High Schoolers Are Scary

I'm just getting back from the high school.  I went over because there were a couple of kids who have brothers or sisters over there, and I thought maybe they could help out with some stuff.  (Reading...)  I was really encouraged by how it went, but man the high schoolers have changed so much since junior high!  Parents, get ready.

Over here, when they're in the classroom they're generally well behaved.  I almost see them as high schoolers instead of junior highers - I'm not just blowing smoke.  I think of these kids as young adults - but going to the high school?  *Phwew*  Those kids aren't kids.  They're monsters.  They're huge.  They're scary.  And quite nice.  A lot of them said hi.

Sorry if you're reading this and thinking, "geez... what does that have to do with social studies?"  The answer is: nothing.  Although, it might point out that I care.  A lot.  About reading, and making sure that every kid has every opportunity to succeed.  Also, thinking outside the box...

As for social studies, we're still working on that webquest.  We'll be doing that until Friday - it's a big deal, a lot of points.  We also worked on the three monotheistic religions, and.... AND... we had a little time to read The Hunger Games. 

We labeled a chart on the three monotheistic religions... here it is. 

I wish I could figure out a way to attach documents to this blog.  If I could do that, then anytime a student was absent, they could get the work right away.  How awesome would that be?  ("Uggg... not very awesome," come the collective groans of the students used to not making up their work from absences...)

If anybody knows how to attach documents to this thing, comment on the blog and let me know.  Or you could send in how to do it with your kids extra credit slip.

Speaking of extra credit, if you want it discuss the following nonsense:
How far are you on the webquest?  Did you compare any of the laws yet?  What happened in today's reading of The Hunger Games?  How well do you know the basics about the three monotheistic religions?  Quiz each other using the chart - you can click on it to make it bigger.

To receive extra credit, write the following phrase on a scrap of paper: "What impact did the potential energy have on the kinetic energy of the sleigh?"  Whichever adult read and discussed the blog, sign that piece of paper.  ONLY SIGN THIS IF YOU DISCUSSED THE QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE BLOG!  Sorry for all CAPs.  I'm not shouting at you, but when I've already bolded and italicized this whole thing, I didn't know what else I could do to draw attention to it.  For a bonus high five tell who came up with the code/phrase/question of the day and why it's today's question.

Time and Tutoring

I don't have a lot of time to write today, since I am going to help with tutoring after school.  Our school really does offer a lot of opportunities to help our students succeed.

We worked on our Five Pillars of Faith drawings today.  We also watched a little video of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site.  Here's the video:

We compared it to the Ark of the Covenant for Judaism.

THE PICTURES ARE HOMEWORK.  IF THEY'RE NOT FINISHED, FINISH THEM NOW!

After that we worked on the webquest.  I think it went pretty well.  We'll see how they turn out.


To get the extra credit for reading the blog, discuss the following questions:

Are your pictures finished?  (Ask to take a look at them, ask what they each mean...)

How did the webquest about Hammurabi go?  How far did you get?

In order to get the extra credit for reading today's blog, write the following phrase on a scrap of paper: "If I go to China, I'm not going to go to the Nike store."  Have the adult that you read the blog with sign the paper.  Adult, by signing the paper you are signifying that you really did read the blog and discuss the questions with the kid from my class...

Online Maps

We've basically finished up the 3 monotheistic religions.  We'll come back to it next week to see how they all relate, but for the most part we're finished.

Today we looked at the Middle East.  The Middle East is predominately Islamic, so it fits right in.  (And of course it ties in with multiple standards.  Because of the continuing Reading and Math Push my students are frightfully behind on basic map skills.  The online games we played in class are a great way to help them with spacial recognition.  Don't forget, I give extra credit for every five games they play.  They can play the Middle East game right here. 
Tomorrow we're going to review Mesopotamia and Hammurabi.  I'm pretty excited about that.  I've been waiting to try out this webquest I made up.  You can take a sneak peak by clicking on Mesopotamia and Hammurabi.  ...Either one.

If you didn't do the homework over the weekend - which was to visit this blog and discuss the questions, make sure you do that.  (Friday's blog entry...)  Turn in the sheet before 8:00 AM if you want to get credit for it on your progress report.

If you want to get extra credit for reading and discussing todays blog here's what you have to do:
Click on the Middle East game link.  Challenge whoever you're reading/discussing this with to a best 2 out of three games Middle East Countries (middle column) level one.  Student goes first.

When you're finished, write the following on a piece of scrap paper: Computers are our friends.  Have the adult that played the game with you sign the paper.  Adult, by signing the paper you are stating that you really did play at least the best 2 out of 3 games.  If you got smoked and played more - bravo.

Love this one...  ...so where's the Middle East?  And Where's the Mid-West?


If you like this comic, and want to see more of this type of humor, feel free to check out xkcd here.  Enter at your own risk.  I haven't read all of the comics.

Progress Reports - This Blog is Homework

Progress reports will be coming out soon.  In fact, half of the reason for this blog entry is to bring this to your attention. 

With that said, it’d probably be a good idea to check if you’re missing any assignments.  So, go do that right now.  When you’re finished, come back and read this post.

