- What does being a "good" citizen mean to you?
- Can you identify some behaviors and actions associated with being a "good" citizen?
- On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself as a citizen, with 10 being the best?
- What should be the role of education in preparing you to become a citizen?
- How can your teachers encourage you to develop a sense of civic responsibility?
- Is the "American Dream" possible? If so, how and for whom?
- What connection do you see between societal issues and individual responsibility?
- What community issues concern you the most?
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
01, 02-Dec-09 Journal Reflection
No one is born a good citizen; no nation is born a democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifeline. ~Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations
Monday, October 26, 2009
03, 04-Nov-09 Journal Reflection
• What experiences have you had with community service?
• Were these positive or negative experiences? Why?
• What personal assets did you contribute? How did you feel?
• What does a meaningful and successful service experience look like?
• Is service a choice or a responsibility?
• What do we know about the history of service in this country? And in other countries?
• What other examples of service-learning are you familiar with?
• In your own words, how would you explain the difference between service and service-learning? What is the potential impact for the volunteers and the community?
NYLC’s “Discover Service-Learning” website at http://www.nylc.org/wisl/index.html.
• Were these positive or negative experiences? Why?
• What personal assets did you contribute? How did you feel?
• What does a meaningful and successful service experience look like?
• Is service a choice or a responsibility?
• What do we know about the history of service in this country? And in other countries?
• What other examples of service-learning are you familiar with?
• In your own words, how would you explain the difference between service and service-learning? What is the potential impact for the volunteers and the community?
NYLC’s “Discover Service-Learning” website at http://www.nylc.org/wisl/index.html.
Monday, October 12, 2009
13, 14-Oct-09 Journal Reflection
What do you already know about your "service-learning" organization?
Write 2-3 paragraphs discussing what you already know about your topic. This includes any learning, experience, or background knowledge you have, before doing any research on the topic. You may use the first-person point of view “I” in this section.
What do you want to find out or know more about?
Create a list of 15 questions that you have about your topic. These questions will guide your research; when finding sources, you will find sources that help answer these questions. After each question, you must explain why you want to know the answers to these questions. You may use the first-person point of view "I" in this section.
Write 2-3 paragraphs discussing what you already know about your topic. This includes any learning, experience, or background knowledge you have, before doing any research on the topic. You may use the first-person point of view “I” in this section.
What do you want to find out or know more about?
Create a list of 15 questions that you have about your topic. These questions will guide your research; when finding sources, you will find sources that help answer these questions. After each question, you must explain why you want to know the answers to these questions. You may use the first-person point of view "I" in this section.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
30-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
Write about a time when you made a poor choice. Describe the consequences of your choice. What have you learned as a result of your choice and the consequences? Write about a time when you made a good choice.
Prepare interview questions to ask the service-learning organization contact for your research paper.
Examples:
- What kinds of choices have you faced over the years?
- What's the best choice you've ever made? The poorest choice?
- Were you able to predict the consequences of your choices? Were there any big surprises?
- If you go back in time and change just one of your choices, which one would it be? How would your choice be different? How would the consequences be different?
29-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
Do a "Secret Service" ~
Choose someone you'd like to do something nice for or give something to. Leave a treat on a porch, in a locker, on a desk. Write an anonymous note telling the person why you admire him or her.
Friday, September 25, 2009
23-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
Read and discuss the following poem by Edwin Markham.
He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
What does this poem mean to you and your friends? Can you think of examples from your own life that seem to fit the poem? Is there anyone you know who might benefit from being drawn into your circle?
Write in your journal about a time when someone was kind to you or did a service for you. How did you feel? Have you ever received a service that made you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed? Why did you feel that way? What can you learn from that experience?
He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
What does this poem mean to you and your friends? Can you think of examples from your own life that seem to fit the poem? Is there anyone you know who might benefit from being drawn into your circle?
Write in your journal about a time when someone was kind to you or did a service for you. How did you feel? Have you ever received a service that made you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed? Why did you feel that way? What can you learn from that experience?
22-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
Dr. King's words challenge us:
"...injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
We will listen to the cries of the poor; we will stand in solidarity with those who suffer oppression; we will take as our own the hopes of all who long for a full human life (what it means to be fully human); we will create in our midst the Beloved Community with room for all, justice for all, and joy for all.
Explain how these words invite you to become an individual who cares about his/her community. Thinking about your extended class and your school, describe how you could be a caring member of this community. Please offer specific examples.
"...injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
We will listen to the cries of the poor; we will stand in solidarity with those who suffer oppression; we will take as our own the hopes of all who long for a full human life (what it means to be fully human); we will create in our midst the Beloved Community with room for all, justice for all, and joy for all.
Explain how these words invite you to become an individual who cares about his/her community. Thinking about your extended class and your school, describe how you could be a caring member of this community. Please offer specific examples.
16-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
- Define what service learning is.
- Search for, select, and report on three different service learning opportunities in your community.
- What kind of service learning works best for you?
15-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
- How does helping others make you fully human?
- Identify who you are currently helping and why.
- Describe the relationship that you have with the person you are helping and how this has changed your self-view.
11-Sep-09 Journal Reflection
On 9/11, I sat in front of my television, transfixed as I grappled with the horrific images that were unfolding before my eyes. Some eight hours later, I received a call telling me my good friend, Lisa Frost, had been on United Airlines Flight 175, the second hijacked plane to strike the World Trade Center. As if the cloak had been flung off, I began to see for the first time the injustices in the world, in our societies, and in my backyard. I was determined to find answers, to fight for a better world. In doing so, I spent the next two years as an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, asking more questions, tackling the world hands-on.
Roger Wong
Boston, Massachusetts
September 11, Eight Years Later Reflective Journal Prompts
· Where were you on September 11, 2001?
· Describe your immediate reaction to September 11 on the day of the attacks.
· Do you remember exactly what you were doing?
· Do you remember how you felt after you found out what happened?
· Did you or any of your family members know someone that:
o worked in the World Trade Towers?
o was on American Airlines Flight 11?
o was on United Airlines Flight 175?
o worked in the Pentagon?
o was on American Airlines Flight 77?
o was on United Airlines Flight 93?
· How has September 11 impacted your life and your community? Do you think America is more or less vulnerable now? Explain.
· How do you think future generations should be educated about September 11? In your opinion, will Americans' perceptions of the attacks change as time passes?
· Do you have one example of how September 11 has impacted American culture? For example, how have movies and TV programs been affected? Do you think movies and TV programs should emphasize themes that are more patriotic? Explain.
· If you could change one thing in America since September 11, what would it be? Do you think that September 11 should be a national holiday? Why or why not?
Roger Wong
Boston, Massachusetts
September 11, Eight Years Later Reflective Journal Prompts
· Where were you on September 11, 2001?
· Describe your immediate reaction to September 11 on the day of the attacks.
· Do you remember exactly what you were doing?
· Do you remember how you felt after you found out what happened?
· Did you or any of your family members know someone that:
o worked in the World Trade Towers?
o was on American Airlines Flight 11?
o was on United Airlines Flight 175?
o worked in the Pentagon?
o was on American Airlines Flight 77?
o was on United Airlines Flight 93?
· How has September 11 impacted your life and your community? Do you think America is more or less vulnerable now? Explain.
· How do you think future generations should be educated about September 11? In your opinion, will Americans' perceptions of the attacks change as time passes?
· Do you have one example of how September 11 has impacted American culture? For example, how have movies and TV programs been affected? Do you think movies and TV programs should emphasize themes that are more patriotic? Explain.
· If you could change one thing in America since September 11, what would it be? Do you think that September 11 should be a national holiday? Why or why not?
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