Semester Finals - Class Recap

Sunset over Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was a great semester, everyone! Thank you for your hard work! Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

Today was our last day of class for the year. We had our final Israel-Palestine Peace Conference, reflection on the year, and then talked about life and what is coming up for a while. Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets: 
Communication LT 2: I can use language and style that is appropriate to the content area.
Critical Thinking LT 2: I can explain connections between events, issues, problems and concepts.
Knowledge LT 10:  I can explain demographic changes in the world and their effects.
Knowledge LT 20:  I can explain the impacts of nationalism and revolutionary movements. Knowledge LT 22:  I can explain how religious ideas impact the shaping of societies.

Soundtrack: "Thankful" by Kelly Clarkson. Selected for today because I always choose this song for the last day of class, since I am so thankful to get to teach you all. Especially this year, which was a pretty challenging one, with my dad being killed - it was so helpful to be able to come to class and work with you. Thank you! Lyrics (some of which I read aloud in class) are here.

AGENDA 6/11/15:

News Brief – Kendall
Peace Conference/Final
Pictures/Stories
Happy Summer!

Homework: Read the blog (if you want)! Have a great summer! Let me know if I can help you at any point in the future! :-)

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News Brief: Kendall had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: NPR.org - Virginia Teen Pleads Guilty To Supporting ISIS Over Social Media. It is fitting that we ended the year on an article related to ISIS, since that was definitely the topic we spent the most amount of news brief time on. Thanks, Kendall.

We also watched VICE News for the last time today. If you want to stay up to date with these, look at the VICE News Playlist on YouTube - they are updated every weekday!

I talked in class about the importance of following the news and trying to stay up to date with what is happening in your city, state, country, and world. Knowledge is power! Try to stay plugged in to what is going on, if you can!

Peace Conference/Final: As promised, this was the Israel and Palestine Peace Conference. First, we had speeches (students that needed to demonstrate a Communication grade) that explained various aspects of the conflict and proposed possible solutions. Then, I led a discussion based on the different issues. I tried to ask everyone for their thoughts at least once. Generally, I thought this was quite good, and students seemed to know their stuff. Thank you for your effort on this! I look forward to reading your papers, as well.

The last part to the final was a reflection short answer about how the year went in Global Studies - what you learned, what you will put into practice in your life, and what you will remember five years from now. I look forward to reading these!

There is a fair amount of work involved in grading the finals, as well as late work that I need to grade. So, I anticipate having the grades submitted on Monday, but it could possibly be earlier.

Pictures/Stories: The end of class was set aside for some time to talk about summer (and collect pictures from the back wall, if students remembered), as well as students to ask me anything they wanted to (obviously, within reason) about anything at all. I enjoyed this time!

Happy Summer! Thank you all so much for being so wonderful to work with. I truly loved teaching each and every one of you, and I hope you know that I care about you and want you to be successful in the future. Take care of yourselves and I hope to see you around! Have a great summer! :-)

Israel and Palestine, Day 7 - Class Recap

Mt. Hood. We are almost to the end of the school year, everyone! Selected for today because I enjoyed part of the weekend up at the mountain with my girlfriend and her family!

Hi everyone,

We made it to the last weekend of the school year! Hooray! There is plenty to prepare for this week with finals, so keep working hard, please. Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets: 
Communication LT 2: I can use language and style that is appropriate to the content area.
Critical Thinking LT 2: I can explain connections between events, issues, problems and concepts.
Knowledge LT 10: I can explain demographic changes in the world and their effects.
Knowledge LT 20: I can explain the impacts of nationalism and revolutionary movements. Knowledge LT 22: I can explain how religious ideas impact the shaping of societies.

Soundtrack: "Open Your Heart" by Madonna. Selected for today because opening hearts and minds to peace is really important to helping solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/8/15:

News Brief – Soo
Finish TMEE
Work Time
Questions for Commissioner Fritz

Homework: Read the blog! Keep working on your final project for the year (specific guide for what to do here). Due at the start of next class - our final class together. Next news brief: Kendall.

