Blue Team Social Studies

Almost That Time Again

2010-07-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

Wow! Did the summer fly past, or is it just me? Hard to believe we'll be back in school in just three weeks. But, hey, I'm excited about it. Lots of changes taking place. First, Mr. Pillar is our new principal. He has some great ideas for making JCMS even better and I'm looking forward to working with him. He'll be assisted by Mrs. Carroll-Frye, of course, as well as Ms. Willis, who is joining us from North.

On the Blue Team front, while Ms. Martin and I are sad to see Mrs. Helmer leave, we were happy to learn she will be teaching science at Batchelor this fall. Meanwhile, we'll be joined by Mrs. Scott, who many of you know from her Spanish class, and Dr. Marchese will also be joining our 7th grade team as we are adding the ENL program to the Blue Team. Sadly, Mrs. Qualley will not be with the Blue Team this year, but you'll see her working with the Green Team.

Returning 8th graders will notice several changes to the way we do things on the team this year. No, home groups are not going away, but we intend to make use of them in some innovative ways. The Blue Team teachers are meeting next week to plan some of these changes. More on that in an upcoming blog.

How was your summer? I spent the first part immersed in the World Cup. Having the Spanish Football scarf hanging in the front of my room all last year paid off as La Roja finally won the World Cup! Several returning 8th graders can look forward to prizes as they correctly picked the Spaniards to win. But of course they would, given how many Barcelona players were in the starting eleven! I have to admit, though, that two players from hated Real Madrid were among my favorites - Sergio Ramos and Iker Cassilas were standouts!

I've also read quite a few books about Afghanistan and Pakistan this summer, so the recently leaked documents (you have been following the news, I hope) contained no surprises. If any incoming 7th graders are reading this, prepare to learn a lot about the various "-stans" this year.

Finally, I've also been reading quite a bit about things like RTI, PLCs, and other acronyms for exciting developments in education. I hope to work closely with Mr. Duvall and Mrs. Fox as we advance and improve social studies education for JCMS students. One such improvement will be an additional focus on current events this year.

Well, that was quite a bit to digest. Get rested and I'll see you on the 18th of August!

Time For The Video Contest Again

2010-04-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

Announcing the 2nd Annual Blue Team YouTube Video Contest! Yes, that's right, we are calling all amateur young producers, directors, and actors in the Blue Team. In late May, we will hold a screening of videos created by Blue Team students. There will be one showing for 7th grade and another for 8th grade. The audience will then vote for their favorite video at each showing and the winners will receive fabulous prizes! Well, okay, maybe not so fabulous, and not very many, but the winner will still have bragging rights of being chosen the best amongst your peers.

The rules are simple:
1. Content must be school appropriate;
2. The video must be created by Blue Team students;
3. The length should not exceed 10 minutes;
4. The link to the video must be emailed to me for approval at least one week prior to the showing.

You might already have a video on YouTube you would like to enter, or you can get started creating one for the contest. I retain the right to scratch any video from the contest for any reason.So, what are you waiting for? Start storyboarding!

11th Annual Blue Team Stock Market Competition

2010-03-02T05:52:00.001-08:00

Just a quick note to announce that, once again this year, VSE will be the site for the Blue Team Stock Market competition. Beginning March 22nd, the day back from Spring Break, and going until May 14th, students will be able to purchase and trade stocks while building their portfolios. Prizes will be awarded to the top ten finishers and current students in Blue Team will be able to earn extra credit. 7th graders participating in the mini-economy acitivity will also add any earnings to their total money.

The competition is limited to Blue Teamers, past and present. The competition's name is:

JCMS Blue Team

The competition ID is: JCMS2010

The password will be announced in class next week. Email me for the password any time after March 21st.

The link to the game may be found on the Blue Team Home page.

http://www.mccsc.edu/~rcourtne

MLK Update

2010-01-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

This just in! A former Blue Team student has emailed an opportunity for you to provide service to the community this MLK Day. Here are the details:

As we near Martin Luther King Day, we recall his words and honor him through our service. "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?" MLK, Jr.

In 2009 the Hoosier Hills Food Bank distributed more than 3 million pounds of food, up 82% from 2006. Herald-Times, 12/31/09

This MLK Day, Volunteers for Change is making it easy to do for others. We are hosting a Community Canvass for Hoosier Hills Food Bank:Monday, January 18th, arrive between 1:00 - 2:00 pmRachael's Cafe: 300 E. 3rd St. (between Lincoln & Grant) We will have everything you need and will be working in teams. You can go door to door or you can provide transportation and a warm vehicle. This is a family friendly activity! After the canvass, patronize a local business and hang out with us at Rachael's. Enjoy soup, sandwiches, and hot chocolate (made with milk and chocolate chips). Plenty of free parking available: Rachael's lot; Monroe County Democratic Party lot (3rd & Grant); street parking on Grant & Lincoln (by 3rd St. Park).

