Voices for Tolerance

The Great Buddha of Kamakura, Japan

This week while we were discussing the importance of culture and the role religion plays in conflict, President Obama was speaking at the United Nations supporting freedom of speech and peaceful demonstrations. President Morsi of Egypt and other leaders of Muslim nations called for an end to “Islamaphobia” and urged countries to limit speech when it is directed at defaming religions.

CWI

This week we finished our study of world religions by completing our cultural worksheet, graphic organizer and map. Many of you earned high grades on your quiz.  If you need to revise, make sure to make all the corrections and return for extra points.

Some had difficulty completing the map as you do not have a text that you can take home.  Think of this as a problem solving situation: stay after school to complete the assignment, come during advisory, look up a map on line, or make sure to use your class time wisely.  With large classes it is tempting to chat with your neighbor but that is not the best use of your time.

As part of our study of culture, we read an article from Newsweek magazine, “Not Lovin’ It,” that identified some of the reasons why US companies need to be aware of religious and cultural differences when they try to expand.  With a bit of creative thinking we came up with a list of things companies would have to consider when establishing a presence overseas: dietary restrictions; appropriateness of uniforms; respect for holidays; and eating habits.

We then went on to read about the population growth in the world, which has now reached 7 billion. In our text, we read about population density, the clustering of people along shorelines, and the growth of megacities.  We also did another brainstorming activity where we looked at the advantages and disadvantages of a country with large and small populations as well as a country with a young or old population. And we concluded our study of population by viewing the TED video by Hans Rosling that stressed the need for the developed countries of the world to help the poor countries improve their child survival rates so they too can become prosperous countries.

We concluded our week with a current event linked to religion.  We heard about the Pope, the leader of the Roman Catholic world, visiting Lebanon and urging the young to take on a greater role in advocating tolerance.  We heard about several Muslim countries that continue to react harshly towards the US because of the video that insulted Mohammad and we heard about Coptic Christians who are being forced out of Egypt.

This weekend you have no official homework but I urge you to be mindful of the news and especially the presidential race.  Next week you are going to look at the two candidates’ foreign policy positions and decide which one you would support.  You will be writing or taping a 30 second radio spot that could be used to advocate for your candidate.

Emails

On Monday I will be collecting your MHS email accounts.  Please be ready.

World History

Just as we were speaking of religion in CWI, we were looking at the Protestant Reformation movement and how it spread to England. You completed your graphic organizer comparing the Catholic Church, the Lutherans and the Calvinists.  Once we completed the organizer you were ready for your quiz.  Most of you did a great job.  If you have to revise make the corrections and return to me the next class so you can earn more points.

You also had the opportunity to practice your note taking skills as you viewed the power point on the Reformation in England.  We learned about Henry VIII, his many wives, and the turbulence England experienced as it moved from being a Catholic nation to a Protestant nation.  We met many interesting people during this time period, and you now have the chance to spend time with the character of your choosing as you prepare for your interview.  You have a rubric and working with a partner allows you to test your ideas and thoughts with a peer.  You will have some time on Monday to make finishing touches and then it is show time.

We also did current events this week and they were focused on the presidential race.  We looked at the different candidates and then did a comparison of what it means to be a Democrat or a Republican.

Extra Credit Question:

Define “swing state” and name two examples.  Be the first in your class to email me using your MHS account and earn extra credit.

Themes of Geography and History

 

 

Working in groups we looked at the five themes of geography: location (where is it?), place (what is it like?), region (how does it compare to other places?), movement and human-environment interaction. We read the section in our text, took notes, and then heard your presentations.  The list on the board clearly stated what you would need to know for the quiz plus you had the special blog posting that contained the video we watched in class and another review of the themes.  The most important homework is the work you decide you need to do to be ready for the next class. It is easy to think that if you read, do a worksheet, or whatever homework is assigned that you will be ready, but all of us learn differently and you need to decide what additional steps might best prepare you for the next day – rereading, outlining, discussing content with someone else, etc. This is a great habit to develop as you get ready to go on to the next level of education or career.

 

Speaking of the quiz, many of you did a great job.  You used the vocabulary to clearly define the differences between absolute and relative location. The last question had you apply the themes to a place you know well…Middletown, RI.  When answering this type of question you need to assume your reader knows nothing about the community and therefore you will need to write a few sentences or bullets to cover the material.  One theme, human and environment interaction, asks how people change their environments.  One of the main changes people on Aquidneck Island have made is to build bridges so they can move on and off the island with ease. You will be asked again how you can apply the information you are learning in the classroom, so be prepared.

 

Folders

 

This week we set up our folder system. You are responsible for putting all of your graded work into the folder and maintaining your status of assignment sheet. The sheet will allow you to monitor your work and grades. You are welcome to take the folder home from time to time to share with your family but please return it to the class bin when you are done. We are staying organized. This folder will be especially important when you prepare for midterms. Interterms are fast approaching and your folder needs to be updated and in the bin to meet standard.  You have ample class time to arrange your folder.

