I love road trips. Whether it was as a young child in the summers traveling between the Midwest and the Northwest or todays trip where I am turning around to go home. Why would I connect this passion with the teaching of social studies? It is my humble opinion that you cannot grasp the scopeContinue reading “Road Tripping and Social Studies”
Author Archives: baj97756
Hidden Histories
Sometimes you find a piece of history that hits so many topics that it is remarkable not everyone knows it. Today’s Google Doodle is one of those (The NPR story is here.). Here is a man, Elijah McCoy, who is the definition of an American success story. Despite that, I didn’t know of his existence,Continue reading “Hidden Histories”
Allegiances Change
I lived in Astoria for a long time. Two and a half decades. I have a lot of history there. I have been in Madras for far less time. This week held a decision point for me. The Mighty Lady Buffalos were seeded in the state playoffs against the Lady Fishermen from Astoria. Who wouldContinue reading “Allegiances Change”
Welcome Back
It has been too long since I posted. Life has kept me busy. Teaching has been amazing. I have enjoyed building new relationships with staff and with students. It is not without stress, there has been some growing pains getting into the groove of prepping, teaching, and grading. But now that I am hitting myContinue reading “Welcome Back”
THIS IS NOT A DRILL
I came up with the title for this post and went looking for the featured photo. Funny, that photo helped to inform my post, you will see how I am sure. I started wanting to post that this is not a drill, this is it, the real deal. You see I got hired to teachContinue reading “THIS IS NOT A DRILL”
Introductions
Beginnings are so important. I sit here, at the beginning of a new school year trying to decide who to introduce to my students. I mean, I am not a one dimensional being. This is such a change from my previous career. In policing there are very few circumstances where you want people to knowContinue reading “Introductions”
Those Who Serve
I have been gone from the Astoria Police Department for several years now. However, I still feel them as part of my family. After all, I spent almost half of my life working there. The people I worked with were with very few exceptions, even when we didn’t agree, the best. This week a tragedyContinue reading “Those Who Serve”
Planning, Corners, and Unexpected Consequences
“I was standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona, such a fine sight to see. It’s a girl my lord in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me.” Glenn Frey – Take it Easy It’s funny, sometimes, disparate things come together and complete a thought. I have always been intrigued byContinue reading “Planning, Corners, and Unexpected Consequences”
Perspective Matters
“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retainthe ability to function.” F. Scott Fitzgerald We moved out of our house Sunday. Completely out, there were a handful of things we needed to go back and get on Monday, including myContinue reading “Perspective Matters”
Disconnected Connection
In this media-drenched, multitasking, always-on age, many of us have forgotten how to unplug and immerse ourselves completely in the moment. We have forgotten how to slow down. Not surprisingly, this fast-forward culture is taking a toll on everything from our diet and health to our work and the environment. Carl Honore What a wonderfulContinue reading “Disconnected Connection”
CBS SUNDAY MORNING
Every Sunday morning I watch the news magazine CBS Sunday Morning. It is part of my routine. I have been critical of the show for the last several years because they largely skip over National Police Week while seldom missing a chance to talk about police in a negative lite. Scratch all that criticism. TodayContinue reading “CBS SUNDAY MORNING”
THE MUSIC OF LEARNING
On Fridays, in my classes that are current on their work, we play Jeopardy. Today, we had a category called US Presidential History and another that thas City/State nicknames. During the play, songs that students had memorized in 5th Grade (This was a 10th Grade class) came up and we watched some of them afterContinue reading “THE MUSIC OF LEARNING”
HAPPY THIS DAY ISN’T ABOUT ME
Memorial Day, a day to remember our fallen. What has happened to America that none of our holidays have their intended purpose anymore? Memorial Day, Labor Day, 4th of July, nothing but an excuse to BBQ or travel. Presidents Day, MLK, and Veterans Day just a paid day off or time off from school. IContinue reading “HAPPY THIS DAY ISN’T ABOUT ME”
CAN WE LOOK AT WHAT IS PROVEN TO WORK?
The local media ran a story today about legislators and the local DA endorsing police reform. Now, you may think, given my background that I am against police reform. On the contrary. I believe that there is reform needed. I somehow doubt though that the same reform is needed in Astoria, Madras, Bend, Portland, andContinue reading “CAN WE LOOK AT WHAT IS PROVEN TO WORK?”
Wonder Day
Today I worked on a project demonstrating how to do a wonderday assignment. Take the thing you wonder about, research and share the project. In my case I wondered what effect the music of the time had on the protest culture of the day. I asked the question, reflected on my owh thoughts, did someContinue reading “Wonder Day”
STUDENT JOURNALISTS
CRITICAL OR MENACE? “Journalism is printing what others don’t want printed. Everything else is public relations.” George Orwell Just in the headline I have already set up the straw man that appears to be so prevalent in thinking about student journalism. Yet in reality, nothing is either this or that. That is what students learnContinue reading “STUDENT JOURNALISTS”
BEST COVID EDUCATION UPGRADE
Teaching from home with my laptop this fall was a joke. The small screen and only being able to see one tab at a time was horrible. My 13″ macbook was never going to cut it. I tried using airplay to cast the screen on the big screen but you couldn’t put the meet upContinue reading “BEST COVID EDUCATION UPGRADE”
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
Who knew that this was the day in history where a man known as Lawrence of Arabia died in obscurity. To my generation, he was a hero of our parents matinees. He was probably already slipping into obscurity. It’s a bit crazy when you think of it and reminds us all how fragile our fameContinue reading “LAWRENCE OF ARABIA”
THIS DAY
Started by President Kennedy, today is Police Officer Memorial Day. A day specifically set aside to remember all of the fallen. I remember the shocking experience of visiting the National Law EnforcementMemorial in DC. I’d thought of a few recent names I wanted to find but when I went to the Oregon pages in theContinue reading “THIS DAY”
EXPLORING THE WORLD IN QUOTES
Right now I am teaching technology. That isn’t stopping me from teaching social studies though. Every day starts the same in my class. First a quote. Then an opener based on the National Day calendar. The quotes generally come from historical figures. Sometimes focused around Black History Month or similar events but almost always aboutContinue reading “EXPLORING THE WORLD IN QUOTES”
The Embed Educator 