Friday, April 29, 2016

U.S. History

We finished note-taking from the Elie Wiesel video as detailed yesterday and then added more notes from additional scholars as shared by Mrs. Cluver in discussion.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

KCC

Students collaborated on their reading notes and E.Q. themes.  The next homework is to read an take notes from pp.665-693 by Monday.  Students have a choice as to have their Carlson reading claim/evidence scored.  We dabbled in some anecdotes from the Great Depression -- a 2-minute You tube video called "Growing Up In The Depression," a few family stories I shared from my older relatives, and an assignment for them to collect stories from their families by Monday.  We began reading Watkins' essay while taking notes (no circle page this time).

World History

We added a few notes to our E.Q. page based on Mrs. Cluver's curiosity research answers related to "Guns, Germs, & Steel."  Students worked collaboratively on the Unit-Closure Work Page -- finish for homework as needed.  As we are nearing the end of a full year of repeating our work on the same six skills, there will be few required skill scores.  Rather, as we hit full speed with our learning here, at the end, it's time for students to think seriously about what, if any, skills that they, individually wish to improve upon by individualized repeats.  See me for one-on-one tutoring and/or to sign up for a writing re-do or research re-do.  

U.S. History

We finished our musical journey  of WW I and WW II.  We began our time with the Shoa, or Holocaust -- viewing the first 15 minutes of the video available on You tube entitled "Oprah and Elie Wiesel at Auschwitz."  

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

KCC

Reading HW reminder -- 639-664 by tomorrow.  Students finished their claim/evidence wps for Carlson's essay, and then were given the choice to have it scored or to keep it for the info but retain their previous Reading Claim/Evidence score.  To explore some social history anecdotes from the Depression a bit more, I showed a 2-min video clip from You tube, shared some family anecdotes, and assigned the students to talk with grandparents, great-grandparents, and so forth for stories of what the family members who lived through the Depression (or other financially tough times) did to save money -- report in on Monday.  We then began to read Watkins' essay for E.Q. notes and C.Q.s -- to be continued in class tomorrow.

World History

We finished screening Guns, Germs, & Steel, discussed the flow charts and notes, collaborated for E.Q. themes, and then students added notes onto their E.Q. pages from my reporting in of my own curiosity research.  In some classes we began work on the Unit-Closure Work Page.

U.S. History

Collage prizes were awarded today!  Some students shared their family stories about saving $ during the Depression.  We added notes on our E.Q. page about the New Deal and about WWII.  On a separate sheet of paper we began a musical journey through WWI and WWII, noting the song, composer, contextual info, and thoughts/feelings/reactions to each piece -- to be continued in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

KCC


Essays are due today.  Students finished their reading and note-taking from yesterday and then began a Reading Claim/Evidence (circles) work page for Carlson's essay on p.124 of "book #2" -- to be finished in class tomorrow.

World History

"Guns, Germs, and Steel" with notes and flow chart continued through episode #3 22:10 -- on You tube.  We'll finish the series tomorrow!

U.S. History

Students voted on the top collages for the other two class periods -- prizes to be awarded tomorrow. Scored curiosity research was returned to the students.  We discussed and edited the graphic organizer note page for "The Red Scare," stapled it and the collage/culture article (highlighted) to our E.Q. page, and then added themes to the top half of the E.Q. page from those sources.  Students added a few E.Q. notes about WWI from my recounting a few key facts not already covered by other sources.  We then viewed a 2-minute You tube video called "Growing Up in The Great Depresion."  I shared some money-saving habits of my older relatives who were raised by parents who had lived through the Depression and I assigned the students to ask family members about "what they did to save money" in their family/family history -- to report back to the class on Monday.