 

Elements of Culture

 

This week we started reading about the “knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors shared by and passed on by members of specific groups.” Anthropologists study how people live and act as a way to better understand the differences among different groups of people. Learning to think this way will be a highly valuable tool throughout your life as you interact with others in work, recreational and family settings. You will be reading your text and taking notes on the elements of culture.  Make sure when responding to a worksheet that you take the time to understand the vocabulary.

 

As part of our study of culture we took the Pew Research religion quiz.  With a class average of about 50%, we all have a great deal to learn about other religions so we can better understand how to get along. And speaking of religion, remember your next current event which is due on September 28 must have a link to religion.  As our introductory reading stated, not a day goes by without some event happening in the world that is directly related to religion.

 

We will finish our study of culture next week and that will be followed by a quiz.

 

Characteristics of an Effective Map

 

We will be using and drawing maps this semester so we took the time to go over the elements of an effective map.  Your text has an excellent summary and illustration of what makes up an effective map.  We focused on title, legends, symbols, scale, colors and labels.   You need to be able to distinguish the characteristics and uses of three types of maps: physical, political and thematic.

 

World History

 

This week you had your first current events assignment. Many of you did a great job.  We will have a number of current events assignments this year so let’s see if you can start earning 9s and 10s.  Our next current event is due September 27.  It must be about our upcoming election. 

 

Some helpful hints:

 

Make sure to select a story that could appear in any paper across the country;

stay away from human interest articles as they tend not to be big issues.

 

Make sure each of your paragraphs is 5-7 sentences; the first paragraph is a summary of the article and the second focuses on your comments, connections and predictions.

 

Make sure to include the source and date of the article.

 

Word process if possible; this is a good habit to get into for high school work and it enables you to run spell check and edit.

 

Folders

 

We set up our folders this week.  You have a status of assignment sheet that you need to keep in the folder that lists all of your assignments and the grades you earned.  I will also post a list of assignments on the side board so you can check from time to time to make sure you are up to date.  You have time in class to keep your folder organized. You will find this folder especially useful when it comes time for mid-term and final exams.

 

Reformation

 

You had a power point in class that led you through the stages of the Reformation.  We looked at the bigger question of why people engage in reform movements and looked at two current examples: the movement toward healthier eating and efforts to reform education.

 

We then went on to meet Martin Luther and see how he responded to a Catholic Church he considered corrupt.  We learned new vocabulary words: “recant,” “excommunicate” and “indulgences.” Luther’s reform movement was continued by John Calvin.  After reading the text, doing the section review, and taking notes off the power point you were given a graphic organizer to help you structure the information into manageable groupings.  We spoke about the importance of grouping similar information so you can easily compare and contrast movements. You worked with a partner on filling in the organizer.  We will go over the organizer on Monday and then you will have your quiz on the Reformation.  Make sure you know your vocab and the main teachings of Luther and Calvin.

 

Email

 

I will be checking for your MHS account this coming week…be prepared.

 

Open House

 

Thank you to all who came to our Open House on Wednesday.  The start of a new school year is filled with excitement and high hopes.  Let’s keep that spirit alive throughout the year.

 

Extra Credit Question

 

Get extra credit by being the first in your class to respond correctly using your MHS email account:

 

What popular stock hit $700 per share this week?

 

A Final Word

 

Wishing a faithful reader, MLM, a happy birthday!

 

The Five Themes of Geography

Today we reviewed the five themes of geography.  You had the opportunity to work in a group, take notes off the board, and to use the text to support your understanding.

We also watched a brief video clip which gave you several examples of how the themes are used to better our understanding of geography.

During your next class period you will have a ten point quiz on this material.  You need to know the themes, the question they ask and answer and practical application or examples for each one.  You also need to know the following vocabulary words: absolute and relative location, hemisphere, equator, latitude, and longitude.

Please look over the links for futher information.

Values

Just as we started our study of world events, the Middle East erupted into violence over an amateurish video posted on You Tube that desecrated the Islamic religion. In at least twenty countries demonstrators attacked our embassies, and in Libya terrorists used the opportunity to kill four State department officers, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.  Embassies are sovereign territory of the nations they represent and it is the responsibility of the host country to do all it can to protect them.  It was discouraging to see demonstrators behave this way in countries where we so recently supported popular movements against dictators, but journalists have noted the rioters represent only a minority, and their governments have expressed regret and taken measures to prevent more attacks.  Stay tuned for further developments

CWI

Current Events

We had our first round of current events this week.  Most of you did a great 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.  We do current events about once a week and it is a great way to earn lots of points.  Your next current event is due September 20.

Are You Organized?

This week we set up our folders which will include all your graded work and your status of assignment sheet.  By keeping your work organized you can monitor your grade.  You will have time in class to keep your folder up to date.  This is going to be an especially useful tool for you when it comes time to study for the midterm and final exams.

By now you should have handed in your signed room management plan.  The plan stays in your binder for reference during the year. 

MHS Email

Have you activated or set up your MHS email account?  This is due on October 1 so take a few minutes to make sure you are ready to use this important communication tool. If you have problems setting up your account, see Mr. Fontaine or Mrs. Gill for assistance.

