My philosophy in approaching social studies teaching (7th and 8th grades) is to try and incorporate multi-media presentations, selected movies, and self-directed computer based research projects into the classroom environment. The movies have been mostly popular (the 8th grade has viewed "Gods and Generals" and "Gettysburg" plus parts of "Cold Mountain"). The 7th grade has seen parts of "The Patriot" (Camden and Cowpens battles) along with some DVD's of the old Walter Cronkite "You Are There" series. The latter aren't too wildly exciting, but were still useful in capturing the spirit of the times.
A note here... thank God for NetFlix! I'm building quite a library of historical movies and documentaries to show in my classes. For example, I just moved "All Quiet on the Western Front" up to the top of my queue to insure having that before we get to World War I.
A special plea... I would appreciate your recommendations on favorite historical movies, especially the older ones that may not come to mind. I don't always show the whole movie so feel free to recommend titles that contain a few scenes that would be enlightening for an American History class. I can pull out clips and embed them into a PowerPoint.
The other part of my philosophy is to try and use wargames to demonstrate battles. This has been problematic for several reasons (but I shall overcome!).
1. The district has all the computers locked down and make it difficult to get anything special installed. I may have to build an extra computer and bring in to the classroom myself.
2. I have only 4 working computers in my class and access to the school computer lab is impossible because it is tied up all day with rotating "computer time" for all of the elementary classes. Jr High kids get 5 weeks a semester in the lab for one hour a day (rotating with PE, Navajo Language, Navajo Culture, Music, and Art). There is no time for me to take an entire class in and do any sort of training or networked gaming etc.
The good news is that I'm putting together plans for a Computer Club that I will be sponsoring and the kids are all excited about that. My stated intention in the proposal is to use historical, flight, and economic simulation software to get the kids elevated above the mindless shooters that they seem to find all over the web when they have free computer time. In addition, we are going to get some old obsolete computers and train the kids how to open them up, service them, and even build their own. It's all pretty challenging.
I'm also heading up an initiative to produce an inexpensive yearbook that will allow the kids to create their own individual pages using Photoshop, scanners, and digital cameras. This was something we did at the charter school where I did my student teaching a year ago. The kids and parents are all wildly excited about the prospect. Oh yea and I'm also the designated spokesperson for the Jr High teachers (that's what happens when you keep bringing up suggestions and ideas). It is all keeping me incredibly busy, but it's worth to see the kids getting excited! The Navajo teachers on staff all say that the school has desperately needed someone like me coming in from outside with fresh ideas and skills. I should mention that virtually all the teachers are Navajo in my school. The Anglos are reading specialists, school improvement coordinators, and PE instructors. I'm the only Anglo in the Jr High section of the school which is just fine with me. The Navajo people have been the warmest and most welcoming individuals that I've ever encountered. The kids are fantastic... though they are so isolated that the simplest question of geography produces blank stares. In my entire 7th grade (37 students), the farthest away that any have traveled is Phoenix (2) and Los Angeles (1). I had to begin the year with three weeks of map exercises to learn the continents and oceans... and basic concepts such as "delta" or "coastal plain" or the difference between a river and a stream... lakes and seas... well, you get the idea.
One of my hopes for using Microsoft Flight Simulator is to let them take "virtual trips" and get a feel for time and distance.
On the computer issue.. I've been promised more equipment in January. I'm also working with some college faculty who think they can help get a grant to get laptops for all my kids in exchange for their being able to study how technology works in the education of Native American youth. My principal is very open to the idea and thinks the Superintendent will also be welcoming to the idea.
Eventually, I expect to be approaching companies like Matrix and HPS in hopes of getting some kind of break on obtaining a school license so that we can put some of their games up without having to buy individual copies. I would love to have the entire Matrix and HPS lines available, but buying that many games is probably out of the question. If anyone has contacts or suggestions, please shoot them my way.
You always hear about teachers spending their own money to equip their classrooms... well, believe me, it's true. I had to buy my own DVD player and I desperately need a computer projector. I've got an initiative that should get the Jr High two projects by the end of this month (fingers crossed). Otherwise, I'm a multi-media specialist who has to go begging every day to try and get the one projector available to the entire school (19 classes plus the 7 "specials"). If I had an extra $1,000 I'd buy my own. Yesterday I drove down to Gallup and bought $40 worth of posterboard (and $40 worth of other supplies) for class projects. Gallup is the closest city and is about 90 miles each way (beautiful drive though).
Gas prices really bite you out here... I have a 60 miles roundtrip drive down to Chinle just to check my mailbox or buy groceries.
On the plus side, I no longer have the temptation of McDonalds or Subway or Pizza up here in the mountains and have lost almost 30 pounds since I moved out here in at the beginning of August. Feeling great.. and looking better too! I'm diabetic and my blood glucose levels are finally normal on a regular basis.
Although, I am technically "high desert" the temperature up here in the Chuska Mountains has been in the mid 70's during the day, dropping to 40 degrees at night. Chinle (down in the valley and 2,000 feet below us) never goes beyond the mid 80's. I'm told to expect -35 degrees and 18 inch snowfalls when winter sets in. I do have a nice Jeep Liberty 4X4 which should see me through the rough weather. I have a very cozy two bedroom house (subsidized at $170 a month including utilities)and a forest of Pinon trees and pines right out my backdoor. I walk a few steps and I have a view of the mountains surrounding us.
I've posted some pictures in the past, but I have some new ones taken on a drive through Buffalo Pass last weekend. This winding road with a 14 degree grade goes up to about 12,000 feet elevation and then slides down into Shiprock and then Farmington, NM. Totally gorgeous!
Sorry to provide such a rambling posting, but this is the last week of the 1st grading period and I'm trying to get some coherence into my grading structure! [:'(]
I'll keep you all posted. Let me know if I start boring you!
