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).