The Digital Broadside
News You Can Use
Jake and Elwood at Glen Allen
Sharing|Drop-a-thon
The first rule is, "Share everything."
As Social Studies teachers in Henrico County, this should be especially true. We all have too much on our plate, so recreating the wheel can waste time. Last year I created a Dropbox account to help us gather good instructional material that we can all share and use. Basically, the rule was: Add stuff. Borrow stuff.
The folders are more organized with specific SOLs. This summer, some of the folders got cleaned up, but it still needs more work.
So please start adding to and using the Dropbox. And don't just add upcoming things. Add instructional materials for second semester, too.
We are low on Civics and Government resources, as well as 11th Grade US History. Right now we have 3.4 gigs of material in the site. For some reason, they don't count items, just size. But it started at zero.
Please add test banks, unit tests, reviews, handouts. It DOES NOT need Instructional Planners.
In Defense of Good Lecturing
In a nutshell, the author admits that there is good and bad lecturing. He talks about 4 types of lectures:
- Interactive Lecture
- Problem Centered Lecture
- Comparison Lecture Method
- Thesis-Driven Lecture
National History Bee
It does cost $150 for a school, so maybe the PTA can help. To see what it does, click the video below.
Liberty in North Korea
Check out the video below for what you might see. If interested, let me know. They will be in Richmond Oct. 9 and 10.
Teacher Opportunities
First Freedom Center Essay Contest
Students must register by November 17, 2014.
See Freedom Speak
High School Student Seminars (by online registration only, two students and one teacher per school) – Day-long instructional activity for students and teachers to gain accurate knowledge, discuss events and engage in conversations with people who were present at history changing events in America. Free.
October 17 (Friday) – Global War on Terrorism - Four Days at the Pentagon
Guest Speaker: Author Major Dan Pantaleo, USMC (Ret.)
(Click here for more information and to register)
February 4 (Wednesday) - Vietnam - Lessons Learned
Guest Speaker: BG John “Jack” W. Nicholson, USA (Ret.) – former Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission and Vietnam Silver Star Recipient
March 18 (Wednesday) - World War II Round table
Guest Speaker: Peter Bacque - Army veteran and Staff Writer for the Richmond Times Dispatch along with WW II veterans
Virginia Social Studies Conference
This year's statewide Social Studies conference will be held in the Sheraton Hotel in Tyson's Corner. It will be October 24 and 25. To attend, check with your school building administration. Last year it was in Roanoke, so not a lot of people were able to attend. Hopefully, more people will this year.
Virginia Historical Society
Click here for more information.
Registration has started and the first class begins Sept. 24.
Instructional Ideas
Patriots on Trial
Students worked as partners to prosecute (two students) and defend (two students) historical figures like Ben Franklin, Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, and others. Students researched online, collaborated in a Google Doc, and used historical evidence and documents to argue their case.
After each side presented their evidence, students used Poll Everywhere on their smart phones to determine innocence or guilt.
Best quotation, from his defense team, "Give Patrick Henry liberty, don't give him death."
Side note: Franklin innocent. Patrick Henry guilty.
EverFi Commons
All you need are the correct codes and students can then self-enroll. Codes have been emailed to your department chairs.
The beauty of the site is that it tracks the students for you. You do little work!!
Vocabulary|Study Stack
Furthermore, I saw a YouTube video about using a spreadsheet to help students import their vocabulary. It's awesome, and here's a link to the spreadsheet I made as an example.
Here's how it woks in a simple of a way that I can write it:
- The spreadsheet is only 4 columns
- The first two columns are the only columns the kids use
- The last two columns are auto-generated b/c of formulas
- The student types in the vocabulary word in the first column
- This creates a link to an online dictionary in column 4
- Students retype/copy/paste the definition into column 2 (rewording would be best to help them remember)
- Once they type in column 2, column 3 auto fills
- Students then log into their Study Stack and pastes column 3 into the import box.
- Done... they can now play games
It seems like a lot of steps, but watching if you see it done, it's easy. By typing in definitions on their own, this helps the student learn vocabulary at one level. By quickly being able to add maybe dozens of words into Study Stack is a quick and easy way for students to have a study tool for later.
More APUSH Redesign and AP Gov Videos
He also has videos for AP Government. Check out the videos below.
APUSH and Gilder Lehrman
Making YouTube Better
Zaption also keeps student data so you can see how well your students did on the questions.
This can probably be a tool students use for class projects. Here's an example of one I made for Constitution Day.
Create Critical Readers #rigor
To access the one I created, sign up as a student, and then use class code eea03 to sign in. That's how kids would join your class. Once you're in, you'll see the reading assignment. Just answer the questions while you read.
Trivia and Other Balderdash
Trivia 2014 - 2015: Teachers- 2 and Me- 1
This week: Who won for the best party in Iceland?
Last week: No one guessed at all.... I'm on the board!
Which member of a current day basketball team helped defeat the Soviet Union? Pope John Paul II... an honorary member of the Harlem Globetrotters.
History in the News
- Right now, our new war is the big news. A discussion can be made that President Obama is keeping the the streak alive as the fourth President in a row to start bombing Iraq. Another interesting part of this is how social media is playing a part in the war.
- Ebola: Disease has made it to the history books before, especially when it wipes out millions of people. Every day, new numbers come out for what Ebola can do to West Africa if it's not put in check. Will this happen? A great discussion on the international reaction to Ebola.
TestTube: A Daily News Channel for Students
TeacherFit
So let's take my journey. I decided on running. Why? I could start for free... basically. Since I had shoes, shirts, and shorts, I could run. Anywhere. Since then, I've dropped a few Benjamins on my running gear, but it's been worth it.
So here's how you can start running, stay motivated, and make it fun:
- If you've never run, go for a walk. Today. Really... it's nice outside.
- You can start with just about anything in your house, but you'll probably want to get a nice pair of running shoes. I'd suggest going to a running store and have them measure your foot and look at your stride. Seriously, you'll be amazed at the information they can tell you about how you run, the width of your foot, etc...
- Find a support group. You can join training teams, but you can also find groups on Facebook and Pinterest to help you get started. There are 1000s of people out there who get very excited when someone starts running.... Tell me! I'll be just as excited for you.
- Here's a training program that works very well. It's called "Couch to 5k." It builds you up so you can run a 5k.
- Enter into a 5k! Once you drop $30 on a race, you'll be more motivated to keep going out there. Most 5ks are charitable, so you're bound to find one that you'd like to donate to.
- Brag about running. Most people will think you're crazy for running more than a mile, and once someone calls you crazy for that, you'll want to run 2 miles.
- It's flexible. You don't have to wait for a gym to open, or drive to a gym. Just open your front door whenever you're awake.
- Keep data! It's fun to see your growth over time and helps get other people motivating you. There are apps like Nike+, Runtastic, and others.
I should probably give the typical disclaimer: please seek input from your doctor before trying anything new in life.
Contact Information
Email: mjhasley@henrico.k12.va.us
Website: blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/mjhasley
Location: 3820 Nine Mile Road, Richmond, VA, United States
Phone: 804 652-3752
Twitter: @MikeHasley