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News Brief: Soo had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - South Korea MERS outbreak: 6 dead; 2,500 quarantined; 1,800 schools closed. We talked about what Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus is and why is is causing such concern. Thanks, Soo.

I showed a recent comment on the blog, from a teacher who had a conversation with the director of Promises, too! Here's the interview if you want to read more about the making of the film and what is currently going on.

We also watched VICE News for the day and talked about our weekends, before moving on.

The next news brief was assigned to  Kendall.

Finish Through Middle Eastern Eyes: This was an excerpt from a book, which I made a class set of. The two characters are representing the perspectives of Israel and Palestine. Here's the online version if you want to keep working on this at home:

Google Drive - Through Middle Eastern Eyes Excerpt

There is a few pages of timeline and introduction in that, and then the characters start talking on page 229. The two characters in the reading were David (representing Israel) and Daud (representing Palestine). I wanted students to partner up and go through the reading together. Here is the assignment that goes with the reading, to note each perspective and help you prepare for your final assignment:

Google Drive - David and Daud TMEE Assignment

Work Time: The rest of class was set aside for the final project. I was checking in with every student as to which learning targets they wanted to be graded on for the final. Speaking of the final project, this form clarifies what the expectation is going to be on the day of the final, as well as what students should be writing/talking about:

Google Drive - Israel and Palestine Final Roles, Issues, Targets, and Format

I'm going to keep it simple and have students just focus on this. You should already know what learning targets you need to work on. Use the chart at the top of the second page to focus your writing/speech notes on the specific issues in the conflict. I know there were a lot of questions on this - please let me know if I can continue clearing this up

Questions for Commissioner Fritz: My mom and the Mayor of Beaverton will be coming to visit our class on Tuesday! They are mostly coming for the Government class before, but I figured they should stick around and meet you guys, too! If you are in Period 3 for Mr. Lathrop, we are going to open the walls so they can talk to both classes at once. If you want to learn a little bit more about who they are, here is my mom's bio on her website, and here is the Mayor Denny Doyle's bio. I'm excited for you to meet them!

Thanks, everyone! Keep working hard! We are almost there! :-)

Israel and Palestine, Day 6 - Class Recap

Today was the senior assembly at Westview! Therefore, a sunset picture above the clouds is appropriate. I took this on the way from California to Portland in 2007.

Hi everyone,

I hope you are feeling more clear about what to do for the final and how to be working over the weekend. If not, I hope this post clears it up! Please write a comment to me if you are confused. Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets: 
Communication LT 2: I can use language and style that is appropriate to the content area.
Critical Thinking LT 2: I can explain connections between events, issues, problems and concepts.
Knowledge LT 10: I can explain demographic changes in the world and their effects.
Knowledge LT 20: I can explain the impacts of nationalism and revolutionary movements. Knowledge LT 22: I can explain how religious ideas impact the shaping of societies.

Soundtrack: "Good Life" by OneRepublic. Selected for today because all people want is a Good Life, even in Israel and Palestine! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/4/15:

News Brief – Nam
Final Overview
Library/Textbooks
Work Time

Homework: Read the blog! Know your grade (updated on StudentVUE and on by ID number on the wall) and how to improve it, if possible. Keep working on your final project for the year (specific guide for what to do here). All late work due by this Friday (tomorrow!) at the latest. Next news brief: Soo.

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News Brief: Austin had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: CNN.com - Iraq: ISIS fighters close Ramadi dam gates, cut off water to loyalist towns. This was somewhat quick, because of the shortened assembly schedule, but I did want to point out the power of controlling the water supply, especially in a desert area. Thanks, Nam.

We also watched VICE News for the day, before moving on.

The next news brief was assigned to Soo.

