Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~identify the impact that small groups can have on large social problems

~identify and explain what issues you would choose to commit to addressing to improve your corner of the world

Monday:

Finish 1968….class debate questions

Identify what causes have impacted the world you live in and have changed America generationally.

Tuesday:

Film:  A Day in the Life

Wednesday:

Class response to issues raised in film

Thursday:

Sociological Perspective:  how would a day in your life make a difference in the lives of others  Essay

Friday:

Wrap up lesson on Sociological Perspective and Sociological Imagination

Intro to Journalism:

Students will demonstrate:

~the ability to write feature stories correctly

~understanding of basics of photojournalism

~explain composition in relation to photography

Monday:

Photojournalism lesson taught by head photographer Dalton LaFerney

Tuesday & Wednesday:

Film over history of photography

Thursday:

Caption writing essentials and application

Friday:

Photography as related to theme development

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~explain the importance of sociological perspective and sociological imagination

~explain who C. Wright Mills is and his contributions to the field of sociology

~examine the distinctiveness of subcultures within a larger culture

~hypothesize how subcultures form and their influences within a culture

Monday:

View examples of subculture and discuss development & impact (examples from American culture)

Tuesday:  film:  Being Human

Wednesday:  discuss film, written response

Thursday & Friday:  A Day in the Life (student essay identifying subcultures within students’ own lives)

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~explain the journalistic rules of feature writing

~display competency in feature writing

Monday:

discussion of feature writing with student samples of leads

Tuesday:

press conference interview

Wednesday: write people profile

Thursday:  discuss progress

Friday:  turn in profile and peer edit

I have taught 33 years, 18 of them at White Oak. After Saturday night’s Senior Celebration I am humbled and blessed by the seniors’ remarks about not only me, but my colleagues and White Oak in general.  If college students in education programs could sit in on a ceremony such as this, they would catch on fire for the profession. I am a firm believer that ultimately it is not the curriculum, the building environment, the technology available that results in a quality education. It is the relationship between students and teachers that are well-educated in their field, passionate about their subjects and most importantly, passionate about their students. There is a painting over my classroom door that reads: Arise, Go forth and Conquer!  I would love to see young, bright, dedicated teachers doing the same.

Lesson Plans:

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~identify elements of poverty in America and how it impacts the family, the economy, education, crime and culture

~analyze the impact that each of the above has on perpetuating poverty in America

~explain examples of intervention that are successful and analyze why they work

Monday-Friday:  Documentary & Discussion on PBS series Country Boys

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~explain the role of journalists in combat journalism

~analyze the role of constitutional protections in ensuring that journalism is the Watchdog of Democracy

~demonstrate understanding of the events that resulted in the Cambodian Genocide under the Pol Pot regime

Monday-Wednesday:  Killing Fields

Thursday:  Essay Test

Friday: News-Feature:  reading aloud to students (Pulitzer Prize winning stories)

Last week was a whir of stressed and exhausted freshmen and sophomore STAAR test takers and their teachers. As usual both entities did what they do best, apply what they have learned. I am sure that students and faculty look forward to the day that each student’s performance is based on the fulfillment of their potential as lifelong learners.  It will happen, because we desire what is best for each student.

Psychology:

Students will be able to:

~identify the role of the institution of families in the health and stability of society.

~explain the different forms of marriage found in global cultures

~explain the role of family in society

~identify the characteristics of a healthy family

~demonstrate understanding of the impact of poverty on family, education, and culture in general

Monday-Tuesday:

Lecture & discussion over Family chapter in text.

Open book test over family.

Wednesday-Friday:  PBS Documentary series:  Country Boys

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~demonstrate the ability verbally and in writing to analyze descriptive writing and isolate the elements which make it active voiced, impacting, and conveys importatnt ideas

~explain the importance of storytelling in writing while maintaining journalistic integrity

~explain the impact of journalists on informing the public of political forces, backgrounding, and historical context

~explain the impact of investigative reporting

Monday:

~complete analysis od Ernie Pyle’s “Death of Captian Waskow”

Tuesday-Friday: The Killing Fields

One becomes a teacher for a variety of reasons: idealism, love of a subject, a heart for kids, a desire to choose a career that complements motherhood…one stays a teacher because of dedication, commitment, love of kids and subject. Hopefully those are the reasons anyway.  In the last three years I have taught my heart out while my father declined and eventually passed away and now I am the caretaker for my aging mother.  This is what I have learned:  my students are compassionate, sensitive, understanding and loving.  There are a handful of kids on yearbook/newspaper staff who make sure that the job gets done and done correctly because they are invested in the program, its success and our commitment to each other.  Working with high school kids can be a gift. Working with these kids is a blessing from God.

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~identify and explain the elements of healthy relationships and how they impact families and community

~explain impact of poverty on education, family dynamics and society as a whole

Monday:  Discuss film:  The Notebook

Tuesday:  Essay Test

Wednesday-Friday:  Country Boys

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~explain the contributions of Ernie Pyle to combat journalism

~identify and explain the impact of journalism on war coverage, refugees, foreign policy etc.

