Half Way There

The school year is amazingly already half way over. The students are plugging along and I'm constantly trying to find ways to challenge them and enhance their learning. Since I've returned from maternity leave the kids have explored a variety of topics. We started with "Questioning Authority and Media Literacy" where the kids learned that as they grow into their teenage years they need to start questioning all the media that is constantly thrown their way. The kids soon started to realize that they may be viewing media on television, in magazines, on billboards, online, in the newspaper, and everywhere else that could be bias. The especially enjoyed looking at pictures of fast food ads vs. real fast food!

Soon the students were really tuned into the media around them and they understood that they need to ask questions and look into facts themselves. It was the beginning of their journey into a new world where they were learning skills they would need as they enter their teenage years and eventually adult hood.

From there we moved onto our "Fads and Trends" unit where kids had a good laugh checking out the fads and trends of the past. The teachers on the Ruby team were good sports and donated their old photos to show the kids that we all fall victim to fads and trends of our time. They completed a poster on an assigned decade and created graphs based on the research they found. Students were amazed to find out that companies actually hire "cool hunters" to find the next big thing and that they target teens in their advertising. Most of the kids were upset to read that companies use advertisements to make them feel insecure about themselves so they then buy products to try and improve themselves. I was proud that many students said that although they might like things that are considered "cool" they are happy with who they are and don't want to change for anyone else.

Currently the kids are working in groups to track trends over 50 years and see how they have changed an evolved. Some of the topics are: housing, fashion, pets, home decor, travel, baby names, hairstyles, education, weddings, cars, toys and games, and pets. Presentations will be next week!