Liberty Part 1...

Good Day,

      Liberty is defined as follows...  Liberty is a contested moral and political principle that seeks to identify the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves.

1: the quality or state of being free:

a : the power to do as one pleases

 b : freedom from physical restraint

c : freedom from arbitrary or despotic control

d : the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges

e : the power of choice

2a : a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant : privilege

b : permission especially to go freely within specified limits

      Please open to a fresh sheet of notes in your Me Book.  Leave a spot at the top and write the learning targets there before we begin.  After you have the learning targets in your Me Book use the definition from above to define LIBERTY in your own words. 

History:  I can identify the significant people and events that tell the story of the United States. Writing: I can draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research. Reading: I can analyze connections and distinctions made between people, ideas or events.

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

Waukesha STEM Academy

Learning Modules...

Hi guys and gals,

      I will not be with you today so you will have to facilitate the leading of your own learning.  By now all of you are aware of the two learning modules that are posted in Bb9.  One is on Ethos, Pathos, and Logos: The Three Pillars of Persuasion.  The other is on Perfect Paragraphs, Paraphrasing, and Paragraph Mapping.  Those of you who make it to the final activity of the Perfect Paragraphs, Paraphrasing, and Paragraph Mapping may use the work we did last Friday to help you paraphrase and paragraph map.  The papers we used for our energizer last Friday can be found on the front table.  The link provided in this post will give you another perspective on the 3 Pillars of Persuasion. 

 ETHOS PATHOS LOGOS

Sincerely,
C

 From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

The Perfect Paragraph...

Hey Y'all,

      High Five Friday!!  Think back to yesterday.  A paraphrase is a restatement of the meaning of a text or passage using other words. The term "paraphrase" derives via Latin paraphrasis "additional manner of expression". 
      The huge nugget below is brought to us by our own Nick Kopp.  Check out what he thinks about "perfect paragraphs".  Once you have an understanding of what a "perfect paragraph" is, and believe you can PARAPHRASE what a perfect paragraph is, meet in circle. 

The Greek definition of a paragraph is "to write beside" or "written beside". A paragraph consists of more than one sentence. A perfect paragraph will have more than 8 sentences at the least. Not every paragraph will have this but perfect paragraphs will have a topic sentence which simply states what your paragraph is about so the reader has a main idea of your paragraph. This is almost like giving your reader clues to what they are about to read or like giving them schema. Next should be your supporting sentences. These are like the building blocks or supporting blocks these should be detailed sentences with lots of information, descriptions, facts, figures and any other ways to support your main idea. Last but definitely not least is your conclusion sentences should be the cherry on top. This should restate your topic sentence. This should have more detail than your topic sentence because it should be more interesting. Once again this is a perfect paragraph and not every paragraph in a published article is perfect. 

-Nick Kopp, Core 3

Historical Literacy

 

Reading...I can analyze the structure of text and its role in developing key concepts.
Reading...I can determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze it by summarizing the key supporting details and main ideas.

Sincerely,
C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

Paraphrasing...

Good day to you all,

      Read the paragraphs found below.  Survey them.  Read them.  WE WILL REVIEW THEM TOGETHER.  Just be ready with a thought when you come to circle. 
     
      A paraphrase (/ˈpærəfreɪz/) is a restatement of the meaning of a text or passage using other words. The term "paraphrase" derives via Latin paraphrasis from Greek παράφρασις, meaning "additional manner of expression". The act of paraphrasing is also called "paraphrasis".
      A paraphrase typically explains or clarifies the text that is being paraphrased. For example, "The signal was red" might be paraphrased as "The train was not allowed to proceed." When accompanying the original statement, a paraphrase is usually introduced with a verbum dicendi​—​a declaratory expression to signal the transition to the paraphrase. For example, in "The signal was red, that is, the train was not allowed to proceed," the that is signals the paraphrase that follows.

See Terms of use for details.  Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

Reading...I can analyze the structure of text and its role in developing key concepts.
Reading...I can determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze it by summarizing the key supporting details and main ideas.

PARAPHRASING


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

Persuasion & Debating: Ethos, Pathos, Logos...

Good day to you all,

      I know most of you need more time with the MOSAIC OF THOUGHT, but I thought it would be important to look into the near future.  We will be learning and practicing the art of debate and persuasion very soon which means a few questions will continue to pop up as we progress.  Below are those questions.  Commit them to memory and be prepared to revisit this blog post in order to review these concepts. 

