Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update)

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Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 6:03:27 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

As some of you already know, I moved to Tsaile, Arizona to become a social studies teacher on the Navajo Indian reservation (known as "The Navajo Nation" since it is a self-governing nation spanning parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado). The Navajo Nation is the size of West Virginia and has it's own President, Court system, and legislative Tribal Council. Although regular State Police still have jurisdiction technically, policing is basically done by the Navajo Tribal Police and I've never seen any other police forces out here. One good thing, there are virtually no speed traps and only occasional enforcement of speed limits so 75 mph is pretty much the rule out here (where the roads are paved, that is, 80% of them are dirt).

My philosophy in approaching social studies teaching (7th and 8th grades) is to try and incorporate multi-media presentations, selected movies, and self-directed computer based research projects into the classroom environment. The movies have been mostly popular (the 8th grade has viewed "Gods and Generals" and "Gettysburg" plus parts of "Cold Mountain"). The 7th grade has seen parts of "The Patriot" (Camden and Cowpens battles) along with some DVD's of the old Walter Cronkite "You Are There" series. The latter aren't too wildly exciting, but were still useful in capturing the spirit of the times.

A note here... thank God for NetFlix! I'm building quite a library of historical movies and documentaries to show in my classes. For example, I just moved "All Quiet on the Western Front" up to the top of my queue to insure having that before we get to World War I.

A special plea... I would appreciate your recommendations on favorite historical movies, especially the older ones that may not come to mind. I don't always show the whole movie so feel free to recommend titles that contain a few scenes that would be enlightening for an American History class. I can pull out clips and embed them into a PowerPoint.

The other part of my philosophy is to try and use wargames to demonstrate battles. This has been problematic for several reasons (but I shall overcome!).

1. The district has all the computers locked down and make it difficult to get anything special installed. I may have to build an extra computer and bring in to the classroom myself.

2. I have only 4 working computers in my class and access to the school computer lab is impossible because it is tied up all day with rotating "computer time" for all of the elementary classes. Jr High kids get 5 weeks a semester in the lab for one hour a day (rotating with PE, Navajo Language, Navajo Culture, Music, and Art). There is no time for me to take an entire class in and do any sort of training or networked gaming etc.

The good news is that I'm putting together plans for a Computer Club that I will be sponsoring and the kids are all excited about that. My stated intention in the proposal is to use historical, flight, and economic simulation software to get the kids elevated above the mindless shooters that they seem to find all over the web when they have free computer time. In addition, we are going to get some old obsolete computers and train the kids how to open them up, service them, and even build their own. It's all pretty challenging.

I'm also heading up an initiative to produce an inexpensive yearbook that will allow the kids to create their own individual pages using Photoshop, scanners, and digital cameras. This was something we did at the charter school where I did my student teaching a year ago. The kids and parents are all wildly excited about the prospect. Oh yea and I'm also the designated spokesperson for the Jr High teachers (that's what happens when you keep bringing up suggestions and ideas). It is all keeping me incredibly busy, but it's worth to see the kids getting excited! The Navajo teachers on staff all say that the school has desperately needed someone like me coming in from outside with fresh ideas and skills. I should mention that virtually all the teachers are Navajo in my school. The Anglos are reading specialists, school improvement coordinators, and PE instructors. I'm the only Anglo in the Jr High section of the school which is just fine with me. The Navajo people have been the warmest and most welcoming individuals that I've ever encountered. The kids are fantastic... though they are so isolated that the simplest question of geography produces blank stares. In my entire 7th grade (37 students), the farthest away that any have traveled is Phoenix (2) and Los Angeles (1). I had to begin the year with three weeks of map exercises to learn the continents and oceans... and basic concepts such as "delta" or "coastal plain" or the difference between a river and a stream... lakes and seas... well, you get the idea.

One of my hopes for using Microsoft Flight Simulator is to let them take "virtual trips" and get a feel for time and distance.

On the computer issue.. I've been promised more equipment in January. I'm also working with some college faculty who think they can help get a grant to get laptops for all my kids in exchange for their being able to study how technology works in the education of Native American youth. My principal is very open to the idea and thinks the Superintendent will also be welcoming to the idea.

