This blog is a discussion site for our June 20-24, 2011, Summer Satellite. Thanks to the generous support of The Memorial Library, in collaboration with the National Writing Project, we have connected the Area 3 Writing Project and the Northern California Writing Project for an inquiry-based, technology enhanced exploration of resources and strategies for teaching the Holocaust and other difficult topics, such as bullying, racism, and state-sanctioned forced removal and genocide.
For more information on the Crossing Lines program, check out this video.
Wall of Heroes
ReplyDeleteI was totally inspired to start my year out next year with a Wall of Heroes posted in my room. If anyone would like to join me, let me know. I was thinking it would be cool if those wanting to join in could contribute a picture and a brief write-up of a hero/heroine and then I could make a packet for everyone to put together a wall.
What do you think?
:)Michelle
Good Movies with resisters/rescuers/survivors:
ReplyDeleteWhite Rose- About Hans and Sophie Scholl (german students who resisted Hitler's political control)--not a happy ending, unfortunately.
Escape from Sobibor- the most successful uprising and escape
Defiance-about the Bielski brothers, Jewish escapees who helped hundreds of other Jewish refugees
God Grew Tired of Us- About the boys of Sudan, their harrowing escape and journey and their assimilation into American culture
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI had such a great time reading everyone's comments, and I am really excited to work on making things happen in my classroom and beyond next year. For those of you who mentioned feeling overwhelmed, I totally remember feeling that the whole time I attended HEN in NYC. Afterward, I didn't really know how to process all of the information and get started once I came home. I am so glad that I have been able to connect to others here to help me. Now that I have talked to middle school teachers at the Davis seminar in person, and I am reading comments from middle school teachers in Chico, I feel ready.
Brigitte, Doris, (they are awesome!!) and I have talked about bringing our HOLT literature books and working on incorporating lessons from this great week with the pieces in our series. Any of you in Chico who want to join in, the more the merrier!
In order to make the curriculum seem doable to me, I am thinking about following the Edelman's advice and focusing on the positive themes first. The resilience, rescuers and resisters seems a nice place to start, and with the stories that are in the 8th grade HOLT text (Harriet Tubman, Too Soon a Woman, Camp Harmony...even Flowers for Algernon) I can see that happening. There are also pieces that are great for using Tosha's propaganda analysis handout, too. I am also definitely going to use the Daruma doll with Camp Harmony to reinforce the idea of resilience and have my students set goals for the year! Finally, some fun art work to include.
I would love to see if we could get a middle school blog going that we and our students could use to interact with one another. I'll have to ask Gail if that is possible. Is it? I just don't feel brave enough to embark on it by myself, and I think it would be fantastic for my students to hear voices from kids outside of their community.
Thank you so much for making me excited about next year already.
What a phenomenal group of teachers.
:) Michelle
I like the idea of posting a wall of heroes. At our school I have the use of any bolletin board in the hallway, and I think we can make this the theme for the school year. (As activities director I can make this decision, and everyone else just goes along with it.) The ideas I am getting and can incorperate into my English classes, my home ec class and even my Visual and Performing Arts class. I am looking at having the kids role play some different situations around the tolerance issue and having them figure out who they would be in each situation (the perpetrator, the rescuer, the bystander or the victime). After we act out the different situations they will have a chance to write about it, addressing each possition.
ReplyDeletePam A.
Michelle, I love your enthusiasm! I, too, want a "Wall of Heroes" in my classroom. I would love some ideas/suggestions.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way for kids to see that a hero isn't just an athlete, pop star, or actor, but people who have made a difference in the lives of others.
Thanks! :)
Melissa