How to Comment

Comments are now (finally) operational.  However, in the new system, there are a few steps to follow.  This instructional makes it sound more complicated than it really is.  It will be fairly simple once you get the hang of it.

1. Click on the title of the blog you'd like to comment on.
2. Type the comment you'd like in the comment box.  (Where it says "Start the discussion...")
   
3. Click in the box for name.
   
4. Type your number in the name box and check the box for "I'd rather post as a guest."
5. In the email box, type in "mrdais.spl@gmail.com" without the quotation marks.
   
6. Click the arrow button.
7. Congratulations, your comment has posted.

Online learning

Online classes are all over.  Hopefully, we can now add St. Paul's to the list.  There are lots of great resources out there that we can use to help us get more involved and do more actual learning.  As the 8th graders get more into the latter half of American history, there are lots of opportunities to do more online rather than the textbook.  The next three posts are our first venture in this area.

Eighth graders, please find the right post for you and start working.  Don't be afraid to disagree and share your feelings, but please remember to be respectful and civil.  Remember - the better you do on this, the more likely it is to happen more often.  And as an added bonus, that means you'll have to listen to me talk less!  ;)

Post for #1-9

After watching the video in class on Matthew Perry and the opening of Japan, read this newspaper article from the Lawrence Journal-World and pages 196-200 in your history book.  In the comments, have a discussion on US actions.

Some questions to help get you started would include:

• What were the pros and cons of the US following a path of isolationism?
• How might America have been different if we had not found a new frontier to explore?
• Is it right for countries to try and expand?  Why?  In what circumstances?
• Was the US justified in using "gunboat diplomacy" to get Japan to trade?  Why/why not?

These questions can guide your thought process, but please try to make this as close to a real discussion as possible - don't treat this as a homework assignment where you answer each question.  You don't even have to answer each question.  Simply choose one or two of the topics and explain how you feel about those.  After someone has commented, you can respond as you would if you were having a discussion in class.

You will be given a grade for this discussion.  Since we are just starting to experiment with this format, that will obviously be factored in.  However, things we are looking for are that you: A) participate.  B) make at least two comments (preferably at least one of which responds specifically to another individual's comments.)  C) make quality comments that show you paid attention to/learned something from the video, newspaper, and textbook.  In order to receive credit for your comments, please "sign" your post by putting your number at the end of your comment.  Since we are just using comments on a public blog, you don't need to use your name.

Enjoy!

Post for #10-18

After watching the video in class on Matthew Perry and the opening of Japan, read this newspaper article from the Lawrence Journal-World and pages 196-200 in your history book.  In the comments, have a discussion on US actions.

Some questions to help get you started would include:

• What were the pros and cons of the US following a path of isolationism?
• How might America have been different if we had not found a new frontier to explore?
• Is it right for countries to try and expand?  Why?  In what circumstances?
• Was the US justified in using "gunboat diplomacy" to get Japan to trade?  Why/why not?

These questions can guide your thought process, but please try to make this as close to a real discussion as possible - don't treat this as a homework assignment where you answer each question.  You don't even have to answer each question.  Simply choose one or two of the topics and explain how you feel about those.  After someone has commented, you can respond as you would if you were having a discussion in class.

You will be given a grade for this discussion.  Since we are just starting to experiment with this format, that will obviously be factored in.  However, things we are looking for are that you: A) participate.  B) make at least two comments (preferably at least one of which responds specifically to another individual's comments.)  C) make quality comments that show you paid attention to/learned something from the video, newspaper, and textbook.  In order to receive credit for your comments, please "sign" your post by putting your number at the end of your comment.  Since we are just using comments on a public blog, you don't need to use your name.

Enjoy!

Post for #19-27

After watching the video in class on Matthew Perry and the opening of Japan, read this newspaper article from the Lawrence Journal-World and pages 196-200 in your history book.  In the comments, have a discussion on US actions.

Some questions to help get you started would include:

• What were the pros and cons of the US following a path of isolationism?
• How might America have been different if we had not found a new frontier to explore?
• Is it right for countries to try and expand?  Why?  In what circumstances?
• Was the US justified in using "gunboat diplomacy" to get Japan to trade?  Why/why not?

These questions can guide your thought process, but please try to make this as close to a real discussion as possible - don't treat this as a homework assignment where you answer each question.  You don't even have to answer each question.  Simply choose one or two of the topics and explain how you feel about those.  After someone has commented, you can respond as you would if you were having a discussion in class.

You will be given a grade for this discussion.  Since we are just starting to experiment with this format, that will obviously be factored in.  However, things we are looking for are that you: A) participate.  B) make at least two comments (preferably at least one of which responds specifically to another individual's comments.)  C) make quality comments that show you paid attention to/learned something from the video, newspaper, and textbook.  In order to receive credit for your comments, please "sign" your post by putting your number at the end of your comment.  Since we are just using comments on a public blog, you don't need to use your name.

Enjoy!

Egypt

Some things are just plain obvious.  On a clear day, the sky is blue.  Candy always goes on sale after Halloween.  History teachers are creative and amazing.  :)  This week, we are going to be doing a few more activities with our unit on Ancient Egypt.  Follow the two links for Egypt on the Useful Links page.  But first, check out this awesome video from a pair of history teachers with more free time than me.