So it has been a few days since I have posted. I guess I needed the time to recuperate from the North Carolina sports disaster that was Saturday. I went from following three sports to just one in a matter of a few hours. First, the Washington Capitals beat the Florida Panthers securing the final playoff spot in the east and eliminating the Carolina Hurricanes in the process. Well, it is actually the third spot since the Capitals won the southeast division. Hockey - done. Then UNC Tar Heels get their @ss handed to them by the Kansas Jayhawks in their Final Four match up. College basketball - done.
But at least I still have baseball. Ahh, baseball. How relaxing. A sport you can truly fall asleep to. Perfect for the long days I have off in the summer. And how about those Mets? Last place already. Great. If it weren't for fantasy baseball, I guess I wouldn't really care about baseball yet.
Yesterday, was my birthday. I turned 37 yesterday, but I don't feel any older than I did last week. In fact, in my mind I still think I am in my early twenties, but my body will, from time to time, remind me that I am not doing enough to keep it feeling as young. I did work on my birthday. It was a teacher workday. This is a day without students where teachers get the chance to catch up or get ahead in their plans or grading. Fortunately I was able to use it for some of both. Since the marking quarter ended with the beginning of spring break, I had one set of papers to grade and enter into the grade program at school. So, even though I officially worked yesterday, any day without the students doesn't feel like work. Last night we went to dinner at Biaggi's. For desert I had the cannolis - two sweet ricotta cream filled shells - my favorite. But what was even better, the waiter saw that one of the cannolis was not filled completely, so he brought a third. Bonus! Happy Birthday to me!
School is back in after Spring Break. The students seemed rested, and apparently, I am as well. I was at work this morning before 6:30 (I don't officially have to be at work until 6:55). I got a few last minute things done before class began. And when it did begin, I was ready! My energy level was high and my lesson plan was working. I had a good day. It is always a good day when I mix up the activities we do in class. Today the students in World History, for example, began with seat work (locating map items) followed by researching people of the Scientific Revolution, then on to discussion about those people, and finally a crossword puzzle to end the period. We'll see how tomorrow goes.
Showing posts with label world history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label world history. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
October 9, 2007
Perceptions to a teenager are a very different thing than that of an adult. Disrespect take on an entirely new meaning in the hands of a 17 year old. Apparently, being disrespectful includes a teacher trying to teach ignoring a student who asks an unrelated question about the color of the grass outside. While respectful includes a students turned around talking to another student when the teacher is trying to teach. (Oh, by the way, this is the same senior who yesterday didn't know what a mosaic was).
I am still a bit disappointed in the way I am being forced to teach in order to keep up with the frenetic pace of the curriculum, especially in World History. The thought of teaching the history of the world in 90 90-minute periods is frightening. How can a teacher give any justice to vast history of any single culture when asked to teach under such conditions? It could be done, if I ask my freshman students to do independent research night after night on each of the civilizations we discuss. But I am not sure that would go over too well with a majority of the parents or any of the students. Even though there are fewer curriculum goals for World History than for Civics & Economics, many of the goals require instruction of entire civilizations in order to accomplish the task.
Today's Headlines:
Here To Stay (Slate.com)
When will people in government do what they swore to do the day they took office: defend and protect the Constitution of the United States?
Presidential Oath of Office:
Congressional Oath of Office:
If we as citizens of the United States of America, the greatest place in the world to live, continue to allow our civil liberties and freedoms to be eroded, we will not be able to proclaim such greatness. Our government will dominate us, silence us, oppress us. This is one "slippery slope" that once embarked upon will be difficult to take back. It is fear of our invisible enemies that will cause us to give up our most basic protections. But who will then protect us from our own government? The basic premise in the Declaration of Independence is the protection of natural rights. That we are all entitled to "life, liberty, " and property. [Thomas Jefferson changed the contemporary notion from "property" to "the pursuit of happiness" because of his problem with the institution of slavery, although he owned slaves himself.] What we are allowing to be created is a situation not unlike ancient Rome. The greatest empire on Earth allowed itself to become a dictatorship, instead of defending republicanism, in order to protect itself from the potential for civil war due to the disparity between the patricians and the plebeians. History is destined to repeat itself if we allow the expansion of eavesdropping powers and other violations of rights by the National Security Administration (NSA).
Again, "the Price of Freedom is eternal Vigilance."
Listen up! soccer parents, here's the drill (Newsobserver.com)
Yes, a nice article with which end today's entry. Although the article was inspired by parents who could not get along at a youth soccer game, it still contains some good advice. The main message is to be realistic. We are talking about kids here. Do not expect them to be more than kids. It is a difficult thing for grown-ups to learn. I had a difficult time with it myself. Teaching is made even more difficult if this simple rule cannot be remembered. Once I understood it, my job became infinitely easier. Allow kids to be kids, if you expect them to be adults too soon you will only be disappointed when they act like kids. Now, the most difficult part of my job is dealing with adults who act like kids. How can I overcome that?
I am still a bit disappointed in the way I am being forced to teach in order to keep up with the frenetic pace of the curriculum, especially in World History. The thought of teaching the history of the world in 90 90-minute periods is frightening. How can a teacher give any justice to vast history of any single culture when asked to teach under such conditions? It could be done, if I ask my freshman students to do independent research night after night on each of the civilizations we discuss. But I am not sure that would go over too well with a majority of the parents or any of the students. Even though there are fewer curriculum goals for World History than for Civics & Economics, many of the goals require instruction of entire civilizations in order to accomplish the task.
Today's Headlines:
Here To Stay (Slate.com)
When will people in government do what they swore to do the day they took office: defend and protect the Constitution of the United States?
Presidential Oath of Office:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, reserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
- United States Constitution, Article II, section 1, paragraph 8.
Congressional Oath of Office:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter, so help me God.
- Act of Congress, 1884
If we as citizens of the United States of America, the greatest place in the world to live, continue to allow our civil liberties and freedoms to be eroded, we will not be able to proclaim such greatness. Our government will dominate us, silence us, oppress us. This is one "slippery slope" that once embarked upon will be difficult to take back. It is fear of our invisible enemies that will cause us to give up our most basic protections. But who will then protect us from our own government? The basic premise in the Declaration of Independence is the protection of natural rights. That we are all entitled to "life, liberty, " and property. [Thomas Jefferson changed the contemporary notion from "property" to "the pursuit of happiness" because of his problem with the institution of slavery, although he owned slaves himself.] What we are allowing to be created is a situation not unlike ancient Rome. The greatest empire on Earth allowed itself to become a dictatorship, instead of defending republicanism, in order to protect itself from the potential for civil war due to the disparity between the patricians and the plebeians. History is destined to repeat itself if we allow the expansion of eavesdropping powers and other violations of rights by the National Security Administration (NSA).
Again, "the Price of Freedom is eternal Vigilance."
Listen up! soccer parents, here's the drill (Newsobserver.com)
Yes, a nice article with which end today's entry. Although the article was inspired by parents who could not get along at a youth soccer game, it still contains some good advice. The main message is to be realistic. We are talking about kids here. Do not expect them to be more than kids. It is a difficult thing for grown-ups to learn. I had a difficult time with it myself. Teaching is made even more difficult if this simple rule cannot be remembered. Once I understood it, my job became infinitely easier. Allow kids to be kids, if you expect them to be adults too soon you will only be disappointed when they act like kids. Now, the most difficult part of my job is dealing with adults who act like kids. How can I overcome that?
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