When you are responding to an open ended question make sure you anchor your comments with examples and evidence. Some students wrote about disease as a challenge in Africa without mentioning the types of diseases, why diseases run rampant in some countries, or steps being taken to eradicate the diseases. Another common mistake on the exam was not answering all parts of the question. You did a great job on the cartoon interpretations but some students did not explain if the message was accurate. When the question asks you to discuss or explain you need to think about writing more than one sentence. One sentence reads like a list…you need to expand on your thoughts so your reader sees that you have more than a surface understanding of the issue. Keep these thoughts in mind as you move on to other assessments.

Half Way Home

We are at the half way point in the school year. This is a perfect time to pause and reflect on your track record and plan for the second half of the year. For those of you who are meeting standard — keep up the good work. For those of you who have been struggling, let’s put together a corrective action plan: a more serious approach to your studies, doing the homework, staying after for extra help, and making up missed work after being out. It is your choice!

Miss MacRoberts Takes the Helm

With the start of the new semester, Miss MacRoberts is now taking over. She will be working with you until May and she has some exciting lessons planned. I will be assisting her so do not hesitate to ask either one of us for assistance.

CWI now becomes Modern America in a Global World

As we start our new semester, we switch our geography text for an American History text. Make sure to turn in your book ASAP. The new course will start with the Great Depression of 1929 and end with the Obama Administration. While we will be looking at the US we are not forgetting that we live in a global society so we will be integrating world issues into our study of America.

Due to the increased number of students, we will not be issuing textbooks to all classes. A set of text books will remain in the class for your use. This will mean that you will be expected to make efficient use of your class time for reading and you will have other reading assignments for homework that may be internet based.

This unit gives us the opportunity to talk about money. You have to be smart about money and know how it can work for you or how it can lead to big problems. As young adults who will be out on your own in a few short years, learning the importance of budgeting, saving, investing, and credit is essential. You don’t want to be someone who starts off their adult life with all-consuming debt.

Finally, take the time to speak with family members about their experiences with economic slowdowns. You may have a family member who can tell you stories about the Great Depression or someone who lived through the economic slowdowns of the early 1970’s. You can even talk about how your family may be coping with today’s recession. Perhaps you have reduced spending by cutting back on Friday pizza nights...renting DVDs instead of going to the movies...carpooling instead of everyone driving in different directions...the list goes on and on.

Rhode Island High School Student Makes News

Jessica Ahlquist, a 16 year old student at Cranston West, made news by challenging the school’s display of a religious banner. Jessica believes in the separation of church and state and felt the banner violated this principle so she sued the school district and won. Her efforts were supported by the American Civil Liberties Union. Since the ruling, which requires the banner to be removed, Jessica has been subjected to taunts, threats, and bullying. She has even had to be escorted to school with police protection. The school is considering an appeal to the ruling but an appeal would be costly and most legal analysts believe it would ultimately fail.

Half Time

King Abdullah of Jordan was in Washington DC meeting with President
Obama this week in an effort to get the Israeli-Palestinian talks back on track and to urge Syria to reconsider its violent actions against its citizens who are protesting in the streets for greater rights. The King, educated in the United States and England and known for his moderate stance on many issues, has played a valuable role in facilitating communication between his region and the west. What remains to be seen is how relevant his position will be in the new political systems now emerging from the Arab Spring.

The world was also riveted by the horrific scenes of the
Costa Concordia. Viewing the capsized cruise liner it seems amazing that over 4,000 passengers were able to reach the shore safely. The captain, who appears to have left the ship before the passengers were provided for, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter. This event is a reminder about the importance of safety and taking the time to understand what needs to be done in case of an emergency.

On the home front, the South Carolina primary is Saturday and
former Governor Romney’s substantial lead has shrunk to where he is running even with former Speaker Gingrich. This week Romney has been hammered with criticism that he pays only 15% of his income in federal taxes. Most of his earnings are from investments, which are taxed at that lower rate. Meanwhile, working people pay taxes ranging up
to 38%. Governor Perry of Texas dropped out of the race on Tuesday and threw his support to Gingrich. Stay tuned as the drama continues.

And close to home, we had our first real snow with more to come on Saturday. Get those shovels ready!

