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Meghann SerilI like the idea of using the themes as a lens through which to consider the historical eras we study in our curriculum. Because we study the history of Los Angeles, I think discussion of the benefits and consequences of being an open or closed society would be something my students could engage in. I certainly think that discussion could be had about our current crisis situation. I would also like to have the deeper discussion with my students that history is not just a set of facts but is open to interpretation. I think that can bring these events alive for my students and help them understand the importance of studying historical events. Something I need to be better at is finding sources that present all viewpoints on a historical event, then letting students draw their own conclusions.
Meghann SerilI found connection to the "Four Poems on Wine" given our current social distancing situation, especially the line in the second poem, "Only, the perceptions that one has while drunk Cannot be transmitted after one is sober." How true and how wise. 🙂 I would like to use some of these poems with my students to talk about imagery and figurative language. I might assign pairs of students different poems and have them draw the images described in the poem, focusing on the feelings created by the poet's word choice.
The thought that most stuck with me from the lecture was the idea that after China closed itself off, following the An Lushan rebellion, it started to decline. In light of our current climate I think about the idea that although we are facing health, social, and economic hardship, we would be better off staying connected and open. I was encouraged this week to see doctors from Cuba and China going to Italy and the UK to help fight this pandemic. No one can fight this alone and we must try to stay connected despite our isolation.
Meghann SerilIn Peach Blossom Spring, I think the fisherman found an ideal society in which there seem to be an abundance of resources. However, in isolation the villagers would lose connection and possibly innovation. I think the story conveys values of hard work and consistency.
Disunion may have spurred change as military competition would lead to the development of different technologies and strategies. It also seems that there was a lot of cultural development at the time with the flourishing of poetry, calligraphy, and music. I do think that that exchange would be stifled if different realms used different written language or different systems of exchange.
Meghann SerilMany of the materials presented for this era would work well as comparison points with my third grade curriculum. One major aspect of the language arts standards and curriculum is the study of fables. I would love to use the comics of filial piety with my students to discuss the author's message and theme. The messages also enforce topics we discuss in our character education curriculum. As a follow up, I would ask my students to create their own comic strip that teaches and important lesson and emphasizes family relationships. I think my students would enjoy this activity and I'm sure their parents would get a kick out of their comics. In third grade we study the history of Los Angeles and the importance of the LA river to residents of the area. We consider how the river influenced the economy and activities of LA residents from the past to the present. The "Attractions of the Capital" piece could be used to compare and contrast the types of commerce and amenities that became available, though I'd probably leave out the water tea houses.
Meghann SerilThis week has certainly given us a lot to think about. As I was reading more into the different schools of thought I found that many of the principles could be applied to help us get through this situation. From Confucius, I noted the importance of respect for elders as we have designated shopping hours and neighbors running errands for each other. Unfortunately, some news stories from the week challenge the idea that humans are essentially good people. From Mohism, I agree that competition can lead to scheming and war. You share examples of those fighting over basic supplies. I hope for the Mohist ideal of universal love and cooperation. From the Daoists, I think many of us are learning to live with more simplicity. I have certainly been challenged to make do with what I have in the kitchen to avoid the grocery stores. I see evidence of the idea that oppressive laws and regulations will cause people to figure out how to break them with those choosing to gather in large groups for spring break. Then there are the legalists who believed people are motivated by fear and greed. There were so many stories this week to exemplify this idea. I too am looking forward to getting back to our discussions. I hope everyone continues to be healthy and safe.
Meghann SerilI was also thinking that we could tie the study of artifacts and thinking like an achaeologist to the local communities we study in our social studies standards. I would be interested to have students look at artifacts from different communities that were used for a similar purpose during the same time period. For example, students could compare and contrast tools used for cooking across two or more different cultures. In my case, we study the Tongva Indians in third grade and I could make the comparison with an indigenous group from China. I'm sure we would find more similarities than differences.
Meghann SerilI love the Sorting Hat idea! I think a great, non-techy follow up would be for groups to create their own set of class community agreements based on their philosophy group. They could also create and assign roles/group jobs based on needs. I also thought to have my students (third graders) make a pictoral representation of each philosophy. While this information is quite dense for the lower elementary grades, I think it would be possible to make the connection between the rules we follow and the importance of them serving the greater classroom and school community.
Meghann SerilGreat point. It makes me think of all of the times I've heard a student say, "But So and So also did the action for which I'm in trouble..." And as we know, two wrongs don't make a right. If companies are motivated by their bottom line and responsibilities to share holders, the only way to expect change is if it is legislated or consumers demand it. We can definitely be part of the solution. I think this point of interconnectedness was best exemplified for me with the image of the 3/11 tsunami devastation. A plate shifting hundreds of miles away can have effects on a far away shore.
Meghann SerilI agree that care for seniors would be a growing industry in these communities. This could increase or shift job opportunities for those previously working with younger populations. I would hope that this would become a public cause and not just left to private industry so that equitable access and care could be provided. And yes, the dolls were pretty creepy.
Meghann SerilThe information presented in the unit is fascinating but very dense for my third graders. I do like the activities provided in the unit to help students compare the different philosophies. If I were to use this with my students I would adapt the activities to have my students draw a representation of each philosophy. Then I might have students make a connection between what we've learned in social studies and ideas we discuss in our character education program. Having these philosophies to follow helps restore order and our class norms do the same thing for us to work cooperatively in our classroom.
Meghann SerilI am curious about how the declining birth rates are affecting different facets of the education system and teaching profession. The articles describe a parallel experience to what we are having here in California. With lower student enrollment we have school closures and declining numbers of young people choosing to enter the teaching profession. I also wonder if there job opportunities available for those teachers who live in rural communities that allow them to stay within the field of education or if teachers are having to go back to school to pursue a completely different career path. It seems that there are many additional consequences of the decline in birth rates.
I would be interested to use these statistics as part of a math discussion with my third graders to talk about what they notice and wonder about this information.
Meghann SerilHello! My name is Meghann Seril. I'm a third grade English teacher in the Mandarin dual language program at Broadway Elementary in Venice. I'm looking forward to our sessions and hoping to find ways to incorporate my learnings into my classroom instruction.