Eventually, I expect to be approaching companies like Matrix and HPS in hopes of getting some kind of break on obtaining a school license so that we can put some of their games up without having to buy individual copies. I would love to have the entire Matrix and HPS lines available, but buying that many games is probably out of the question. If anyone has contacts or suggestions, please shoot them my way.

You always hear about teachers spending their own money to equip their classrooms... well, believe me, it's true. I had to buy my own DVD player and I desperately need a computer projector. I've got an initiative that should get the Jr High two projects by the end of this month (fingers crossed). Otherwise, I'm a multi-media specialist who has to go begging every day to try and get the one projector available to the entire school (19 classes plus the 7 "specials"). If I had an extra $1,000 I'd buy my own. Yesterday I drove down to Gallup and bought $40 worth of posterboard (and $40 worth of other supplies) for class projects. Gallup is the closest city and is about 90 miles each way (beautiful drive though).

Gas prices really bite you out here... I have a 60 miles roundtrip drive down to Chinle just to check my mailbox or buy groceries.

On the plus side, I no longer have the temptation of McDonalds or Subway or Pizza up here in the mountains and have lost almost 30 pounds since I moved out here in at the beginning of August. Feeling great.. and looking better too! I'm diabetic and my blood glucose levels are finally normal on a regular basis.

Although, I am technically "high desert" the temperature up here in the Chuska Mountains has been in the mid 70's during the day, dropping to 40 degrees at night. Chinle (down in the valley and 2,000 feet below us) never goes beyond the mid 80's. I'm told to expect -35 degrees and 18 inch snowfalls when winter sets in. I do have a nice Jeep Liberty 4X4 which should see me through the rough weather. I have a very cozy two bedroom house (subsidized at $170 a month including utilities)and a forest of Pinon trees and pines right out my backdoor. I walk a few steps and I have a view of the mountains surrounding us.

I've posted some pictures in the past, but I have some new ones taken on a drive through Buffalo Pass last weekend. This winding road with a 14 degree grade goes up to about 12,000 feet elevation and then slides down into Shiprock and then Farmington, NM. Totally gorgeous!

Sorry to provide such a rambling posting, but this is the last week of the 1st grading period and I'm trying to get some coherence into my grading structure!

I'll keep you all posted. Let me know if I start boring you!

Attachment (3)

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

Post #: 1

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 6:19:53 AM

KG Erwin

Posts: 8981
Joined: 7/25/2000
From: Cross Lanes WV USA
Status: offline

Rhonda, I want to see the faces of the kids, and their reactions to your teaching methods.

The country is simply beautiful. It is almost beyond comprehension that such places still exist in the United States.

_____________________________

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 2

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 6:27:09 AM

benpark

Posts: 3884
Joined: 8/12/2002
Status: offline

Rhonda, do you know about Google Earth? It's free, and amazing. I waste hours looking at this thing:

http://earth.google.com/

_____________________________

"Fear is a darkroom where the devil develops his negatives" Gary Busey

(in reply to KG Erwin)

Post #: 3

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 7:52:52 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: benpark

Rhonda, do you know about Google Earth? It's free, and amazing. I waste hours looking at this thing:

http://earth.google.com/

Actually, I've been using NASA's WorldWind which is pretty similar (and uses the same satellite data bases I believe). Once again though, the problem is a shortage of computer equipment. I have 23 kids in each of my 8th grade sections and every day they fight over who gets on one of the 4 computers. In addition, I have kids coming in from other classes asking to use my computers for "research" on their Reading or Language Arts projects. I, in turn, send kids down to the library to try and use the 5 terminals down there. Internet access is slow in the school (while my home DSL connection is great) so even watching CNN news videos take forever to load.

I'm with you on using the satellite images though... it lets a student visualize travel and hopefully gain some perspective on "what lies over the mountain". Both Google and NASA programs require downloading and installing their program... which brings us back to my lack of administrative access on my own computers in my classroom <grrrr>. I intend to use one or both programs though. At the moment, it's on a long, long list of things that I need (and things that I have to get done). I usually get about 4 hours sleep a night since I'm up working on lesson plans and building Powerpoints most of the night. I catch up on my sleep on Friday! I think that's another reason why I've lost so much weight out here.. that and standing and walking continuously all day (I occasionally sit on desks, I don't have a teacher's chair and only use my desk to lay things on and store supplies.

