Horsemanship: when horses attack...

To those that care to listen,

      It is midday of day 2 here on Golden Bear Farm where I have decided to take a break in order to think and reflect.  Day 1 and Day 2 brought a lot so far.  Normally when I visit here, Lady is the horse that gets my attention.  However, I have decided to take on a new horse to focus my attention and affection.  The horse's name is Bo.  Here are a few pictures I took while he was attacking me.  He wasn't really attacking me; I'm just trying to see if you are paying attention. 

      I have learned a lot in the short period of time I have spent up here so far.  There are many things to keep in mind when you are training a horse.  In all actuality "training" a horse is nothing more than CREATING A RELATIONSHIP with a horse.  
      In order to start a conversation with a horse a human takes time understanding horse psychology and horse language.  I'll get into horse psychology another time if anyone is interested, but for now let me say that horse language is made up of 7 GAMES. 
1. The Friendly Game      2. The Porcupine Game
3. The Driving Game       4. The Yo-Yo Game
5. The Circle Game         6. The Sideways Game
7. The Squeeze Game

These games are the games horses play with each other when they are out in the middle of a pasture grazing or in the wild on the open plains.  If a human can understand the language and speak it back to a horse a LINE OF COMMUNICATION can be opened.  Then, let the fun begin!

Random horse fact #1:  Horses have BILATERAL VISION.  For those of you who would like more details on bilateral vision send me a comment.    

I hope you all enjoy reading this.  More to come.  I CAN'T STOP LEARNING!!

Yours truly,
C
P.S. We shall not cease from exploration and, the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.  -T.S. Eliot

Grayson, Lola, and Bridget...

Hey gang!

      I love to see all these comments even though the summer is well underway.  Keep up the comments so we all may keep in touch.  Since so many of you have expressed interest in continuing the blog, I am working on a new post that will be found here this evening.  As of now, I am up here on Golden Bear Farm with my friends Steve and Marie Deibele.  Today is day 2 of horse training.  More to follow...

Yours Truly,

C

P.S. I hear and I forget.

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.

Do your best and forget the rest.  

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

STEREOTYPING...

Some of you have expressed continued interest and confusion about stereotyping.  Here is a short clip that may help you make connections and build understanding.  After watching this, think about how this applies to your moment in history. 

http://youtu.be/_hJFi7SRH7Q

This should be able to help you with #4 as well. 

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

Friday... High Five!!

Dear Cool Classes,

      Today is Friday, May 27, 2011.  I will be out this morning until 12:00.  This afternoon we have a field trip to the YMCA.  This kind of makes me want to start singing The Village People...   Anyways, here is your schedule for the day.

9:35-10:15 ROTATION 1
10:15-10:55 ROTATION 2
10:55-11:35 ROTATION 3
11:40-12:20 LUNCH 

      During your rotations today you are responsible to do any one of these things: 1. Finish your Embedded Inquiry Guides  2. Work on your Glogs  3. FINISH YOUR TIMELINES FROM MISS CASSIER & MR. S  The books for your inquiries can be found in the lounge.  They are in the same place we kept our book club books.   

http://www.brainpop.com/english/studyandreadingskills/internetsearch/

      Check out this Brainpop on Internet Searches if you want to.  It may help some of you find things you are looking for.  Use this time to work and think.  Have fun thinking.

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

Bias...

Hey there Hilarious Historians,

      Today is Thursday, May 26, 2011.  If you look at your embedded scoring guides for your inquiries, number four asks you about bias, prejudice, race, stereotyping, and ethnic origin.  Here is what dictionary.com had to say about BIAS...

      -to cause favoritism in (a person); influence, especially unfairly
     - mental tendency or inclination, esp an irrational preference or prejudice

http://youtu.be/bCJe42LGnB4 

(This is a link might help you understand bias a little bit.)

Your task for #4 is to find an example of bias, prejudice, stereotyping, race, and ethnic origin within SLAVERY, WWII, or THE CIVIL WAR. 

Check out what dictionary.com had to say about PREJUDICE...

1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.

2. any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.

3. unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile, regarding a racial, religious, or national group.

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

http://lchristi.edu.glogster.com/cs-glog/


From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher School District of Waukesha Waukesha STEM Academy

The Art of the Mosey...

When Planning Intrudes on THE RELATIONSHIP...

      It may be time to mosey. 
http://www.parellinaturalhorsetraining.com/when-planning-intrudes-on-the-horse-relationship/?utm_source=Parelli+Natural+Horsemanship+List&utm_campaign=6fd6dcb6a2-connection_5-19-2011&utm_medium=email

Getting things done is not always what is most important. There is value in allowing others to learn, even if the task is not accomplished as quickly, efficiently or effectively." - R.D. Clyde

Take your time. Do your best and forget the rest.

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

A case of the MONDAYS...

Hello ludacris learners,

      Today is Monday, May 23, 2011.  I appologize for not being there with you today, and hope you all make today a great one!  Down below at the bottom of this post you will see the learning targets we have been working so hard to meet.  Some of you have surpassed all expectations.

      As you head into your inquiry groups today remember that this week is for specific details.  Here is what I mean...  The past week and a half you have been working with other kids who shared an interest in a moment in history.  You researched and read about the MAIN EVENTS that happened in SEQUENCE.
     
