We All Fall Down 5

When you heard the manager at the other trading company tell John to go to hell when he ordered them to leave their office what do you think?

We All Fall Down 4

How would you describe John and Will's relationship?

Black History Assembly

Are we up for creating something meaningful and lasting for our Black History Assembly?

If so then we need to start NOW.

If you have a passion then say yes and share some initial thoughts.  But don't fake it if this type of thing is not for you then let us know.  I will share some of the former Remembrance Day movies to show you what you are capable off a likely by the end you will surpass what my classes have done in the past!

Random Thoughts 3

Hello Team,

The characteristic and roles of a "leader" have come into debate via the bully discussion.

What do you think are the characteristics and responsibilities of a leader?  Share some practical examples.

Random Thoughts 2

Hello Team,

Our uniform debate was lively.  I appreciate your passion for what you want to wear.

I want to make a connection between the main idea of Rebound and your strong voice on uniform.

We concluded that Rebounds main idea was "not to judge a book by its cover."  This seems like a solid a fair assessment.  And seemingly it came from our outsider perspective.

When the debate about uniform got heated the argument became that you were being denied an opportunity to express your self.

but doesn't it seem a bit telling how our ideas and perspectives change when talking about you or somebody else.  Let me explain.

We want to dress our way to show people who we are, right?   Thus we want people to "judge us" and thus focus on our appearance.  So if we are talking about us then we want to be judged as long as we control how we are to be judged.

So doesn't arguing that you want to wear what you like play against what you argued when you read Rebound?  In the context of the book you are against Judging a book by its cover but for your reality you want to create your cover so that you will be judged (just the way you want to).

Thus the lesson learned in Rebound has not gone beyond the text.

This is just a perspective - it is not right or the truth, it is rather an observation.

Please respond:

Random Thoughts 1

Hello Team,

So our bully rants and uniform discussion have seemingly fizzled out.

Here are some final thoughts:

Ms. Ang proposed an opportunity to take an active lead in anti bully awareness at Beaumonde heights and seemingly everybody agreed and took an opinion on the bullying issue.  Most agreed that bullying was wrong and indeed something should be done.

Then went it came time to plan and take a lead in planning an initiative our agreement and awareness lead to inaction.  This is a telling reality.  WE all agreed that this was wrong and that we should do something about it but were unable to do anything about it.  Motivation can not be forced it must be found and discovered within.  WE didn't find it, and this is ok, we cant fake it.

But this is why in our world bullying, racism, prejudice, environmental decay exists and may always exist cause when we as a group collectively agree that something is wrong and we are still unable to be a spark plug for change.

Thus perhaps WE are the biggest problem in creating a wonderful equitable and clean world.

It also speaks volumes about the characters in our society and throughout history that have dedicated so much to making meaningful change (Gandhi, MLK, Churchill, ect).  They have known what we have know but have used that knowledge simply as a stepping stone to creating change.  This type of dedication is in a word amazing.

So we may conveniently blame others for the problems of the world but this moment highlights the real problem.  Thats you and I.  Even with the proper knowledge and strong values we collectively do nothing.

please comment:

We All Fall Down 3 - Bush at Yankee Stadium

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZnVL-ji0tg

here is a link of the George Bush pitch at Yankee Stadium.  Take a look and related clips just to enhance your perspective and see the vibe and passion of the United States following the September 11 attacks.

This event is symbolic and very telling of the resolve of America at the time.

post a comment:

We All Fall Down 2 - "In a Word"

The footage of Septemeber 11, 2001 is:

We All Fall Down 1

Our next novel is We All Fall Down by Eric Walters

In order to maximize the reading experience we will have to have a firm and solid foundation of knowledge.

The book takes place at the World Trade Centre the morning of September 11 when the devastating attacks occured.

please view the video to get a small sample of the events.  There is a lot of videos and newclips available that you can browse through later.

then begin researching these subjects:

World Trade Centre (history of its construction and the assumptions about its ability to handle a plane crash)

George Bush (the President of the United States)

Time lines of the attacks (when the towers were hit and when the collapsed-this most be detailed and specific)

Osama Bin Laden

The War in Afghanistan

The War in Iraq

please post your findings


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJOwttgBpzE&feature=related

Rants 6

So the votes are in and most students want either a appropriate clothing or no rules dress policy.