Final Overview: Yet again, I went over in class what the expectation is going to be on the day of the final, as well as what students should be writing/talking about:

Google Drive - Israel and Palestine Final Roles, Issues, Targets, and Format

I'm going to keep it simple and have students just focus on this. You should already know what learning targets you need to work on. Use the chart at the top of the second page to focus your writing/speech notes on the specific issues in the conflict. I know there were a lot of questions on this - please let me know if I can continue clearing this up!

Library/Textbooks/Work Time: For the rest of class, we went to the library to work on the final assignment - whether that is a speech, paper, or a combination of the two. This was the only time in class that we are going to have with the computers, so please keep working on it at home this weekend! Thanks, everyone!

Israel and Palestine, Day 5 - Class Recap

I have not been to Israel/Palestine, but I have been to Jordan, which is right across the border. This is the famous Monastery in the ancient city of Petra. Photo taken in 2014.

Dear class,

One last full week together before finals! Today was our last real day of new content in the class, with a look at an excerpt from a book about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Here's what we did today in class:

Learning Targets: 
Communication LT 2: I can use language and style that is appropriate to the content area.
Critical Thinking LT 2: I can explain connections between events, issues, problems and concepts.
Knowledge LT 10: I can explain demographic changes in the world and their effects.
Knowledge LT 20: I can explain the impacts of nationalism and revolutionary movements. Knowledge LT 22: I can explain how religious ideas impact the shaping of societies.

Soundtrack: "I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys. Selected for today because each side in the conflict wants in their way. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 6/2/15:

Wildcat News Brief/Textbooks – Jim
A City Divided
Through Middle Eastern Eyes
David/Daud

Homework: Read the blog! Know your grade (updated on StudentVUE and on by ID number on the wall) and how to improve it, if possible. Keep working on your final project for the year (specific guide for what to do here). All late work due by this Friday at the latest. Next news brief: Nam.

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Wildcat News Brief: I went over the agenda for the day, and then we watched the last version of Wildcat News for the year:

Jim had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: Forward.com - Yeshiva Students Try to Block Christians From King David's Tomb. We had a little difficult time in class figuring out exactly what this was about. Upon looking at the article in more depth, it appears that it was not Israel (like, the government) preventing Christians from going to King David's Tomb, but a group of Jewish students, who were stopped by police. Thanks, Jim.

We also watched VICE News for the day and talked about our weekends, before moving on.

The next news brief was assigned to Nam.

A City Divided: After the news brief, we watched two more videos from VICE News, which help explain what is going on in Jerusalem and the West Bank right now. The first was Jerusalem:

We also watched the last five minutes of this video, which has to do with violence in the West Bank:

After watching "Promises" last week, this was intended to be an update about what is currently happening in the region. 

Through Middle Eastern Eyes: This was an excerpt from a book, which I made a class set of. The two characters are representing the perspectives of Israel and Palestine. Here's the online version if you want to keep working on this at home:

Google Drive - Through Middle Eastern Eyes Excerpt

There is a few pages of timeline and introduction in that, and then the characters start talking on page 229.

David/Daud: The two characters in the reading were David (representing Israel) and Daud (representing Palestine). I wanted students to partner up and go through the reading together. Here is the assignment that goes with the reading, to note each perspective and help you prepare for your final assignment:

Google Drive - David and Daud TMEE Assignment

Most students were able to get about halfway through the reading. We will continue this on Monday (our last day before the final), because next class we are going to the library to work on the final.

Speaking of the final project, this form clarifies what the expectation is going to be on the day of the final, as well as what students should be writing/talking about:

Google Drive - Israel and Palestine Final Roles, Issues, Targets, and Format

I'm going to keep it simple and have students just focus on this. You should already know what learning targets you need to work on. Use the chart at the top of the second page to focus your writing/speech notes on the specific issues in the conflict. I know there were a lot of questions on this - please let me know if I can continue clearing this up!