Reflections – First Person thoughts from You

Assignment Reflection Cover Creation (Front and Back) – due Monday September 22.  Assignment is worth fifty points.

We will try something new this year – Reflections – it will be tied solely to your black and white composition book.  At unannounced times through-out the week, hopefully two or three times, you’ll be expected to write in your journal book for the first ten minutes of class.  You are required to bring that book daily.  On the days in which you have an assigned reflection, the topic for reflection will be posted on the front white board as you walk into the room.  On days that you are Mr.Wood Reflectionsrequired to reflect come in, sit down, and get moving  as soon as you enter the room – that means  before the bell rings.

The fact that you bring your book and write will fulfill the five point project assignment of the activity.  If you don’t have your journal you’ll get a zero.  If you have an excused absence it will not count against you and you do not make up the reflection.  If your absence is unexcused you’ll receive a zero.  So make sure to get the absence excused.  I will also randomly select five journals on each prompt to keep and grade on a twenty point scale.  So, bring your book daily.  Do a good job on the writings.  Your journal will be returned the following day.  And at least in Government for the first semester this will be your entire project grade.

What to write?  Whatever moves you…I’ll provide the prompt – you provide the insight.  Make sure to begin at the top of the first available page (front side) – with the date and the title of the prompt.  After that, you go where you think you need to go.  Sometimes the topic will move you…other times it won’t.  Do your best either way.  We will often take time to discuss your writings either at that day, or the following.  And we may exchange journal books occasionally to see what kind of insights are swirling in one anothers’ brains.

For this  assignment (Reflection Cover Creation), I want you to personalize your Reflections book.  Since everything on the pages inside of the book will reflect your thoughts – lets make the covers on the front and the back do the same.

Front Cover –  take a look above at my example above.  This is me.  This is my book.  Everything on it – whether I used a computer and created it on a single paper or if I went and glued items (photos, memento’s, body parts) to the cover – they all relate to me!  This is a composition of who I am – what makes me tick.  I wanna know by looking at your cover what you are all about.  Make sure that you finalize the paper size so that  if you do it on a computer it does not overlap the journal book.  I will apply library book tape to protect your front and back.

Back Cover – take a look at my example below.  Select a quote  that reflects your philosophy of life.  I do not care what font you choose, nor the quote that you decide upon.  What I want is for you to select a quote that is what you’re all about.  Make sure , like on the front cover to check the size so that if fits without going over the edges and provide the author of the quote below his/her words.  Please spell check the quote.   I will apply library book tape to protect your front and back.

That should do it.  Then we’ll use the books regularly to reflect on issues of the world so that when that when you come down from the mountain…and the wise men ask you, “Are you a god?  Are you a man?”  You will be able to answer,  with all confidence, “I am neither mr. wise man…”I am AWAKE?”

Quotes

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The Pledge of Allegiance at Oakridge High School and in room #112

Friday September 6, 2013 marks the first day that Oakridge High School students and teachers will be exposed to a new Michigan Law concerning theus-flag-jpg Pledge of Allegiance.  Senate Bill 637 was signed into law on October 5, 2012, to take effect in the 2013/14 school year.  The law states the each public school classroom and public school building must feature an American flag, and that public school students must have the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every day while they are in school.  This law does not compel students to say the Pledge of Allegiance.  This law does not apply to charter or religious schools.

  • Go here for historical facts on the Pledge of Allegiance.
  • Go here for a history on Senate Bill 637.
  • Go here for local coverage of the implementation of Senate Bill 637.
  • Go here for the first amendment to the Constitution.  Ratified 1789.
  • Go here for the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution.  Ratified 1868.

The Pledge in Room #112 The law states that individual students must be provided an opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance.  It is my hope that in room #112  not only do students have this choice, but that they also know exactly what the Pledge of Allegiance represents.  I have set three goals for successful achievement of this State of Michigan directive.   The first and most important is that all students are proactive in their choice to stand or not to stand.  Nobody should have to look over-their-shoulder to see what their peers are doing. Know exactly what it is that is being read over the intercom.   If you feel that you need to stand – then stand with pride.  If you feel you need to sit  – then sit with purpose.  It is your call; little things matter in this world.  Secondly, any individual  who chooses to stand and say the Pledge should in no way be mocked or intimidated by another individual.  Also, any individual  who chooses to sit and not say the Pledge should in no way be mocked or intimidated by another individual.  And finally, when the Pledge of Allegiance is read over the loud speaker in room #112 students must stand or sit silently or be in recitation of the Pledge, consequently respecting their fellow citizen / student’s  right to free expression protected under the first and fourteenth amendments to the Constitution. 