Before I came out here, I was using WorldWind to scout out the area - I even had viewed the teacher housing complex before I arrived. These programs are utterly fantastic. I'm going to try and get out school tech to get one of those programs installed this week (he's usually very reluctant to do anything without district authorization though... welcome to educational bureaucracy!).

Thanks for the tip!

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to benpark)

Post #: 4

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 8:25:12 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: KG Erwin

Rhonda, I want to see the faces of the kids, and their reactions to your teaching methods.

The country is simply beautiful. It is almost beyond comprehension that such places still exist in the United States.

The feedback that I have received is that I am "wildly popular" with the kids. I know the 1st graders that I tutor on Wednesdays snd Thursdays (after school) can't wait for me to come in

I am really just so frustrated over the lack of equipment available to me. Lots of promises... which I hope come true. In the meantime, I'm thrilled that I talked the librarian into giving me an old set of the Encyclopedia Americana which she had back in the closet. I have virtually no reference materials in my classroom except a handful of ancient library books, stacks of National Geographics, and our textbook (The American Nation). Almost all of the maps are broken or torn and I am teaching the Civil War using a contemporary map of the United States that I bought and taped to a wall. Having limited access to a projector, I can't even just project a map. The photocopier breaks down all the time and we run out of paper so photocopying maps is often not possible.

I may sound a bit negative, but I really expected to find these problems (well, I didn't really expect to find the social studies program in such disarray, but last year's teacher was 72 and retiring and just didn't care... not much good can be said about him... he also hated the Navajo). Actually, these situations just fulfill my decision to come out here in the first place... because I want to make a difference. If things had all been perfect, I'd probably felt wasted

and then started looking for a school that really needed me. Fortunately, I found my niche here in Tsaile.

Sadly, I doubt that I can put any pictures of my kids up on the Web without parental permission slips... I think that is true all over the country these days.

Trust me though... these are the most beautiful children that I have ever seen. My need for grandchildren has been partially alleviated! Especially since I'm tutoring those first graders after school... those children are just adorable... and so smart and so ready to learn! I'll be looking forward to having them in 7th grade in a few years.

It is amazing how much beauty there is out here. The long, long drives to get anywhere never seem a bit boring. I have a friend up at Logan, Utah and we exchange photos of our new homes. He does have the taller mountains, but I've got endless variety and spectacular vistas where you top a rise and see 40 miles of mesas and mountains stretched out to the horizon. Even the familiar drives vary according to the time of day. The changing shadows on the cliffs and valleys make it all appear so different at different times. The clouds add to the variety as do the localized rain showers and the accompanying rainbows... spectacular rainbows out here.

I really do have to find a Navajo man to marry so that I can make a home here permanently... a nice log hogan up in the mountains... my fellow teachers are already match-making

I told them to just look for the tallest Navajo that they can find (I'm really tall).

OK, that's it for this ramble!

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to KG Erwin)

Post #: 5

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 11:00:58 AM

SemperAugustus

Posts: 257
Joined: 1/9/2005
Status: offline

Not sure what kind of movies you are looking for. There is one that might be interesting for Navajo called "Orfelas" aka "Pathfinder" , which is set about 1000 AD in Norway. Sami people have a similar lifestyle (in another climate though) to Native Americans, so it might broaden their views on things.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093668/plotsummary

Das Boot might be interesting as a contrast to "allied" movies, e.g. Sink the Bismarck.

Otherwise "The World at War" should give many hours of RL clips

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 6

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 12:11:07 PM

ilovestrategy

Posts: 3611
Joined: 6/11/2005
From: San Diego
Status: offline

Those pictures are just totally beautiful

_____________________________

After 16 years, Civ II still has me in it's clutches LOL!!!
Now CIV IV has me in it's evil clutches!

(in reply to SemperAugustus)

Post #: 7

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 2:43:49 PM

RBWhite

Posts: 1484
Joined: 8/28/2004
From: Somerdale, New Jersey, USA
Status: offline

Totally breath taking, I'm amazed by all the color changes.

Just curious, what is close in terms of a major population center?