Monday, April 25, 2016

KCC

Students collaborated on the reading notes that are due today and also on any potential E.Q. themes.  Reminder -- essays are due tomorrow.  We then began working through Fussell's essay in book #2 -- just take basic notes on your notes page (no "circle" page this time).  (And add E.Q. themes and C.Q.s.)  ; )

World History

The reading claim/evidence work pages for "The Reformation" article were returned and edited via the key on the SMARTboard and then we continue our work with "Guns, Germs, and Steel" as done and detailed on the blog on previous days -- we viewed until 51:41in episode #2.  (Available on You tube.)

U.S. History

We spend 20 minutes for groups to complete their Collage Competition submissions.  We spent the second 1/2 of class in groups breaking down the excerpt handout about "The Red Scare," using a word web handout for the note-taking.

Friday, April 22, 2016

KCC

We finished our work with the documentary "The Necessary War" as detailed yesterday.  

World History

We continued our work with the documentary "Guns, Germs, & Steel" as detailed yesterday.  We viewed the rest of episode 1 and through 22:36 in episode 2.

U.S. History

Work day!  Due to the large field trip, continuing our group work on the culture collage competition will need to be postponed until Monday.  

Thursday, April 21, 2016

KCC

We discussed the plans for changes to our currency -- significant connections with our history studies!  We continued viewing the BBC documentary while taking notes, adding to our E.Q. themes, and adding C.Q.s....through 32:58.

World History

We discussed the plans for changes to our currency -- connects to important studies in U.S. History.  ;)  We continued with our analysis of "Guns, Germs, and Steel" (flow chart, E.Q. notes, C.Q.s, and an exit slip).  We viewed to 42:42
.

U.S. History

We discussed the plans for changes to the U.S. currency -- some nice, direct connections to our studies!  Paragraphs are due today.  In 6th hour we finished viewing and note-taking from the BBC documentary.  In all classes we finished reading aloud and highlighting the handout about American cultural arts and then went to the lab to begin work on a quick, in-class group project.  See a reliable tablemate for instructions and to be brought up to speed.  We'll have ~20 minutes in the lab tomorrow to finish.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

KCC

We finished our note-taking from Crash Course U.S. History #35 and 36.

World History

The scored "Engineering and Empire: Persia" A/V Claim/Evidence work pages were returned and students were asked to edit their pages according to the answer key on the SMARTboard.  We then did the same with the "An American Empire" Reading Claim/Evidence work pages.  The unscored work pages for "The Reformation" article were redistributed to the students so they could discern their individual choice to have it scored to replace the "An American Empire" work page or to keep this second one as an info source in their folders, but not have it scored.  (Thinking about our own thinking!)  Students collaborated in their seating groups to add notes to their E.Q. pages about the Reformation.  We then began our work on the subtopic of "Exploration" by working on a flowchart handout, adding E.Q. notes and CQs to those two pages, and completing an exit slip at the end of class -- for the documentary by scholar Jared Diamond, "Guns, Germs, and Steel."  This is available on You tube...In 3rd hour we viewed through 15:12, and in 7th hour through 9:24.

U.S. History

Writing is due Thursday (tomorrow)!  We finished viewing and note-taking from the documentary "The Necessary War."  We then began reading aloud together an excerpt about culture in the U.S. during this era, while students highlighted key points on their copies of the excerpts -- to be finished in class tomorrow and then used for a quick, in-class group project.

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

KCC

Essay and reading homework reminders were given and then we progressed with our Notes, E.Q. themes, and CQs for Crash Course U.S. History #33 and then #35 through 10:05. 

World History

We began and completed the Reading Claim/Evidence (circles) work page for the History.com article "The Reformation."  See me to set up times to come in to complete this scored work. 

U.S. History

We finished E.Q. notes (and themes) and adding CQs while viewing the rest of Crash Course U.S. History #36 (You tube) and continued with the the same expectations/notes for the BBC documentary on WWI -- "The Necessary War" -- until 40:40 1st hour, 26:02 5th hour, and 9:57 6th hour.  Get caught up by finding it on You tube, and then we'll continue from these spots in class tomorrow.  Reminder: E.Q. paragraphs are due Thursday.