From your perspective this is a fact and will make you happy BUT lets view this from the other perspective.  Put yourself in charge of the school and listen to this situation:

Two students show up for school wearing clothing that are disturbingly offensive.  The young man is wearing a shirt that is making fun of people of colour (any colour) along with a picture of a man giving the middle finger on the back and says "this is what I think of school"

Another young lady is wearing equally offensive clothing.  A shirt that is verbally abusive towards homosexuality.  Then on her hat there is an image of a girl smoking a joint and a catch phrase that says "lets go have fun"

Now you are the Principal and you are informed by the homeroom teachers about this clothing.  The teachers do not know what action to take because the dress code has been recently terminated by a student vote.  What do you do if anything?  what are the long term consequences in the school for whatever action you take what do you wish you had done before hand to prevent this situation?

Remembrance Day 5 - Saving Private Ryan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfh3ne88fPY

Here is the link to the clip we watched yesterday

please share your thoughts on what you saw

Remembrance Day 4 - War Vocabulary

Dictator / Axis / Allies / Bunker / Trench / Nazi / Treaty / Blitzkrieg / Radar / Winston Churchill / Provisions / Hiroshima / Genocide / Cavalry / Morphine / Bayonet / Casualty / P.O.W. / Armistice / "Iron Curtain" / McCarthyism / Communist / Holocaust / Torture / League of Nations / Guerilla warfare

There are some war vocabulary.

I will assign 1 word per student and they will look up the word and provide a definition and brief example.

Then for our next word wall quiz I will use 5 randomly selected words from this list. (Tuesday Nov 16)

Remembrance Day 3

Examine and study this photo.

The picture tells great story but you must add to those details to etch the story in your mind


1 - Describe the setting with some vivid detail.  (smell/sounds/etc)


2 - Infer what is going through the nurses mind right now (hopes/fears/anger/etc)

3 - Infer what is going through the soldiers mind right now (hopes/fears/anger/etc)

Remembrance Day 2

Please investigate and answer these questions.

When was World War I (years)?

What countries were the battles in?

Who was Prime Minister during WWI?

What was the cause of the World War II in 1939

Who was the Prime Minister during WWII

What is D-Day?

What war followed World War II (it lasted 50 years)

Who did Canada fight with/for in the Korean War?

What was Canada's role in the war in Afghanistan?

How many soldiers died in WWI? WWII?

Rants 5 - Bully Awarness

If we are serious then lets brainstorm some ideas to launch this at BHJMS

an assembly may be necessary but only to inform the school of our plan.  The assembly can not be the plan.

Ms. Ang suggested a solid colour theme day as a visual reminder.

post ideas:

Remembrance Day 1

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=history/other/remember

Check out this page on Remembrance Day.  Scroll and look though the links about, why, who, how to Remember.

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/youth/sub.cfm?source=activities/youthcorner

then check out the section dedicated to young learners

Rants IV

http://www.standupday.com/08/participants/index.php?target=pages&page_id=intro

this is the link Ms. Ang posted in her response to the Rick Mercer rant on bullies.

Check out her response on the post (Ender's Game is her profile name)

This is indeed something our class could take the lead in at BHJMS.

check out the link and post a comment about it, and how we could or if you want to try and do this at BHJMS.

Rants III - in a word our rant post was :

Rants II - Rick Mercer Rant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USgEmz5WHsA

This link is a link to the Rick Mercer Show (CBC) during the weekly show he has a rant segment check out this rant on bullying.

We want to move our "rants" away from just blogging and turn it into lively debate.

So check out further Rick Mercer Rants if you want to see it live!!!

after you watch post a comment on the Rick Mercer Rant.  What did you think!

Rants

Rants are going to be a consistent theme across the middle school classes this term.

here are some definitions

Rant:

A loud bombastic declamation expressed with strong emotion


Talk in a noisy, excited or declamatory manner


pompous or pretentious talk or writing


in a gist rants are talking with passion about something we believe in strongly...so lets start a "rant"

post about something that gets you passionate and motivated

example

I love school uniforms they are essential to high level learning.  All school should have a mandatory dress code.  This would create a better learning environment for our schools and produce more respectful young adults.  ( you can rant in response to this or begin your own rant.  be aware that being passionate and motivated does not mean or justify being rude or disrespectful, you still want to demonstrate positive listening skills and dignified responses)

Rebound X - question

answer the question what is the Main Idea of Rebound (formally).  but answer it in a word document and send the file to mrcheney@rogers.com to be evaluated.

title the email
(your name) rebound main idea

due on Friday

Mr Cheney's Class 2010 Part II

Rebound IX - Main Idea

What do you think is the main idea of Rebound?

Introduce Yourself

Hello Team,

please let me know who each of you are on the blog

Im not sure of everybody's user name

Want to evaluate the posts and need to know who is who

example:

mr cheney is Mr. Cheney

REebound VII - how has Sean changed

Rebound VI "in a word" the book was: