Week of January 3, Teen Homelessness

Hi everyone,

This week we will explore further the issue raised by Clevins Brown in In My Shoes, teen homelessness.

Please go to this link to read about myths related to teen homelessness.

Now go to this link to learn about the causes and follow the links to see what you can do.

Finally, answer these questions in Google Docs:

1. What did you learn from the film "In My Shoes"? What lasting impressions did it leave with you?
2. What myths did you believe about teen homelessness? What do you now know isn't true?
3. What do you think you can do to help end this problem?

Post your answers to our class blog and then respond to your classmates' posts.

Week of December 13, reflections...

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to do two things in our blog:

1. Evaluate our day with the St Luke's buddies.
2. Look more closely at the issues Jen Nebalsky taught us about yesterday

Please answer the questions below in Google Docs about our visit with St Luke's:

1. What was the best part of our day together and why?
2. What do you wish we had more time for and why?
3. What did you learn about bullying that you hadn't thought about before?
4. What would you enjoy doing when we visit St Luke's in the spring?
5. Anything else?

Please post your answers to our class blog.

Attached here are photos of Phanice Ongera, we are raising money to help her to get to college. She is 19 yrs old.

Finally, please visit this link to learn more about health sanitation in Kibera.

Now answer these questions in Google Docs:

1. How do you feel about this situation and why?
2. Are you willing to help? If yes, when where and how will  you do it? Commit!

Please post your answers to our class blog.

Week of December 6, class grades

Hi everyone,

This week we will determine our grades.

• I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to theEngrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this.

• Now please answer the questions below inGoogle Docs:

• Please give me feedback(comments/suggestions) about your experience in the class. Please be specific and honest as this will help make the class better for you and everyone else in the coming semester.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period? Why? Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why? Please be specific.
3. Do you feel you have changed in any way as a result of your participation in this class? If yes, how?
4. Were there any activities/projects/topics that I didn't cover that you want us to cover?Which ones?
5. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )? Please be specific.
6. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
7. Where are you doing community service? How many hours have you done so far? What have you learned or gained from volunteering?
8. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

Now, post your answers as a comment to our class blog.

Week of November 28, The Sensei

Hi everyone,

Today we are going to react to the film The Sensei.

Please visit Diana Inosanto's blog. There you can learn about her motivation for creating the film and more about her work.

Now visit the Teens Against Bullying website. Sign the petition, sign up for their newsletter, visit all of the links and clips.

Finally, answer these questions in Google Docs:

1. What does the film The Sensei teach us about bullying? What solutions does it offer?
2. What did you learn on the Teens Against Bullying website?
3. What lessons can you take from these two resources to use here at school? 

Post your answers to our class blog. Then respond to two other classmates' posts.

Week of November 7, Praising the Whistleblowers

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to honor whistleblowers.

1. Visit this webpage from Stephane.
2. Find one person on the list who stands out to you, either because you believe in the same cause or you simply find their journey interesting in some way.
3. Research this person during our lab time. Find facts. 

• How was their life affected? 
• Where are they today? 
• Was it worth it? 
• What would you have done if you were in their shoes? 
• Would you have been willing to suffer the consequences? 
• At what point would you have turned back? 
• Would you have done more?

1. In Google Docs, write a song, poem or paragraph of praise for the whistleblower you have chosen. Use strong adjectives.
2. Post to our blog
3. Print a copy for Stephanie and bring to our class next Wed 11/14 (the day of the play).

Photos with Concern

Hi all,

Here are some great photos taken by Sylvia:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaOWLZk1YtFHy4

Best,

 Ms Mann

October 18, Preparation for An Enemy of the People continued

Preparation for "An Enemy of the People"

Hi everyone,

Today we are continuing our work from yesterday.

Both assignments below will be graded as a test!!!

They are both due next Wednesday, October 24, printed and completed. 

1.     Choose a social issue related to human rights that you feel very strongly about and have knowledge of or can do research on. 

·      Write a monologue (like a speech, where you talk by yourself) in absolute, certain terms that we can overcome this situation as a society. 

·      You may choose a human rights situation from this country or their country of origin.  

·      USE TOTALLY OPTIMISTIC WRITING! 

·      Convince us that this is possible: for example, that women will have equal rights, that all humans will have justice, that detainees will be will be released, etc. See guideline worksheet and rubric for details.

·      You must include research (facts, statistics and details)

·      It must be at least one full page typed! Times New Roman, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins, double spaced.

2.   Do internet research on one modern-day whistle blower (a person who exposes illegal or unjust activity, often taking great risks to do so (like losing their job or even their life) in our culture, or your country of origin. 

·      Track what happened to this person. 

·      Is this person made into a hero or is he/she turned into an outcast? 

·      Often, they are outcasts turned heroes in the end. 

·      Track one person's journey, someone who has risen up to “blow the whistle” on a situation for the good of all.  

·      You must find two articles about this person and complete a research log for each one. One should be in your native language.

·      You must then write a one-page summary about his/her story, in your own words.

Our Teaching Artist, Stephanie Alston, will be expecting the materials from you next Wed 10/24! 

Don't let us down!!!  We will continue this work tomorrow!

October 17, Marking Period 1 Grades and Enemy of the People

Hi everyone,

Today we will do two things: 

1. Review and reflect on your grades for the first marking period. 
2. Prepare to see "An Enemy of the People"with two assignments.

• I am using a program called Engrade to calculate your grades. Please go to the Engrade website to register and see your grades. You need your access code to do this.

• Now please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

• Please give me feedback (comments/suggestions) about your experience in the class. Please be specific and honest as this will help make the class better for you and everyone else in the coming semester.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period? Why? Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc.
2. What didn't you enjoy and why? Please be specific.
3. Do you feel you have changed in any way as a result of your participation in this class? If yes, how?
4. Were there any activities/projects/topics that I didn't cover that you want us to cover?Which ones?
5. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )? Please be specific.
6. What advice can you give to your classmates to make their experience in this class more meaningful?
7. Where are you doing community service? How many hours have you done so far? What have you learned or gained from volunteering?
8. Fill in the blanks..."From class this marking period, one thing I will take is _______________ and one thing I will give is ________________."

Now, post your answers as a comment to our class blog.

Preparation for "An Enemy of the People"

Both assignments below will be graded as a test!!!

They are both due next Wednesday, October 24, printed and completed. 

1.     Choose a social issue related to human rights that you feel very strongly about and have knowledge of or can do research on. 

·      Write a monologue (like a speech, where you talk by yourself) in absolute, certain terms that we can overcome this situation as a society. 

·      You may choose a human rights situation from this country or their country of origin.  

·      USE TOTALLY OPTIMISTIC WRITING! 

·      Convince us that this is possible: for example, that women will have equal rights, that all humans will have justice, that detainees will be will be released, etc. See guideline worksheet and rubric for details.

·      You must include research (facts, statistics and details)

·      It must be at least one full page typed! Times New Roman, 12 pt font, 1 inch margins, double spaced.

2.   Do internet research on one modern-day whistle blower (a person who exposes illegal or unjust activity, often taking great risks to do so (like losing their job or even their life) in our culture, or your country of origin. 

·      Track what happened to this person. 

·      Is this person made into a hero or is he/she turned into an outcast? 

·      Often, they are outcasts turned heroes in the end. 

·      Track one person's journey, someone who has risen up to “blow the whistle” on a situation for the good of all.  

·      You must find two articles about this person and complete a research log for each one. One should be in your native language.

·      You must then write a one-page summary about his/her story, in your own words.

Our Teaching Artist, Stephanie Alston, will be expecting the materials from you next Wed 10/24! 

Don't let us down!!!  We will continue this work tomorrow!

Week of October 10, Bullying Prevention!

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to begin a series on Bullying and preventing it.

Before we do, just a few Community Service notes:

1. Saturday, October 13 2012
   Location: Pier 63 at West and 24th Streets right next to Chelsea Piers.
   We need route marshals, bike handlers and more to make sure the event runs smoothly! Visitwww.DoubleUp4Vision.org/volunteer to see the list of opportunities and to sign up help create a great day.
2. SAGE October 20, email jnagel@queenscommunityhouse.org
3. Sunday, October 21, First Person American screening at the Queens Museum of Art, 5PM

Here is a very moving video about one form of bullying:




Watch the video. Then in Google Docs, create Blog 3.

1.  What is your reaction to this film and why? (add to blog 3)

Now watch this film called "Break Bullying".

2.  What is your reaction to this film and why? (add to Blog 3)

Not in our Schools recommends the following steps to prevent bullying:

Six simple solutions:

1. If you are being bullied: tell them to stop, get away from the situation, and tell a trusted adult.
2. If you see someone being bullied, be an upstander: Tell the person to stop, get a trusted adult, reach out and be friends.
3. With your children: Listen and support your children. Work with the school to be sure your child is safe.
4. In Your School: Learn and help train all adults and youth on how to recognize and respond to bullying.
5. With Others Who Care: Start a Not In Our School Anti-bullying Club where youth lead in finding solutions.
6. In Your School and the Entire Community: Create an identity-safe climate where all people are respected.

3. Do you think these steps are realistic? Effective? Why? (add to Blog 3)

4. What on this list are you doing? (add to Blog 3)

Now post your answers to these four questions as a comment on our blog.

Then read two classmate's posts and tell them what you learned from them.

Week of October 4, Not in Our School

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to learn about Not in Our Schools and Not in Our Town.

First off, please watch this video that they made about our class and our partnership with St Luke's, two years ago:


If it doesn't work that way, please click on this link to watch the film.

Now visit our the Not in our Schools website.

1. Sign up for the Not in our School newsletter (there is a place to sign up on the right side of the page).
2. Read "About Not in Our School" at the top right of the page.
3. Click on "What do you say?" (top right of the page). Watch the video, and answer the question of the month, in Google Docs, as Blog 2. 
4. Post your answer in two places: on our blog as a comment, and on the Not in Our School page for "What do you say?", where it says "Post your reply".

Now visit the Not in Our Town website.

1. Click on the picture for "act" in the yellow bar in the middle of the page. Register on the site and read how you can take action. Do one of the actions.
2. Go back to the home page for Not in Our Town.
3. Read one of the stories or watch a film on that page.
4. In Blog 2, write your reaction to this piece.
5. Then post your reaction in two places: on our blog as a comment, and on the NIOT page where they ask for comments (below the video or article).

Week of September 27, All about the Human Rights Class

Hi everyone,

This first week, you will be learning about the work we did last year in our Human Rights Class as well as the work we will be doing in the coming year.

First please watch the video below, made by First Person American:

What's Your Story? 2012 from First Person American on Vimeo.

Now go to the website for Concern Worldwide (click on the link). Visit the website and find an article or issue of interest to you. Read about it carefully.

Please sign in using a gmail account. If you don't have one, you need to get one. Write your username and password someplace safe.

Now open Google Docs. Create a document called "Reaction to Day 1", and answer the questions below:

1. How did it feel to watch these films and why?
2. Who welcomed you when you came to this country? How would you thank them?
3. What issue did you read about on Concern's website?
4. How would you like to help this organization?

Now post your answers to the comments section of our blog.

Finally, read two posts from your classmates and write back to them, telling them what you learned from their posts.

First Person American Photos!

Hi everyone,

Congratulations! Today was wonderful!! I'm so proud of you all!

Here are photos:

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaOWLZk1YtFHg0

Enjoy!!

Ms Mann

No Place for Hate and St Luke's photos

Hi everyone,

Click on the link below to see photos from the No Place for Hate Awards and our trip to St. Luke's.

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AaOWLZk1YtFHdM

Enjoy!

Ms Mann

Week of May 21, First Person American Assembly and Final stuff

Hi everyone,

For next week, please correct and revise your written welcoming activity. This story (along with your Welcoming Story) will be featured in a book. Therefore, the final written welcoming activity must be absolutely perfect. No spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, format mistakes are allowed. 

Use the following criteria for evaluation:

1. Does it address all the points? (see previous blog post for a list of required points)

2. Does it have spelling errors?

3. Does it have grammar mistakes?

4. Is it formatted correctly with the following?

  - Use proper heading (students name, date)

  - Use proper title of the story

  - Use paragraph breaks

  - Use proper capitalization

  - Use an easy to read font (for example Arial, Times New Roman)

  - Double space your writing

You must use at least 2 peers and 1 adult to proofread your activity.