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Filed under 1 Senior Current Issues, 2 Government, 3 Economics

RWE – OPTION T (Green Pizza in Detroit)

  • Go here for a PDF copy of Real World Economics Guidelines.
  • Please go here for list of reputable news sources.
  • Go here for guidelines on Active Reading RWE, ACT, and IOW

A major goal in this economics course will be to look at economics from a Real World perspective.  Instead of seeing the subject from text only,  it is important that we understand how economics affects us on a local, national,  and international scale.  In order to insure that this remains a course focus – we will spend most every Friday of the semester on Real World Economics.  Our Friday presentations will stem from two separate types of assignments.  Each of these assignments will come from current news sources.  Real World Economics will constitute the 25% project portion of your pizzaMarking Period grade.

T – TEACHER Choice – Teacher will choose Economics based news article and provide questions to go with it.  The assignment always includes a portion where students go onto the Internet to search.   Assignments are due on Friday.  Friday discussions will revolve around assigned news item.

S – STUDENT Choice – Teacher will provide you a topic and format for research.  That format is attached to the end of this syllabus.

  • RWE Assignment 1 – OPTION T (Green Pizza in Detroit)
  • (T) Assignment #1 – Green Pizza in Detroit – go here  for article.  PDF questions

 

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RWE Assignments for Economics

Real World Economics

  • Please go here for full PDF copy of RWE guidelines
  • Please go here for list of reputable news sources.
  • Please go here for excellent example of RWE presentation.

A major goal in this economics course will be to look at economics from a Real World perspective.  Instead of seeing the subject from text only,  it is important that we understand how economics affects us on a local, national,  and international scale.  In order to insure that this remains a course focus – we will spend many Fridays on Real World Economics presentations.  These presentations will stem from two separate types of assignments.  Each of these assignments will come from current news sources.  Real World Economics will constitute the 25% project portion of your Marking Period grade.  Make sure on ALL RWE Assignments (S & T) that you turn in your chosen news article in an actively read format with your completed assignment.  You will be graded on your active reading, and it will be included in the final assignment grade.  If you are working with a partner, both individuals must turn in their actively read article.

Check links below for excellent critical sources for News when researching for RWE, ACT, or IOW.


 

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Filed under 3 Economics, Uncategorized

Civil Rights Movement – Warming Up – A First Person Perspective

This assignment is worth 100 points and is due next week.  Make sure you do a good job, it will provide the bulk of your homework grade for Marking Period #1.
  • Go here for a PDF copy of the Assignment directions.
  • Go here for a PDF copy to Part One – Foot Soldiers.
  • Go here for a PDF copy to Part Two – Leaders.

One of the advantages of living in the United States is that you have so many unalienable rights.  One of our challenges is that we don’t know that.  Neither do we appreciate the advantage of availability of those rights.  If you know the history of the Civil Rights movement, you will recognize not only your rights under the Constitution, you will also know what it is like for people to stripped of those liberties merely because of the color of their skin.  And if you study the Civil Rights movement in the United States history you will know the sacrifice that people have made in this country to reaffirm those liberties, whatever the cost.

First though you need to get back in the groove.  This assignment will take you there.   On Assignment directions sheet, I’ve noted a Timeline of Events and Leaders of the Movement.  You are to choose two events and two Leaders for your concentration of study..  The choice is up to you…circle the four on this paper and proceed to research them in the following pages.  For Part 1 Foot Soldiers your insight is from no particular perspective – just a random person.  For Part II The Leaders of the movement that perspective is from your chosen individual.

You may use the forms that I have provided you for this assignment…or you can choose to type it (google docs or not) and hand it in that way.  Your call.  We will be in the computer lab for at least three days…use your time wisely.


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Filed under 2 Government