Kickstarting a Business

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Kickstarting a Business, Rushton features Sierra Deodhari. She is the Founder and CEO of Sierra Karate and is only twelve years old.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What characteristics does Sierra have that have helped her do what she does? Might some of those characteristics mean that she can get help from others, as opposed to simply having help from others?

Clearly one of the things she can do is convey what she is passionate about. If you were to start a business, how might it connect to things you’re passionate about?”

I was amazed that this girl was only twelve years old! She had a goal and focused on achieving that goal. This video would definitely be an inspiration to a lot of young people.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

18c International Year of the Disabled Stamp

The 18 cents International Year of the Disabled stamp (#1925) was issued on June 29, 1981, in Milford, MI. This stamp hoped to support programs that helped disabled people. Designed by Martha Perske, the stamp features a man in a wheelchair using a sophisticated microscope and shows the words, “Disabled doesn't mean Unable.” This design was Martha Perske’s first stamp design.

The United Nations made a resolution making 1981 the International Year of the Disabled. This was important to have the world accept the needs of those with handicaps. They encouraged all nations to help the disabled. The theme of this year was “full participation and equality” meaning that persons with disabilities had the right to take part fully in society just as other citizens. Other objectives included public awareness, understanding, and acceptance. 

Many people advocated for the rights of people with disabilities. 

In 1975, Congress passed the “Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142).” This law protected the rights of children with disabilities and their families. In 1990, when the law was reauthorized, the name was changed to “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).” This law was last authorized in 2004. 

Before 1975, many children were denied access to education. Only one in five children with disabilities was educated. Many states actually had laws that excluded children with disabilities. There were nearly 1.8 million children being denied an education at this time. In 2021, there were 7.5 million children with disabilities receiving special education and related services. 

Classroom Activities:

• Write a letter to Congress stating why this law is important. 
• What rights does IDEA give children with disabilities and their parents? 
• How were children with disabilities educated before 1975?
• Pretend you are a parent of a child with a disability before 1975 and write a letter to a school explaining why allowing you in the school is important. 
• Design your own stamp with this theme and share it with the class. 

Useful Information In and Out of the Classroom 3/24/23

Here are some interesting sites that I’ve found this week, thanks to my PLN. As a teacher, I feel we have to keep up to date concerning research in our field and current issues in the education system. I hope some of these inspire you, inform you, and even have you asking questions. Thank you for coming by and visiting!

Note: Each resource is labeled with a level and subject area to make it easier to use.

Levels: E: Elementary; M: Middle; H: High; G: General, all levels; SN: Special Needs; T: Teachers

Subject Areas: LA: Language Arts, English, Reading, Writing; M: Math; S: Science; Health; SS: Social Studies, Current Events; FA: Fine Arts; Music, Art, Drama; FL: Foreign Language; PE: Physical Ed; C: Career; A: All

Wheel of Fortune Puzzle Generator - “Welcome to Wheel of Fortune puzzle image generator where you can create Wheel of Fortune puzzles to share with your friends.”(L:G; SA:A)

Hero’s Journey - “The hero's journey is an ancient story pattern that can be found in texts from thousands of years ago or in newly released Hollywood blockbusters. This interactive tool will provide students with background on the hero's journey and give them a chance to explore several of the journey's key elements. Students can use the tool to record examples from a hero's journey they have read or viewed or to plan out a hero's journey of their own.” (L:M,H; SA:LA)

Flippity - Make your own Connecto game (L:G; SA:A)

Plickers - “Formative assessment has never been faster. Plickers is the free card activity your students will love.”(L:T; SA:A)

Edible Water Bottle - A 12-year-old designed “an edible water bottle called the Eco-Hero. (L:T; SA:S)

Original photo by Pat Hensley

The 2023 Civics for All of US Teacher Institute

Great professional development for Social Studies Teachers! 

“Now Accepting Applications for the 2023 Civics for All of US Teacher Institute in Washington, DC, July 17–21!

The 2023 Civics for All of US Teacher Institute is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation.

Teachers working with grades 3–12 are invited to apply for the inaugural Civics for All of US Teacher Institute with the National Archives in Washington, DC.

During this week-long program, 20 educators will explore how to use National Archives holdings to teach the civic knowledge and skills students need for civic engagement in the 21st century, with a special emphasis on media literacy. Participants will engage with primary sources to shed light on the successes, failures, debates, and challenges in the history of our democracy and discover resources for sharing diverse perspectives and historically underrepresented voices in classroom civics lessons. This professional development experience will also highlight resources for fostering civic participation at any age through examples of student voices in the archives.

Throughout the week, teachers will:

Take part in special tours and activities within the exhibits of the National Archives Museum.

Discover strategies for teaching with primary sources and making civics connections across the curriculum in hands-on sessions developed by National Archives educators across the country, including the Presidential Libraries and Center for Legislative Archives.

Explore how landmarks and institutions in the nation’s capital can enhance students’ civic learning through site visits.

Take part in collaborative group work and discussion with educators from across the country.

Create a teaching activity that explores a big civics idea with primary sources from the National Archives.

Upon successful completion of the teacher institute, participants will receive a stipend of $2,450 provided by the National Archives Foundation. Participants will be responsible for making their own travel and lodging arrangements.

Applications are being accepted through March 31, 2023.”

Promote Higher Level Thinking

In ChatGPT needs to be your newest teaching buddy from History Tech, glennw talks about how ChatGPT can be used in the classroom as a tool to encourage higher-level thinking. He states, 

“ Our kids need us to help them develop the skills needed to make the world a better place. That means we need to go beyond traditional sit and get social studies instruction.”

I hear a lot of people worried that ChatGPT is going to be used to write papers for students and the students won’t have to do the work. This might be a valid worry if you give the students the opportunity.

Glenn suggests using ChatGPT in a different way that would eliminate this possibility. We need to stop having students regurgitate the information that we give them and encourage them to use higher-level thinking skills.

One thing Glenn suggests is to have ChatGPT write a paper and then have students fact-check the information by supplying primary sources.

I think it would be fun to have an opinion paper written by ChatGPT and students choose whether they agree or disagree with the paper and give reasons that could be backed up with evidence.

ChatGPT can be just another tool in the classroom and instead of making it an enemy, use it as a resource.

Glenn also suggests that teachers can use this tool by having it create writing prompts on a specific topic that is being taught.

I think this article was really informative with great ideas!

What other ways would you use ChatGPT? Please share.