Monday, April 18, 2016

KCC

Reminder: pretend today or tomorrow is your due date for your paper so you can step away from it and come back to the essay with fresh eyes/brains for revision Wednesday and Thursday nights.  The essays are officially due Friday.  Reading homework -- p.608-638 due next Monday and p.639-664 due next Thursday.  Hutner's Claim/Evidence wp was returned with scores -- log onto your score sheet and compare/contrast your thesis with the answer I already provided you for #3 on the UCWP.  We began our big-picture preview on the new unit by setting up a new notes page, E.Q. page (for themes), and CQ page -- we added to all three while viewing (and noting sources as subheadings) Crash Course U.S. History #30 and the first 2 minutes of #33.  We'll progress with these videos tomorrow in class.

World History

Reminder -- writing is due tomorrow.  We finished our E.Q. note-taking and theme-recording from "Crash Course: Renaissance" while also adding C.Q.s to our C.Q. page.  We then added more notes, themes, and CQs while viewing (also from You tube) "TICE ART 1010."  Reading Claim/Evidence (circles) work pages for the up & coming Reformation article were distributed -- place them in the front of your folders along with your old "Claim/Evidence Tricks" 1/2-sheet...we'll begin the analytical work in class tomorrow.

U.S. History

Reminders: the UCWPs should be done by today, and the new E.Q. writing is due on Thursday.  Hutner's Claim/Evidence work page was returned -- log in your score and check your thesis with the answer I gave to you for #3 on the UCWP.  As always, see me to talk through any questions you have about the scoring or the content.  We finished (or nearly finished) viewing Crash Course episodes #30, 33, 35, & 36 while recording notes and themes on our E.Q. pages and curiosities onto our C.Q. pages.  This concludes the big-picture preview.  We then added a new subheading onto the E.Q. page "WWI Documentary, BBC" under which we'll take notes on a slowed-down, detailed look at World War I from the British perspective -- to be continued in class tomorrow.

Friday, April 15, 2016

KCC

Writing day!

World History

We finished the E.Q. note-taking and adding C.Q.s from the video as detailed yesterday.  We then got into the European Renaissance directly with "Crash Course: Renaissance" while taking E.Q. and C.Q. notes -- available on You tube -- we got to about 3 minutes in.  We'll view the rest of "Crash Course" on Monday.

U.S. History

Homework reminder -- finish the Unit-Closure Work Pages by Monday.  Writing assignment instruction sheets were distributed to all students signed up for the writing option for this unit (including those automatically on the list due to not completing the writing last unit) -- due in highlighted hard copy form and submitted to turnitin.com by next Thursday.  We continued taking E.Q. notes and logging in new C.Q.s from introductory unit videos from "Crash Course" -- #30, 33, & 35...available on Youtube.  We'll continue with #36 on Monday and then move to in-depth activities.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

KCC

Writing day #1!  We'll be back in the lab tomorrow.  After that, you need to finish the writing for homework.  Pretend it is due on Monday so that (1) you don't get overwhelmed when the reading assignments for the new unit begin on Monday and (2) you can let the paper sit for a couple of days to make the final edits obvious and easy for you.  The essays are officially due next Friday (hard copy highlighted for structure/themes and turnitin.com copy not highlighted).

World History

Writing assignment instructions were distributed to the students who signed up for this option.  We began our new unit with reviewing, discussing, and adding to our Mental Map Timeline.  We then set up new Essential Question (E.Q.) and Curiosity Questions (C.Q.) pages.  Reserve the top half of the E.Q. page for themes that emerge that you might later use in the E.Q. writing at the end of this unit.  On the bottom half of the E.Q. page, and onto the back, etc. we took notes on "The Awakening" portion of "Islam: An Empire of Faith" (by PBS) as a source of the European Renaissance -- available on You tube.  We viewed the first 25 minutes, and will finish in class tomorrow.

