Mrs. Slaviero's Blog

The days of summer break are coming to a close and thoughts of a new school year are on many of our minds. I saw this article on the Today Show parents page and wanted to share it: http://www.today.com/parents/family-time-5-easy-ways-create-family-traditions-t39746  I like this article because it explains that now is a great time to begin a family tradition, before school starts and life gets even busier than it already is. It also reinforces the fact that family traditions don't have to be elaborate or expensive to be effective--the repetition of a tradition is comforting and reinforces family bonds. Families create and strengthen family history when they participate in family traditions and it's never too late to begin them.  I would love to hear about a favorite family tradition you have or if you are going to try any new traditions!

A student of mine this year, I will call her Ashley, is a wonderful young lady, confident, and has lots of friends. She is a good student athlete and volunteers in our school's Autism room as part of a class. Ashley has never been a Student of the Week throughout her middle school years and I overheard her mention it to classmates a few weeks ago. (She wasn't complaining, just more a statement of fact.) I'd meant to make her a student of the week several times during the year for various reasons but hadn't remembered to. I needed to make this a priority during her last week of Middle School, submitted a certificate for her, and was looking forward to seeing  her expression when her name was called. (She was in my class during announcements.) Ashley ended up surprising me first, though, and this is one of the reasons I teach. When the student of the week announcement began I looked over to Ashley's table and observed her. The first name announced was ...

Today was the 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony and tomorrow is the last day of the school year. I would like to take a moment to say Thank You to all of my students. I love teaching 8th Grade US History and Effective Teens. I'm so incredibly fortunate that I've learned so much from my students over the years. As demanding as teaching is I truly know that I have taken the right career path but this path is always made easier with students like I've had in my classroom this year. They have been a joy to guide and instruct. I know I am a better teacher for knowing them and, for that, I'm truly grateful. Enjoy your summer, Historians and Innovators!

8th Grade Historians examined the Dred Scott Decision today. This landmark case reinvigorated the anti-slavery movement and propelled the United States toward war. Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom because he had lived in free territory with his master. The Supreme Court ruled that Scott wasn't considered a citizen and therefore had no grounds to sue. The Court also stated that slavery couldn't be denied in the western territories. This ruling was a huge step back for all people against slavery. Students completed a Peel the Fruit Visible Thinking routine to delve deeper into the feelings and thoughts surrounding this case. The outer ring asks students to state what they notice about the topic. The second ring requires students to pose questions about the case and the impact it had on America. (These questions can be rhetorical.) The third ring requires students to practice an essential social studies skill: they must consider different perspectives and viewpo...

I have been thinking about a "March Madness"-style tournament for our US History content for several years now. The schedule changes we've had lately helped to make a tournament a reality--I needed an activity we could complete in my classes on an as-needed basis. We will be taking part in the Ultimate US History Tournament! Who (or what) is the most important person, idea, or event in US History from the Declaration of Independence until the start of the US Civil War (July 4, 1776-December 31, 1860)? Let’s find out! Students will determine the most important person, idea, or event and justify thei r rankings. A class tournament bracket will decide the winner of the Ultimate US History Tournament.  The four regions are the American Revolutionary War regional, A New Nation regional, the Growth and Change regional, and the Road to the Civil War regional. I feel this is a really good way to review the big ideas in History this year and have fun while d...

These haiku are created by my Fourth Hour historians:  Young children could work long, hot, and tiring days very poorly paid ~Ben Conditions are bad dust and cotton fill the air suffocating kids Very low wages little kids wanting to learn no education ~Annette Young girls are working in cotton mills, they suffer in harsh conditions Windows are closed shut machines are crying loudly they cry for the girls ~Shivani A dollar a week at first seems good but later... future is ruined ~Sahaja Sweat forms on our brows we are not educated we work for money The air is dirty danger constantly finds us our wages are low ~Ronak Working at the mills I think I need some water it is very hot ~Drew Others play outside I am struggling inside my factory life ~Karma The factory life was really hard and it was really, really hot! ~Louis Young children work hard hot and loud environment low...

The historians in my third hour would like to share their creations with you: Working at the mills dirty working conditions humid like summer Supporting family woman making small profits hopeful for success ~Mark Poor environment the girls are risking their lives very low wages ~Aishwarya The place is like winter everybody is confined no one can escape Life is like summer the air is hot and humid the place reeks from lamps ~Vasanth Very little pay working conditions were poor some girls got injured ~Luke Very dangerous working conditions are bad get paid very low ~Ravi Girls work very hard some died or had injuries the air was dirty Girls were bruised and scarred dangerous work conditions working long hours ~Yousif Working in the mills hard dangerous conditions make it out alive Long days in the mills twelve or fourteen hours long girls work with caution ~Jenna Kids are suffering ...