Introduction Day - Class Recap

The start of a year long journey together! This is the road to Monument Valley, on the Arizona/Utah border, during the summer of 2014.

Hello everyone,

Thank you for doing your homework and visiting the blog! As I said in class, I think this is a really helpful resource for students, staff, and parents to be able to follow along with what is happening. After every class, I will write up a recap and post it. Most of the time, your only homework will be to read over the blog and be prepared for what is coming next in class. With that, let's get started!

Soundtrack: "Changes" by 2Pac. I always choose this song to start off a new class with, because I like the idea of our room being somewhat different from your other experiences in high school. This song also has all sorts of lyrics that relate to American Studies, like the line:

"And although it seems heaven-sent
We ain't ready to see a black president."

Check out the full lyrics here.

AGENDA 9/9/19:
Introductions/Attendance
Syllabus/Grades
Letter to Class/Mr. Fritz
The Blog
Create Ground Rules
News Briefs

Homework: Share syllabus and website with parents. Bring binder. Next news brief: Logan.

Introductions/Attendance: At the start of class, I introduced myself and how the agenda on the whiteboard works. I am absolutely delighted to be your teacher at Westview this year!

I took attendance and tried to ask everyone how they wanted me to address them. I did look up any student preferred names/nicknames in StudentVUE before, so let me know if you would prefer to go by something else. It will take me some time, but eventually, I will know everyone's names, I promise!

Syllabus/Grades: I know that this is not the most exciting content in class. I wanted to make sure to go over some of the real key points to the syllabus (like where I am, how to contact me, how your grade is decided, and the need to bring a binder to class). Here is an electronic copy of the syllabus and rubrics:

Google Drive: Westview American Studies Syllabus

Global Studies: Westview American Studies Grading Rubrics

If you or your parents have any questions about any of this, please let me know!

Letter to Class/Mr. Fritz: After the syllabus talk was done, I passed out a letter that I wrote to the class, explaining all about who I am and what sort of expectations I have. Hopefully, most of it was interesting information! I like passing these out and signing them all individually. To me, it represents that I really am interested in everyone in my class.

After reading the letter aloud, I asked everyone to write back to me in a similar sort of fashion. I gave a bunch of possible questions to answer as prompts and about 30 minutes or so to complete the assignment. I LOVE reading these and writing back to everyone! Thank you for your effort - I can't wait to learn a little bit more about who you are!

The Blog: As part of the syllabus, I introduced this website: the class blog! This is seriously so important for your success in this class. If you are staying up to date on here, reviewing what happened in class to get ready for the next meeting, and asking questions if you need help, I guarantee that you will be more successful than if you do not.

Create Ground Rules: Ahh, yes. Your class was great with this usually awkward process! The rules that you came up with and agreed to as an entire class are:

• Respect Others and Yourself
• Be Responsible
• Stay Focused
• Try to be Positive
• Try Your Best

I will be working to make sure everyone, including myself, is following the ground rules! Thank you for participating in this exercise. I will post these in the room and on the top right of the blog.

News Briefs: This is the current event style assignment that everyone will do at least once. Basically, all I want is for someone (I will assign it) to bring in a print out (or email me) of a current news article (within the last two weeks) that is a story about something inside the United States (since this is an American Studies class). We will talk for about 5-10 minutes at the start of class about whatever article this is and whatever else is going on with students - just as a way to help make class relevant and interesting to you and what is going on every day in the country.

Logan was selected to do the first news brief. :-)

Thank you for reading! See you next class!

Welcome to the Blog!

The United States Capitol in Washington DC. I took this picture while visiting during Spring Break of 2010.

Hello all,

Welcome to the blog for my American Studies class at Westview for the 2019-20 school year! Before I begin with posting updates, let me give you a little introduction to this website.

First off, comments can be made on any post by anyone, and they can be anonymous (though I would really prefer that you leave your name - by selecting "Name/URL" on the right, underneath the comment box - so that I can follow up with you in person). Please try to use good spelling and grammar in your comments! I have to approve the comments before they are posted, so don't worry if you don't see your comment right away.

Secondly, because I will be putting up the class agenda and homework, as well as any interesting links (after class has met), I will attempt to give you ways to download the relevant files and documents you may have missed in class or would be interested in seeing again for your homework (or just because). For instance, here is the course syllabus that I passed out in class:

Google Drive - American Studies 10 Course Syllabus

Finally, to contact me personally (other than leaving a comment - which I may or may not see immediately), please e-mail me at luke_fritz@beaverton.k12.or.us - this can always be found by clicking on "View My Complete Profile" on the right, where my picture is, then clicking on "Email" on the left sidebar. I will get back to you ASAP! Again, please use grammatically correct language and spelling, to the best of your ability. It really is appreciated and will go a long way for you in the future!

I know it might be a lot to take in, but hopefully we will all get used to it! I envision this blog as a place where you will be able to come to converse with your classmates and me, as well as get all the latest assignments, updates from class, and further information.

If you have any questions or comments, please never hesitate to let me know!

Welcome again - thanks for visiting. Please bookmark this site and come back soon! :-)

Finals, Day 2 - Class Recap

Sunset over Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo taken in 2011.

Hello everyone,

Today was our very last class together. There were around 92 A days this year, and of course, if you had my class last year, it is about double that in the amount of time we have shared - it has been hundreds of hours! Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:
Knowledge LT 8: I can identify how technological knowledge and innovation shapes a society, place, or region.
Knowledge LT 22: I can describe the influences, impacts and resolutions of historical conflicts.
Critical Thinking LT 4: I can evaluate information and explanations within a given context and develop a relevant conclusion.
Critical Thinking LT 5: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.
Communication LT 1: I can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Research LT 1: I can effectively conduct and apply research.

Soundtrack: "Thankful" by Kelly Clarkson.  Selected for today because I always choose this song for the last day of class, since I am so thankful to get to teach you all. Thank you! Lyrics (some of which I read aloud in class) are here.

AGENDA 6/14/19:
News Brief - Ellie C.

Presentations?

Survey

Letters Back

Free Advice

Big Circle Friend Talk

Walk on Water

Handshakes, High Fives, and/or Hugs

Homework: Read the blog! Come to the summer Fritz/Puterbaugh meet up at the Tanasbourne Starbucks attached to Barnes and Noble, on Tuesday, August 6, at 1:00 PM! Have a wonderful summer! See you next year!

News Brief: Ellie C. had the news brief today and selected an article about this story to talk about: NBCNews.com - Alligator with knife sticking out of its head spotted swimming in Texas lake. After discussing the story, we also checked in to see if anyone was up to anything interesting or fun outside of class over the summer.

Here's my map of flights (so far!) this summer as we visit family and friends in Europe and the Caribbean.

As part of the news brief, we also watched the one minute BBC World News update. Here's the link to see the latest one minute update, at any time of day (it will probably be different from what we watched in class):

BBCNews.com - One-minute World News

I talked in class about the importance of following the news and trying to stay up to date with what is happening in your city, state, country, and world. Knowledge is power! Try to stay plugged in to what is going on, if you can!

Presentations?: Before we ended the class with a celebration, we needed to finish the final presentation on an assigned conflict in United States history. Here was the assignment:

Google Drive - U.S. Conflict Presentations Assignment

Here is the PowerPoint that shows who was in what conflict presentation group:

Google Slides - U.S. Conflict Presentation Groups

Here was the calendar of what we did for the last month of the year in American Studies, to help students plan. That calendar is linked here (and may be updated, so use the link over the paper copy you were given):

Google Drive - American Studies 10 Foreign Policy Calendar 2019

Thank you for your work and notes on these! As I said in class, all students that completed this assignment will receive a Communication score. Only if another score would improve your grade (and of course, you demonstrated that as part of the presentation assignment), will I enter scores for any of the other starts. Grades are due for teachers at 3:00 PM on Monday, June 17th, as a heads up.

Survey: After students presented in class, I had everyone complete a survey on their experience in American Studies 10 and Lit and Comp 10 (if you had Mr. Puterbaugh) this year. This survey was accessible via Google Classroom. We really appreciate your feedback on how everything went!

After presentations and the survey, I asked that students silence and put away any electronic devices into their backpacks as a condition of moving next door to Mr. Puterbaugh's room, where our closing ceremony for the year took place (with him)!

Note: the second half of the class roughly followed this Google Slides presentation.

Letters Back: Most of these letters are from the start of this year in American Studies. We wanted students to take a look at how they described themselves and consider where they are now, as well as where they might be in another year to two years (when they graduate)!

Free Advice: One of the feedback items from the mid-year survey that I did was that students were looking for more sort of "life advice" from us as teachers. This was a "Ask Me Anything" time, where Mr. Puterbaugh and I were basically willing to answer any question that students had for us.

Big Circle Friend Talk: This was modeled after an activity that Senior Inquiry does here at Westview, as a time for each student to share a bit about their experience. The prompts were:

First time around the circle - Reflect on the class: favorite, important, funny, or meaningful memory from your year or two years. We realize possibly not everyone had a positive experience - try to find something good to reflect on.

Examples: What knowledge and/or skill(s) will take with you from this class? What is one thing you struggled with and overcame this year? Did you have a favorite activity/topic/day?

Second time around the circle - Reflect on the people: Shout out! Who have you appreciated during your time in these classes? Who has helped you or inspired you or made class more tolerable?

Examples: People who helped you in the class. People who seemed quiet in the large group but helped you with your work. People who made the class better. People who challenged you or pushed you to do more (or saved you countless times). People who tried to distract you or cheered for you during Jeopardy. People who always had something interesting to say?

We used the ball of yarn from our start of the year activity to help make the circle and keep track of who was talking.

Walk on Water: Last year, I ended Global Studies with a video that highlighted many different places and people around the world. I wanted to do the same this year, with a video that highlighted a day in America: "Walk on Water" by 30 Seconds to Mars.

Handshakes, High Fives, and/or Hugs: At the very end of class, it was time for year end handshakes (which I always do as students leave class for the last time). This year, I also taught students a new high five/low five for when they see me in the halls next year. And, if any students wanted, they could give each other and/or us hugs.

We have been so grateful to teach you all this year (or past two years)! Thank you SO much for all of your hard work, kindness, and understanding. Keep in touch! Go forth and make the world a better place.