Our first day back on Monday was a bit unusual.  We have been at home for so many weeks (and face a few more weeks here), it did not really feel like it normally would on the first day back.  I did notice a prevailing theme heading into the day though and that was a gloominess as it relates to 2020.

As bad as 2020 might have been, there were a lot of positives also.  Our focus of the day was to do our best to look at some of the really good things that happened and be appreciative of many of the good in our lives.  Hopefully we can start 2021 off by counting our blessings rather than focusing on our problems.

Each student, after looking at some inspiration, created their top 10 list of something from 2020.  Some students chose video games (surprise), some chose music, and some choose great events that happened.  A copy of the assignment is linked here.

Some of the students created some really positive and amazing top 10 lists.  Ask your child to share their list with you.  As I told students, it is perfectly normal to look at 2020 with a bit of sadness (it has been a tough year for so many).  Ultimately though, we need to focus on the positive and the good otherwise it becomes a real downer.

This school year has been challenging so why not end on that same note.  For our last day of class, we did something a bit different: a digital escape room.  Students had to use their knowledge of the American Revolutionary War and their problem solving skills to successfully complete this challenge.

If you are interested in trying it yourself with your child, click on the link here.  If your brain is not too tired from life already, it might be fun to try out for a bit.

Yesterday, the Electoral College met around the country to vote for the President (yes, this date is a month+ after the Presidential election, but is designed that way so states can confirm their results).  Going into the Electoral College meeting, there was a lot of confusion about what it meant and what would happen.  This confusion was a great opportunity to reexamine the Electoral College from multiple sources.

Before beginning our work (of reading two articles from different perspectives), students had to check on the bias of the news sources.  Students visited a media bias site (website linked here) to determine the political leaning of both news sources (and yes, there is always inherent flaws in who is checking the bias of the bias checker).  Students then read an article from NBC News (after looking at the bias level and determining that NBC News leans left) concerning the Electoral College (article linked here).  Students then read an article from Fox News (after looking at the bias level and determining that Fox News leans right) concerning the Electoral College (article linked here).

Not only did we learn about the Electoral College and the election process itself, but continued to look at sources with skepticism and did our best to make sure our news was balanced and from both sides.  You can never have too much critical thinking practice.

November 11 marks Veteran’s Day, a federal holiday for honoring military veterans.  Many of us, myself included, take for granted the sacrifices our soldiers make in order to serve and protect our country.  We need to now show support and appreciation for our veterans.

Today, our students will be learning about the organization Honor Flight.  Honor Flight flies (in a normal year, they have since postposed their flights due to COVID-19) soldiers to Washington DC so as to visit the memorial of the conflict they served in.  While on this all-day trip, veterans receive letters of thanks and appreciations from friends and family alike.  Some veterans though have no family to write them letters, which is where we will fill in.  Veterans without family receive letters of thanks for students, like ours, around the world, thanking them for their service.

We will be working on handwriting letters of thanks for our military veterans; all to be delivered to Honor Flight for when their next set of flights resume.  I encourage you to visit their website (located here) and to speak with your child about what it means to serve (and the sacrifices that go along with it).  Additionally, if you know a veteran, please do your best to thank them for their service.