Just another Blog @ FCS site
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson, age 28, became the first African American player in Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport that had been segregated for more than 50 years.
Jackie Robinson was an extraordinary man.
The Trial Concludes. Then to Maker Space.
Extra credit opportunities- Do one, both, or neither.
Welcome back.
This week, we will prepare for our first session in the Maker Space by further exploring the French Revolution.
Please let me know by next Monday the project you wish to pursue.
This week, we have A LOT to do. Most importantly, we have a King to Put on Trial.
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday and Friday– Role Play- Mock Trial.
Friday– Maker Space and Journal Due
After the American Revolution, some wanted to radically transform society and break away from all things English. As I said in class, some even wanted to make Hebrew the official language of the United States.
Instead of such a dramatic break, Noah Webster instead wrote an American English dictionary. Webster had no plan of abandoning English altogether, but he was eager to set up American as a distinct and independent dialect.
We get our spelling rules which differ from England’s spelling rules from Webster.
As you can see, he simplified spelling.
| aeon | eon |
| aesthetic | esthetic |
| anaemia | anemia |
| anaesthesia | anesthesia |
| gynaecologist | gynecologist |
| paediatrician | pediatrician |
Americans also dropped doubled consonants
| British | American |
|---|---|
| appal | appall |
| carburettor | carburetor |
| counsellor | counselor |
| dishevelled | disheveled |
| distil | distill |
| enrol | enroll |
| fulfil | fufill |
| instalment | installment |
| instil | instill |
| skilful | skillful |
| woollen | woollen |
Americans chanced -ence to –ense
| British | American |
|---|---|
| defence | defense |
| licence(noun) | license |
| offence | offense |
| pretence | pretense |
He dropped the silent e from words.
| British | American |
|---|---|
| annexe | annex |
| glycerine | glycerin |
| gramme | gram |
| grille(noun) | grill |
| programme | program |
| tonne | ton |
One of the more famous spelling differences between British and American English is -or vs -our
| British | American |
|---|---|
| arbour | arbor |
| ardour | arbor |
| armour | armor |
| behaviour | behavior |
| British | American |
| candour | candor |
| clamour | clamor |
| colour | color |
| demeanour | demeanor |
| endeavour | endeavor |
| favour | favor |
| flavour | flavor |
| harbour | habor |
| honour | honor |
| humour | humor |
| labour | labor |
| neighbour | neighbor |
| odour | odor |
| parlour | parlor |
| rancour | rancor |
| rigour | rigor |
| rumour | rumor |
| saviour | savior |
| savour | savor |
| splendour | splendor |
| tumour | tumor |
| valour | valor |
| vigour | vigor |
Re was replaced with –er to better reflect American pronunciation.
| British | American |
|---|---|
| calibre | caliber |
| centre | center |
| fibre | fiber |
| litre | liter |
| lustre | luster |
| meagre | meager |
| metre | meter |
| sabre | saber |
| sceptre | scepter |
| sepulchre | sepulcher |
| sombre | somber |
| theatre | theater |
Here are still some more.
| British | American |
|---|---|
| artefact | artifact |
| tyre | tire |
| cheque(banking) | check |
| chequerboard | checkerboard |
| chequered | checkered |
| cosy | cozy |
| doughnut | donut |
| draught | draft |
| gaol | jail |
| grey | gray |
| jewellery | jewelry |
| kerb(noun) | curb |
| plough | plow |
| sceptical | skeptical |
| sulphur | sulfur |
Finally, in regards to spelling rules. Ben Franklin proposed radically simplifying spelling. For instance, he suggested spelling “wife” as “yf”.
Spelling rules are actually a somewhat modern invention in English. 
Respond in a comment below.
I will make this a Canvas Assignment. This will be due at the end of next week, after you read about the Enlightenment thinkers. You will be in two groups.
Enlightenment Playlist
Directions: You are creating a playlist that would represent the different Enlightenment philosophers and finding songs that represent each of the philosophers that represent their ideas. You can pick from any musical genre. Classical, jazz, rock, hip hop, etc… Your song needn’t have lyrics. Kade, if one of your own songs fits, use it.
Do this on Google Slides or Canva
Example: Track 1 Bad to the Bone – by Thomas Hobbes
Explain-For Hobbes, men are “equal in their faculties of body and mind,” and consequently “the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest” (Gough, 1957: 105; Hobbes, 1946: XIII, 83). From this arises distrust. Thus, in their natural habitat men are not sociable, and they prefer to stay alone.
For Cover Art- Use Canva , a tool similar to it, or draw your own.
I believe that asking you to find songs to match these philosophers encourages you to interact more fully with the philosophers’ thoughts. It promotes a level of understanding beyond me simply asking, “What does Locke believe?”
I gave this assignment to my students the last time I taught this class. Here’s what they came up with:
Congratulations on your very fine tests. I admit that after the worry on Sunday by many of you, as a group you did very well. I wonder if this is a product of the pandemic, just increased worry. But self-awareness is important. So is facing a challenge and pushing through it and meeting success. I’m interested in talking about this more.
For today, I will put you in discussion groups using the TQE method. We have done this before. First, consider the questions on the slide deck. Then post your answers to the Padlet Wall.
Then place your answers on this Padlet Wall. You can click box in upper right hand corner to open the link in a new tab.
I was raised Catholic and still identify as one. When I was in Catholic school, I learned that while the Protestant Reformers may have had a good point or two, the Protestant Reformation was terrible for Christianity. Of course, Protestants have a very different point of view.
Teaching and learning about history remind me to be humble. There are multiple truths.
Sometimes, we can look at the same event from a very different perspective. And sometimes, new truths replace older truths.
I am mindful of this poem.
Worst Day Ever?
by Chanie Gorkin
Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one’s surroundings are good.
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say that
Today was a very good day.
—
Now read it from bottom to the top, the other way,
And see what I really feel about my day.
