Poetry

David - Poetry

We are going to write 2 ACROSTIC poems about David from Rebound.  

The challenge is you are going to write them from two different perspectives.  The first will be from David as he writes a poem about himself.  The second will be from a different character of your choice (Sean, Scott, Lisa, his mother).  Be clear to identify which character it is for both your poems. 

Check out the link below to review how to write one.

http://www.creative-writing-now.com/types-of-poems.html


Post your poem and comment on 2 others

The Power of Music

The Power of Music 

"I Was Here" was our winning inspirational song but is music really an instrument of change?

Is music an effective way to change the world and make it a better place? 

Is music a good way to get people to change? Provide a specific example to justify your position? 

When you are finished making your post get involved with some dialogue with other students. 

Rebound - The Ravine

Rebound - The Ravine

It’s a powerful scene in the book as David and Sean stare out over the dangerous ravine and David shares the intimate details of his injury and rehab.  Again we see that David is convinced that he will walk again and violently throw his wheelchair from this spot and watch it explode into a million pieces. 

1.        Will David’s predictions turn into reality? Yes or No? support your position with facts from the book.

2.        Did Sean’s day in the wheel chair work?  What do you think Sean has learned? And how will this change his actions?

Answer these 2 questions and then dialogue and chat with 2 other students debating the likelihood of David getting to destroy his chair and how much Sean will change.  

Quiet Reading DEAR

Quiet Reading DEAR

1. Why did you choose the book you are reading?
2. Tell me something interesting from your reading this morning (an event, a character, a fact)
3. Recommend this book to someone in the class and tell them why you are recommending the book to them.  

Rebound - The Mall

Rebound - The Mall

1. Should Sean feel awkward and reluctant to go to the mall with Daivd ?  

2. Will Sean truly understand David now that he has gone to the mall in a wheel chair with him?

3. Why is David taking such a massive risk going down the escalator?

Pick 2 students to respond and debate with

True Grit

True Grit

Short Version

Long Version

Expanding on the ideas of student success and importantly engagement and motivation.

Tell me one item that homeroom teachers could do to support your GRIT by creating things that are engaging and motivating.  Explain in detail what you would suggest and how it would encourgae more Grit in students.

Then find two other students posts and challenge and question their suggestions.  

Rebound - David and his injury

Rebound - David reckless?!

David fell and smashed his face and his wheelchair when he apparently tried to jump down stairs in his wheelchair.  

He was described as Reckless by his mom and Sean. 

Is David RECKLESS? or is he something else?

First identify what Reckless is

Then justify with evidence that David is reckless / if you do not think so find a new word to describe him and justify your position. 

Chat with 2 other students about the words they choose or the example they choose.  Ideally people with opposing view points to create more meaningful dialogue  

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day

Examine the picture below and post a specific and compelling story describing it.

Check out this webpage to get a brief idea of what war and battle was like (15 min of exploring)

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war

Your Text can be from a 1st or 3rd person perspective

It should be rich in details that include visuals but also descriptions of sounds, smells, and other senses

Homework

Homework

Hey Team

I posted this article yesterday on my twitter page.  It is a blog talking about homework for students.  It asks if you are assigned too much homework and wonders if it actually hurts student achievement.

Read the article and then answer these questions:

1. Do you agree with the article? why provide a specific example?

2. Do you work as hard as the students mentioned in the article (staying up late everyday and waking up early to finish) 
- How much time do you spend on work
- How much do you read on a nightly basis

3. Could your parents handle the work load?

4. Respond to 2 other students and challenge their assumptions on homework. 



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/vicki-abeles/when-homework-does-more-harm-than-good_b_4021926.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Education

Leadership and Motivation

Leadership and Motivation 

Check out this playful video on leadership and motivation.  

Use your critical eye and evaluate this video for its effectiveness!

Does this video inspire you? why or why not? Give specific explanation and evidence. 

Next, find another student with a different opinion and try to convince that student to agree with your evaluation.

Rebound - Scott

Rebound - Scott

Scott is Sean's best friend from last year.  The two students had plenty of fun and plenty of trouble in grade 7.  

Sean wants a fresh start in grade 8 but Scott has turned to smoking and tongue rings they seem to be on different paths.

Do you like Scott? Why or why not?

Who is a bigger problem for Sean? David and his short temper or Scott and his smoking?

Will Scott and Sean remain friends like they were in grade 7 this year in grade 8? Make a prediction.

Post your responses and then engage in debate and dialogue with 2 other students.

Rebound - Meeting David

 

 

 

We have met and seen David.  He seems to have a variety of traits (anger and joy) and seems COMPLEX.

1.  What are your first impressions of David? Do you like him? Why or why not.

2. Could you be his friend? explain why or why not. 

Post your responses and pick 2 others to have discussion with about David. 

Rebound Chapter 2

Rebound Chapter 2 - The Punishment

Chapter 2 was a eye opener to how we make judgements, use our bias, and make moralist stands while sitting at our desk.   

at our school desks we can be exceptionally self righteous 

1. In the real world had closely to Mr McCulley would you have responded to the fight?
2. Sean commented that people will see it "wrong" what does that mean and is this true?

Answer the 2 questions but also respond to 2 other people by commenting on there posts.  Ask questions and challenge their positions.  This should generate dialogue and bring out the real value in blogging.

Welcome Grads of 2014

Welcome to the Blog.

Lets get started...

