The Roaring 20s, Day 1 - Class Recap

A bridge to the next unit today! This is a photo I took in New Zealand in 2014.

Dear class,

Hello again! It was great to be with you all today as we wrapped up our last unit and moved on to the next one. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
KNOWLEDGE ALT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.

Soundtrack: "Down Hearted Blues” by Bessie Smith. Selected for today because it is a famous 1920s song and Bessie Smith was an African-American woman. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/10/20:
News Brief - Rob
Tightrope
Roaring 20s
Air Travel

Homework: Read the blog! Next news brief: Kaden.

News Brief: Rob had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: NYTimes.com - Coronavirus Updates: China Reports Record in Daily Deaths as It Struggles to Return to Work. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Kaden was assigned to do the next news brief.

Today's Black History Month fact is that the Civil Rights Act was passed by the House of Representatives on this day in 1964.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):

BBCNews.com - One-minute World News

Tightrope: Next, I did a book talk on "Tightrope: American Reaching for Hope" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. I went with my wife to see the authors speak last week and thought the book very much related to our unit on the American Dream: Revisited that we just completed! If you are interested in reading the book, I will have a copy in class.

Roaring 20s: For our next unit, we are going to learn a bit more about what happened 100 years ago in the United States, right after World War I. To begin, I went through this PowerPoint with the class as students took Cornell notes (we will review these notes next class to add a summary and questions):

Google Drive - The Roaring 20s Introduction PowerPoint

This was a time in America of a lot of changes, and also a lot of growth of the United States in many ways (which is why it's called the "Roaring" 1920s). We will continue to learn about this era in the classes to come!

Today's class ended on slide 19, on Marcus Garvey.

Air Travel: We did not get to this in class, but I'm eager to talk about it next time. See you then!

The American Dream: Revisited, Day 4 - Class Recap

Serena Williams in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open tennis tournament in New York City (see today's Black History Month fact). Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

We wrapped up our mini-unit on revisiting the American Dream today. Here's what happened today in class:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Communication LT 1: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Critical Thinking LT 5: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

AGENDA 2/6/20:
News Brief - Samantha
Socratic Seminar Debrief
The Line
Discussion

Homework: Read the blog! Complete and turn in any Socratic Seminar materials if you have not yet. Next news brief: Rob.

News Brief: Samantha had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: NBCNews.com - WEATHER Multi-day major winter storm marches east affecting travel for millions. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class. There is also a LOT going on in the news in the United States, so we tried to talk about and understand that.

Rob was assigned to do the next news brief.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):

BBCNews.com - One-minute World News

Today's Black History Month fact is that on February 6th, 1993 (27 years ago today), Arthur Ashe (the first African-American winner of the Wimbledon tennis tournament) died. He was a pioneer in tennis and the biggest tennis stadium in the world (at the US Open in New York City) is named after him.

Socratic Seminar Debrief: I wanted to check in and see what students thought about how the class discussion on the American Dream went last class. It's usually a bit awkward unless we practice and talk about what could go better, so I was happy to hear the feedback and thoughts for what went well and what could be improved. Thanks for sharing, everyone!

The Line: Next, the class watched a short documentary called "The Line" about the poverty line. As we wrap up our revisiting the American Dream unit, I wanted to show just how difficult it is to rise out of poverty, even with a lot of hard work and determination. Here's the worksheet passed out in class:

Google Drive - "The Line" Documentary Questions

Here is the documentary itself:

Discussion: After the film, we discussed the documentary and our thoughts on it, then students turned in their completed worksheets. Next class, we will begin our unit on the Roaring '20s in the United States! Thanks for your work on this first unit, everyone!

The American Dream: Revisited, Day 3 - Class Recap

This is one of my favorite pieces of art that has been on display in a local gallery in downtown Portland. I love it, but not enough to spend $5,000 on buying it! Photo taken in March 2017.

Dear class,

Most of today was devoted to a discussion about the American Dream and if it is a possible reality for everyone. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Communication LT 1: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Critical Thinking LT 5: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

Soundtrack: "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. Selected for today to start our month of soundtracks from Black artists, as a part of recognizing Black History Month, and because students were in control of the class conversation today. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/4/20:
News Brief - Marbella
Black History Month
Socratic Seminar
Debrief

Homework: Read the blog! If you missed class and/or did not participate in the discussion today, I would like you to write a page summary about your thoughts on if the American Dream is attainable for everyone. Next news brief: Samantha.

News Brief: Marbella had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: ESPN.com - Andy Reid gets his 222nd career win and his 1st Super Bowl victory. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class.

Samantha was assigned to do the next news brief.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):

BBCNews.com - One-minute World News

Black History Month: Because the month of February is designated as Black History Month, I will be seeking to incorporate some ways of recognizing it in class. The soundtrack will be one aspect, and another will be to share a fact or two relating to Black history surrounding the day our class meets. Since today is February 4, the fact is that Rosa Parks was born on this day! In the past, I have had students volunteer to share in class about important figures in Black history - let me know if you would be up for doing this!

Socratic Seminar: Next, we had a Socratic Seminar discussion on the question: "Is the American Dream attainable by everyone?" We prepared for this last week, by going through this packet with readings with opinions about the status of the American Dream:

Google Drive - American Dream Socratic Seminar Materials

The packet was be turned in and assessed for a Critical Thinking grade, in combination with the Communication grade from the Seminar.

The second page of the packet asks students for their thoughts on if the American Dream is attainable by everyone, and for some higher level questions. This formed the basis of the conversation today in class, as we circled up and had two different groups have a conversation.

Debrief: After the discussion, I asked students to complete this self-assessment form (which was available on Google Classroom as an electronic copy):

Google Drive - Socratic Seminar Reflection

Thank you for your participation and the interesting conversation today, everyone! I enjoyed hearing your thoughts! We will wrap up this mini-unit next class, and then move on to the next one.