An open mind does not always require an open mouth

Current Event Talks

2007-12-12T05:41:00.000-05:00

The second trimester has begun and along with the new trimester is the new format of current events. This week we began delivering the current events assignment in oral presentation form.

So...

* Share your experience about preparing or delivering the current event talk.
* Share your suggestions for delivering a good current event talk.
* Were you more/less nervous than you thought you would be?
* Did it go better/worse than you thought it would?
* Would you do anything different next time?

Those are just some suggestions for comments~ let's get some feedback!

Current Events: Struggles and Strategies

2007-10-30T19:58:00.001-04:00

What problems are we experiencing when completing the Current Events Assignment? If you are struggling with the assignment post comments here and ask for help from fellow students. Is it selecting an article? Finding the key points? Or is it making a connection?

I want students to do two things in this posting- leave comments if they have struggles OR leave suggestions and strategies for those that are doing well on the assignment.

Current Events- Interesting topics??

2007-10-30T19:53:00.000-04:00

Today, you handed in your third Current Events Assignment. This is going to be the first of two postings regarding current events. First, in this posting I want you to share some interesting headlines of stories that are going on around the world.

The articles you post are ones that you find interesting- they may or may not be appropriate to do a current event assignment on. I will let you know.

Write a short comment about something you read recently that other people may find interesting as well. If you know how to, create a link to the article that you are referring to…(copy and paste the website address to the comment- http://www…….)

Your comment should be in this format:

* Headline of the article
* A couple sentences about the article, or your opinion of the article
* The article’s web address (so other people can click on and read it)

Go Sox!!!

2007-10-23T10:01:00.000-04:00

The World Series begins Wednesday night this week in Boston. If you are a New England sports fan- Patriots, Red Sox, or Celtics you are experiencing possibly the best time of the region’s sports history.

The Patriots are undefeated after their first seven games. The Red Sox are in the World Series for only their 11th time in history- but yet, twice in the last four years. And the Celtics have a powerhouse team that are predicted to do big things this year.

The Patriots have sold out every home game since 1994 and the Red Sox have the second longest streak of home sellouts, filling Fenway to capacity for the 388th consecutive time!

So many lessons can be learned through participating in sports, both as a player and a fan. I would like to hear stories about experiences that bring good memories to mind that are related to sports. What memories do you have or lessons you have learned because of sports?

Was it a great catch that you made in an important game?
Maybe, it was pending time with your grandfather by going to a PawSox game at McCoy Stadium?
Or, watching your sister compete at a dance competition.

Any and all memories, experiences, feelings, or lessons learned through sports are welcome!!

Let's get moving

2007-10-10T11:29:00.000-04:00

I know that we have all been excited and preoccupied with the Patriots undefeated start and the Red Sox advancing to the American League Championship Series (not mention the Yankees being eliminated) but we need more participation in the upcoming team events.

The deadline for handing in tickets for the team breakfast at Applebee’s is fast approaching and if we do not have enough people coming then we may have to cancel it. Sell some or all eight of your tickets, return the unsold tickets and money to your homeroom teacher ASAP. Tickets are only $5 for a pancake breakfast!

IMAX field trip permission slip and money deadline is Wednesday 10/24. This is a firm deadline- if we don’t have a high enough percentage of students by then and we cannot cover the expenses of the trip that too will have to be cancelled. We currently only have 25 students who have handed it in. We also need 3 more parent chaperones to accompany us on the trip.

You wanted more “stuff” Panther team- now let’s get moving!

Temptation

2007-09-26T14:24:00.000-04:00

This week we are beginning a look at Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey. The story is about the main character, Odysseus’s, journey back to his homeland of Ithaca, Greece. Along the way Odysseus encounters many situations that test his skills, values, and decision making abilities.

One such encounter was with the singing Sirens, sea goddesses whose voices were so beautiful that sailors would be drawn to them and then their boats would crash against the rocks and sink. Leading to the drowning death of everyone aboard.

Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation of the Sirens, Odysseus plugged his ears with melted wax so he wouldn’t be able to hear the Sirens’ singing voices.

Today’s Talker: We all have encountered situations where we have had to fight the temptation to do something that we shouldn’t or didn’t want to do.

If you fell victim to the temptation, why did this happen?

Or, if you resisted it, what strategies did you use to do so?

Big plans ahead!

2007-09-14T17:24:00.000-04:00

Panther Students~

On Monday, we will have our team meeting and go over what's ahead for the week and review some of the key points of the survey. One of the big suggestions was more field trips and "fun" stuff.

