Cyber Bullying - how does it affect you?

This weekend you all have an article to read about the occurrence of bullying through electronic devices - IM, email, texting, chat rooms, facebook, etc. We know what people are doing in these communication places, but do we really understand the consequences of this type of behavior? Have you ever been the victim of cyberbullying? or done or said something that you thought would be harmless because it was online - or because you could be sort of anonymous? Please share some of your thoughts and ideas about the readings you have done and your own experiences with cyberbullying. Include the title of your article when you respond:

• #1 - Mr. D: Excerpts from a blog
• #3 - Are you a cyberbully?
• #4 - Because I Can
• #5 - Take 5!
• #6 - High-Tech Bullies

Do you have any stories to share about this type of bullying? (PLEASE leave out the names of people involved - we're not trying t get anyone in trouble here!) Write about anything that relates to this concept below - make connections to what's happening in real life because this problem is not going away. How can we deal with it? What steps can we take? Can we make a difference in our school? Let's get ready to have both small group and large group seminars about this topic next week and see what we can do as a group to make a difference!

Group Seminar #2

So, now that you've read about the news regarding your group topic, what do you think? Remember that, even though you might not be entirely interested in the topic of news, there are things that relate to this idea which you should consider. What experiences have you had in your life that are similar to what happened here? Do you know anyone who has been impacted by this event or something related to it? Think about what you would do if you had to come up with a way to deal with what has happened (say, you were the President of a school or Junior Mayor in the town where this event occurred). How would you deal with the issues facing the people involved? What actions would be best to help deal with this situation? What would you do now that you have the information in the article? Did the author of the article report facts or just try to influence you with their opinion? Ring leaders will be busy writing questions which will create a discussion that somehow relates to the article - what questions do you think would spark a great conversation about it?

Remember to write which article title you read at the beginning of your paragraph:

• A Gathering of Leaders
• Shaken Up
• Students Talk Health at the White House
• Touchdown for Technology
• Tragedy in West Virginia Coal Mine

Get ready for great discussions Thursday morning, 4/22/10! C U then :)

Homework over Spring Break!

So, you have nine days off, and since we have not had a seminar I'm going to have to assign some homework. Yes, your heard me correctly - HOMEWORK! But here are the details; I think you might like this assignment:

You have to watch TV over the break! Yep, that's it - watch television as much as you normally would and just tally the number of hours you spend watching your favorite shows, movies & videos. This does not include playing video games or computer time, but if you use your computer or iPod to watch TV shows, movies, or music videos, then you have to include it in your hours of watching TV. Write it down somewhere and we will use this data when we return.

Have a great break and try not to be a Couch Potato for the whole week!
Mrs. Goldman :)

Is school vandalism a punishable crime?

Have you ever known one of your classmates to write on a desk? What about vandalizing school property - say the bathroom wall? Well, it happens all the time, and one school principal decided to press charges against the vandal - a 13 year old! So, did Chelsea deserve to be placed in handcuffs and treated like a criminal?

Think about this:
What would happen if every student vandalized school property?
It costs a lot of money to remove graffiti from school desks and walls; should that cost be paid by the parents of the vandals? or should the vandals themselves have to clean it off?
Why do students write on the walls and desks at school?
If you were the principal and students were doing this to your school, what would you do to stop it?

So... what about gender segregation?

Share your thoughts & ideas or questions you have about the topic we discussed on seperating the middle grades by gender. What do you think -
Would it be better? How so?
Would students have less behavior issues? Why or Why not?
Would the teacher be more fair?
Would your grades be better?
What would change if your school did this?