      This week is for all of you to dive deeper into each moment in history.  If some of you want to research and read about GERMAN U-BOATS, go ahead!  If some of you want to research and read about the UNDERGROUND RAILROAD or the TRIANGULAR SLAVE TRADE, it's all yours!  If some of you want to read about and understand the WEAPONS of the Civil War, yes please!  I think you all are getting the hint right?  This week is to get very specific and detailed. 

      Please remember that each moment in history (i.e. Civil War, WWII, and Slavery) involved conflict and strife.  Remember also, our learning targets and how words like prejudice, bias, stereotyping, race, and ethnic origin played a role in the conflicts. 

I CAN... Explain how bias, prejudice, and stereotyping contribute to conflict in a society

I CAN... Explain the influences of status, ethnic origin, race, gender, and age on the interactions of individuals

I CAN... Ask and answer literal and inferential questions (wonder questions) before and while I read to set a purpose. I use questioning while I read to deepen my understanding.

I CAN...compare and contrast two or more historical characters, historical settings, or events in a moment in history drawing on specific details in the text. I can summarize a moment in history and determine the theme using text evidence and my inferences.

Sincerely yours,
C
P.S. I have not forgoten that some groups still have to share the learning and give their informal presentations.  We will pick those up again upon my return tomorrow. 

P.P.S. I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
Do your best and forget the rest. 

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

MOMENTS IN HISTORY...

Dear Kiddies,

      Miss C and Mr. S put these links together to help you find SETTINGS that go along with your moments in history.  There are links here for Civil War, Slavery, and WWII.  Connect your main events to the maps you will find here.  Have fun learning. 

LEARNING TARGETS:
1a  I CAN...   Identify and compare a variety of geographic representations (political, physical, topographic, globes, photographs,
and satellite images) to gather information about place in the U.S.
1b I CAN..  Orient, demonstrate understanding of, and navigate selected locales, regions, and states
2a I CAN...Interpret the past using a variety of sources, such as biographies, diaries, journals, artifacts, eyewitness interviews,
and other primary source materials
2e I CAN... Generate a timeline to select, organize, and sequence information describing early American

Holocaust Museum

http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_nm.php?ModuleId=10005137&MediaId=363

Interactive Civil War Map

http://www.civilwar.com/components/index.php?option=com_battlemap

PBS Civil War Information

http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/map1.html#

Underground Railroad Interactive Map

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g5s_u6/index.html

Underground Railroad Map and Information

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/underground/routes.htm

Slavery in America maps

http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/geography/ugrr_1860.htm

Scholastic Interactive Underground Railroad Website

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/underground_railroad/index.htm

National Geographic Underground Railroad

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/

WWII Interactive Website

http://www.history.com/shows/wwii-in-hd/interactives/inside-wwii-interactive

Timeline : Moment in Time-2e I CAN... Generate a timeline to select, organize, and sequence information describing early America Teacher Name: Mr. C Student Name:     ________________________________________

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Events	8 or more events are present with dates and summary.	6-8 events are present with dates and summary.	2-5 events are present without dates and summary.	No events are present.
Sequential Order	All events are in sequential order.	5 Events are in sequential order.	Few events are in sequential order.	No events are in sequential order.
Graphics	All graphics are effective and balanced with text use.	All graphics are effective, but there appear to be too few or too many.	Some graphics are effective and their use is balanced with text use.	Several graphics are not effective.
Readability	The overall appearance of the timeline is pleasing and easy to read.	The overall appearance of the timeline is somewhat pleasing and easy to read.	The timeline is relatively readable.	The timeline is difficult to read.
Learning Targets	Learning target is completely understood and demonstrated.	Learning target is some what understood and demonstrated.	Learning target is misunderstood and is missing key details.	Learning target is not met.

Sincerely,

C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy



Lingering Questions...

Dear 5th Graders,

      Today is Monday, May 16, 2011.  Your guest teacher today will be taking you through an eventful day of inquiry folks.  I had a chance to look over some of your KWLS's this weekend... OUTSTANDING!!  Some of you are really engaged and interested in your moments in history.  It does good for a teacher's heart to see students like all of you engaged in your learning.  We set out almost 9 months ago on our STEM adventure, and to have the excitement continue all the way up to today is great.  Keep up the good work. 

      I think some of you by now are finding out as good readers always do that sometimes our questions aren't answered in one session of reading.  It may take 2, 3, or 4 reading experiences to find the answers to the questions we have.  There is a name for an "unanswered" question.  We call those questions LINGERING QUESTIONS.  This is what a KWLS is for.  Good readers use a KWLS to access schema, interact with text, record new thinking, and flush out sneaky little LINGERING QUESTIONS.

      Ok, down to brass tacks.  Remember that this Thursday, May 19, 2011 you and your group will be sharing/presenting an informal presentation to show the rest of the class our learning so far in our inquiry groups.  Today you will have one more graphic organizer to help you INTERACT WITH TEXT.  It is a blast from the past.  Welcome back EDED!!  We've missed you!  Your KWLS and the EDED from today will help you during your group discussion tomorrow.  You will have time tomorrow to prepare and plan for the presentations on Thursday.  Make sure you ahve something to contribute to your group.  Have fun thinking, reading, and interacting with text.

Yours Truly,
C
P.S. I hear and I forget.
I see and I remember.
I do and I understand.
Do your best and forget the rest.   

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy