Planning Ahead: a Fifth-Grader's Perspective

All my life, I have strived to put myself in the best position that I could be in. I have an older brother who is about to go to the University of Illinois to play football. He had many offers from different colleges like Ole Miss, Memphis, and many others. Throughout this whole recruiting process, I’ve had many learning experiences as well. But there’s one thing that I’ve held on to, and that’s the grades that I have to have to succeed. While watching my brother do his school work, and play football, I wondered how I’ll be when I go to high school. Will I be a football star, and make excellent grades, and as a result get a lot of offers? Or will I be a football star and make poor grades, therefore get little offers? In life, most people don’t realize that our time is short. We are only on the earth for a little amount of time, then we're gone. The question God has for us is how will we spend our amount of time while we are here? Will we spend it out on the streets selling drugs and acting like fools? Or will we spend it making good decisions? All of it is up to us. I went on one Official Visit with my brother at the University of Memphis. It was a life time experience that I will never forget. Hopefully it will not be my last one. While I was touring the campus, I felt a little older. The classrooms where amazing, and I was really impressed with the school. The coaches were really nice, and treated us well by by feeding us gigantic steaks and baby-back ribs. They took us to the Grizzlies’ game, where we watched them play the Hornets. The life time experience was amazing. While going through this whole process I’ve realized that it’s up to me to be the best I want to be. And that I’ll have to work for it.

"Playing for Change: Peace Through Music"

Click here to watch the video

I am following blogs of some very talented educators, and I saw this video posted on a colleague's website. As I was viewing it, it really touched me to see musicians from all over the world come together as one in their efforts to bring "change through music." I shared conversation with the person who posted this inspirational video, and I thought that it would be perfect to begin the year learning about our 5th grade theme, perspective: one's attitude toward something or in regards to something; a point of view. We will cover this throughout the year as we address how one's perspective might change through experiences.

Watch the video, listen to the lyrics of the song "Stand by Me," and reflect on the apparent diversity of the musicians, but also look deeper to gain insight on the importance of global unification: even though we are different in many ways, there are many commonalities that bring us together. I love how this video uses the common language of music to promote change in the stereotypes, prejudices, and oppression that not only plague the people of our very own city of Memphis, but also the people of the world.

What would the world be like if there wasn't diversity?

Why is it important to demonstrate the need to be accepting of others' differences?

How can you make a difference? In what ways can you positively influence others at school or in your community?

Make a connection to the video and relate it to something that you have experienced in your life.

Collaborative Wiki: Sharing Perspectives

What a great opportunity the PDS boys have as they team up with their Nespelem friends to improve on their writing skills! The focus of their writing collaboration will be how to write with a purpose and audience in mind and how all writers express themselves using a unique voice and style. They will also see the importance of writing in organized ways as they strive for the great development of their ideas. The best part of all is that they will learn in an authentic way that is most meaningful. We look forward to reflecting, providing positive feedback, and learning more about our writing partners who are over 2,ooo miles away!



Self-awareness:
We are thinking critically when we

* weigh the influences of motives and bias, and
* recognize our own assumptions, prejudices, biases, or point of view

I was:
Reviewing the past thoughts: Our actions reflect what we know and believe at the time; reflect on your past ideas, thoughts, feelings, beliefs before your interaction with other ethnic groups and cultures.

What did you know, think, and feel before you began learning about other ethnic groups?


I am:
Understanding the present change: After an experience, reflect on how the experience affects (changes, revises, renews, validates) your own ideas and values.

How have your ideas, knowledge, and feelings changed after working with and learning from another ethnic group?


I will:
Making the future happen: decide to act in ways that demonstrate the values you believe in. To change your future and that of others, make a conscious effort towards sharing and being what has been learned.

How will you set examples and influence others in positive ways based on your current ideas, knowledge and feelings?

How do these ideas, knowledge, and feelings help you make decisions about the the acceptance of other cultures and ethnicities in the future?

Perspectives: I Was, I Am, I Will

Click on our collaborative wiki site that we are now sharing with Nespelem School!