Week in Review

Edline is up and running for you the parents. I am told the students will receive their activation codes first thing this coming week. They will now be using Edline for their homework assignments instead of this blog. So please visit your child's course in Edline and view the homework for the coming week.


American Studies: The students were introduced to several political scientists/philosophers who laid the groundwork for Jefferson and Madison in their efforts to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We also began the process of learning how to analyze primary and secondary source documents and artifacts. It will be an ongoing process to understand what resources can offer us in the form of valid information. In reviewing the Constitution, the students are writing blog posts about the parts that they feel are most important. Check out what they have to say on their blogs. :)

IB History: We continued our study of the history of the Soviet Union as it transitioned from Lenin's to Stalin's policies. The students are building out online mind maps focusing on the five unit questions adopted from the IB. I think it is becoming quite an eye opener for the students to see how Stalin used brute force, coercion and propaganda to consolidate his power. Portions of our class are centered on student discussion around provided questions and student reading of the textbook. I guide these discussions providing clarification and added details helping to make connections in the students' learning. Your students need to continue their efforts to take notes from these discussions as this seminar discussion model is similar to what they will experience in college courses. Professors do not lecture but provide additional materials as the students analyze and build their understanding from the discussion prompted by the professor's questions.

The students are finishing up their Paper 1 exam rewrites. It is a good exercise to have them reflect and fine tune their document analysis skills. They will be gaining even more practice with these skills by peer editing their partners' papers.

Week in Review

American Studies: The students will receive their exams back this coming week. A big lesson is that the Essential and Unit questions really guide what is important to learn in our studies. Students are also seeing why their teachers say writing with support and rich details is so important in sharing one's understanding.

The Revolution and Constitution unit will involve our first work with primary and secondary document analysis. It will be interesting and enlightening for the students to better understand the guiding principles of the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution. Be prepared for some questions at home as students really reflect about what rights they think we all should have.


IB History: I think it has been quite the eye opener for our students to learn what a big figure Joseph Stalin was in the 20th century. The students excellent study of the Russian Revolution from last year gives them the foundation for understanding where Stalin began his efforts to have total power in the Soviet Union. As we work to answer many questions about his techniques and decisions, the students are beginning to profile how dictators can develop and keep single party political systems in place.