Welcome to the World of Marx and Smith!

This sums it all up!
Week of 10.29- 11.2
8.2 Social Studies
Mr. Kannan

Monday:  Read Emily Dickinson’s “I’m Nobody!   Who Are You?”  Articulate the themes of Progressivism that are present.  Examine film clips and find themes of Progressivism in them.	HW:  Finish Themes of Progressivism in Dickinson, Lincoln, and film clips.  Submit Thursday..
Tuesday:  Start Discussion of Marx and Smith	HW:  Complete Marx and Smith Enrichment sheet.  Specified numbers from class.  Finish Themes of Progressivism in Dickinson, Lincoln, and Film Clips.  All Edmodo postings must be done by Friday night at 6:00 PM.
Wednesday:  Continue discussion of Marx and Smith.	HW:  Work on Marx and Smith Enrichment Sheet.  Finish Themes of Progressivism in Dickinson, Lincoln, and Film Clips.  All Edmodo postings must be done by Friday night at 6:00 PM.
Thursday:  Conclude Marx and Smith Lecture.  Collect Themes of Progressivism in Dickinson, Lincoln, and Film Clips.	HW:  Complete Marx and Smith Enrichment Sheet.  All Edmodo postings must be done by Friday night at 6:00 PM.
Friday:  Last day for Edmodo Postings/ Breakout on Marx and Smith Enrichment Sheet.	HW:  All Edmodo postings must be done by tonight at 6:00 PM.

I can only wish nothing but the best this week as it will be a tough one!

All best.

Mr. Kannan

About 25 different projects on Progressivism... all at the same time!

This week will mark our foray into the world of Progressivism.  In truly differentiated and middle school fashion, students have chosen different projects to explore Progressivism.  Some are to complete identifications, while others are to compose a blog, while some are to design a comic book.  If anyone were to enter the classroom, wordles, glogs, YouTube videos, would be along side analysis of speeches, writing identifications, and considering with which modern political party a Progressivist would be aligned.  Since students are all doing different projects, "one size does not fit all."  I have come up with small mini- lessons about each project that students can access by clicking here.
Students will also be receiving their graded identifications on Industrialization this week.  I commented on all of those that needed commenting.  I have made sure that the comments were cryptic enough for students to have questions about my feedback.  This is where a lunchtime appointment is needed to be made so that we can go over student writing in the hopes of making it better.  The tutorial approach is the only way out of this one.  In order for students to understand how to be better writers, they have to sit down with their work and examine it, looking at it and confronting it for what it is in the hopes of making it better.  It is only through this initiative that we can see students challenge and push themselves in their writing to be what it should be from what it is.  Please encourage your students to meet with me if they have questions about their writing.
Our schedule:
Monday- Thursday:  Work on Progressivist Projects and make sure that three identifications on Chapter 19 have been completed.  I will be calling for these early in the week.
Friday- City Chase Field Trip with all projects due at 5:00 PM.

If I can be of any further help or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

Progressivism and Industrialization: More questions than answers....

This weekend, students will be engaging in the reading of chapter 19.  They will be wrestling with the issues brought out by Progressivism and the threat it posed to industrialization.  At this point, students will have to reflect and think about which themes are more reflective of their nation, their identity, and the people they are now and the ones they hope to be.  While they wrestle with this, here is our schedule of work for the week:
Monday- Students will finish discussion of Progressivism themes and their identifications for chapter 19 should be done.  If they have played their cards correctly, they will only have had to do three identifications.  We will be concluding our discussion of Progressivism with an excerpt from Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle."
Tuesday- Students will take a Common Core Assessment on "The Jungle."  This will be done in class and with resources such as the textbook and student packets available.
Wednesday- Students will begin the process of selecting their projects on Progressivism.  For homework, students should be working on their projects.
Thursday- Students will declare their topics and begin work on their projects or work on Edmodo.  For homework, students should be working on their projects which are due on Friday, October 26 at 5:00 PM.
Friday- As we have a Team Activity planned, students will need to be working on their projects outside of class and make sure their identifications for chapter 19 are done.

Students will receive their graded identifications from the Industrialization unit on 10.22.  If you would like to read a course overview from conferences, please click here.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
All best.
Mr. Kannan

Process and Product Merging Towards Scholarship

For Wednesday's class, go to: http://www.edmodo.com/

  At this point in time, my sincere hope is that all of our emerging scholars are working on their identifications.  This assignment forces students to combine elements of the textbook and of their own understanding of historical figures to demonstrate a thought provoking paragraph about the people who "made" history.  Students will have their identifications collected Wednesday.
The emphasis on process and product is a rather large one for me.  Throughout my career, I have made the case in a most determined manner that the process by which one constructs work helps to establish the product reflective of such effort.  Good work is not simply "done."  It is the result of a process.  For our students, my hope is that they are able to walk away from this class, this team, and this district with the understanding that process and product go together.  The habit of developing academic success, embryonic steps on the path of scholarship, is part of the culture of achievement that I underscore as the essence of fiber of our being in B405.  I do hope that you will help me help your students by stressing to them that work outside of class is essential in order to find success in it.  Simple questions such as, "Do you have your identifications done," or "Can I look over your identifications," or even, "Which theme did you seem to understand the most in your identifications, "can initiate a process outside of class that I have been stressing to our students within it.
Outside of identifications being due Wednesday, will be starting our study of the 2012 Elections through the online learning environment of Edmodo.  Students will start this on Wednesday and while each Wednesday leading to the election will be devoted to online learning, I stress that students should be posting their thoughts outside of class as well.  A cumulative assessment on these posts will be offered as Election Day approaches, a day that will not only test the fiber of those running for the highest offices in the land but also a day that will test the mettle of our students, as well.
Finally, students will be reading chapter 19 on Thursday night and Friday through the weekend with identifications to be composed on chapter 19 in the process.  By the time the opening theme of "Football Night in America" on Sunday night blares over the television airwaves, students should have five identifications done on chapter 19.  They should not be surprised if there is a spot check on this on Monday or Tuesday.

As we approach conferences, please click here for a cover sheet as to what has been covered thus far in the class and where we hope to be at our next scheduled moment to meet.

All best.
Mr. Kannan