study in Opposites #1

When we look through a camera, our view of the world changes.
Al mirar por el lente de una camara, nuestras ideas sobre nuestro alrededor cambia.











When we look through a camara, we have new ways of seeing.
Cuando vemos por una camara tenemos una forma nueva de ver. --Jonathan, 8th, KIPP

study in Opposites #2

When we look at the world, we see with our own eyes
Cuando miramos al mundo, lo vemos con nuestros propios ojos.














Our point of view makes us unique and requires seeing and accepting each other’s differences.
Lo que nos hace ser diferente a los demas son nuestras ideas, y para ser una mejor persona, tenemos que aprender a aceptar las difrencias de los demas.

study in Opposites #3

In life, we know that there is always a reason to look up.
En la vida, hay tiempos en los cuales tenemos una razon para mirar hacia arriba. --Jenny I, 8th, KIPP













But there is always points in life when we look down.
Pero tambien encontraremos ocasiones cuando miraremos hacia abajo.

study in Opposites #4

Some of us play the world's favorite sport.
Algunos de nosotros jugamos el deporte mas preferido en el mundo. --Lisette B, 8th, KIPP













Some of us play America's favorite sport.
Mientros otros juegan el depote mas favorito de America. --Tarik, 8th, KIPP

study in Opposites #5

Sometimes we feel powerful like Superman.
Hay tiempos cuando nos sentimos poderosos como Superman.














Other times, we feel weak and we fall.
Otras veces, nos sentimos debiles y caemos.

study in Opposites #6

We choose the road.
Tenemos el poder de escoger el camino que queramos correr.
--Jennifer A, 8th, KIPP
















We don't let the road choose us.
No dejamos que el camino incorrecto nos defe llevar.
--Carlos, 8th, KIPP

study in Opposites #7

Some of us have the willpower to follow our heart.
Hay personas que tienen las ganas y el deseo de seguir el llamado de su corazon. --Sabrina, 8th, KIPP















While others lose that willpower to destiny.
Mientras otros defan llevar sus suenos al destino. --Yancy, 8th, KIPP

study in Opposites #8

There are moments in life when we feel love.
Hay momentos en la vida que sentimos amor.















Sometimes, hate consumes us.
Tambien hay tiempos cuando el odio nos consume.

study in Opposites #9

Differences do not matter; we are all the same.
Pero tambien hay tiempos cuando el odio nos consume.















Sometimes we face inequality.
Aunque algunas veces enfrentamos inequalides.

study in Opposites #9

Differences do not matter; we are all the same.
Pero tambien hay tiempos cuando el odio nos consume.















Sometimes we face inequality.
Aunque algunas veces enfrentamos inequalides.

Study in Opposites #10

We control our dreams.
Nosotros controlamos nuestros deseos.














Don't let our dreams control us.
No defamos que nos controlen.

study in Opposites #11

At points in life, we want to solve our problems with violence.
Hay puntos en vida cuando queremos resolver nuestros problemas con violencia.



















The best way to solve problems is with peace.
Pero la mejor solucion es resolvar nuestros problemas con paz.

Study in Opposites #12

Happiness roams constantly throughout life.
Felicidad entra constantemente por nuestra vida.













Darkness meanders through the cracks of our soul.
La maldad trata de vagar en nuestras almas.

Study in Opposites #13

The water is a reflection from the rain.
La agua es reflecion de la lluvia. --Irving, 8th, KIPP

Our tears are our reflections of our sorrow.

Nuestros llanto son refleciones de nuestra tristesa. --Saul, 8th, KIPP

Study in Opposites #14

Alone we cannot find our way.
Solos no podemos hayar nuestro camino. --Lissette C., 8th, KIPP

...but together we are never lost.
...pero juntos nunca estamos perdidos.

Study in Opposites #15

When the sun rises, a new day begins without worries about what tomorrow will bring. Cuando sale el sol empieza un nuevo dia que no tiene precupaciones de lo que manana traiga.















The moon comes, the day ends. Thank you and good night moon.
La luna llega y el dia se acaba. Gracias y buenas noches a la luna.

Enduring Understandings

• What do you want the kids to know to be able to understand about the world around them when they’re 42 and remember back to the whole point of what they learned in this unit?
• Deliberately framed as a full sentence (that is a statement, not a question)– “Students will understand THAT…”
• Implicitly answer the question, “Why do we have to learn this?”
• Transferable beyond the classroom
• At the heart of the discipline
• They summarize the key meanings, inferences, and importance of the ‘content’
• Stated in student-friendly terms
• They are not completely obvious
• They are concise
• Require “uncoverage” because they are not “facts” to the novice, but unobvious inferences drawn from facts - counter-intuitive & easily misunderstood
• Through the knowledge and skills, they come to understand the understandings.
• Some questions for reflection (all will likely not be simultaneously true)
o Do they have many layers and nuances, not obvious to the naïve or inexperienced person?
o Can they yield great depth and breadth of insight into the subject?
o Do you have to dig deep to really understand its subtle meanings and implications even if anyone can have a surface grasp of it?
o Are they prone to misunderstanding as well as disagreement?
o Do they reflect the core ideas as judged by experts?

Essential Questions

• The content you teach allows students to be able to answer your essential questions, but the content itself is not a direct answer to any essential question
• They stimulate interest and thought, get the students interested in what they will be learning
• They make you want to have a conversation
• They force the students to have to engage/manipulate the knowledge and skills in order to be able to answer the essential questions
• They have no direct, obvious “right” answers
• They sometimes have more than one possible answer
• They may stimulate debate
• They may stimulate philosophical perspective taking
• They raise other important questions, often across subject areas
• They address the conceptual foundations of the discipline
• They challenge thinking at higher levels (Bloom’s Taxonomy)
• Use questions as a way for students to develop and deepen their understanding of something
• Use to clarify misconceptions and challenge something that is assumed is true
• Don’t be afraid to go outside of the content when framing questions (e.g. Who is more wrong, the man who beats his wife or his neighbor that knows it happens, but does nothing?)

on teaching...

Of all the things that are important to good schools, nothing is as important as the teacher and what that person knows, believes, and can do.That is where the rubber meets the road in our business. And everything we do to improve student achievement hinges on that..

-Jon Saphier

Poem for Today

Summons by Robert Francis

Keep me from going to sleep too soon
Or if I go to sleep too soon
Come wake me up. Come any hour
Of night. Come whistling up the road.
Stomp on the porch. Bang on the door.
Make me get out of bed and come
And let you in and light a light.
Tell me the northern lights are on
And make me look. Or tell me clouds
Are doing something to the moon
They never did before, and show me.
See that I see. Talk to me till
I'm half as wide awake as you
And start to dress wondering why
I ever went to bed at all.
Tell me the walking is superb.
Not only tell me but persuade me.
You know I'm not too hard persuaded.

Less is More

Less is more
Read and analyze and learn

Less is more
Know the text
Know the subject
Have an example ready to show

Less is more