Well, they are coming! We have 2 field trips booked before Christmas break and plans for two breakfasts in the morning (more details to come soon). And, as you know, we instituted activity period every other Thursday morning for a dodgeball competition.

Comments?? Ideas for other things??

Blog Guidelines

2007-09-13T21:09:00.000-04:00

A couple reminders/clarifying points regarding the class blog:

* I do want to hear your honest opinion on the topics presented, but keep any critical comments constructive. The blog is not a place for whining and complaining. It's main purpose is to start conversations in order to make the class, team, or school better or more interesting.

* Refer to the "Blogging with Mr. Howman" handout, you do have an opportunity to earn extra credit. However, your comments must show that you put some thought into the topic presented, or that you are responding to someone else's comment or question. Thoughtful/insightful comments do not necessarily have to be long, they could be one liners that are a back and forth with other students. There are certain comments that will be accepted when they are comical or silly (rather than insightful) but do not plan on counting those on the blog record form.

Any comments that do not meet the two points above will be rejected and not be posted to the site.

With that said...keep the comments coming!!!!

Room to Improve

2007-09-13T07:36:00.000-04:00

The team teachers have looked at the results of the survey you took during advisory this week and there were some very thoughtful responses. The overall team “grade” was a 2.8, not bad, but certainly could be better. Each of you took the survey but did not get a chance to share your responses with one another because it was done anonymously. However, the responses to some of the questions particularly about what makes an effective team and what roles to students and teachers play in making a team effective were insightful.

I want you respond here~ like always, you may do so anonymously but at least this time everybody gets to hear what you have to say without knowing it was you!

What makes an effective team?
What role do students have?
What role do teachers have?

5 days down 177 to go

2007-09-05T21:46:00.000-04:00

How have the first few days gone for everyone?

There have been quite a few changes this year for a looping team~ new classrooms, lockers, principal, assistant principals, science teacher, school name…!

Today’s talker: What is your opinion of the first few days of school??

Treat others the way you would want to be treated

2007-09-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

Another year has begun and I want to commend Panther students for a smooth opening two days. Yes, there are a couple issues that still need to be worked out. Molly and Kristen, don’t worry we’ll get you the right combination for your lockers! And, for all the new students thank you for bearing with us as we figured out your schedules.

Middle school can be hard enough on kids your age, never mind either switching schools or teams. We have nine students that are new to our team and I’m sure that on some level they were a little anxious to join a group that had been together the previous year. So, I want to issue a challenge to the students who were on the team last year- make the new students feel welcome. Let me give you some suggestions how you can make them feel welcome:

- If a new student looks a little lost, they probably are. Ask them if they know where they are going, and if they don’t- help them find where they are going

- Ask a new student to sit with you at lunch- once you get a chance to talk with him/her you might just make a new friend

- Exchange phone numbers or e-mail addresses to help each other with homework reminders, or if one of you is absent you can figure out what you missed

Those are just a few ways that you could help make a new student’s transition easier, but not the only ways.

I would like you to post comments about your thoughts, ideas, or experiences about any of the following:

- What are some other ways to make the new students feel welcome?

- Have you ever been in a situation where you were the “new” person? How did it make you feel? How did the people around you treat you?

- If you are a new student, how were your first couple days?

Remember, you may post comments anonymously if you want to share something but not have you name associated with it. And, you may pose questions in the comment section and respond to other people’s questions.

Welcome back!

2007-08-02T20:15:00.001-04:00

Nowadays everyone seems to be blogging~ celebrities such as Paris Hilton, sports stars like Curt Schilling, newscasters, radio hosts, journalists, and millions of other "regular" people using myspace, facebook, Google, and hundreds of other sites.

So, it got me thinking.

Can I use this 21st century technology to teach about subjects that are 21 centuries old? The answer~ maybe!

We often have insightful conversations in class, but what is said in one period may not be said in another. So, one way I can use this blog is to post insightful comments or thoughts~ so all students can hear them.

Who knows, maybe students (or parents) could write, e-mail, or talk with me about their thoughts and ideas~ not just about ancient history. But about what is happening in the world around us, the town of Coventry, or how we could make our school better.

Writing and having discussions about current events is going to be an integral part of Social Studies this year. Stay tuned for further information as to how this blog can help your grade!

This idea is a work in progress and it may or may not survive. That will depend on feedback from parents and students.

Feel free to leave a comment here (all comments will be sent to me first- then after it meets my approval it will be posted on the blog).