Note: This is not an endorsement, just an announcement. I would recommend an adult accompany you if you are going to be canvassing a neighborhood. For more info, contact Volunteers For Change. I imagine you can do this through this website:

http://www.volunteersforchange.us/contact.php

A Day On

2010-01-06T05:29:00.000-08:00

An annual tradition for the Blue Team is participation in volunteer activities on or around Martin Luther King Day. Ten points of extra credit are given to students who bring written verification that they participated in a volunteer activity. This can be a formal activity, such as those found on the list of this City of Bloomington link:

https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/cobvn/org/opp/medallions/?medallion_id=10284441675

You might also come up with your own project, such as picking up trash in the neighborhood, helping an elderly neighbor or relative with shopping, babysitting (for free) siblings or neighbors, dog walking, or whatever you might think to do that would be helpful and contribute in some way to the community.

Finally, you might participate in the events of the day. This year the Rev. Jesse Jackson will be speaking at the Buskirk on January 18th.

Remember, to receive the extra credit you must bring a statement, signed by an adult, that verifies your participation.

Have fun!

Peyton

2009-11-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

Whether you love him or hate him, or simply don't care, you must admit Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks to have played the game. Is this because of his innate talent? Of course there is some of that, but what separates Manning from so many others is his work ethic and his attention to detail. He studies film religiously, he spends extra time before and after practice working with receivers, he learns the nuances of opposing defensive players and their coordinators. It is for these reasons he is able to set the records and accomplish the things he does.

What does this have to do with you? Plenty! 8th graders, you are two-thirds of the way through middle school now. 7th graders, it has been almost six months since you were in elementary school. You all can take a lesson from Manning. Middle School is not hard. You are not stupid. Each of you has the ability to succeed at this level. What some of you lack is the work ethic, the discipline, to succeed. The only thing that can kill your grade at this level is not following through on your work! For this reason we have instituted numerous ways to help you. Having just finished ISTEP remediation conferences, I can share with you the advice we gave to parents of students that did not pass the ISTEP. This advice is helpful for all students.

First, use your Agenda Book! Record assignments for every class and note when there are no assignments. Don't simply leave a day blank. Second, use Homework Hotline or homeworklive.com. When you are absent or forgot your materials at home, don't allow yourself to simply fall a day behind. It is hard enough to keep current without having to try and catch up! Third, read thirty minutes every night. It doesn't matter what you are reading, just do it! It is like the receiver who runs the same routes over and over, the soccer player who practices header after header, the basketball player who shoots one hundred free throws a day. Practice improves your game.

As we head into the winter doldrums I hope you'll keep these suggestions in mind. We can't all play football like Manning or the guitar like Jeff Beck, but practice and hard work will go a long way towards insuring your success at the middle school level and beyond!

Fall

2009-09-19T06:27:00.000-07:00

Tuesday we usher in another fall season. Football, pumpkins, frost, and, of course, NWEA testing. Unlike ISTEPs, which tend to measure progress of both student and school, the NWEA tests are a diagnostic tool. By that I mean they help us, as teachers, determine where you, as students, fall in your skills and abilities. Equipped with these scores, we can tailor curriculum to best meet your needs.

So don't be surprised to see differentiation in your team classrooms. Determining where you stand in your reading and language usage development will allow us to create a variety of assignments and lessons to meet your individual needs. This could mean different assignments for different students, a variety of tests, and so on.

Hopefully, you'll get plenty of rest before the tests Weds., Thurs., and Friday and that you'll try your very best on them.

Homework Live!

2009-08-23T06:11:00.001-07:00

It seems we've survived the first ten days. Forms (oh those forms!) are all in and school is settling into a comfortable pattern, right? Great!

I just wanted to post a reminder to use homework live. It is a great website for keeping track of your assignments not just for Blue Team, but for other classes as well. More and more JCMS teachers are taking advantage of this site. Not only can you set up an account where you can have all your classes (if the teacher has made an account) to check assignments, you also get the Agenda Book calendar. Best of all, teachers can post extra copies of assignments. If you are absent, or lose your assignment, you don't need to wait until the next day to get a new copy!

I hope you'll all take advantage of this new service. I know I do!

Welcome (back)...

2009-08-11T11:55:00.000-07:00

Okay! It's the big day! Are to ready to roll? I am. New books, some new posters, but it was getting a bit boring being in the classroom with no students. It's time to fill those seats.

