Happy Weekend! October 30, 2015

First quarter is officially .... DONE!  And just in time for Halloween, too!

If you did not finish the homework for today correctly, please do it over the weekend.  Behave yourself and bring me some candy!

Question-Building Part 2: October 29, 2015

Today in class, you had a chance to continue working with some evidence about our "trigger event" (inciting incident) that eventually is going to lead into the Revolutionary War.  Your job is to generate inquiry - which is a fancy way of saying, you are building questions to ask about this event that will help you understand it.

In class, you looked at a number of pieces of evidence, called inputs.  You analyzed them to figure out what you can learn from them (conclusions) and what you don't know (questions raised).  Now it's time for the last two steps:

In class, we began the process of reviewing your questions.  You did the following:

• If you can answer the question, you don't need to do anything more with it.  CROSS IT OUT.
• If you THINK you can answer the question, but you aren't sure, CIRCLE it.
• If you can't answer the question, leave it alone.

Next, COPY the questions you STILL have to answer into the last column of your worksheet.  Yes, you need to write them out again.  You can combine or reword them if needed.

Finally, get a copy of the handout given for homework.  

• Read the handout.
• UNDERLINE anything in the article that helps to answer any of the questions you still have about this trigger event.  

You may need to go back and forth a few times to check your work.  Do this.

If you need the handout again, it is linked HERE.

Question-Building: October 28, 2015

Today in class, we talked about the nature of conflict.  As we discussed in class, conflict seldom arises spontaneously - there's usually some kind of root cause, if we trace it back far enough.  The main focus of our studies this quarter is going to be the Revolutionary War, and we're starting our studies by looking at the "trigger event" that set us on the path to war.

In order to learn about this event, we're using an activity called Question-Building.  The best way to learn about something new is by asking good questions, but it can be hard to know what questions to ask.  This activity will help you formulate questions that will lead you to a better understanding of this event.

HOMEWORK:  None tonight, but be ready for some homework tomorrow.

Colonial Identity and Becoming American - October 27, 2015

We are continuing to look at how American colonists started becoming a distinct culture, one that was different from what they left behind in England.  Yesterday, we talked about why people don't like to be told what to do (not even by their government), and now we are examining how the colonists started down that path (see what I'm doing here???).

The first thing you needed for class today was your homework from last night, i.e., the completed Q2-1 assignment.  It is described and linked under yesterday's blog post if you need it.

Assignment Q2-2 - I gave you some notes in the form of a mini-lecture today.  If you misplace or lose your lecture handout, the PowerPoint is linked here.  You can get a new copy of the handout from me, or you can print it straight from the PowerPoint.

After that, we talked about summarizing what we've learned.  To recap what we discussed in class, a summary takes information and shortens it to its most critical elements.  Some tips we shared about summarizing include:

• Combine similar facts into one statement
• Cut out descriptions and details when not necessary
• Use short, bulleted statements instead of sentences
• Use key words and phrases when possible

HOMEWORK:  Summarize what you learned from the lecture and the homework by completing Q2-3, the Colonial Diagram.  If you have to finish yesterday's work first, please do so!  If you choose to color your summary, please do so neatly so I can display it!!!

Colonial Diagram

Mondays are Fun-Days, Right???? October 25, 2015

Aaaand welcome back!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, feel good about how you did on our second major assessment, and are ready to wrap up a strong first quarter and begin second quarter.  We have Halloween at the end of this week, and then we're into November, which means a LOT of things ... student conferences on the 6th; Veterans' Day on the 11th; and of course, who can forget, Thanksgiving break at the end of the month.  It's a long month with a lot of interruptions, so let's get going....

HOMEWORK:
Please complete Q 2 and 3 of the section review from Ch 5, sec. 1.  Here is the link to the online textbook.  Otherwise, you can check one out for study hall, team time, or overnight.

Wrapping up the Week: October 23, 2015

Today, periods 5 and 6 took their later colonization assessment, while my other classes finished up assessments, finished some book work assignments, and in some cases, watched a few minutes of Colonial House.  I look forward to starting a new unit with you on Monday!  Those of you who need to finish your assessments, you will have time to get that done. Have a great weekend, because it sounds like a fall classic!  Pick some apples, rake some leaves, get lots of fresh air, and we'll talk next week.

Later Colonization Assessment: October 22, 2015

So we missed per 5 and 6 today - those of you who see me then will take your test tomorrow.  If you need to finish it, you will get time in class tomorrow, or come see me during a team time or study hall.  Thanks!  Good luck!