Human Geo - finito!

Well, the last week of our Human Geography class has been completed. The final blogs have been entered, and the grades have been finalized.

It's been a pleasure sharing the classroom with you for the last few months!

If you are moving on to Mr. Fendryk's class, I hope you have continued success. He is a terrific teacher and I am sure you will love his class.

If you are staying with me for Western Civ, be sure to check out the new class blog, which can be found at westernciv2020.blogspot.com .

Thanks, and have a great second semester!

don't forget!

Tomorrow, Wednesday January 15, we will take the 100-point test on Guns, Germs, and Steel. The test will be a multiple choice format. Here is a link to the video in case you would like to review the material.

This will be the last test of the quarter. The only remaining grades to be entered are your blog grades from this week and last week.

some things you can do to relieve stress

Some of you have told me about your experiences with test-taking anxiety. It may happen at the mere sight of a Scantron, and it certainly comes up during exam week.

If you feel this anxiety, you may be interested in these strategies for dealing with the negative feelings that get in the way of doing your best on a test. 

On a related note, there will be a talk about stress and anxiety after school this Thursday. It is part of Katie Yurechko's senior project, and it is aimed at high school students. Feel free to stop by at 2:15 in the Brown Room - it just might do you some good!

This talk centers around anxiety and is great for students who…

• undergo academic, athletic, and/or personal stress 
• may misunderstand those around them or have trouble sympathizing with others
• work through an anxiety disorder or have someone close to them who does 
• are studying psychology and/or health or are interested in how the mind works

I hope you can make it to this talk!

Here are some test-taking strategies that might be of some use to you:

What is Test Anxiety?

While it’s completely normal to feel a bit nervous before a test, some students find test anxiety debilitating. Racing thoughts, inability to concentrate, or feelings of dread can combine with physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat, headache, or nausea. Whether it’s the ACT , an AP exam , or an important history final, test anxiety has the power to derail weeks and months of hard work. 

Test Anxiety Tips

According to the ADAA , causes of test anxiety may include a fear of failure, lack of adequate prep time, or bad experiences taking tests in the past. You're not alone! Here's what you can do to stay calm in the days leading up to and during your test.

1. Be prepared.

Yes, this seems obvious, but it bears repeating. If you feel confident that you’ve prepped thoroughly, you’ll feel more confident walking into the test. Need help reviewing tough concepts or question types? The test prep experts at The Princeton Review can provide that extra boost you need to feel cool and collected.

2. Get a good night’s sleep.

Cramming is never the answer, and pulling an all-nighter can exacerbate your nerves. Having adequate rest (9–10 hours per night) is likely to be more beneficial than rereading a text until dawn (But if you ARE up late studying and have a question, our on-demand tutors are there for you.)

3. Fuel up.

Eat a nutritious breakfast before the test and pack smart snacks for ongoing energy. Look for foods that offer a steady stream of nutrients, rather than a sugar high followed by a crash.

4. Get to class—or the testing site—early .

Feeling rushed will only amp up the anxiety. Pack everything you need for the exam the night before and set the alarm, so you can get out the door on time.

5. Have a positive mental attitude .  

Bring a picture of your happy place or come up with a morale-boosting mantra like “I can do this” or “I worked hard and deserve this.” Peek at your picture or recite your mantra, right before the test begins.

6. Read carefully.

Read the directions thoroughly and read all answers before making a choice or starting the essay. There is nothing worse than putting time into a question and realizing you are not solving for x, or the essay is off target. Slowing down can help you stay focused.

7. Just start.   

The blank page can maximize your anxiety. After you’ve read the directions, dive right in by making an outline for an essay answer. Or, find some questions you can ace to build up your confidence and momentum. You can always go back and change things later if needed, but a few quick answers can get the ball rolling.

8. Don’t pay attention to what other people are doing.

Everyone else is scribbling away? Ack! What do they know that you don’t? It doesn’t matter. Pay attention to your own test and pace, and forget about the other students in the room.

9. Watch the clock .

Realizing that time is almost up and there are lots of test questions left can make it hard to do anything useful in those final minutes. Stay on pace by scoping out the whole test before getting started. Mentally allocate how much time you’ll spend on each section. If there’s time to recheck, even better.

10. Focus on calm breathing and positive thoughts .

Deep breathing can slow down a beating heart or a racing mind, so practice these techniques at home. The very act of concentrating on breathing and thinking can biometrically alter those anxious feelings.

student survey and Pow Wow info

Two items of interest for you, my students.

1. It is the time of the semester where teachers are asked to have students fill out a survey regarding their experience in each class.  The information gathered is a valuable tool to help us develop as teachers. The results are seen only by me, my Department Chair, the Assistant Principals, and the Principal.  Results of the survey are not shared with students and/or other teachers, but can be used for professional growth. The survey is anonymous and meant to give me valuable feedback. 

Thank you for your help in making me a better teacher.

2. Reminder: I am offering 10 points of extra credit to students who support the Pow Wow being held this Saturday, January 11. Details are posted on yesterday's blog. Please let me know if you have questions. See you there!