Email your final story (PERFECT FORMATTING, NO ERRORS, ALL POINTS INCLUDED) to irinalee@gmail.comand christidc@gmail.com. Include Ms. Mann in the cc (jmann6@schools.nyc.gov)

Part 2:

Think about how you will encourage and engage the students present at the assembly. You will be leading break-out sessions with other students. Your job will be to lead students unfamiliar with our Welcoming Stories workshop, to encourage them to share their story, and to educate them on how they can be welcoming to others. Prepare to be an inspiring leader.

Part 3 ONLY for Assembly Performers (Kanto, Christian, Renan): 

Prepare for our final Welcoming Stories school assembly presentation. On June 1, you will be presenting an abbreviated version of your welcoming story and how you were welcoming. Important: Use a timer when rehearsing. Time yourself!! Your presentation must be within 4-5 minutes. You should be practice rehearsing your story every single day, multiple times daily. Rehearse at least out-loud at home, in front of your friends, in front of your family, in the mirror, etc. Try to keep track of how many times you rehearse. Aim to rehearse a minimum of 100 times between now and June 1st (or 7-10 times daily). This will help you be successful on stage at the final school assembly. Preparation is key. 

Week of May 17, Our Welcoming Activities

Hi everyone,

Now that you've had the opportunity to reflect on your own story, you used your experience to help another newcomer by being welcoming. You understand their situation, and you know what they're going through. It was your turn to be the welcoming person. You had the ability and knowledge to make a difference in their life. 

Use last week's notes on welcoming tips to help you be welcoming. 

In Google Docs, write a 500-word reflection that includes the following points: 
1. Introduce the person you met this week
2. Briefly tell their story and how hearing their story made you feel
3. Describe how you plan on being welcoming to this person

Now post your reflection to our class blog.


Please note that tomorrow we will continue to be filmed and photographed for our First Person American Project!  You need to wear a solid color, not black!!!

Week of May 10, FPA, Radio Rookies, Finals

Hi everyone,

Today we will prepare for being filmed tomorrow, learn about Radio Rookies, and then work on our finals.


1.  First Person American: make sure your statements are ready:

My name is ___ I'm from ____(your country)

1. What I learned from the Welcoming Stories workshop is...

2. Sharing my Welcoming Story was important to me because...

3. I will be more welcoming to others by ....

Wardrobe Requirements: Please wear tops in solid colors. DO NOT wear black clothes or clothes with busy patterns (stripes, shiny, small patterns, text on your shirts, etc).  

2. Radio Rookies


Next year, there is a chance we will be involved with this incredible program.  Please visit this website and listen to This story "Half of my Family is Illegal"


Here is a website with more information about the girl who wrote this story.


I met her at an event on Tuesday afternoon. I told her we'd write her with our reactions to her piece.


In Google Docs, please answer the questions below:


1. What is your opinion of her Radio Rookie piece and why?
2. What did you learn from her story?
3. What questions do you have for her?


Then post your answers to our blog as a comment. I will email her with the link to our blog so she can read your posts.


Now listen to this piece called "Mind the Gap in Crown Heights":




Answer these questions in Google Docs:


1. What is your opinion of her Radio Rookie piece and why?
2. What did you learn from their story?
3. What does this story teach us about stereotypes and prejudice?


Post your answers to our blog as a comment.


When you finish getting this ready, please prepare your final:

Options:

• Artwork (painting, sculpture, drawing, etc.) with a typed explanation of the art and how it is promoting human rights
• Subway poster for human rights, using text, images, quotes, drawings, symbols, etc.
• A song, that you perform for the class, with a typed lyric sheet (I will copy it for everyone)
• A poem that you read to the class, with a typed sheet (I will copy it for everyone)
• A graphic story (cartoon) promoting human rights
• A slide show or short film promoting human rights
• A skit about human rights with a typed script

Guidelines:

• Follow the conventions of standard written English.  In other words, watch your grammar, spelling, punctuation, and proofread!
• Make sure your work clearly promotes human rights
• Make sure your refer to the UDHR.
• You must pick an aspect of human rights you care about.
• You must include facts/statistics about this human right.