U.S. History

Time was given for the students to make progress on and/or finish the Unit-Closure Work Page, which will aid in the writing as well as serve as a significant portion of the final exam study guide.  Finish this for homework as needed.  The end-of-unit E.Q. writing for this unit will be optional for those students who completed the writing for the previous, Civil War Era unit.  If a student wants this writing opportunity to replace the previous score, he/she needs to see me today to sign up, and I will get the instructions to them tomorrow.  (Students who did not do the previous writing, and thus, have a zero for writing are required to complete this new writing task.)  We began our new unit, "Global Issues Come Home" by setting up new Essential Question (E.Q.) and Curiosity Questions (C.Q.) pages.  We took notes onto the bottom half of the E.Q. page while viewing "Crash Course #30."  The top 1/2 of the E.Q. page is reserved as our "themes" section in which you should occasionally reflect and see what big ideas, overarching themes are coming to mind that you might later use in your thesis for the end-of-unit (E.Q.) writing.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

KCC

Remaining students shared and submitted their research.  Scored "I Came A Stranger" context/lens work pages were returned and students were given time to edit their answers collaboratively.  They then worked collaboratively on the Unit-Closure Work Pages -- finish for homework.  Tomorrow = writing!  ; )

World History

Students finished their Reading Claim/Evidence (circles) work pages as detailed yesterday.  If more time is needed, students may get passes from me to come in during Advisory tomorrow.  Students worked on the Unit-Closure Work Pages (collaboration is invited for this work).  Additionally, students should see me today to sign up for the end-of-unit E.Q. writing; for this unit, the writing is optional for students who completed and turned in their writing last unit.  Those who did not, are required to write.

U.S. History

We viewed the last 5 minutes of the video as detailed yesterday.  "I Came A Stranger" context/lens papers were returned with scores and time given for students to collaborate to correct information on their work and to ask questions.  Students then began collaborative work on the Unit-Closure Work Pages -- to be finished in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

KCC

Students shared their research with the class.  We'll finish this in class tomorrow and then move on to the Unit-Closure Work Pages.  See me to conference about your Civil War Era papers...to put you in confident shape for the new essays, which will begin Thursday.

World History

We continued work on our layering-to-today analyses -- a reading claim/evidence (circles) work page on excerpts from the article "An American Empire?"  This will be finished in class tomorrow.

U.S. History

Research is due today -- w/ score sheet.  We viewed the first 35 minutes of "The Presidents" DVD (on youtube -- by The History Channel) -- "Cleveland to Taft" episode -- to be finished in class tomorrow.  (Take E.Q. notes and also add to the old handout "Simplified History of Presidents' Political Parties.")

Monday, April 11, 2016

KCC

Previous essays were returned to the students with scores and a lot of feedback -- process through the comments and see me with any and all questions you have before we head to the lab for our next writing on Wednesday.

World History

3rd hour finished the analysis of "Engineering an Empire: Persia" -- and turned in the pages.  In all hours we took notes from a slideshow "East-West Analysis."  If you were absent, email me and I will reply with a Google share of the slideshow.  Finally, the work page was distributed for a unit-ending, layering-to-today READING claim/evidence work page (circles page), and in some hours, work begun on it -- to be continued in class tomorrow.

U.S. History

We read aloud the score sheet for the curiosity research and then headed to the lab to work.  Research is due tomorrow.  In 6th hour we also discussed our notes on the Great Migration.

Friday, April 8, 2016

KCC

Research day!  We'll do more on Monday. If you were absent, make up 40 minutes of focused research ; )

World History

In some hours -- another presentation or two and note-taking.  We began our viewing and claim/evidence analysis (circles page) -- to be continued in class on Monday.

U.S. History

We finished note-taking from the clips related to racism at the turn of the 20th century and the film "The Birth of A Nation."  We then read a handout, "African Americans and The Quest for Civil Rights" while adding more notes to our E.Q. page.  (Remember to capture your CQs, too!)  Finally, instructions for research were distributed and reviewed -- off to the lab on Monday! 