Here is more detailed information about the Pow Wow, courtesy of Mr. Scholl:

The Pow Wow is a major cultural event sponsored by the school that is a great learning experience. It is also an important part of our service mission, having raised over $65,000 over 19 years for the St. Labre Indian School and the Crow and Cheyenne children that the school serves. 

Thank you for your help in supporting this important tradition of John Carroll School.

American Indian PowWow

Morning Star Celebration

20th Annual Benefit for St. Labré Indian School

All are Welcome to Celebrate American Indian Culture,

Music, Dance, Food, Art and Crafts

Saturday, January 11, 2020

John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland

                                Doors Open at 10 a.m

Master of Ceremonies ~ Wilbur Bull Coming

Southern Cheyenne, Hammon, Oklahoma

                                      1 p.m. ~ Grand Entry ~ 1 p.m.

  

Suggested Donation for Admission is $5/adult and $2/child. 

Proceeds benefit St. Labré Indian School in Ashland, Montana.

Schedule

10:30                            Native American Flute

11:00                            Gourd Dancing

1:00                                 Grand Entry

4:00                              Dinner Break - “feed” for dancers, drums, elders

5:30                              Evening Dancing Resumes

Staff

Arena Director                                               Ted Severe

Head Man Dancer                                          Louis Campbell

Head Lady Dancer                                         Adrienne Harmon

Host Drum                                                      Zotigh Singers

Invited Drums                                                Black Horse Butte, White Buffalo Singers, Medicine Horse, Red Blanket 

Drums by invitation only, please!

extra credit opportunity

As much as I like the two hour late bell, I was disappointed that we were unable to have the assembly on Native American culture that was scheduled for today. The assembly was going to promote the Pow Wow that will be held at John Carroll this Saturday, January 11. Our Anthropology teacher Mr. Scholl has hosted Pow Wows for years here at JC, and and ours is one of the biggest and best Pow Wows on the entire East Coast. I highly recommend you attend, and I will even offer you an incentive for your support.

You can receive 10 points extra credit for showing me that you attended the Pow Wow. Do this by taking a selfie at the Pow Wow (near the drums, at a vendor, with Mr. Scholl, or somewhere else that proves you were there). Post the photo to your blog, along with the names of my Human Geo students in the photo, and I will add 10 points to your blog scores for this week.

The Pow Wow starts at 10am, but I recommend you be there at 1pm for the Grand Entry. The suggested donation for admission is $5 for adults and $2 per child. Proceeds benefit St. Labré Indian School in Ashland, Montana. Post your photo by midnight Sunday night, January 12, in order to get your 10 points.

And celebrate American Indian Culture at the Pow Wow! See you there!

World Religions on the Honors exam? Yes.

A sharp-eyed student pointed out that the Study Guide didn’t include World Religions, but since we spent a fair amount of time on that topic, and its PowerPoint is listed on this blog, it would be a shame to not include 10-12 World Religion questions on tomorrow’s Honors Exam.

an early Christmas gift

As I announced in class, you will be allowed to use an index card during your essay exam on Friday.

This generous offer comes with the following guidelines:

• the index card may be no larger than 4" X 6"
• you may only put bullet points or other short notes on the card
• you are NOT allowed to have full sentences or paragraphs on your card
• you may write on both sides of the card
• you need to show me your card at the start of Friday's class to be sure you are in compliance

Violations of these guidelines will result in academic penalties and disciplinary action. But I have faith that you will use your index card wisely, as a tool to help you write a better essay.

essay pre-writing

I am very impressed with how both Honors sections got right to work today, organizing and researching their essays during class time. I am confident that you will be in great shape when it is time to compose your essays for real during Friday's class.

It's been mentioned in class several times, but it bears repeating: if you are not in class this Friday to take the essay portion of your exam, you will have to make it up during Exam Week. It will be your responsibility to arrange this with Mr. Hollin, our Assistant Principal of Academics. I sincerely hope that everyone will be in class on Friday as scheduled.

transitioning from the quiz to the semester exam

Now that we have the quiz behind us, we turn our attention to the semester exam.

Step One: click on my Semester Exam Study Guide, and check out the three options you have for the essay portion of the exam. Then, CHOOSE WHICH ESSAY you plan to write. This will prepare you for the coming week of class. Each section will spend two class periods prepping their essay, before actually writing their essay in class this Friday.

Monday's quiz

Pro tip: here are three concrete steps you can take to ace the 50-point quiz on the Demographic Transition.

1. take a close look at the worksheet you highlighted in class
2. review the three videos we discussed in class
3. re-examine the drawing you did in class of the Demographic Transition model

It's that simple. All of the questions on the quiz come from the model, the videos, and the handout. It's the best way to finish the month strong, and head into Exam Week on a high note.

for visual learners

This look at the Demographic Transition model should be helpful as you prepare for Monday's quiz.

classwork for Wed Dec 4

I will not be in class today. Here is the 10-point assignment you will do while I am out.
​
​I have posted three videos on the Demographic Transition, both here and on my blog. Watch all three videos, and write down three things you learned from each one (for a total of nine). Finally, pick the video you think was most helpful to you, and explain why you chose that one.
​
​​Khan Academy video
​
​​video from Kim Smith, Ph.D.
​
​​Why Populations Grow
​
​This assignment is worth 10 points, and it must be posted to your blog before midnight tonight, so what you don't finish in class is homework. Late penalties apply. Be productive, no game playing in class, and be nice to your sub. I hope to see you soon.

news you can use

Here is a link to the first iteration of the Semester Exam Study Guide.