1. You have to set up a Gmail account (do this with your parents)

2. With that email post a response on this blog post.  Create a user profile (your first name) when prompted. 

3.  In your first post response share your top 3 goals for your graduating year at BHJMS (Things to consider BAC, Sports teams, Valedictorian, Graduation Awards)  

Lets Get Blogging... 

#80BEE

Writing

Writing 

1. Copy out your best or favorite journal response from the month of May.

2. Peer evaluate 2 other responses (comment on: use of vocabulary, paragraphs/organization, punctuation and use of evidence.)

3. comment on 3 peer evaluations towards other students that your found to be most productive and helpful and describe why you thought so. 

at the end you will have minimum 6 posts 

Simple Ideas

Simple Ideas and Scientific Discoveries

Hey Team watch the video and post your comments.

What were you surprised to learn?

What information will you share with a friend or parent and why? 

Predict that next great scientific discovery 

Thursday May 23

Thursday May 23

English and Math 

 

The Gold Book

I got this powdered water - now I don't know what to add.

Journal Response 

1. Imagine you wake up and you are no longer in your own bed at home. Instead you are freezing cold, lying on your back and gazing at the stars. Slowly you stand and notice you are on a large ocean liner; its funnels clear against the moonlight. You turn to read the name on one of the lifeboats and your heart lurches; 'HMS Titanic'. Describe what happens next.

Share your best idea from the story you wrote but highlight where you got the idea from a book, show, movie, own imagination.  

The key component is understanding how we use our previous knowledge and memory to construct our writing.

Respond to 3 other students as well and create some dialogue back and forth about the thigs that influenced your story.  

Tuesday May 21

Hey Team,

Welcome back to the blog.

use the net books in class today to repost and share your journal response.

Is fashion a good thing, or not? How does fashion effect BHJMS middle school? Explain your answer.

We All Fall Down

We All Fall Down 

Share your responses to the George Bush journal topic. 

  We watched the 10^th anniversary interview with George Bush jr and he gave his personal account of the events of the infamous day on September 11.  Is George Bush a Hero and protector of the FREE world, democracy and freedom or a WARMONGER interfering in other countries right to govern.  How can his character traits be applied to your expectations of teachers role as leaders and your own role as a leader?

This video is from New York Yankee Stadium at the World Series 1 month after the 9/11 attacks.  Its one of the most symbolic moments of George Bush's presidency and his resolve to stand stand tall and strong.
 

This movie trailer is from a film that denounced George Bush for how he dealt with 9/11

George Bush Hero or Villain?

Education - Need for Reform?

Education - Need for Reform?

This is an AWARD winning education speech from TED.  Similar to Ken Robinson it challenges the present day system, but contrary to Robinson, this speech highlights a whole new computer driven, self directed approach. 

Watch the video (20 minutes)

1. What did you find the most interesting thing in this speech? 

2.  Do you agree or disagree that we should change school to be like the one he describes? Why or Why not?

3. Would this work at BHJMS?

4. comment on 1 other posts that take the opposite position on this topic and have a back and forth discussion on the merits of the argument.   

Bully Awareness

Bully Awareness

Our Journal topic and reflection revealed a realization that wearing Pink shirts is only the beginning.  If there is no substantial follow up then the initial moment becomes insignificant.  

Watch the below video and share your thoughts?

How big an issue is bullying at BHJMS?

Should the Grade 8s be taking an active role in making BHJMS a safe a inviting place without bullying?

How could the grade 8s do this?

Rebound RSA

Rebound Culminating Activity 

Hey #80BEE

Read the article posted below.  It is a web page from a teacher who made RSA videos in in history class.  Specifically read the section about his difficulties in recording and planning so you wont make the same mistakes. 

Also watch the videos his students made for inspiration and provide an example of what can be done.  Obviously in 80BEE style we want to expand and go big #ALLIN

Post comments sharing things you found interesting or important. 

http://blogush.edublogs.org/2012/12/26/how-to-make-rsa-animate-style-videos-with-your-class/ 

Rebound - THE END

Rebound - THE END

Rate the book from 1 - 5 and explain why you give the book this rating!

1 being lame like my star wars tee shirts and 5 being awesome like your math video's!

Consider things like characters, emotions, engagement, and realism. 

Once you have made your statement being dialogue with 2 other students and ask questions about their post.  Asking how they felt about characters and the final conclusion of the story.

Finding students that have different ratings will be a good place to get dialogue flowing. 

RSA

RSA Anime Video

This is our next project!

RSA whiteboard videos that will tell the story of Rebound.

Watch the videos and post some thoughts about creating groups and formulating ideas. 

Predicting Success

Predicting Success 

Read this article about how to predict a students level of success

How To Predict Students Level of Success

1. List 5 characteristics of your close friends? (no names of your friends)
2. Do you display any of the same characteristics?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the argument? Why? Provide specific examples. 

Creativity

Creativity

Welcome back #80BEE

Check out this video on Creativity by Ken Robinson ( we watched his lecture on creativity a few months ago)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&list=PLuUI-SqNjGNE6GKFC_X042W4sVf51-rWu&feature=player_embedded

This video is challenging the role of education and the need for reform!

1. Do you agree or Disagree with the arguments he makes? be specific and make connections from BHJMS.

2. How could you apply any of the suggestions he makes at BHJMS?

3.  How did you like video? The style it was shot in to grab your attention

Application:

We are going to make a RSA video like this as our culminating project for Rebound!  I posted on twitter how you make these videos and shows how a class in the United States made them as well.