Monday:

Written assignment over Ernie Pyle (analysis of Death of Sgt. Kowolski)

Tuesday-Thursday:  Killing Fields

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~analyze and identify cultural factors that led to declining educational success over the last 20 years

~identify societal problems that contribute to issues in providing quality education

~identify and isolate factors affecting education at WOHS

~propose effective, innovative solutions to repair what are perceived to be local educational problems

~identify factors of excellence in teaching

Monday:  Essay Test–analysis of issues

Tuesday:  Issues of Poverty in Education

Wednesday-Friday:  Country Boys

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~identify voice in writing

~explain and demonstrate the use of ‘active voice’

~identify major figures in broadcast & print journalism and their contributions to the field

Monday:  Film:  biography Ernie Pyle

Tuesday:  Complete film

Wednesday-Friday:  columns, analysis, testing

Good thing Spring Break came on the heels of the state basketball tourney, I don’t think we could have stood one more iota of excitement. Of course we sent off state powerlifting, team tennis and the ever successful UIL debate team to carry the Roughneck brand at the highest levels.

The rubber will now hit the road with looming deadlines, testing and spring events that tend to focus concentration on what prom shoes to get as opposed to focus on projects and papers.

District UIL is a week away and the goal for another district crown is firmly in place. The practice and prep have been extensive.  Now it is time to compete.

Yearbook and newspaper deadlines are weighing heavily on the adviser and editors, as well as hopefully on the staff. 

S0omewhere in this miasma of excellence, stress and facing a new future, lessons will be learned. 

Sociology:

Students will:

~identify the most serious problems facing American education today

~suggest solutions or minimizations for each problem.

~compare problems of past with present and draw conclusions on what has changed that is impacting education both positively and negatively

Monday:  group projects–brainstorm problem causes and present to class

Tuesday:

Very busy week despite rain outs and wrapping up the 4th six weeks. In sociology we chipped away at learning the terminology of the discipline and how to apply it. J1 pursued their skill development in feature writing and what separates it from news writing.

The best part of the week came with senior staff members staying after school to solve the problems of the world, plan futures and address a range of issues that were mind boggling.  

The weekend stretched out with another UIL Journalism practice meet in Lindale after a playoff basketball game in Nac. Short, short weekend as we head into the first week of the 5th six weeks.

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~demonstrate application of terms of discipline correctly

~discuss institution of education in U.S.–strengths & weakness

~identify weaknesses of bureaucratic system of education and possible fixes

~identify the role of good teachers in education

Monday:  lecture & discussion

Tuesday & Wednesday:  Waiting for Superman film

Thursday:  Discussion

Friday:  Essay test

Intro to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~demonstrate proficiency at writing feature leads

~brainstorm story ideas for student publications

~explain impact of broadcast journalism on the development of American journalism

Monday:  lecture & discussion

Tuesday & Wednesday:  Bio-Murrow

Thursday: Essay test

Friday:  Read Out

Sociology students went to a new place intellectually and emotionally in their study of sociological perspective and how societies are formed and the institutions that uphold them and determine their health. After viewing the film ALIVE! not only was there a new appreciation for the resiliency and determination of humans, a greater appreciation for life was proclaimed by students. As one student said, “How can I complain?” Indeed.

J1 students have been working on feature writing and producing leads based on impromptu stories and interviewing. The continue to pursue their daily study of the current events with a daily reading of the Longview News-Journal.

Spring school activities continue to decimate classes as tennis, golf, baseball, softball, band and choir have been out for competitions. Makeup work in a timely manner is essential for the students’ grades and the teacher’s sanity.

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~explain fully the terms: sociology, culture, group, role, role conflict, norms, mores, taboos, folkways, status, status symbol, values, and give examples of each.

~list and explain fully the traditional American values and what impact they have had on America’s political system, economy and society.

Tuesday-Thursday: lecture, notetaking, discussion

Friday:  Senior Friday-college prep, scholarships, FAFSA, etc.

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~clearly explain what feature writing is, specific elements of feature writing, difference between news-feature and feature writing.

~fully develop a feature story with interviewing and quotes

~identify contributions of feature writers to the craft

Tuesday-Thursday: UIL/ILPC films & powerpoints on feature writing

Friday:  Read aloud from Pulitzer prize-winning stories

After an Indiana Jones ride to Hallsville’s UIL meet Saturday the journalism team came home with hard won medals. The meet was highly competitive with 30-35 students in the small school division (1A-3A). Team captain and former state feature medalist Austin Jordan won the gold in headline writing. Rookie sophomore Mason Malone nailed down the bronze in feature writing and rookie freshman Cade Palmer took 4th in editorial. The team celebrated with a dinner at a great Mexican food restaurant.

Sociology:

Students will be able to:

~identify the elements of society that re-emerge in crisis situations as people adapt to changing circumstances.

~identify and explain roles within a group in crisis situations.

~explain how previously acquired roles can create conflict as circumstances change.

Monday-Tuesday:  complete viewing of film Alive

Wednesday -Thursday:  discuss film and take essay test

Friday:  Senior Friday-college prep skills

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~create a timeline of journalism from the first newspaper in journalism through broadcast journalism

~explain who Edward R. Murrow, Ernie Pyle and other significant broadcasters are that laid the groundwork for this new form of journalism

~discuss and explain how world events contributed to the evolving field of journalism

Monday:  Lecture & discussion of Great Depression & WWII on development of broadcast journalism

Tuesday:  biography film of Ernie Pyle

Wednesday:  read Pyle’s columns and explain in writing why they are impactful

Thursday-Friday: Edward R. Murrow film bio.