Escalating Violence

This week saw a surge in violence in South West Asia as Palestinian fighters launched a barrage of rockets from the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the radical movement Hamas, into Israel.  Several Israeli civilians were killed.  Israel retaliated with missile strikes and fighter-bomber attacks that killed both Palestinian civilians and at least one militant leader of Hamas.  Israel also began mobilizing ground forces for a possible invasion, similar to the one in 2008.  With the civil war continuing in Syria, this troubled region continues to be a hotbed of violence and one where American interests are directly involved.

 

“War Dance”

 

We finished watching this award winning film and you had an in class writing assignment that gave you the opportunity to think and write about the similarities you share with the young people of northern Uganda.  Many of you wrote with a great sense of empathy.  You understood some of the hardships they have endured and you understood about how hopes and dreams can keep you alive and motivated.  As Captain Yaw mentioned in his remarks last Friday, understanding people and their culture will help us reduce violent conflict in the world.  Great job!

South West Asia

 

The heightened violence between Israel and Hamas came as we started our unit on South West Asia.  Along with intensified fighting in the Gaza Strip, the Syrian civil war continued to escalate as thousands of refugees flowed into Turkey.  How can a country absorb so many displaced families?  Who will shelter and feed the thousands who are fleeing?  With Turkish and Syrian forces exchanging artillery fire across the border, and Israel firing into Syria for the first time, this conflict threatened to expand from a civil war into one involving nation-states, bringing a new level of violence to the region.

Our unit on South West Asia began with the map and map quiz.  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.  Moving east, you saw how Afghanistan’s opportunities are limited by its being land locked.  And you can see the strategic and economic importance of the Suez Canal as a short cut from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, saving the thousands of miles shipping would have to travel around Africa if the canal were closed or blocked. You had class time to finish the map so you should have been in good shape for the quiz.

 

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.

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...

 

Multi Text Reading

 Working in groups you had a variety of readings and photos that helped you build your background knowledge of the region. We led off with The New York Times editorial of November 12 on U.S. foreign policy, over half of which was devoted to South West Asia. Your guiding questions focused you on key information from the region, and we looked at a variety of photos and watched an NBC news clip on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

 

Working in groups allows you to share ideas, ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of our readings.  Unfortunately, it can also be a time when socialization takes precedence over learning.  Be mature…focus on your work and use everyone’s ideas to help you better understand the issues.

 

Status of Assignment Sheets

For homework, you need to share your status of assignment sheet with your parent and guardian, have them sign it and return it for credit.  This sheet will go back into your portfolio.  We are working on staying organized.

 

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

 Our conference time is scheduled for November 28.   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. This is also the time to put a corrective action plan in place if you want to improve your grade.  Do you need to work on handing in all assignments…do you need to earn higher grades on current events….do you need to stay after school for extra help? 

 

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 may also use Advisory time to come by Room 246 to make up work if you have asked in advance for a pass. It is your responsibility to make arrangements for missed work.

 

World History

 

This week we finished our study of the rise of Parliament.  Over a period of 100 years, Parliament positioned itself to hold the King accountable and reduced the monarch’s power so that more power would be in the hands of many, the Parliament.

 

We also had our Enlightenment interviews.  This was a great time for you to work with a partner to gain a better understanding of how this age of reason contributed to such key ideas as life, liberty and the right to own property and the obligation of governments to provide for the people.

 

You will have a quiz on Tuesday on Chapter 18 section 1.  You have a worksheet to help you work through key ideas and events that were covered during the interviews.

 

Current events are due on November 20 and you may select any international issue.

 

Time for a Laugh

 

On Tuesday I attended a Naval War College lecture by Jeff Immelt, the CEO of the General Electric Company.  This was an inspiring speech as he spoke about the challenges in business and the need to recruit workers who understand international challenges.  He went on to explain all the things he does to connect with workers and one of his major initiatives is writing a weekly blog.  Oh my gosh…I have something in common with a CEO who brings home $15 million dollars a year!

 

Extra credit

 

Be the first in your class to email the correct answer using your MHS account to earn extra credit:

 

This coming week President Obama will be the first sitting president to visit these two Asian countries…name the two countries and the reason for this landmark visit.  

 

Time for some turkey and a rest

 

A heads up that this blogger will be taking a break next week…

 

And a sad milestone…

 

R.I.P.

Twinkies, Snowballs and Ho Hos.

 

 

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A Salute to Our Veterans

 

Honoring our Veterans

 

While Veteran’s Day is officially November 11 (a day originally selected to commemorate the end of World War I on 11/11 at the 11th hour) we have Monday off, so I would encourage all of you to pause for a moment 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 November 5, 2010 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.

CWI

We have finished our study of Africa and have started watching “War Dance,” an inspirational story about the children of Northern Uganda who have lived in a war zone their entire lives. While war has dominated their lives, they refuse to let the conflict define who they are. We will finish the movie next week and then have an in class writing assignment.

Before we leave our study of Africa, I thought you might be interested in knowing that a senior State Department official has visited Somalia, the first such visit in over 20 years.  It clearly signals that we see Somalia moving forward by organizing its government and tackling some of the difficult challenges confronting the country.  On Friday, Captain Perry Yaw, our guest speaker from the Naval War College, used the Somalian pirate problem as an example of how navies from around the world are cooperating successfully in an effort to make the seas safe.

South West Asia

You have the rubric for the South West Asia map which lists countries in this region.  While I have not yet assigned the map, you can use the list of countries for your next current event, due November 14.  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.   You are encouraged to look for stories that might appear on the front page of major newspapers.  You will be amazed how easy it is to find news stories on Syria, Yemen, and the continuing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

End of the Quarter

We have finished our first quarter.  We have established a routine we will continue for the remainder of the year, where you keep track of your assignments and grades and place all graded work in your folder, which is kept in the classroom.  On Friday I went through all the folders and was pleased to see most of you have done a great job organizing your work.  Staying organized helps you manage your time and feel on top of things.  By keeping your folder up to date, you can monitor your grade and keep work organized as we move closer to mid-term exams.

