"Perhaps nobody has changed the course of history as much as the historians." ~Franklin P. Jones In my personal opinion, the most important thing that a social studies teacher can provide her students, is the ability to develop and support their own opinions on the past and the current world around them. In order to do this, students must understand the process and steps required to conduct research, and to identify and locate good and credible information.
This year, as our students embark on a journey through time, starting with the beginning of man through today, they will learn how to become true historians, through research and analysis of themes and essential concepts. As with this week, they will explore the differences between primary and secondary sources, and will understand why historians seek out this information to create more accurate accounts of historical events. Most importantly, through the research of primary and secondary sources, students will discover the "voice" of the past, and find the common bonds that connect humanity throughout time and space. This week, students practiced being historians through the writing of a shared historical event (the first day of school), and analyzed the similarities in their narratives, as well as differences. These characteristics served as examples of how historians may interpret primary sources to discover whether or not, an event actually occurred, and how it may have happened. This lesson also served as an example of how historical events, though shared by many, may be experienced from many differing perspectives. Therefore, historical accounts may not always be accurate, and an historian must learn to uncover the truth by being critical of all information. We will continue with our historical research skills next week.
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"No significant learning can occur without a significant relationship" ~ James Comer
As I recall my middle school years as a student, I can't help but to refer to them, lovingly, as "The Traumatic Years." It seemed as though every waking thought was consumed by questions like, 'does he like me, how do I look, are they mad at me, am I good enough,' and the list goes on and on. These thoughts left very little room for attention to learning. This, combined with the seemingly constant torment of classmates due to my poor skin, poor teeth, and frizzy hair, led me to repress this time of my life, deep into the dark recesses of my mind. I only venture to these parts when attempting to make a connection with my students, and to let them know that "we've all been there," and "it DOES get better." The problem is that while you are living it, middle school, and even high school, can seem like the beginning, middle, and end. EVERYTHING is a life or death situation. With this constant war between self and society, it's no wonder why our students sometimes struggle to stay on top of their academics. It is for this very reason, that I decided to dedicate our first eight days of school to building Restorative Practices in our classroom. Students are exploring what it means to be in a community, to be trusted, and to bring about justice in a diplomatic and "restorative," rather than "punitive" way. They are discovering that their actions have reactions, and those reactions can affect many. They are sharing with each other in ways that build lasting bonds, and most importantly, they are learning that they are not alone in this journey. We will be continuing our Restorative Circles each Friday, at which point they may be used as a means of checking for understanding of content, dealing with a dilemma in class, or simply reconnecting with each other. The goal of these Restorative Practices, and the reason I feel it is beneficial to dedicate the start of the school year to learning them, is to allow students a fair opportunity to learn, by creating a safe and open environment to be. I encourage you to watch the video above to learn more about Restorative Practices in schools and elsewhere. I'm so excited to be taking this journey with you and your student. I look forward to a wonderful and successful school year! |
Mrs. VeilletteDanelle Veillette teaches 7th grade Individuals and Societies on team 7A. She has been a teacher at BHMS for 11 years, and has taught in both the 7th and 8th grades. ArchivesCategories |