It is our job as teachers to give you time to grapple with problems and make your brains work – Cultivating a Growth Mindset. Sometime in life, people have no choice. Their whole lives can be a struggle. These inspirational stories are more about physical struggles but deliver the same message about not giving up!
When things in school or out are difficult, what will you do? Who will you turn to? How will you shift your energy on the Mood Meter?
Today we used, Story Cubes, to generate a creative story. Anyone can become a great story teller and there are no wrong answers. Let your imagination “roll” wild with these images. Post your story to this blog.
This month we celebrate and practice ACCEPTANCE!
Here is a recording introducing and pronouncing Duncan Tonatiuh.
Sylvia Mendez (left), 73, talks to her sister Sandra Mendez Duran (right), 59, about Mendez v. Westminster, their family’s 1945 lawsuit that won Mexican-American children the right to attend white schools. Listen to them speak here, Story Corps – Mendez.
What surprised you about this story?
“The Unfortunate Death of Major Andre” (1783)
This image serves as a somewhat gruesome reminder of the fate that awaits the unfortunate spy who is caught in action. The man seen hanging here is British Major John Andre, who was captured and hanged as a spy during the American Revolution. Why, then, is there a monument in New York in his honor, bearing the following inscription?
“He was more unfortunate than criminal,
An accomplished man and a gallant officer.”
—George Washington
In 1779, Andre was put in charge of the British Secret Intelligence. In this role he negotiated with American traitor Benedict Arnold. It was this alliance that ultimately led to Andre’s downfall. Arnold regularly delivered key information about West Point’s weaknesses to British General Henry Clinton by meeting Andre on the banks of the Hudson River. In September of 1780, Andre was sent on a secret mission to negotiate the surrender of West Point to the British. However, through a series of mishaps, Andre was captured behind enemy lines, wearing civilian clothing.
This presented a dilemma for George Washington. Congress had made it clear that spies would be hanged. The following is an announcement found in the Virginia Gazette dated October 18, 1776.
In CONGRESS, August 21, 1776.
RESOLVED, that all persons not members of, or owing allegiance to, any of the United States of America, as described in a resolution of Congress of the 24th of June last, who shall be found lurking as spies in or about the fortifications or encampments of the armies of the United States, or any of them, shall suffer death, according to the law and usage of nations, by sentence of a court-martial, or such other punishment as such court-martial shall direct.
By order of the Congress.
John Hancock, president.
The British, however, believed that the Americans would not dare execute a British Adjunct General as there was a trust between sides that generals would be taken as prisoners and not executed. Washington asked for the Court of Inquiry to study the incident and decide whether Andre was acting as a spy. The verdict was decided that Andre was, in fact, acting as a spy by going behind enemy lines and disguising his uniform.
All the men on both sides were amazed at the turn of events. The American men admired Andre for his gallantry, the British for his leadership. Andre sent a plea to Washington, not asking that his life be spared, but that he be shot (“a gentleman’s death”) rather than be hanged. Most Americans believed that Benedict Arnold should have been the one to die because of his treason. Andre was just in the proverbial “wrong place at the wrong time.” Washington even communicated to General Clinton that he would trade Andre for Arnold so Arnold could be hanged instead, but such an exchange did not take place. Andre, age 31, was hanged as a spy at Tappan, New York on October 2, 1780, mourned even by his enemies.
Unfortunately our class trip was canceled, but the rain didn’t deter Jack from visiting!
What’s your favorite animal? Are you worried about an endangered species? Is there an animal that you want to learn more about? Now is the time to use some research skills and creativity for Mrs. McBride’s monthly challenge,The Sock Challenge.
Find an old sock that lost its match in the laundry and get to work! All entries are due October 19th.
This week at Cottage Lane we are participating in the “Start with Hello” campaign. We are encouraging every student to make a difference with their peers. Whether it is a simple hello or a conversation, we are trying to foster an inclusive community.
Having conversations can be awkward, but Kid President shows us how it’s done! He too is on a mission to meet lots of awesome kids! #YearoftheKid Sometimes meeting new people can be scary. What if they’re too different and we don’t get along? What if things get really, really awkward? Well, Kid President says, embrace the AWKWARD! Check out his video below.
Share a message of positivity by leaving a comment on this blog.
September 24th is Punctuation Day! Punctuation Day argues that the correct use of apostrophes, semicolons and other punctuation is critical if you’re to get your (rather than, say, you’re) message across. If you’ve spotted any examples of bad punctuation, take Punctuation Day as an opportunity to share them out and to promote awareness!
These fun books are great reads to help you celebrate Punctuation Day. 
The Exclamation Mark by Amy Rosenthal is great way to express who we are and how we want to leave our mark this year. “So with his head held high, he went off..to make his mark.” How will you make your mark this year? Post your comment below with your exclamation!
Extra time? Check out this great punctuation game for kids.
Extra Time? Try these games:
Cooperation is teamwork. Check out this video on how to be a good team member.
The golf ball challenge was loads of fun! Let’s start being creative. What would you do to this challenge to make it more difficult or fun?
Welcome back to an exciting school year! This year’s character education is bursting with color.
September is scarlet red for COURAGE. Starting a new year with new teachers, new classmates and new expectations takes courage. Being brave, making sacrifices, facing fears, admitting mistakes are all ways to show courage.
At our assembly, we learned how ordinary people found the courage to do extraordinary things. Welles Crowther, The Man in the Red Bandanna, was one of many amazing people who were courageous on September 11, 2001.
We all might not be able to be as courageous as Welles, but we can practice small acts of courage. Remember Mrs. King’s warrior words, “I have the power and the courage to be a positive, proactive upstander.” Will you stand up for yourself, stand up for others, make a new friend, try out for a team, develop a skill, audition for a play, speak in front of an audience, ask for help, treat failures as opportunities to grow, etc.?
Post a comment to our class blog on how you will show courage this year.
Perseverance is this month’s superpower!
We were inspired by William Kamkwamba’s story. When his village was hit by a drought, everyone’s crops began to fail. Without enough money for food and school, William spent his days in the library and figured out how to bring electricity to his village. Persevering against the odds, William built a functioning windmill out of junkyard scraps and became the local hero who harnessed the wind. Listen to the children’s books here – The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
Here is another video, Moving Windmills.
Interview an adult. Determine a time in his/her life when he/she had to persevere and the result of this hard work. Share this experience with our class blog.