What is Logic/ logos?
What is Reputation/ ethos?
What is Emotion/ pathos?
What are ways writers persuade and influence?
What is a debate?
What makes a good, powerful letter?
What are the specific parts of a well organized letter?

Sent from my iPhone

The links below contain a little bit of debate humor.  Why are these debates unsuccessful?  What does the conduct of the debaters say about their credibility?  What makes these clips so commical? 
Umm... Debate? Really?

Chair throw... Real mature guys!! Kids are watching!

Sincerely,
C
P.S. Show me that you are all mature 8th graders who can handle comedy in the classroom.  Please.

The Meaning Below the Meaning...

Good day to you all,

      Many of you are right in the middle of completing your MOSAIC OF THOUGHT reflection forms.  As I was driving to school today I started to wonder whether you all understand the MEANING of doing this reflection.  This activity/assignment/work is not to be done "because Mr. C said so".  The MOSAIC OF THOUGHT is meant to be an "authentic assignment".  It is to help you SEPARATE  ISOLATE COMBINE your thinking.  Watch this familar lady below before we come to circle and discuss.  Please come with ideas. 

MOSAIC ART: Separate Isolate Combine

IT'S ABOUT GETTING TO THE MEANING BELOW THE MEANING!! 


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

3 Priorities...

Hey Gang,

      There are 3 things to think about today...

1. Print out and hand in the test you made, the test you took, and the QAR sheets that go with them.

2.  Finish your mosaic of thought, check in with your teacher, and submit it as an online journal entry.

3.  Complete the learning module on ETHOS, PATHOS, and LOGOS.
bb9 - hist lit - Exp Col and The Am Rev - Go Public

      Don't forget to confer with your teacher if you need guidance or help.  Plus, there are check points where you are required to sit down with me in a conference. 

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

Leveled Questions, QAR, and COGNITVE FUNCTIONS: a get together...

Good day,

      Happy Camel day folks.  We will be diving into recent history as we look back at yesterday's blog post and a video from last week.  QAR stands for Question Answer Relationship.  We will be trying to connect 3 concpets today: Leveled Questions, QAR, and Cognitive Functions.  You will find the links below.  We will review both of these together in circle so simply survey them, click on the links to make sure they work, then meet me in circle.   

QAR Video from last week

Mosaic of Thought Reflection Form

Think deep and high!

Love, peace, and taco grease,
C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

Mosaic of Thought: Reflection...

Dear Learners and Proctors,

      Happy Tuesday!  Some of you are still proctoring and taking the tests.  Great!  Some are finished and ready to debrief.  Great!  Below are your next steps once you have finished your tests.  We will be looking at cognitive functions as a class to wrap up the test taking.  Read the directions below and have a great day. 

Learning Targets to be added to your form.

Writing...I can conduct research to find answers to specific questions.
History...I can conduct research and effectively communicate findings.

Reading...I can analyze the structure of text and its role in developing key concepts.
Reading...I can determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze it by summarizing the key supporting details and main ideas.

1.  You will use this Mosaic of Thought form as a conversation starter.  Talk with your test proctor and another group about their thoughts and opinions. 
2.  When you have gathered enough information from your own schema and others', complete the form and submit your Mosaic of Thought as a journal entry. 

Mosaic of Thought Reflection Form
Bb9 - Hist Lit - Exp Col Am Rev - Coalesce
Love, peace, and taco grease,
C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher

School District of Waukesha

Waukesha STEM Academy

I HAVE A DREAM of Test Proctoring...

Dear 8th Graders,

      Happy Monday Funday!  Think back to Friday.  Remember I said if you are not finished writing and designing your test than you may take a seat out in the hall and finish it before you come into the learning space.  Today's whole class period is set aside for proctoring (administering) your Basic Proficiency Exams with your partner.  Your learning targets are posted below along with a few videos dedicated to today.  Join me in circle once you have read the blog post and clicked on a video. 

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth115056.html#ixzz1jcyvqsV5

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK Jr.'s Beginnings

King's Mini Bio
Sincerely,
C
P.S. As promised, your learning targets.
Writing...I can conduct research to find answers to specific questions.
History...I can conduct research and effectively communicate findings.

Reading...I can analyze the structure of text and its role in developing key concepts.
Reading...I can determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze it by summarizing the key supporting details and main ideas.

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