Teacher warning: There is use of a few terms that might be considered inappropriate. SCREEN first, please!!!

Again , the Children’s Defense Fund organizes on behalf of children. Marian Wright Edelman leading the way.  November 4, 2009- March to Congress on behalf of children!Have students read her writing and discuss their own health care concerns and issues. Many students at the college level today are enrolled simply because their parents need them to be in order that they have health care. What do student think about this issue?Ms. Edelman  writes about it  here!

From a teacher’s blog of children’s books , which is wonderful, a group of students do a dramatic reading of some of the quotes from portraits in the book, “Americans Who Tell the Truth.”Your students might be inspired to do the same or to research their own and create dramatic renderings.http://www.youtube.com/user/IttyBittyLit#p/a/0/4t2huGoxLec 

THis is a great presentation of student’s art and each reading her personal statement in response to working with the portraits from Americans Who Tell the Truth.http://voicethread.com/?#q.b325503.i1731808

Have your students view this and then, research WHY he did this! Important that they know.

I will post as much as I can that seems connected to students for review of the events beginning next week.

HD Thoreau is a portrait in the series who wrote about civil disobedience. 

Around the country, soon here in Louisville , protests in the form of civil disobedience are occurring in the interest of health care for all.  On many occasions civil disobedience and protest are the catalyst for change in behavior, thinking and eventually , laws.Here is a video of Rob speaking about the portraits and his own relationship to civil disobedience. This is an important conversation for the classroom. What was the role of civil disobedience in our country and where does it fit in now?

Consider this article by Mike Rose, author of “Why School?” a must read for all teachers. It is much food for thought for us all.http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20091021_blinded_by_reform/ 

This would make for very good classroom conversation.http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/mikes-letter/michael-moores-action-plan-15-things-every-american-can-do-right-now After reading and discussing or BEFORE, ask students if they can come up with action steps in order to make their immediate circumstances improve. Just finding ONE step is huge for students.A principal of a very challenged middle school once told me that the number one problem schools face with students is the students believe they have no power over the circumstances of their own lives. Do you think this is true as a teacher? Americans Who Tell the Truth does. This is why we work hard every day to provide students with examples of courageous acts and to ask them to create their own powerful statements of truth in the form of art, drama , music, poetry and many more avenues. See the Curriculum pages for ideas.The notion of setting intention and acting are powerful tools to give students. Each individual in the portrait series Americans Who Tell the Truth stands as an example of that practice. Compassionate Action! As Lily Yeh says, “TAKE ACTION NOW! “Also, share these examples of students who have taken action on behalf of others.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/20/adolescent-activists-5-yo_n_292411.html There might be students in your classroom who have the same impulse but need a model for doing so.Samantha Smith , from the series, is a wonderful example of this and younger students, in particular, love her story.  Here is a video of Samantha Smith for students to consider.