International Speaker Series

We had a full house Friday as we heard from Captain Perry Yaw, Director of the Naval Command School, which hosts senior international officers at the Naval War College.  His presentation covered the mission of the college and its efforts to reach out to the international naval community to foster friendships and trust among officers from all nations.  These relationships with international navies are especially helpful during a time of crisis. He pointed out that you also have a role in this mission because we have many students from foreign lands at MHS.  That gives us the opportunity to reach out and show them Americans are a generous people.

Our next speakers will be on November 30 when we will hear from officers from Chile and the Netherlands.

I want to compliment you on your attention to Captain Yaw.  You were a great audience!

World History

This week you had another opportunity to use the document analysis sheet by reading a letter written during the time of Louis XIV.  We will be using the document analysis sheet on a regular basis so you will be ready to do your first portfolio task. 

We focused this week on comparing absolutism in France with the rise of Parliament in England.  We learned some of the reasons why two countries so closely linked by history and geography developed two very different methods of governing.   We had to do some back tracking by reading about King John and the Magna Carta before returning to the 1600’s.

Your graphic organizer gave you the opportunity to see the progression of parliamentary power from James I to William and Mary.  This period of about 100 years included such major events as the signing of the Petition of Right, the English Civil War, the execution of Charles I, rule by Oliver Cromwell, and the Glorious Revolution.  Parliament succeeded in limiting the monarch by passing the English Bill of Rights.  These rights will become the basis for the colonists in the New World to revolt against England. While the monarch still had power in England, it was now limited and required the consent of Parliament.

To get a better understanding of this period we read the play about the execution of Charles I.  These plays help history come alive.

Next week we will move on to the Enlightenment, also known as the age of reason, when philosophers fight against the old ways of thinking and promote goals of well-being and social justice.

End of the Quarter

There is much to get used to when you start high school and one of the challenges is staying organized.  You have had numerous assignments over the quarter and you have a folder and status of assignment sheet to help you monitor your work and grade.  I checked the folders on Friday and was pleased to see so many that were well organized.  This is a great system. By staying on top of your work and keeping it in one place you will be ready for the mid-term exam in January.

This quarter you could have earned 180 points.  We did a wide variety of assignments including current events, announced quizzes, a spoke diagram, and the scientific revolution poster.  What you did not have was a traditional test.  We will do a traditional test this quarter so you can get practice with this type of assessment. 

Congratulations on a successful first quarter!

And the Winner Is...

 

 

 

Africa Travels

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.

 

Many of the 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 about a process that helps us advance in every field of endeavor. Using your reflection, the rubric and my notes, you will receive a final individual grade for the project.

 

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 is dangerous...I was very pleased when one student used the term “emerging market” and then immediately defined it 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.  Animation can be a distraction so use it wisely and sparingly.

3.      Not all answers are found on the web...some groups struggled with the opportunity

slide (the potential future of the country) and the success slide...the 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.  Sources you decide not to use should not go on the list.  The source slide should be 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 are the sources.  Your source list also required a newspaper or magazine from the country.

 

Accountable Talk

This week some classes had their first accountable talk activity, while other classes will do this activity next week.  Using two readings from our UpFront magazine (“Armed and Underage” and “Africa’s Rising Stars”) 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 you the ability to direct the conversation.  It is your time to explore 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.

“War Dance”

Next week we will be watching “WarDance,” 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 LRA was in the news last October when the President deployed U.S. Special Forces to assist the government of Uganda in eliminating this longstanding threat to the region.  The film is a powerful reminder that hope and healing are possible even in the face of some of the worst atrocities imaginable.

 

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. The region has gained added attention as the Arab Spring overthrew dictatorial governments in the North African states of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, then spread into Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, where an ongoing civil war has caused thousands of casualties.  Protests could eventually threaten regimes in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

 

Current Events Quiz

We will have our first current events and Africa power point quiz next week and you will be able to use your notes to answer questions the class wrote.  Now let me see...take good notes....keep the 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!  We will start a new set of current events at the start of our next unit on South West Asia.

 

Speaker Series

On Friday you received a list of our international guest speakers from the Naval War College.  Starting November 9 certain advisory periods have been set aside so you can hear from naval officers from around the world.  This is a unique and exciting opportunity.  You have your permission slip which must be turned in as you enter room 212.  We will talk more about our speakers next week.  This will be considered a mandatory in school field trip. 

 

World History

Your Louis XIV spoke diagram was due on Wednesday but due to our loss of two school days you had an extended due date.  Congratulations to all who turned in their diagrams.  Many of you exceeded the standard because you followed the rubric.  Prior to doing our spoke diagram we reviewed the words and key concepts of Louis and Absolutism. This review should have given you ample information to complete the spoke diagram.

 

This week we also did a document analysis sheet. As a class, we read the letter written by a French noble woman who described the suicide of the cook Vatel.  The cook was putting on a lavish feast for Louis XIV and he wanted everything to be perfect, but alas the roast was not done properly for two tables and the correct amount of fish was not delivered.  He put so much pressure on himself as he knew Louis was the Sun King and expected perfection.  We will continue to work on the document analysis sheet as your first performance based graduation task will require you to do a document analysis sheet for two primary source documents.  Practice makes perfect!

 

And the Winner Is…

At the end of this week, each class had the opportunity to cast their ballot for the next President of the United States.  And the votes have been counted:

 

75 for President Obama

23 for Governor Romney

2 for others

2 no name

And now we have to wait for the real results, come Tuesday evening!