CWI

This week we completed our study of China by watching excerpts from a Frontline presentation called “Tank Man.” This documentary tells the story behind the iconic photo of the young man in Tiananmen Square who stood in front of the army’s tanks in 1989 in an effort to stop the military crackdown on the protestors. After this massive protest, China’s leaders told the people they would allow greater economic freedoms but would continue to insist on one party rule. We saw how China
can now be described as two different countries: China A is urban, wealthy and fast growing while China B remains rural and impoverished. Many of the young people in China B are migrating to urban areas to work in factories so they can send home their earnings to be used for the education of the next generation. If you are interested in learning more about this massive migration of people I would recommend you
watch “Last Train Home” which tells the story of a husband and wife who moved to the city to work in a mill and left their two children under the care of their grandparents. It is a heart wrenching story of long hours and much sacrifice that results in the emotional breakup of
the family. In an effort to help families cope with long distance separations, China is building high speed rail lines that will travel at hundreds of miles an hour to help families stay closer.

“A Powerful Truth”

As we conclude our formal study of contemporary world issues, we watched Nicolas Kristof’s slide show “A Powerful Truth” based on his
book “Half the Sky.” It is a moving six-minute review of the many problems women encounter around the world and how micro-financing,
lending small amounts of money to women, can change their lives. Women who have extra income spend it on their children for health care or education so by lending money to women to start small businesses we are truly helping the next generation. People who have good health, education and opportunity are more peaceful and that is what we are all hoping for…a more peaceful world. As Juniors you will soon
be starting a Capstone project and I would like to encourage you to think about doing a micro-financing project. There are various ways of doing this, one of which is explained on the Kiva website. Your modest efforts can make a big impact on a family who desperately needs a helping hand out of poverty.

Ai Wei Wei

G period had the opportunity to watch a clip from another Frontline story on China’s most famous artist and dissident, Ai Wei Wei. I hope you take the opportunity to watch this brief video that tells the story of the artist who designed the famous bird’s nest stadium for the Olympics and is noted for his installations. I feel fortunate to have seen some of his art work in Tokyo while it was on display in the Mori Museum.

Brazil and the UK

Thank you to our international officers who gave us an informative and insightful briefing on two very different countries: Brazil and
the UK. Brazil has just passed the UK to become the world’s 6th largest economy.

Status of Assignment Sheets

Congratulations to the many students who turned in their sheets on time. Maintaining the list of assignments and your scores allows you to monitor your own progress. There was a flurry of revised papers, newly
found assignments, and asking for one more chance as we finished off the quarter.

You have numerous support systems in place…the portfolio, the blog, extra help before and after school… so everyone has the opportunity
to be successful…it is up to you.

Midterm Exam

You have your study guide and a description of the exam. Take time to review, read over the blog, and discuss some of the key concepts with fellow students or family members. Come to class on time with a pen or pencil. Good luck!

State of the Union Address

The President, as required by the Constitution, will give his State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening. The President takes this opportunity to outline his goals for the coming year. His address will be before a Joint Session of Congress which means the Senators will join the House Members in the House chamber for the address. This is an exciting evening for all involved as the movers and shakers of our government gather in one place. Take a few minutes on Tuesday and watch the drama, including members of Congress vying for the President's attention as he walks through the chamber toward the podium.

Welcome Miss MacRoberts

Miss MacRoberts, a student at Salve, will be student teaching the CWI classes starting this Friday. Our curriculum now becomes focused on Modern America in a Global World so as we continue to keep one eye on the international scene we will also be delving into the key events of Modern America starting with the Great Depression and the New Deal. Welcome to Miss MacRoberts.

A Different Way of Thinking

The voters of New Hampshire went to the polls Tuesday to express their preferences among Republican candidates for President. The final vote had Romney with 39%, Paul with 23%, Huntsman with 17% and Gingrich and Santorum with 9% each. The next primary state is South Carolina, which votes next Saturday. Stay tuned while the Republican party looks for the candidate they feel can unseat President Obama.

On the international front, tensions continue to build with Iran. This week Iran sentenced an American citizen to death on charges of spying, and they have threatened to close the Straits of Hormuz, delaying oil shipments, if the US and our allies continue to pressure them to drop their nuclear program.

CWI

Your current event was due this week. Many of you did a great job summarizing and commenting on a wide variety of events from East Asia. The good news is that many of you are exceeding the standard on this assignment. The discouraging news is that only about 55 percent are handing in the work. You have one week to do the assignment so time should not be a factor. Computer problems seem to be a major problem…that is why you have a week to do the assignment…learn to get over these obstacles…find a different computer…print at the MHS library or the public library…maybe cut the article out of the paper…don’t be late, don’t ask to print…be ready on time!

In addition, we had our map and note quiz this week. You are allowed to use the map and notes on the quiz so high grades should be earned by all. We also collected the Geography of the Mall activity…hope you found this fun, looking at what you have at home and where it was made.

This week we continued to look at the economy of China. You had several handouts that gave you information about challenges, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses of China. We also looked at other countries in the region and tried to decide which countries were developed and which countries were still in the process of developing. You could quickly see that even though China has a fast growing economy, they still face challenges as they try to spread the wealth to all regions of the country.