Thursday, April 7, 2016

KCC

We finished our videos and notes started yesterday -- email me so I can send to you the video clips.  I distributed the score sheets for research; we'll go to the lab tomorrow and Monday for a total of 80 minutes of research.

World History

We nearly finished the note-taking on presentations.  Copy notes from a reliable classmate and email me so I can send to you the slide shows to view.  I distributed a claim/evidence (circles) work page that we will use tomorrow.  

U.S. History

We finished our breakdown of the poem from yesterday -- using 2 handouts of contextual info and analytical insights from an expert and in collaborative work groups.  Pick up the handouts as well as connect with a reliable classmate.  We did a brief check in on the topic of race at the turn of the century -- copy the notes from a reliable classmate (from me and from the viewed clips) and also email me so I can reply with a Google share of the three very short video clips.

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

KCC


We finished our work on the Erdrich poem today with the aid of two scholarly handouts for additional context and analysis.  See me to borrow the handouts.  We then began work on the topic of race/racism for the era...I provided a few contextual notes (see a reliable classmate) and then we took notes from a few short video clips (email me and I'll reply with a Google share of them).  We'll continue this work in class tomorrow.

World History

More presentations -- and lots of note-taking on the E.Q. page for our writing and UCWP/final exam.  If you were absent, email me and I'll reply with a Google share of the slideshows, and you'll also want to hook up with a reliable classmate to see what notes they took from the presentations that goes beyond the content in the slide images.

U.S. History

We viewed the rest of Crash Course #31 and the Alice Paul video while taking E.Q. notes, and did the same with a few excerpts about Charlotte Woodward (from Mrs. C).  A timeline was distributed and discussed.  We shifted then to the topic of Indian boarding schools by way of an Louise Erdrich poem and scholarly commentary on two handouts -- to be continued in class tomorrow.  If you were absent, email me and I'll reply with a Google share of the videos.

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

KCC

We finished taking notes (and CQs) on women's suffrage -- email me and I will reply with a Google share of the 3 short videos.  We then began work on breaking down a poem about indian boarding schools -- pick up the poem and two accompanying helper pages.  We then discussed in our groups what themes might be added to our E.Q. pages on these two topics.

World History

Research packets are due today with your score sheet.  We began taking organized E.Q. notes while classmates shared their empires research with slideshows -- one empire at a time.  Email me and I will reply with a Google share of the slideshows to you.

U.S. History

Students finished working collaboratively to pull key points from the Jane Addams obituary onto their E.Q. page (and curiosities onto their C.Q. page) -- we also discussed these key points aloud as a class.  We began E.Q. notes and C.Q. questions on the subtopic of women's suffrage -- email me and I will reply with a Google share of the three quick videos -- to be finished in class tomorrow.

Monday, April 4, 2016

KCC

Students had time to discuss their notes from Chapter 20 and to add potential themes to their E.Q. pages.  We discussed the key points from the Loewen packet from their E.Q. note pages.  (Edit notes as we discuss.)  Students then worked collaboratively to add E.Q. notes and C.Q. questions from Jane Addams' obituary (NYT) -- images shared via SMARTboard, also.  In some hours we began E.Q. and C.Q. notes on the topic of Women's Suffrage by way of info I provided orally (a few quotes from articles) and video clips.  (If you were absent, email me and I will reply with a Google share of the videos.)

World History

This is our last in-class work day on the research projects.  Slideshows should be shared with me via Google no later than 8am tomorrow a.m., and info packets (highlighted/underlined) should be ready to turn in at the start of class tomorrow.  Presentations and note-taking will begin tomorrow.

U.S. History

We discussed the key points from the Loewen packet from their E.Q. note pages.  (Edit notes as we discuss.)  Students then worked collaboratively to add E.Q. notes and C.Q. questions from Jane Addams' obituary (NYT) -- images shared via SMARTboard, also.  In some hours we began E.Q. and C.Q. notes on the topic of Women's Suffrage by way of info I provided orally (a few quotes from articles) and video clips.  (If you were absent, email me and I will reply with a Google share of the videos.)