Wednesday, April 26th –I NEVER LET MY SCHOOLING GET IN THE WAY OF MY EDUCATION! (And also an invitation to our Road to Revolution Improv Debate on MONDAY, MAY 22nd at 2:00)…
The quote above is but one of many great quotes by the infamous American author and humorist, Mark Twain (nee Samuel Langhorne Clemens). In class we are learning about the man, his life and works, and enjoying the story of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. As you know, the Mark Twain House is one of the tours on our Hartford Trip (Fri. April 28th). This author study – with a focus on Twain’s look into American life and the vernacular style in a pre-Civil War Mississippi River town is so enriching to the kids’ literary world. To learn more about Mark Twain, click on the following PBS link:http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/
And while I’m sharing, here are two more Twain quotes for you to enjoy!
· Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society…
· Always tell the truth. This way, you never need to remember anything…
So we finished off the SBAC testing on Tuesday morning. Not a walk in the park, but your kids were extremely well prepared to face challenging 5th to 7th grade level concepts and extended problems. They were armed with killer strategies and strong habits of mind to be impressive readers and mathematicians. And honestly, that is what is most important! I’m not going to lie – in peeking over shoulders, I saw some problems that more than pushed the limits of what a 5th grader should be expected to know or do, based on the Common Core Standards. Fair? No. Worth worrying about? Also no. Using effective problem-solving strategies regularly and having solid habits of mind to do one’s best is the ultimate goal, and I feel your kids have already met or exceeded that one.
Getting back to our Hartford trip – in preparation, we are learning about the three branches of government (federal and state comparisons), and will soon be delving more into Connecticut history, facts and folklore. The kids love learning these interesting tidbits about their home state, as well as becoming more involved with how our government works. As the year winds down and we immerse ourselves in the Revolution, we will really get into The Declaration of Independence. Finally, we will get to know The Bill of Rights and The U.S. Constitution with some mock trial work.
And last but not least, PLEASE JOIN US ON MONDAY, MAY 22ND AT 2:00 PM (in Room 118) for our last Day at the Improv Event: THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION – A TWO-SIDES-TO-EVERY-STORY IMPROVISATIONAL DEBATE. We need you to play the role of Fence Sitters! (Don’t worry, it’s a spectator role, not a speaking part…)
Nearly one-third of colonists during this time were Fence Sitters – those who were neither Tories nor Patriots and who often vacillated between the two perspectives. It is our hope that you can come and observe the Debate (which is set in May of 1775 at Faneuil Hall in Boston, just days after Lexington and Concord), so that by the end you might form an opinion in favor of one side or another, or decide we should avoid war altogether!
Here’s a list of attendees (chosen and being portrayed by your kids)!
Patriots: — Patrick Henry, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Sam Adams, Horatio Corndogsmith (from the Sons of Liberty), Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, a (previously) wealthy Colonial Tea Merchant, and John Hancock
British/Loyalists (Tories) – A Soldier who was present at the Boston Massacre (aka The Incident on King Street), British Tax Officer Andrew Oliver, A prominent British Customs Official, King George III, and Parliamentarians Charles Townshend & George Grenville
Your kids are very busy gathering all of their knowledge and facts around the issues leading up to Revolution – from the Proclamation of 1763 to the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, to boycotts, The Sons & Daughters of Liberty, tarring and feathering and the Townshend Acts, to the Boston Massacre, to the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party (referred to then as The Dumping of the Tea), to the First Continental Congress and Lexington & Concord. They are formulating arguments that both defend and deny the Patriot/Rebel and Tory/British Loyalist perspectives. Lots of JUICY stuff here!
In prepping for the event, we will also address the protocols around debate and the art of public speaking in general.
While the kids will be prepared with crafted arguments, The Debate will start to take on a “life of its’ own” once it gets going, and characters will start improvising as they respond to each other. It will last for about an hour, and will feel like a play or performance. It would be great if the kids could resurrect their colonial wear from our Colonies Expo, or perhaps they will need to make some modifications based on who their character is above…
PLEASE RSVP TO BY FRIDAY, MAY 19TH. Thanks, and hope to see you there!
Signed –
The Reverend Moses Mather, Congregational Minister from Middlesex Parish, CT and Moderator of the Debate
The Watson's Winners Blog 