Updates will be forthcoming, and announced in class.

five major religions, one fifty-point quiz

Monday's classes have come and gone, and everyone (except for three students) have taken the quiz on Five Major Religions. Results will be posted today, so you will know how you did pretty quickly. The only other grade that will be posted until December is this week's blog grades, so make sure you write those blogs! I will see two sections tomorrow, then it's time to take a brief break to spend time with our families. 

Thanksgiving break approaches!

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, meaning that Christmas can't be far behind. Today the SuperHumanGeo section took their 50-point Five Major Religions quiz. Next Monday both Honors sections will take theirs. See my blog of two days ago for more details on class activities heading into the break.

And enjoy your weekend!

the near future

Here is a more detailed look at the few days we have left before Thanksgiving break:


SUPERHUMANGEO

• WEDNESDAY: first part of World Religions SlideShow (World Religions I)
• THURSDAY: second part of World Religions SlideShow (World Religions II)
• FRIDAY: 50-point quiz on World Religions
• MONDAY: class does not meet
• TUESDAY: return World Religion quizzes and Population tests
• WEDNESDAY 11/27 to SUNDAY 12/1: THANKSGIVING BREAK

HONORS 101

• WEDNESDAY: World Religions I
• THURSDAY: class does not meet
• FRIDAY: World Religions II
• MONDAY: 50-point quiz on World Religions
• TUESDAY: return World Religion quizzes
• WEDNESDAY 11/27 to SUNDAY 12/1: THANKSGIVING BREAK

HONORS 102

• WEDNESDAY: class does not meet
• THURSDAY: World Religions I
• FRIDAY: World Religions II
• MONDAY: 50-point quiz on World Religions
• TUESDAY: class does not meet (quizzes returned after break)
• WEDNESDAY 11/27 to SUNDAY 12/1: THANKSGIVING BREAK

from Population to a look at some World Religions

Nice work on the Population test! Averages in the high eighties to low nineties, no failures - pretty impressive results overall!

Next up will be a look at five of the major religions in the world today. For those of you who would like to prepare yourselves both for the class lecture and for Friday's quiz, I have posted a helpful PowerPoint here and in the sidebar to the right of this post. The PowerPoint gives some helpful information about Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism.

Thanksgiving vacation is just around the corner, but we will cover this mini-unit before we go on break. Get fired up!

a suggestion for prepping for Monday's test

In addition to my GoogleSlides presentation on Population, I recommend you take another look at the TED-Ed video on Population Pyramids. When we first watched this in class a couple weeks ago,  I think a lot of you found it very dense and hard to follow. But I think if you watch it again, especially after the work you did on your projects, you might be surprised at how much sense it makes now - in other words, at how much you have learned in a short time.

In any case, have a good weekend and be ready for Monday!

nearing the end of our Population unit

The last few classes have seen some terrific presentations, as the Honors' The Solution Project and the Supers' So, What's the Problem? showed me that you can relate your studies to the real world.

It's time to wrap up the unit, as always, with a test, which will be given next Monday, November 18. The test will cover all the terms we have studied, as well as Population Pyramids. Feel free to check out the GoogleSlides on Population to review over the weekend.

And... it was nice to meet up with some of your parents tonight at school. Maybe I'm crazy, but I find Parent/Teacher conferences kind of fun, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk to your folks.

See you in school!

The SuperHumanGeo section will spend the next two class periods working on a group project called So, What's the Problem?

Four groups of students will study four nations that are each facing challenges. Two of the countries are developing countries (Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya) and two are post-industrial nations (Germany and Japan).

Working in groups, you will use the CIA World Factbook to research statistics that help describe the most pressing problems your nation faces. Each student is expected to spend two minutes presenting their findings to the class, and explaining the significance of their data. Organizing your presentation into a PowerPoint is a good idea, but not required.

Each group has a captain (whose name is in italics). Here is how the groups are assigned:

Congo:

• Lauren B, Ethan R, Cici Y, Brady K, Alex S, Ryleigh S

Kenya:

• Hannah S, Logan L, Chris B, Tom C, Banks C

Germany:

• Jay C, Victoria N, Rachel G, Naseem M, Logan M

Japan:

• Drew E, Meghan K, Jeannot B, Matt M, Frank A

Also, I found an interesting definition of "post-industrial" that I thought might be helpful to students in all three sections. Go to ThoughtCo if this interests you and you want to read more.


A post-industrial society is a stage in a society's evolution when the economy shifts from producing and providing goods and products to one that mainly offers services. A manufacturing society is comprised of people working in construction, textiles, mills and production workers whereas, in the service sector, people work as teachers, doctors, lawyers, and retail workers. In a post-industrial society, technology, information, and services are more important than manufacturing actual goods.

Have a great weekend, everybody!