The students here at Concord Junior High are great.  They’re respectful and hard working.  They’re intelligent – my class averages range from a low of 80% to 91%.   The students have developed a sense of empathy towards the plights of others.  I love it here.  All day running through my mind is, “I have the best job in the world.”

The problem is, sometimes teachers and kids don’t see eye-to-eye.  (I bet this happens with some of you out there as well…)  Case in point – the other day when we took the test there were some kids that were talking – good kids, mind you… I shushed the entire class and reminded them that it was, after all, a test and that the rule is if you talk you receive a zero.  A couple seconds later, I reminded the class again.  At the third reminder I went over and took ten points off their scores.  Honestly, I don’t think these kids were cheating.  Apparently, one kid needed a pencil and was asking the other – which sparked the conversation. 

At the end of the test, they asked if they could have their points back, and I declined.  It was tough; I’m not a stickler for the rules – but if you need a pencil ask me – not the person sitting close to you.  If I get sidetracked and start helping someone else, ask me again.  Your job during a test is to work on the test.  (At any rate, since then both of these students have done tons of extra credit – making up that 10 points and quite a bit more… also one loaned me his Diary of a Wimpy Kid – Cabin Fever… Greg Heffly’s a riot.)

I’m telling you this story because inevitably right before progress reports, a bunch of students will check their grades, notice a missing assignment, and claim that they turned it in – be it my class, Mr. Ogle’s, Mrs. Gowdy’s, etc…   They may have, but before anybody gets too upset, let me suggest a couple things that may have happened:

-It was turned in with no name – most common cause

-It was turned in incorrectly – wrong tray, wrong spot, etc…

-The wrong assignment was turned in

-It was thought to be turned in, but is actually still in your binder/locker/floor under your bed…

If it was an assignment from a long time ago, it may be gone.  If it is a more recent no-name, it may still be around.  Whatever the case, I suggest you look into it and quickly - grades are due Tues. morning.  More than that, though, I would ask you to look into it respectfully.  ALL of your teachers here want you to succeed.

Normally, you can get extra credit by looking at this blog.  Today, I assigned it as homework because I want you all to look at your grades.  The stakes are a little higher this year with the Student Accountability Plan, and you need to make sure you’re keeping up.  (Most of you are.  Kudos to you!)

To get credit for doing this homework assignment, discuss the following question with the adult that read this blog:

How are you keeping up with your school work?  Is there anything you’re struggling in?

Are you missing any assignments?  What are you going to do to make up the points you lost?

How do you feel about the Student Accountability Plan?

Was this a fair homework assignment?  (Adults this is directed more at you… I know everybody’s busy, but I wanted to try it out once to see how it goes.)

After you’ve discussed those questions, write the following phrase down on a scrap of paper: “I’m glad I don’t have any missing assignments.”  Have the adult you discussed this with sign the paper.  Adults, by signing the paper, you are signifying that you really did read the blog and discuss it with your child.

Natural Barriers II

We had shortened classes today because of the writing prompt: "Instant Riches."

Yesterday we discussed natural barriers a little bit.  It's interesting to me because most of the class was actually dominated by a discussion of Islam and reading The Hunger Games, yet when I wrote the blog I only really discussed natural barriers.  (That's not that interesting, you say...)  What I mean is, I spent the majority of yesterday's blog discussing something that was discussed for maybe... 10 minutes.  I just figure, we do SO much in class it'd bore you all half-to-death (or closer) to get my full lesson in text form.  Or maybe it wouldn't bore you, but who has time to read all that?

So, today we went more in depth on the whole "natural barrier" thing.  Students had to circle four of China's natural barriers, and one (I bet you can guess what it is) of China's man-made barriers.  Then they went to the board and showed us where those barriers were.  (You'll notice this ties in much nicer with the actual standard: 7.3.10: Describe the limitations that climate and land forms place on land or people in regions of Africa, Asia and the Southwest Pacific.  China, being in Asia... Panem, of course, is in a fictional dystopic North America... 

Last year I emailed a website and received permission to use a map I found online.  I'm not sure if that includes posting it to my blog, so I emailed them again this year.  If they ask me to take it down, I will... but I can't imagine them doing that.  They seemed so nice.  *EDIT: They emailed and said I could post it on here.  Thanks worldatlas.com.*END EDIT*  Anyway, here is what it looked like when the students finished showing the natural barriers:

The map came from THIS website.  It wouldn't hurt to check them out.  In case you want to see this map without all the writing on it, you can find it HERE.

Officially, we're still studying religions, but everything overlaps so much, it made sense to do this now.  Tomorrow, back to Islam.


If you want extra credit, discuss the following questions with an adult: How did you do on the writing prompt?  What did you write about?  So, natural barriers, huh?  Those are pretty crazy.  That's not a question.  I know... ummm... can you make it into one?  Some question about China and natural barriers, and how it affects the people and surrounding cultures.  BAM!  In order to get the extra credit points, write the following phrase on a scrap of paper: If I get murdered in the city, don't go revenging in my name.  One person dead from such is plenty, no need to go get locked away.  Adults, by signing the paper, you're saying that you really did discuss those ummm... "questions" with whoever's in my class.  ...I realize they're not all questions today... sorry about that.  : )