To encourage dialogue and reflection about values and the ways we act on our values, our question for the week is: What are the most important values in your life? How do they connect to your learning? Alignment with Values (Week of 12/17/23) (This is an anonymous Google Form)
Blake's Guiding Lights
Our Students
Blake's Core Values: Respect, Responsibility, Resourcefulness, Reflection
Our Essential Question: How can we cultivate and curate the progression of student learning and growth?
Our Mission: Blake Middle School believes in a living mission statement, based on the concept that our community seeks and respects knowledge, integrity, character, wisdom, and the willingness to adapt to a continually evolving world.
The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning. - John Dewey
You cannot teach today the same way you did yesterday to prepare students for tomorrow. - John Dewey
I am not sure if others feel this way, but this time of year always feels full and busy, even if we do not have too much actually going on in terms of actual commitments or events. This past weekend had that feeling for me - even though we only had a couple of basketball games for the boys, everything else that is going on (holidays, end of year feelings, ‘to do’ lists) are always present. I hope this coming week at school will provide some opportunities to ‘slow it all down’ and be present - I imagine the energy will be palpable!
The psychology of self-persuasion with Elliot Aronson
(45 min) from WorkLife with Adam Grant
Elliot Aronson is one of the preeminent psychologists of the 20th century — his mentors were Abraham Maslow and Leon Festinger, and his award-winning psychology textbooks are seminal even for non-psychologists. Adam asks Elliot about his pioneering work on making mistakes and cognitive dissonance, or the discomfort we feel when we realize that our attitudes or actions contradict our values. Then, the two discuss the dangers (and upsides) of rationalizing our beliefs — and strategies for making better decisions while keeping an open mind.
Matthew McConaughey: What Does Success Really Mean?
(50 min) from House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy
Do you know someone who is struggling with loneliness? Do you ever feel the definition of success you’ve been sold your whole life isn’t right?
These are some of the questions the Surgeon General and our guest, actor Matthew McConaughey, posed recently to an auditorium full of students at the University of Texas at Austin. In response, almost every hand in the young audience went up.
In this conversation, Matthew McConaughey also draws from his own life lessons. Especially in high school and college, he lived through periods of deep loneliness and learned how to find connection he needed. As his Hollywood career took off, it was time with his family and kids that put his career – and the primary importance of connection – into perspective. The Surgeon General spotlights the truth of McConaughey’s narrative – that it’s relationships with loved ones that sustain us and make our lives good, not the notions of material success our society so often seems to value.
In this conversation, we explore the power of social connection and what success really means.
Your brain on art with Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
(34 min) from WorkLife with Adam Grant
If you think of the arts as entertainment or luxury, Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross might ask you to reconsider. The authors of the New York Times bestseller “Your Brain on Art” argue that engaging with music, craft projects, and museums can transform our lives in unexpected ways. Susan, Ivy, and Adam delve into the fascinating science of neuroaesthetics, and explore how art can unlock creativity, enhance well-being, and enrich communities.
Sampling of Responses from Last Week’s ‘Question of the Week’: What is one goal you have for Term 2? What steps will you take towards that goal?
- My goal is to be more efficient while doing homework so I finish it earlier. To do this I will go to my room and do my homework and pay attention while doing homework.
- I want to try to memorize all the vocab my teachers give me. I can do that by studying hard.
- I want to improve my ability to make connections to learning. I will try to work on thinking about the stuff I learned over the past years and put it to work.
- I want to work towards a better math grade
- My goal is to make sure students learn one new concept each day! In addition to building skills, I will introduce new ones too!
- Get all fours in my cores.
- I have a goal to write in my agenda more consistently and minimize internet usage.
- Keep working hard on my tests to study and try my best
- Read more books
- Be a little more organized with what I need to do and stay focused on the priorities. Keep a list of what I want to get done each month and refer back to the list.
- To do better
- To improve my grades in math by staying for extra help
- English writing
- I will try to make better connections in my learning
- Do almost all of my homework
- Get all 4s
- Study for 15 minutes every night
- Get smarter
- Make sure I turn work in on time for band
- One goal I have for Term 2 is to become more social. One step I will take towards that goal is initiating conversation when I have to.
- Do better on homework
- One goal I have for term 2 is to work hard and have fun.
I look forward to my annual practice during the upcoming vacation of reflecting upon personal and collective learning, growth, challenges, and successes - perusing influential/impactful posts and sources that have implications for both myself and the Blake community.
As part of this practice, I will be reading and reflecting upon ‘influential posts’, resolutions, and implications for myself and our learning community at Blake. The images and words below are ones that I hope will center us, guide us, challenge us, and lead us on our ‘imperfect journey’ (some of these have been shared the last few years and are worthy of carrying forward into 2024 and beyond)...
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Take care.
Nat