Blogging, My personal Opinions and thoughts

How would you like it if you began your history class knowing that you would not have to write a single paper the whole quarter. Sounds awesome does it not? Well that was the idea when I entered into Mr. Meechins American History class this year. I soon discovered that these blogs would be a substitute for the essays and speeches that I hated so much. I was ecstatic when this began, he gave us numerous questions per week that we had to answer in a paragraph or more. The questions would relate to what we were learning at the time. It was an amazing idea, I felt as if I had a say in what I wrote about and if there was a question I did not like or did not feel I could answer to my fullest ability there were others to choose from. Another thing about this assignment was that he gave us 3 or 4 a week, told us we had to have so many completed by the end of the quarter. This told me I could do three week and only one the next week if I felt like it. I felt as if i was empowered and I liked it.

However, a few weeks in we were introduced to another assignment that would be due once per week called a weekly article. It had to consist of  roughly 600 to 1000 words and at least one picture. It did not sound bad at first. However when I found out we were only going to be given one option to write about per week I thought it was a Little crappy. I felt that was a big assignment that if I did not like the topic I would be stuck doing every week. The first topic was not bad and I did it with ease. The second though was tough because I just couldnt find rnough words to say it all. I think if there had been two choices per week I would have enjoyed it way better. It was still a mjor improvement over handwriting papers.

Another reason i though this blogging was a better idea than hand writting it was that it easier to keep track of, especially after the year is over. I loose papers easily so this makes it easy to save my work for later times such as college applications. Also my handwriting is atrocious so having my essays and articles tpyed and in a easy to read format I am sure is easier for the teacher to read. The teacher is also benifiting from this process. They are able to keep better track of a students work. They also cannot loose the work since its all saved online. My teecher also had aministrative rights to my blog so he could log in and make changes to it or show me how I could improve them.
Overall I think blogginh is an awesome idea. More teachers should follow in Mr. Meechins footsteps and try it out, I know it has some kinks but I have greatly enjoyed it, It has made writing easier for me and it allows me learn in a way ive never learned before. I look forward to the future when i look back and see what I thought this quarter, how I've changed and why I enjoyed American History so much.

Image source : http://www.techieblogger.com/2010/01/blogging-2010-way-how-to-stand-out-from-the-competition.html

Cowboys, John Waye and the real John Doe

When you think of cowboys, what do you think of? I know I think of people like John Wayne and the rolls he played in movies. They would herd wild cattle for their living. They drank all the time, got into bar fights, and had shootouts in the street. Seems like they had an easy life didn't it? No school, no law, no rules, just do what ever you want and get away with it. Well guess what, its not all true.

When in reality, cowboys occupied some of the hardest jobs out there. They would spend months out on their own or in small groups with other cowboys, trying to get their cattle to the market. They would occasionally go into saloons but most of their entertainment was done around the campfire because they could not leave their cattle unattended. It was seasonal work, which mean during the spring summer and fall you would work but come winter time most ranch bosses would tell their cowboys to come back in the spring, only keeping a few for the winter months to watch the cattle, These cowboys would live on the ranch and usually have their families with them.

Yes the Hollywood portrayal of the cowboy got somethings right. For instance the clothing worn in most western was similar to the clothing worn my ranch hands in their time. Long pants, with dress shirts, occasionally a vest. Always seemed to be wearing a scarf and hat to protect their face from the harsh sun on their long trips to heard the cattle up. Yes most cowboys kept pistols on their belts, but no they did not usually to get into shootouts in town. Nor were they a cowboys most important resource, that was definitely a horse.On the back of a horse, the cowboy could cover vast distances, and he could herd cattle all day. On foot that would be impossible. Cowboys were actually taught to  not pull your gun first.

Hollywood portrayed cowboys as violent raging drunks a lot of the time. When in reality cowboys were to respect with gentle care animals, children, and elders. Cowboys were also put in charge of large herds of cattle which required alot of trust, so a cowboy was known to keep his word and not go back on his promises

So next time you watch a movie staring John Wayne or any other classic westerns, remember, it was not exactly like that. Most of the stuff they had to do on a daily basis and one wrong move could injure or kill them. If you were injured you might as well be dead because no one will hire an injured cowboy. John Wayne will always be remembered as a western star, and in most ways he was. Just know the real thing is not all that cracked up we once thought it was.

Image source:http://www.cartermuseum.org/collections/smith/collection.php?asn=LC-S6-092&mcat=9&scat=35

A teacher's help needed

Students do you feel as though one of your worst classes is your history class. I know I'm not alone and I think we should do something to change that. I think part of the reason we dislike history so much is that thw makers of text books make the information so boring and dry. I think students should be taught the truth, even if it is grusome or offensive. If it brings excitement to the class room and in return has kids more interested, wouldnt it be worth a try??

Paper decays, blogs are eternal!!!

It seems this quarter of history has blown right by me. Mostly because when I look into my notebook I see that the only things I've written are my notes. What happened to all the questions and assignments I've been so used to having to write in the past? The countless notebooks and pens wasted on stuff I toss at the end of the year? That's because all of our assignments have been converted into weekly blog post that we post here. I think it has made this class a lot less boring and also I have been more motivated to do the homework. I feel that now when I write a 600 word essay its saved somewhere that I will able to access it anytime, where all the papers I have written in the past have been thrown away. For once I actually feel as if I am learning and accomplishing something thanks to the ability to look back and read these posts.

There is such a thing as fun homework!

We were asked which blog post for our history class we liked doing best. Most of them were not bad but my favorite has to be the one where we played Oregon Trail and wrote about it. The exact question was, "Play Oregon Trail. Discuss how gaming could potentially connect with learning." This allowed us to play a game that had to deal with westward expansion and then write about how it could be a effective learning tool. I think more teachers should look to stuff students enjoy doing to help us learn.

Needles and chains

After reading the lyrics to a song that was sung in a textile mill titled "The Song of The Shirt" I think about what I am wearing. This song kind of depicts the life of a poor woman working in a textile mill. She talks about her fingers being worn from all the sowing. Her eyes heavy from the long hours. Even the stars shining through the windows which leaves you to believe they worked late into the night. I think life was beyond difficult for a worker in a textile mill, there were no safety standards like today which led to unsafe and unfit working conditions.

19 and mostly illiterate

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be an adult and not able to read? Well in pre-civil war times slaves were prohibited to learn to read or write. Slave owners thought this would keep then from creating a uprising against owners. However some slaves did learn to read and write secretly knowing that if caught the punishment was most likely death. Once all the slaves were free the ones who could not read were jobless, they had to teach themselves or find a slave who could read to teach them. It was a very hard life.

Here lies Tyler...

Okay so this week we had to play the classic Oregon trail and see how we did, well i died. The question behind it is that does it help children learn. I believe that it can help kids learn. It shows how tough it was to make the journey, how much it cost to move out there, and what different stops were on the trail. You also encountered delays most people could have faced moving west. Overall i do think the game can help you learn more about the Oregon trail.

Six Word Story

Heading west, harsh reality, never arrived