First Day of 2015

The first day of school.

Rules, rules, and more rules.

Well ... not really that bad. The Milton AEP program is underway for another school year and we had a calm and (in my mind) productive day. It is somewhat of a drag to do all the required "first day" stuff. The students and staff handled it well. Paperwork is done. Student Handbook is reviewed (often takes two days, but not with this group of attentive students). California Achievement tests are done and scored. We even had time to do Mr. Matt's "Stupid and Silly Questionnaire" and hang a new projection screen.

Tomorrow we will do a math placement assessment and go over some of the program procedures - townhouse, rating system, and such. We will also introduce Google Classroom. Yep ... we are catching up in the technology arena. The plan is to introduce web based learning into some of our classes. As the students and staff become more familiar with the new service, we will integrate more on-line resources into our learning.

We will continue to use JupiterGrades for communicating grades with parents and school districts. If you need access to JupiterGrades, contact Mr. Eck - kurteeck@pathtochange.org.

2015 Rocket Derby

School Supplies via Amazon for 2015/16

http://amzn.com/sl/1WNCRD2235SMU

Studying ISIS

From the NYT - Watch this video - twice. --



Use the following links to do your panel work -

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/09/16/world/middleeast/how-isis-works.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/12/world/middleeast/the-iraq-isis-conflict-in-maps-photos-and-video.html#caliphate-map

Redi's Experiment

Bill Nye - Still in the Fight

Today students read an article from Popular Science about Bill Nye and his crusade to improve the state of early science education in America. Students also related the article to the importance of being able to not rush into decision making, taking the time to collect information, and making rational decisions.

The article is at - http://www.popsci.com/article/science/bill-nye-fights-back

Properties of Water - Surface Tension

The first lesson in Science for the 2014-15 school year is on Surface Tension. Today, students participated in some brief "experiments" to explore the properties of water. We also watched a short video in the "Jesus Lizard". A useful link for review and the video follow.

http://www.visionlearning.com/en/library/Chemistry/1/Water/57/reading

Today's Bookmarks - 10/07/13

Raid Shows Limits of U.S. Military Strikes - NYT

Three Win Joint Nobel Prize in Medicine - NYT

Government Shutdown Reading

Read the following articles about the government shutdown. Be ready to explain the difference between a government shutdown and breaching the debt ceiling. You should also be ready to pick a side in this conflict.


The Government Shutdown Versus the Debt Ceiling - Matthew Yglesias at Slate

Government Shuts Down in Budget Impasse - NYT

After you read the first article and pick through the second article, post a comment explaining which side of the debate you are on. Be sure to use a Structured Response (or even 5 paragraph) format. 

Rikki Tikki Tavi

Today's Bookmarks

Presidents speech to the nation.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/2013/09/10/us/politics/100000002435965/obama-addresses-the-nation-on-syria.html?emc=edit_tnt_20130910&tntemail0=y

9-11 Timeline by New York State Museum

http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/wtc_timeline/zoomify.html

Erikson's Psych/Social Hierarchy

http://psychology.about.com/library/bl_psychosocial_summary.htm

An article on "Resilience".

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/bounce.aspx

Today's Bookmarks

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/30/world/middleeast/aim-of-a-us-attack-on-syria-sharpening-a-blurred-red-line.html?hp

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_slate_quiz/2013/08/the_slate_quiz_with_quizmaster_ken_jennings_play_the_news_quiz_for_the_week_4.html

Rudyard Kipling

The Biography Channel episode on Kipling is at - http://www.biography.com/people/rudyard-kipling-9365581

Students Study Russian Language and Culture

The students at the Milton AEP have been learning about Russian Language and culture. They have surveyed everything from Eastern Rite Orthodoxy and the unification of Russia to a Russian television series, <<счастливы вместе>>, that has a popular American variant. Linguistically, the students have become familiar with the Cyrillic alphabet, cognates, and even surveyed some grammatical concepts, such as verb conjugation and the absence of articles.  

On Wednesday, November 14th , the students had the opportunity to test their conversational Russian chops with Alex Bird, a Bucknell Senior who recently returned from a 7 month study of language and psychology in Saint Petersburg, Russia. 

She gave a slideshow presentation and talk of her time in Russia, then entertained questions from the students relating to current popular and political trends. This 3 week survey, juxtaposed with the previous studies of American Constitutional history and the recent elections, has undoubtedly advanced and rounded the students’ worldview. До  свиданья!, From Milton AEP.

Marc A. Recognized by The Women's Center of Columbia/Montour Inc.

Milton PATH AEP student Marc A. was recognized as an "Outstanding Citizen" for his commitment and service to The Women's Center of Columbia/Montour, Inc.

Romeo and Juliet

This past week the students have read and acted out the play Romeo and Juliet. Today, we went to see the play acted out by a professional group of actors at the Williamsport Community Arts Center. After watching the play, the class went out for Pizza.

The students also decided to try test their acting abilities by filming a few scenes from the play. 

International Credit Union Day

Students will do just about anything for food. To celebrate International Credit Union Day, the Northumberland County Schools Federal Credit Union put out a free hot dog and soup stand at the credit union. Mr. Eck, not wanting to pass up free food either, challenged his students to come up with questions to ask Brenda Raker, the CEO of the credit union. If they each asked a good question and participated in a short presentation on the importance of good finances, they could get a free lunch.

Local Woodmen Rangers Donate Two New Computers

The Milton PaTH AEP received two new laptops from the Woodmen Rangers.

Milton Standard-Journal Trip

With a lot of help from Mr. Kevin Mertz, the students were able to get an up-close and personal look at operating a local newspaper. Students observed the Milton Standard-Journal being printed, talked with the press operator, developed a plate from that day's paper, looked on as lay-out staff organized the next days advertisements, and learned from Mr. Mertz what the daily routine of a reporter is at the local paper.

The students arrived at the newspaper's office in Milton PA just as the presses started rolling. The Standard-Journal is printed late in the morning for an afternoon delivery. The chief press operator explained to the students how they had to "waste" copies as they lined up the plates. Three different color plates and a black plate need to be aligned while the press is running. This process takes time and an experienced hand. 

Students get Glimpse into Photo-Journalism

When Robert Inglis of the Sunbury Daily Item newspaper stopped by the Milton center to take pictures, he wasn't aware that the students were going to "ambush" him with questions about photo journalism. Mr. Cromley has been running a writing unit on newspapers. A copy of the Daily Item was pulled apart and taped up on the walls from the previous day's lesson. Mr. Inglis was the photographer who had taken the picture on the front page of the edition.

The students asked good questions. When asked what makes a good picture, Mr. Inglis quickly snapped a picture of the student from the front of the classroom. He then went over and took a close-up of the student. He then had the students gather around the camera and showed them the differences, explaining how angles and composition change the "feel" of the shot.

When asked about training, the importance of continuing ones education was made clear. Mr. Inglis explained that most photo-journalists have more than a high school diploma and that, in a competitive market, you need to have a solid education.

The question of ethics brought up new terms that the class had not been exposed to. "Hard News Photos" are photos that are shot live. They are not staged or posed. To do so would violate the ethics of photo-journalism. One of the few exceptions to this rule are what Mr. Inglis called "Grip and Grins", photos that you would take of a group of people at an event like an awards ceremony or ribbon cutting.