VoiceThread

On Tuesday you worked with Mr. Fontaine on posting political cartoons from East Asia on a program called VoiceThread. You were able to select your cartoon, analyze it using the cartoon analysis sheet and rubric and then post your analysis for your fellow students to read. Once you posted, you made a comment on another cartoon. Most of you did a great job…imaginative cartoons were selected and your analysis, as long as you followed the rubric, earned you lots of points. You had one class period to do the assignment so you had to stay focused on the task at hand. Your portfolio task for second semester will use VoiceThread, so this was good practice for that assignment.

The Most Influential Thinker

To better understand the people of China, you must know about Confucius. In an introduction to “The Analects,” Dr. Rosmond described Confucius as the most influential thinker in the world as more people follow his teachings than any other belief system. Our reading on this belief system stressed the importance of relationships, education, hierarchy, and order. So much of what we value as Americans, particularly individual liberties, does not factor into the Confucian way of thinking and acting. Your fill in the blank activity and free writing activity will be a useful review sheet for you as you prepare for the midterm.

We watched two video clips…one focused on how China is trying to use Confucian thinking to help counter western materialism, which has been gaining ground in China, and the other focused on how students in Florida are studying Confucian thinking and Mandarin as they prepare for jobs in China.

You also had a worksheet on “The Rise of China” based on a reading from our UpFront Magazine. You have lots to think about…would you rather live in a country with many economic opportunities or a country that cherishes individual liberty? As the economy of China continues to grow, China is expected to overtake the US within the next few years…how will our life change once China is number one economically?

Martin Luther King

This weekend we enjoy an extra day as we pause to celebrate the contributions Martin Luther King made to this country. His peaceful campaign for civil rights is a reminder that when many people act together, they can bring revolutionary change without using violent methods, even when their opponents are more than ready to use violence against them. Next semester we will spend more time looking at the Civil Rights Movement and King’s contributions.

Thank you to the Band

As many of you know, MHS experienced a shortage of copy paper this week but our band came to the rescue and purchased one ream of paper for every teacher. So thank you band members…you were the ones with the white hats this week…

Special Posting: Study Guide 2012

CWI: Study Guide January 2012


1. Identify three types of maps and when they would be used

2. Identify the major religions of the World.
Design a chart that compares the religions. What do they have in common?

3. Identify and briefly describe three different types of governments. Name one country for each form of government:

4. Name the different types of economies and key characteristics:

5. Identify the types of resources available to countries; give examples:

7. Identification of key terms/people:

Infrastructure

GNP

Per capita income

Nicolas Kristof

Tom Friedman

Greg Mortenson

7. Map identification: review the areas of the world and individual countries we have studied; be able to locate using an outline map

8. What are the major challenges facing Africa?

9. What are some of the hot spots around the world that our President must act on?

10. Editorial Cartoon analysis…look over the VoiceThread activity to prepare

11. Key elements of Confucianism

12. Current events: why is the study of current
events essential to understanding the world and how you will fit into this
future…what are the key events that we have discussed this semester…predictions

13. Values: what values are important for the US to consider when deciding on relationships with other countries?

The best way to prepare is to go over the sections in the text that we used and to use your own notebook to generalize themes on the direction of the world, certain regions and how the US should interact with the global community.
You may use your portfolio work to help guide you. And it goes without saying that you have the BLOG!!!!! You have one entry for each week and it only takes about 3 minutes to read each entry.

The mid term is a mixture of short answer, fill in the blank, identification and map work.

We Are Off and Running

The official start of the presidential race for 2012 began
this week with the Republican primary caucuses in Iowa. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney claimed
the win, though by only 8 votes out of approximately 122,000, and even that win
was clouded by reports of a miscount.
Rick Santorum, a former Senator from Pennsylvania noted for his conservative
fiscal and social positions, came in second.
The next primary is in New Hampshire on Tuesday…so stay tuned. Many of you will be eligible to vote in this
November’s presidential election, so this is a good time to start looking at
the candidates and finding one who represents your views.

And at long last, some good economic news…200,000 jobs were
added last month, bringing the unemployment rate down to 8.5%. Consumer confidence was up, indicating people
are feeling better about the future and therefore are more ready to spend money,
and that allowed small business owners to bring on more workers.

