April's post:

Many of you have read "The Shepherd's Granddaughter", one of the nominated titles for this year's Red Maple Reading Program. You may also be aware of some of the controversy that has recently arisen concerning this book. Here is a link to an open letter asking for the book to be withdrawn from the Red Maple Program: Open Letter to Ontario's Education Minister. Here are some of the responses to this letter: Censorship Controversy Heats Up , Not Wise to Ban Children's Books , Jewish Groups Say... .

After reading the articles what do you think? Should the book be pulled from the competition because an organization dislikes its content? Who should decide what books get to be part of a competition like the Red Maple? Who should decide if a book is suitable for a school library? Are you old enough to read controversial books and decide for yourselves? How would you go about finding more information about the subject so that you could make up your own mind?

I think these are interesting questions and I would like you to weigh in with your thoughts about this topic of censorship. One of this month's posts needs to be a response to this issue.

March 2010

I always find it interesting to follow the thoughts that flow from the reading in which I am constantly engaged. This month, I am offering three suggestions for you to ponder and then write about.

The 2010 Winter Olympics. Yes, the Olympics are over and maybe you are like me wanting more of it to watch on TV. How do you feel about Canada having hosted the Olympics? Has this changed the way you feel about sports? Has this changed the way you feel about living in Canada? Are the Olympics a good thing? Was it justifiable to have spent so much money on this event when the world has so many other issues that require our attention? What was your favourite Olympic moment? There is so much to think about, maybe you will offer your thoughts on this subject?

Good Deeds

I read an article this morning in which the author wrote about her attempt to do one good deed each day for fifty days. Now this isn't the first time I have read or heard about people doing this, but for some reason it stuck in my head. So, I challenge all of you to try this for the month of March. Do one good thing each day. Do something not for yourself, but for someone else. Keep track in your blog or some other way. One deed at a time we can change the world. Here are some links to others who have gone through this journey or maybe are still walking that path:

One Good Deed Per Day

365 Days of Goodness

I'm sure you can find others that will help to inspire you. I am hoping that all of you will take me up on this challenge. This could be a life changing moment.

What comes next, after high school? As I am getting ready to go to this year's Career Conference in May, I have been thinking and talking with others about the world beyond high school. Do we, as a society, have certain preconceptions about where students should go and what they should do after high school? Do you know what you will be doing when you finish high school? What is the goal of school and education within our society? When I was in grade 7, it was the expectation that I would attend a university upon finishing high school. Is that the only option? What do you think?

February

We are now well into the new year, and getting busier all the time. Next week Canada begins to play host to the world as the Olympics begin in B.C. The olympics can be atime of great personal achievement for athletes from around the world.

What stories do you think should be reported on as we watch the Olympics?
Who do you think should be competing? Do professional athletes have the right to compete for their country?
When so many are suffering in our own country should we be spending billions of dollars to host this sports spectacle?

February is also the month in which we celebrate the contributions and history of African Canadians.
Watch this video from the TDSB director Dr. Chris Spence:
Do you recognize any of the names he mentions? Who are some of the people you think should be celebrated this month?

As always, you need to make two posts this month and respond once to something posted by one of your class-mates.

January 2010

It's a new year and a new decade. It seems to be a tradition at this time of year to make lists of things we would like to change about ourselves and our lives. So, in keeping with tradition here are some possibilities for this month's postings (remember you will need to write at least 2 postings and also respond at least once this month):

1. Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Statisitcs show that most of us make resolutions, but don't end up keeping them. This is probably truer than we would like to admit. Have you made any resolutions for this year? What are they? How are you going to try to keep them?


2. As we start a new year we often take time to look back on the events of the past year. Take a look at this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyoGbd1iJIw&feature=player_embedded What were some highlights from your 2009?

Remembering and Responsibility

November, a month to remember. We have all taken part in Remembrance Day ceremonies since we were very small, but how often have we actually thought, really thought, about what we ought to be remembering? What responsibilities do we, as citizens not only of this country, but of the world, have when it comes to remembering the events of our past? This month, you may choose to write about these things. Here are some articles and other links to help you.

1. Go to The Memory Project page (http://www.thememoryproject.com/remembrance) and listen, read or both to one of the stories there. How does it make you feel to hear the stories and memories of these soldiers, now grown old?
2. Look at the pictures posted here of the battle at Vimy Ridge. (http://news.globaltv.com/daysofremembrance/story.html?id=2133466). Canada lost thousands of soldiers in that battle. Was it worth it? How does their sacrifice effect you?
3. Watch this video that uses actual footage from WW1. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02TQUI_C0hc). Search for another video that helps you to put into context how or what we should remember on Remembrance Day. Be sure to include a link to the video you've found in your post.

This is a serious theme this month. I hope you take the time to think about your writing and then comment thoughtfully on what others have written.

Teamwork and Co-operation

October 2009

Now that you are getting the hang of this whole blogging process, here are the prompts for this month. I try to relate the prompts to whatever the Character Education themes are for the current month. This month, the themes are Teamwork and Co-operation. I encourage you to also lookfor interesting items that relate to these themes and share them with the class through your postings.

Here, then, are this month's prompts:

1. Robert Yates wrote these words:It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares about who gets the credit. How do you feel about this quote? Do you like receiveing credit for the things you have contributed when you work in a group? How can we build an environment in which the end result is cherished and not the individual contributions of each group member? Is this a realstic goal?
   


2. Watch this video clip of Pinball Clemons as he gives a speech to a group of teachers about Teamwork. How does his definiftion of teamwork compare to yours? How could you apply what he says to the way you work in groups at school?


3. Visit this website: Lessons From Geese. What can geese teach us about teamwork? Are these lessons applicable in any way to the work we do at school? At home? Anywhere else?

September

As a class we will be using this blog to communicate with each other. We will create a forum in which we will be able to explore ideas and think about some issues that come up throughout the year.

I am expecting that you will post two times each month as well as contributing comments to at least two of the postings created by your classmates. These posts and comments will count toward your writing and media marks this term. The posts should be between 200- 400 words in length. Please remember that spelling and grammar will count.

While you may blog about anything you wish, I will always provide several prompts which can help you if you get stuck. (If you come across anything that you think would be a good prompt for the class, let me know.)

Here are September's prompts:

1.
Colombia kills Drug Baron's Hippo
Pablo Escobar's Hippos
Tension Surfaces over Fate of Hippos
Click on one, or all, of the links above. How would you deal with this situation?

2.
1887 Law Could Send Man to Jail
Click on the above link and read about how a young man was arrested for using foul language. Should we, in Canada, have such a law? How do you think this incident will be dealt with in the courts?

3.
SAM's Character Education theme for September is Respect. How do you show respect through your day? Are there certain groups of people to whom you show more respect than others? What are some ways in which you could be more respectful?