Why I've Been Away...

I wanted to let everyone know that on Friday I woke up with the flu.  I had a temperature, and was sick all weekend.  I finally feel better!  So I'll be at school this week.  I just haven't had the energy to post anything! 

I am also SO SAD that I was not able to go to Winter Formal!  It was the first one I've missed in 8 years, and have been looking forward to it!

Binder Announcement

Students from last semester - Binders are ready to be picked up!  I finished grading them today!  You have one week to pick them up, and then I will dispose of them.  Hope you guys have a GREAT semester!

Love Ms. Haughey

Happy New Year!

You gotta know your History

 

I just got done watching Jamie Foxx on Oprah's show Next Chapter.  He was promoting his new film Django.  I haven't seen it, but I heard it was very intense.  I'm going to have to work myself up to see it.  But what they talked about inspired me to write this post!  Jamie Foxx plays a slave a few years before the American Civil War.  To prepare for the film he researched slavery.  Then he began to talk about the importance of knowing your history and where you come from.

 

American Slavery

 

Both Oprah and Jamie Foxx spoke about the real heroes of Slavery - the slaves themselves.  The fact they survived that.  And if they could survive that what could they survive?  Oprah said to know she comes from that inspires her.  Every group has a story like that of survival and endurance.  Oprah spoke about the Holocaust.  Steven Spielberg started an organization to interview every living survivor.  He wants to know their story of survival.  Again it can be inspiring. 

 

Children in a concentration camp

 

 

Even if you are not part of that group like African American or Jew, what I love about history is you can learn from it.  We are all part of the human family.  When you hear stories like slavery and the Holocaust - it makes me think I can do anything.  You can really see the strength of the human spirit.  If they can endure that and survive - I can endure anything!

 

So I encourage you to get to know your history!  My mom's side of the family is Cherokee.  When I read about the Trail of Tears - it makes me so proud I came from that!  What do you come from?

 

Trail of Tears

 

Hope You Have Had a Great Break!

Sorry I have not been on here for the last few days.  My grandparents have been in town, and I have given them 100% of my attention.  I just wanted to let you guys know that I will be posting every day now.  I had a nice Christmas Break!  I hope you have too!

For 6th Hour

Here is what needs to be in your binder:

• Hall Pass
• Should be the first thing I see when I open up your binder.  In the front of your first divider.
• This is important too because I will take your Hall Pass and you will get extra credit for them.
• Bell Ringers (1st Divider)
• You need a tab on the first page of this set.  You should have a set before.
• You should have around 17 Bell Ringers.  That is how many 2nd Hour has.
• Each bell ringer should have 5 sentences each on its own line.
• 8000 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. (2nd Divider)
• Need all the notes we took about Classical Civilizations - China, India, and Rome
• On the first page need a tab - order doesn't matter
• Then behind your notes you need Chapter 3, 4, and 5 Outlines
• Need a tab on the first page of each outline

Avatar

 

Last year after we studied The Trail of Tears in Oklahoma History, a student asked if we could watch the film, "Avatar?"  I was confused by the question?  I had seen "Avatar."  Who hasn't?  So why was a student asking to watch the movie?  We did not have time - so I laughed the question off.  That student was probably sad.  I looked into it, and I guess the way the humans treated the Na'vi (blue people0 in the film is a direct comparison to the way the Native Americans were treated during Indian Removal.  So this year we watched it in class.  Here is a brief synopsis of the film:

 

AVATAR Synopsis

 

 

The students wrote a comparison between Avatar and the Trail of Tears.  One student said it was a great modern visual of the Trail of Tears.  I loved that sentence because it is so true.  I graded binders while the students watched it.  I would occasionally look up and watch the film.  It is shocking how similiar the two are!  One student wrote they had seen the film before, and thought Wow that was a good film.  This time around she saw the comparison, and wondered if the filmmaker purposely put that into the film?  I'm not sure either, but it makes you wonder!

 

Jake and his love

 

Jake preparing for battle

 

Here are some of the Big Comparisons students said over and over:

 

1. Both were asked to relocate
2. Americans wanted something resourceful on their land
3. Both were called Savages
4. The General in the movie and President Jackson were the same
5. In Avatar there is a happy ending - the Na'vi fight back and win!

 

The Na'vi's sacred tree