East Asia

This week you received your new syllabus for our unit on
East Asia. The syllabus is your guide
for the upcoming assignments. It is
especially helpful to students who are absent as you can look at the syllabus
and see what you missed. Our first
assignment was the map and a text reading that gave you background on
China. As you progress through your
years of schooling and enter your careers, a broad foundation of knowledge is
essential. It helps you learn new
information, make connections, and develop new ideas. If you know nothing about a topic, it is more
difficult for your brain to retain new information. This is why general reading, watching the
news, and talking with friends about a variety of topics helps you build a
store of knowledge that will help you develop the mental skills essential to a
successful, satisfying career. East Asia
is large in terms of area and population but has only six countries.
The map and notes from your reading are the basis for your
quiz. Period G took the quiz on Friday
and periods A, B, and E will take it on Monday.
To help you see how this region has become known for its
manufacturing, we did a “geography of the house” activity. You were given a list of everyday items that
you have at home and you had to identify the brand name and country of
origin. When you reported back to the
class, we quickly saw that much of the electronic equipment we own comes from
China and Japan. A quick look at
backpacks and sneakers also showed us that many of these items are made in East
Asia.
We also watched a clip from the Choices site that included
an interview with Dr. Andrew Erickson from the Naval War College who helped you
understand why it is important for high school students to know about
China. If you want to be where the action
is, you are going to be involved somehow with China. It is a huge country with growing economic
and political power.
I also shared with you a power point on the Tianmen
Mountains and the road leading to the summit.
While the pictures gave you a sense of geography, they also illustrated
the enormous engineering capabilities of China. Next week, I will share with you some of the
photos I took on my own trip to China and you will see that this country has a
history of accomplishing great things, ranging from the construction of the
Great Wall to the 2008 Olympic Village.

Current Events

A current event from this region is due on Monday January 10. You have been doing this assignment since
September, you have clear expectations, and you have had examples of work
meeting or exceeding the standard. By
now you should be earning high grades for this assignment. If you are still
struggling with it, please come by during Advisory or after school so we can
get you on the right track.

Reminder for Missed Work

Many of you were out before our break and missed in-class
writing assignments. Because of the
closed advisory on Friday, make-up work will be extended to Tuesday
afternoon. Don’t delay…make up the work
as soon as possible so you don’t forget.

Updated Status of Assignment Sheets

This week we updated our assignment sheets. The last two assignments were in-class
writing assignments on India and Pakistan.
Keep in mind that when you write you want to take the time to outline,
list or do a web of ideas so that your final product is clean, consistent, and
fully developed. You also want to
provide your reader with examples and references to the text or videos that we
watched. Clear thinking leads to clear
writing.

NWC Speaker Series

Our series continues on Friday January 13 during B
period. Because of a schedule change we
are unable to have the speakers during the Advisory period. All students in the B period will be
attending. If you are in a different
period and want to attend, pick up a permission slip and ask your teacher if
you can be excused for that period. The
final decision will be up to your teacher of the B period class. Our speakers are from Brazil and the United
Kingdom.

Happy New Year!

This long winter break hopefully has given everyone the opportunity to rest, relax, and be rejuvenated for the New Year. It is also a natural time to reflect and to make positive changes for an even better 2012. While we are confronted with many challenges we also have many opportunities. Let’s decide to use each day in the most positive way possible.

MHS E-mail Accounts

In today’s work world, most employees have email accounts. Yes...I know you have an email account with Yahoo or Hotmail but those are personal accounts that you use with friends and family. As a student you need a business email and that is where the MHS email account comes into play. Efforts are underway for all MHS students to have an email account. The school will be using email to make announcements and to keep in touch with you on a variety of topics. I have begun using MHS email to students for individual announcements so make sure you check your account from time to time.

CWI

We have finished our unit on South Asia and will begin a new unit on East Asia on Tuesday. This area of the world includes China, Japan and the Koreas. If you have been watching the news, all of these countries have been featured recently as lead stories. We will start with our map and a current event will be due the following week.

Year in Review

Many papers and magazines print special end of the year editions with photos that tell the key stories of the year. To get us back in the swing of thinking big, we will start off the new year with what you think have been the top 10 stories of 2011. Many news organizations run these end of year lists and even our own Newport Daily News has a list of the top 10 local and state stories…so get on your thinking caps and be ready to name what you think are the top ten national and international stories for 2011…which ones will make the history books?

A New Year…A Time for Resolutions

The beginning of a new year is a great time to pause and think about your goals and aspirations not only for the year 2012 but also for the long term. The work habits, skills and knowledge that you are gathering in high school will be the foundation for your future success. If you learn to set goals, establish work plans and practice good study and living habits now, you can be assured of meeting future challenges with success. I have never encountered a person who wished they had studied less, read fewer books, gotten lower grades, or ignored their friends and community. So take the time at the start of this fresh and exciting year to write down two or three goals for the year. Keep them handy, consult them often and strive to complete your tasks. You will never regret taking the time to contemplate your future and plan accordingly.