If you are a 7th or 8th grade Blue Teamer this year, check this link from the Blue Team Web page for a welcome letter you can share with your parents. It contains a list of supplies you'll need as well as the (ahem) rules of the Blue Team classrooms. Here it is:

http://www.mccsc.edu/~rcourtne/blulett.htm

If you are a former Blue Teamer, hope you enjoy high school (as if you wouldn't!).

Mr. Starks will be teaching at North this year. Too bad you're going to South. But try to get a class with Mr. Hoagland or Mr. Combs. Not only are they both friends of mine, they are excellent teachers and I know you'll enjoy their class.

Current and new Blue Teamers, be sure to check the Blue Team web page frequently, especially the Social Studies link, since it contains things like the class syllabi and links for the units we'll be doing first.

Finally, don't forget to have the various papers and forms you received in A-A completed and signed. I know it can be overwhelming at first, but it is important to return those ASAP. In addition, you'll be receiving from me a form that allows you to use the internet at school. Until that is signed and returned to me, we can't let you on line, so you'll miss reading this amazing blog!

See you in school!

Barco!

2009-06-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

First off, I hope your summer is going well! It's hard to believe that the break is almost halfway over, isn't it? I'm sure your summer is full of fantastic fun and you aren't even thinking about school. But, perchance you decided to check this blog, I'm obligated to update it.

My summer so far has been spent practicing guitar, walking my dog, playing a computer game, reading, and watching the FIFA Confederations Cup soccer tournament in South Africa, site of next year's World Cup! The US team has failed to impress, losing solidly to both Italy and, one of my faves, Brazil. Egypt shocked the world by becoming only the second African team to defeat a European one when they upset defending World Cup champs Italy 1-0 yesterday. Then there is Spain, without doubt the world's best national team right now. I'm hoping for a Spain-Brazil championship match. Now THAT would be entertaining soccer.

Speaking of soccer, I plan to devote some space in my room this fall to a World Cup display. However, the focus will also be on my favorite European club team, Barcelona. They recently accomplished a major triumph in European soccer, winning the Copa, the La Liga, and the Champions titles! Barco plays a free flowing, attack oriented style of soccer that is a delight to behold. If more teams played such a style, soccer might actually become popular in the US as a spectator sport.

But there is more to like about FCB than just players such as Messi, Xavi, Danny Alves, Henry, and Iniesta. There is the club's, and city's, history. Barcelona is the most modern of Spain's cities and the Catalonian people are a distinct ethnic group. Always a progressive-minded city, they resisted the Castilians of Madrid and the Inquisition. During the Spanish Civil War, Barcelona fought against Franco and his fascists. George Orwell, yes, of Animal Farm and 1984 fame, fought alongside Catalonian socialists in that war. Franco personally despised FCB (Football Club Barcelona) and gave all sorts of advantages to Real Madrid, Barco's hated rival. (Think Yankees vs. Red Sox) Though Franco is "still dead" (ask your parents about that joke), Real Madrid remains Barcelona's number one rival. Just like the Yankees, Real has been spending millions this summer to try and build a team capable of dethroning Barco.

Finally, Barcelona is the one European Football Club that does not wear corporate sponsoring on their jerseys. Instead, their jerseys advertise UNICEF! What's not to like about a club like that?

Speaking of soccer and politics, I hope you have been paying attention to what is happening in Iran. Millions have taken to the streets to protest the election results and the government in general. I fear a major crackdown is on the way, but it is moving to see such courage from people who feel they have been oppressed by a reactionary regime. Some of the players on Iran's National team wore green wristbands to show their support for the protesters. Check out the link below if you are interested in learning more:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1905213,00.html

That's it for this week! I may post again next week.... or perhaps not. Enjoy your vacation.

And the winners are....

2009-05-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

The results of the 1st Annual Blue Team YouTube Contest are in! The voting was very close at both grade levels and we had some fantastic entries. The winnners are (drum roll please):

7th Grade - Randomness

8th Grade - The Dr. Phil Show, featuring Batman & Joker

7th graders... it is not too early to be planning your entry for next year's contest! And thanks to all who took the time to enter. Hope you had fun.

Virtual Stock Market Game Concludes

2009-05-14T06:39:00.000-07:00

The VSE Blue Team competition ends at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15th. In order to qualify for Prizes or Extra Credit, you need to have made 35 transactions. Please check your transaction history in your portfolio to get an accurate count. Also, please change your user name to your first name and first letter of your last name and make your portfolio public so I can check it. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 18th. Good luck!

One Month!

2009-04-28T04:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, we now officially have One Month left in the school year, but still with lots to do! As we finish ISTEPs (hooray!), we can look forward to several upcoming activities. In 7th grade, the stock market simulation will be ending on May 15th. We'll then move on to researching nations for the culminating activity The International Relations game!

In 8th grade, B & U classes will be moving on to the Civil War, a topic of American History that seems to generate the most interest. Students will choose one of three paths to follow to complete assignments on this topic. L class will end the year with the Popular Culture unit.

And don't forget, all entries for the Blue Team YouTube Video Contest must have their links to me by May 15th.

Hang in there.... we're in the final stretch!

Video Contest

2009-04-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

Announcing the 1st Annual Blue Team YouTube Video Contest! Yes, that's right, we are calling all amateur young producers, directors, and actors in the Blue Team. In early May, we will hold a screening of videos created by Blue Team students. There will be one showing for 7th grade and another for 8th grade. The audience will then vote for their favorite video at each showing and the winner will receive fabulous prizes! Well, okay, maybe not so fabulous, and not very many, but the winner will still have bragging rights of being chosen the best in the very first contest.

The rules are simple:

1. Content must be school appropriate;

2. The video must be created by Blue Team students;

3. The length should not exceed 10 minutes;

4. The link to the video must be emailed to me for approval at least one week prior to the showing.

You might already have a video on YouTube you would like to enter, or you can get started creating one for the contest. I retain the right to scratch any video from the contest for any reason.

So, what are you waiting for? Start storyboarding!

It's Gotta Be James

2009-04-03T13:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, everyone. You demanded it, so you got it! Here is the link to Mr. Stark's incredible "dance Off" video. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNAEPRqhX6c

Looking Ahead

2009-03-30T05:42:00.000-07:00

Can you believe there are only eight weeks left of school?! Wow! We still have a lot to do before the end of May. The Stock Market simulation has started and will run for seven weeks. If you haven't yet joined JCMS2009 don't delay. NWEA Testing will begin next week (4/6/09) and continue through 4/22/09. This means the computer labs will not be available and you'll need to do a lot of the stock work on your own time.

7th graders: In addition to the VSE Competition all three classes will soon start the Create a Business Project. Now's the time to think about what sort of business you'd like to have. Also, be sure to lend an eye and an ear to the news regarding the economic crisis. (Hint! Hint!)

8th graders: Sadly, we shall soon be saying goodbye to Mr. Starks as he moves on to, undoubtedly, a wonderful career. Perhaps we can entice him back to JCMS as a substitute a few times before the school year ends. With his departure, B & U will have a brief unit on Manifest Destiny which will include a (shudder) research paper, before concluding the year with a unit on the Civil War, complete with a project and a simulation game. In L class, the Protest and Dissent Seminar has begun. This will be followed by the Popular Culture Seminar, and popular it always proves to be.

Of course this blog would not be complete without mentioning that we shall have yet another round of ISTEPs the beginning of May. There is also track & field starting, NJHS applications will be going out to qualified students in a couple of weeks, we have the music competitions and concerts.... busy, busy!

JT Video

2009-03-25T04:32:00.000-07:00

Someone has posted a video on YouTube of Mr. Starks, aka JT, performing his incredible InSync (sp.?) parody, a song about President James Monroe. I originally linked it to this blog but then noticed some students were included in the video. It is against Corporation policy to post images of students on the internet without permission, so I have deleted the post. I am sure that those who are interested in seeing the video can figure out how to find it. Sorry!

Stock Game Begins

2009-03-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

The annual Blue Team Stock market competition begins Friday, March 27th. As in the past, prizes will be given to the top ten finishers, with first place receiving a $30 gift card to Barnes and Nobles. The other nine finishers will receive $5 git cards.

To play you will need an email account in order to register with Virtual Stock Exchange. Once registered, you'll click on "Competition" and search for JCMS2009. In order to join the competition you'll need a password. I shall provide this password in class. If you are a former student, please email me for the password. The competition runs from march 27th to May 15th. Prizes will be rewarded on the final day of school during the Blue Team Awards Ceremony.

The market may be down but there is still money to be made if you are a savvy investor.

Good luck, everyone! The link to VSE is below...

http://vse.marketwatch.com/Game/Homepage.aspx

ISTEPS

2009-03-03T04:20:00.000-08:00

We are moving into our 2nd day of state mandated testing. Hopefully, you are all getting plenty of rest, eating a good breakfast, and thinking good thoughts!

First Blog

2009-02-17T04:21:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first blog! Here you will be able to check for long term assignments in Blue Team social studies classes, preview upcoming events, such as the ISTEP testing schedule, as well as get additional information about topics covered in class.

I hope you'll check back often.