5/31 - Class Recap

Today in class, we had Ms. Seamone come in and talk with us about Westview's discipline data and national trends.

Dear class,

Back in the swing of things before the end of the semester! There is certainly plenty to do in our short remaining time together. Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
I can communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Fight For Your Right" by Beastie Boys. Selected for today because of fighting being a common reason for school discipline, as well as the upcoming party for the Seniors! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 5/31/18:
Check-In/Review Agreements

What Can I Do Today?
Discipline Presentation
Final Assignment

Homework: Read the blog! Continue working on your final project! Sign up for the potluck next class!

Take Broden's survey here: Google Drive - Broden's DSJ Survey
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Check In/Review Agreements: At the beginning of class, we went over the Courageous Conversations Agreements, as always, to begin our work together for the day. After checking in, we talked for a bit about what is happening in the world outside of class, before moving on.

What Can I Do Today?: We also asked students if there was anything they wanted to add to the "What Can I Do Today?" poster up at the front of the room, in terms of actions outside of class. We also noted that the list is live on the blog here on the upper right corner, with links!

One event coming up this weekend (aside from the baseball State Championship game!) is the Native American Pow-Wow at Southridge. Here is that information if you are interested in attending:

Discipline Presentation: Next, we had Ms. Seamone, who is the Dean of Students here at Westview, come in to talk about her analysis of data about student discipline trends, both nationally and here at Westview. It was really interesting to see what is going on here and have students guess as to what is happening! Here is the presentation that she went through with the class:

Google Drive - Ms. Seamone's School Discipline Presentation

Additionally, we said there would be more reading and materials linked to on the blog from the handout that she gave in class, if students were interested in reading more (perhaps for your final project?). Here is a shared folder of these readings:

Google Drive - Ms. Seamone's School Discipline Reading Materials

Lots to think about, for sure! Thanks for coming in to talk with us, Ms. Seamone!

Final Assignment: The rest of class was spent working on the final project proposal (one paragraph) which was due at the end of class (on Google Classroom). As a reminder, here is the final assignment:

Google Drive - DSJ Final Assignment

We will be going through these and offering feedback, so definitely get it in as soon as possible if you did not in class! See you on Monday, for the Seniors last day!

5/29 - Class Recap

Today, we learned about gender in societies around the world. Photo taken at the Future of Flight museum in 2010.

Dear class,

Thank you for your effort with the assignment in class and your ongoing participation! Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
I can communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Walk On Water" by 30 Seconds To Mars. Selected for today because of the music video (which we showed as students were walking in) and Memorial Day weekend. Music video here.

AGENDA 5/29/18:
Check-In/Review Agreements
Bechdel Test
Gender in the World
Work Time/Conferences

Homework: Read the blog! Continue working on your final project!
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Check In/Review Agreements: At the beginning of class, we went over the Courageous Conversations Agreements, as always, to begin our work together for the day. After checking in, we talked for a bit about what is happening in the world outside of class, before moving on.

Bechdel Test: This is another way at looking at gender in media, and specifically, films. The test is simply this:

1. It has to have at least two [named] women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

Here is the website we showed in class that helped explain the test and whether or not movies pass the test (a ton of movies do not): BechdelTest.com

Gender in the World: The end of last class was devoted to looking at how other societies around the world view gender. If you had a particular cultural background you wanted to analyze, that was encouraged, but it could not be the United States. The assignment (also posted in Google Classroom) is here:

Google Drive - Gender Country Profile Project

The goal of this assignment was for students to try and see how gender has an impact around the world in all sorts of ways, and to try and identify some reasons why. Please submit this assignment via Google Classroom (or a paper copy, if needed), if you did not in class.

Work Time/Conferences: While students were working on the Gender Country Profile assignment and final project proposal, we conferenced with students about grades and also what they were thinking in terms of a final project. The proposals should be turned in on Google Classroom. Let us know if you are in need of support with this! Only two more days with the Seniors left in class! 

5/24 - Class Recap

We continued our Gender unit today by looking at the way in which society has had an impact on the way in which we view the female body through history. Here is one of the excerpts we had the class analyze and excerpt.

Hello everyone,

We were so happy to see you all, after being out earlier this week! Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
I can communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
I can apply understanding of ideas and concepts to a new context or problem.
I can demonstrate an understanding of the role of governments in current issues.
I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Rock Your Body" by Justin Timberlake. Selected for today because of society's obsessive relationship with bodies, which we analyzed today in class. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 5/24/18:
Check-In/Review Agreements
What Can I Do Today?
Gendered Products
Documentary Questions and Discussion
The Body Project
Gender in the World

Homework: Read the blog! Finish your documentary reflection questions and any other missing work. Seniors, your final project proposal is due today!
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Check In/Review Agreements: At the beginning of class, we went over the Courageous Conversations Agreements, as always, to begin our work together for the day. After checking in, we talked for a bit about what is happening in the world outside of class, before moving on.

What Can I Do Today?: We also asked students if there was anything they wanted to add to the "What Can I Do Today?" poster up at the front of the room, in terms of actions outside of class. We also noted that the list is live on the blog here on the upper right corner, with links!

Gendered Products: We REALLY enjoyed seeing what students found and posted in Google Classroom as far as gendered products! In class, we went over a few examples that students found, which were super interesting. Try and train yourself to see the ways in which we "gender" society in these sorts of ways.

Documentary Questions and Discussion: After the documentary last class, we asked students to write a reflection on watching it. The questions were:

What was your overall impression of the documentary?
Did you find yourself experiencing discomfort? How so?
What did you learn about gender?
Is there any information you learned that you will be able to use in the future, with your interactions with peers, family, or children?

If you have not turned this in via Google Classroom, please do so. We had a conversation in class about our reactions to the film - thank you for your engagement here!

The Body Project: The last part of class was spent analyzing the role of society's expectations on women throughout history. These images were selected from a book I had in college at Western Oregon University in a Gender Studies class, called The Body Project by Joan Jacobs Brumberg, which I highly recommend. Here are the images we cut up and had students analyze:

Google Drive - The Body Project Historical Images

Part of the book has to deal with the obsession over what a woman should look like, so we wanted students to look at these historical examples, annotate them like Mrs. Labossiere did at the start of the unit with Serena Williams, and find connections to present day examples. We shared out what we found in class.

Gender in the World: The last part of the day was devoted to looking at how other societies around the world view gender. If you had a particular cultural background you wanted to analyze, that was encouraged, but it could not be the United States. The assignment (also posted in Google Classroom) is here:

Google Drive - Gender Country Profile Project

The goal of this assignment was for students to try and see how gender has an impact around the world in all sorts of ways, and to try and identify some reasons why. Please submit this assignment via Google Classroom (or a paper copy, if needed), if you did not in class. Thank you! See you next week!