Basics of World Geography

This week we worked with partners and our text to answer a series of questions about world geography.  This activity gave you the opportunity to review basic world geography and to better understand what resources your text has so that you can better understand the world around you.  We corrected the worksheet in class.  If you did not finish, please take the time to complete it and put it in your binder.

Values

This week we also discussed values, that is, what is important to you, to our country and to the world community.  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.  Can we take it for granted that our own country will always be stable and secure?

New Rules

We took time this week to read an Op-Ed piece by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Tom Friedman entitled “New Rules.” This reading gave you the opportunity to learn more about this influential writer and to see how world events impact you.  He writes that all of us, workers and future workers, must constantly reinvent ourselves.  We must stay current with our education and training and think creatively as changes in the world continually pose new challenges in our work and careers.  His column was also an excellent example of clear writing. As students who are asked to write on a regular basis, having examples of excellent writing will help you continue to develop your writing skills, one of the most valuable tools for success.

World History

This week we focused our reading and activities on the renaissance, a time of great creativity and change.  Our power point gave you the chance to take notes and focus on key people and terms of this period.  Using your homework and notes, you should have been well prepared for your first quiz on Friday.

We also talked about the impact Gutenberg had with his invention of moveable type.  Instead of one monk copying a text, his printing press was able to produce larger quantities of books for wider distribution.  This means knowledge and ideas can spread over a much broader audience.  We linked this to Kindles and IPads of today and how they are impacting access to the written word.  I wonder when schools will give up textbooks, which are static, and turn to IPads, which have both text and video and can easily be updated.

Your homework for the weekend focuses on pages 353-357 in your text, which deals with the Reformation.  In the 1500’s many people were upset by corruption in the Catholic Church and called for changes.  This led Martin Luther and JohnCalvin to offer alternatives.  You have been assigned the section review on page 357, questions 1-5.  This is a great deal of information to digest so let’s focus in on questions 1-2 for Monday.

On Friday you also received your current events rubric and assignment. Your first current event (national or international article) is due September 19.  Make sure you follow the rubric.  If you have questions, you can ask during class time or email me.

Welcome Ms. Averill

Ms. Averill from Salve Regina University will be working with us this year.  She 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 Ms. Averill 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 Wednesday, September 19, 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 and them on Monday evening.

EXTRA CREDIT QUESTION

Back by popular demand is the extra credit question.  Be the first in your class period to email me the correct response, using your MHS email account, and earn extra credit.

What country has the largest population of Muslims?

And finally, Happy 225^rd Birthday on September 17, U.S. Constitution!

 

 

 

Welcome Back

 

Welcome back to a new school year and to our blog for 2012.  I know your first question may be why I named the blog MHSCOTW.  I believe 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 to New York City, India and Tokyo.  His story is not 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 next week, are a tragic reminder of that fact. 

 

The blog is a way 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 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 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.

 

In order for me to better understand what you already know about our world, you answered questions about how countries differ in their forms of government and economic systems and what are some of today’s key issues.  This gives me a baseline so I can emphasize those topics you may be less familiar with.  In addition to basic concepts of government and economic organization, we will focus particular attention on Africa, South West Asia, India and China.  These are all fast growing regions of the world that will have a major impact on your life and the future of the US.

 

Current Events Assignment

 

You have your first homework assignment, which is due on September 12.  We practiced doing this assignment in class and you have a set of guidelines as well as a rubric so you should be in good shape.  If you have questions please ask.  All assignments are due at the start of class so please be prepared.

 

World History

 

This week you were issued textbooks.  You are responsible for taking care of the book and returning it in June.  Please keep track of your book.  You may want to cover it with a distinctive paper so you can distinguish your text from your friend’s book.

 

We did a partner activity on Friday where we looked at the units of study we would cover this year. Each of you worked with a partner to design a mini poster that listed the unit, the time period and some key facts and included an illustration.  Many of you showed a clear understanding of the units and came up with some clever illustrations.  We will be hanging these posters up so we have a road map as to where we will be going this year.  We will start with the Renaissance and end with The Cold War.  We will also do current events so that you can keep up to date as to what is happening in the outside world.

 

For homework, in addition to getting the room management sheet signed (see next entry) you have to read pages 344-349 and answer questions 1-5 of the section review in your notebook. Please keep in mind our discussion about how to do homework and to prepare for the next class.  While I may assign you questions, the most important homework is what YOU decide you need to do to get ready for the next class.  Many students find it helpful to do an outline or a concept map…so you need to decide what needs to be done so you have a good understanding of the text.  If you are confused, please bring in questions so we can clarify any new concepts or ideas.

 

Room Management

 

Some classes received their room management plan.  By Monday everyone should have the plan.  Please review this plan with your parents or guardians and return it signed so you can earn credit.  The plan must stay in your 3 ring binder for the year.

 

Supplies for all Classes

 

Each student needs to have a 3-ring binder with paper, 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.

 

Open House

 

Our annual MHS Open House will be held on September 19 from 6:30 to 8:00.  I look forward to seeing you and your parents or guardians.

 

 

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 a fun, safe and productive year.