Our journey into the deep recesses of scholarship continues with the explication of the trace fossil writing task. Students were able to receive its introduction well. We analyzed the notion of culturally historic artifacts in Aztec, Mayan, and Incan culture. Then, we analyzed objects from a culture that seems to reside in ancient desolation: That of the Social Studies Teacher on Team 7.1. Students gained much insight into how this culture operates, in what he (as the sole member of the culture) believes, and the values of such a bizarre setting. It was insightful to read about how Mr. Kannan believes in “dressing nice for work” or in how “he believes in scholarship” or the fact that “he believes everyone chooses their own culture.” Absorbing such insights into their own mind, students were able to turn their high powered lens of precise insight and analysis on themselves. As they greeted the trace fossil writing task, our students seemed to paraphrase the words of Dr. Lecter as they “looked deep within themselves.”
The lambs might not have stopped screaming, Clarice.
Certainly, our focus for the next week is the hopeful progress of our writing tasks. We have mapped out the dates and times for completion of this task. In the process, students have been reminded that nightly and incremental completion of this paper, as outlined in the timeline for completion, is a critical component for success. Each day, our in class focus will be on some new aspect of the paper’s growth and development. Students have been reminded that they should expect that their sole focus in Social Studies should be on the successful completion of this paper. To that end, students should know that the copies of the mini lessons I will feature are online, under the “Recent PowerPoint Lessons” link on this blog. Each day’s notes will address the topics as outlined on the timeline for completion. I believe that if students access these files and can possess hard copies of the notes prior to class, they might be able to use their in class time with greater autonomy. I will be encouraging students to access these files this week. Should computer usage be a challenge, I will also be inviting students to utilize my computer or those in the Media Center.
There is a theme in literature about the notion of the hero. Part of the heroic archetype is that when faced with a seemingly insurmountable quest, the hero retreats to some type of meditative and reflective location. This locale is either a physical place of solitude or a mental place of rumination. Such musing allows the hero to gain insight on how to approach the challenge that lies ahead and how to eventually claim triumph over a daunting adversary. Eventually, the knowledge gained on how to achieve victory rises above all, like a phoenix from the ashes, or as a house of worship towers over an entire population. I imagine that nightly homework for our students should be to find this place of intellectual sanctuary where they can reflect and mentally map out what they are going to do to slay this demon, a force that will dwarf in comparison to the forces that lie further on in our journey.
Now that would be a great assignment to write in student daily planners: “Tonight’s homework: Be like brave Hector, be like strong Ulysses, approach the paper like Dante, slay the demons of doubt as Lord Rama, and avoid repeating the mistakes of Faust.” (I can only surmise as to the emails I would get as a response to such an assignment. Talk about answering voice mail!)
Nevertheless, it is one of my hopes that in the successful completion will lie some of the elements of strength and austerity that I seek to impart consistently and repeatedly in all of our emerging scholars. We will construct temples of intellectual worship that will tower over all.
Final red tape issues need to be integrated into this missive. I look forward to seeing all of you at Curriculum Night on September 18 at 6:45 PM. Information should be forthcoming. Please also be aware that the Trace Fossil Writing Task is due on September 19, with Progress Reports in Social Studies going home with students on September 26, 2008.
Happy hunting and even happier ruminating! Go find your trace fossil!
Mr. Kannan
The lambs might not have stopped screaming, Clarice.
Certainly, our focus for the next week is the hopeful progress of our writing tasks. We have mapped out the dates and times for completion of this task. In the process, students have been reminded that nightly and incremental completion of this paper, as outlined in the timeline for completion, is a critical component for success. Each day, our in class focus will be on some new aspect of the paper’s growth and development. Students have been reminded that they should expect that their sole focus in Social Studies should be on the successful completion of this paper. To that end, students should know that the copies of the mini lessons I will feature are online, under the “Recent PowerPoint Lessons” link on this blog. Each day’s notes will address the topics as outlined on the timeline for completion. I believe that if students access these files and can possess hard copies of the notes prior to class, they might be able to use their in class time with greater autonomy. I will be encouraging students to access these files this week. Should computer usage be a challenge, I will also be inviting students to utilize my computer or those in the Media Center.
There is a theme in literature about the notion of the hero. Part of the heroic archetype is that when faced with a seemingly insurmountable quest, the hero retreats to some type of meditative and reflective location. This locale is either a physical place of solitude or a mental place of rumination. Such musing allows the hero to gain insight on how to approach the challenge that lies ahead and how to eventually claim triumph over a daunting adversary. Eventually, the knowledge gained on how to achieve victory rises above all, like a phoenix from the ashes, or as a house of worship towers over an entire population. I imagine that nightly homework for our students should be to find this place of intellectual sanctuary where they can reflect and mentally map out what they are going to do to slay this demon, a force that will dwarf in comparison to the forces that lie further on in our journey.
Now that would be a great assignment to write in student daily planners: “Tonight’s homework: Be like brave Hector, be like strong Ulysses, approach the paper like Dante, slay the demons of doubt as Lord Rama, and avoid repeating the mistakes of Faust.” (I can only surmise as to the emails I would get as a response to such an assignment. Talk about answering voice mail!)
Nevertheless, it is one of my hopes that in the successful completion will lie some of the elements of strength and austerity that I seek to impart consistently and repeatedly in all of our emerging scholars. We will construct temples of intellectual worship that will tower over all.
Final red tape issues need to be integrated into this missive. I look forward to seeing all of you at Curriculum Night on September 18 at 6:45 PM. Information should be forthcoming. Please also be aware that the Trace Fossil Writing Task is due on September 19, with Progress Reports in Social Studies going home with students on September 26, 2008.
Happy hunting and even happier ruminating! Go find your trace fossil!
Mr. Kannan
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