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 8

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 2:47:35 PM

RBWhite

Posts: 1484
Joined: 8/28/2004
From: Somerdale, New Jersey, USA
Status: offline

Gunny

The country is simply beautiful. It is almost beyond comprehension that such places still exist in the United States.
[/quote]

I guess you never been to New Jersey?

< Message edited by RBWhite -- 9/26/2005 2:49:33 PM >

(in reply to KG Erwin)

Post #: 9

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/26/2005 3:54:47 PM

TAIL GUNNER

Posts: 1152
Joined: 4/27/2005
From: Los Osos, CA
Status: offline

quote:

A special plea... I would appreciate your recommendations on favorite historical movies, especially the older ones that may not come to mind. I don't always show the whole movie so feel free to recommend titles that contain a few scenes that would be enlightening for an American History class. I can pull out clips and embed them into a PowerPoint.

What about the movie Windtalkers?

I can hardly remember anything about it (just that it starred Nicholas Cage and the Navajo)...so it's probably not that good...

However, I think your students would be very proud to know that their people made a difference in WWII...

Chad

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 10

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/27/2005 4:40:04 AM

Brigz

Posts: 1162
Joined: 1/20/2002
Status: offline

Thanks for the very interesting reply Rhonda. The pictures are stunning. It sounds like you certainly have your hands full but I'm sure it is more than rewarding.

What movies to show your classes is an interesting task. Would showing them how Hollywood has portrayed Native Americans in the past be instructive or do you think it might be insulting and do you think your students would be able to grasp the social implications. I was just wondering if contrasting how "Indians" were portrayed in the 30's, 40's, 50's and early 60's with the more enlightened films of the latter twentieth century would help provide them an understanding of the changing attitudes of Anglos and others in the current perception of Native Americans. I'm trying desperately to think of specific films dealing with the Navajo but would be curious as to how they would react to such films as "Little Big Man", "A Man Called Horse", and "Dances With Wolves" as opposed to older films depicting Native Americans as little more than blood thirsty savages. Don't know if they would grasp the significance of the change of attitude by Anglos or not. In the same context, I'm also intrigued as to how they would react to the film "Zulu" as it portrays a similar cultural disaster between Anglos and Africans as existed between Anglos and Native Americans. It would be interesting to see if they could draw any parallels between these two cultural clashes.

Your reply was very interesting and enlightening. Keep us posted and I'll try to find time to give some thought to movies that might have more cultural perspective for your Navajo students.

_____________________________

�You're only young once but you can be immature for as long as you want�

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 11

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/27/2005 5:28:06 AM

FreeBird

Posts: 15
Joined: 8/11/2002
From: Albuquerque, NM
Status: offline

The southwest is a really neat place to live! There are so many beautiful places to see and it is so rich in history that it is small wonder that New Mexico's motto is the Land of Enchantment. It is amazing how vast this country is and it is very easy to lose the sense of scale.

Be sure that you take the opportunity to visit Chaco Canyon! I haven't been there in ages, but I found it to be an absolutely amazing place. There is a location there were Carl Sagan stood while he was filming his series Cosmos (I'm dating myself

) Above him was the depiction of a supernova that the Anasazi observed sometime in the 10th century. Some of the buildings there were used as astronomical calendars, the famous Sun Dagger which heralded the equinoxes and soltice. It is also a pleasant drive through very beautiful country well worth the trip.

My Navajo friends are quite proud of the contributions of the "Code Talkers", and I'm sure that any lesson you provide that includes their history will be of interest to the children.

I got into wargaming because of my History/Western Civilization teacher. He felt that it was an appropriate way to try to bring history to life and make us students think beyond the rote memorization of dates and names. It was cardboard chits on hand drawn maps and other supporting aids. It certainly made it much more interesting and transformed my attitude towards history as some sort of stale subject to be suffered through into an epic story of people who lived, loved and died.

Regards

_____________________________

A tank attack which is divided into phases is like a cavalry charge with meal breaks.
Kurt "Panzermeyer" Meyer

(in reply to Brigz)

Post #: 12

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 3:26:59 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: RBWhite

Totally breath taking, I'm amazed by all the color changes.

Just curious, what is close in terms of a major population center?

Well, if you run over Buffalo Pass (where those pictures were shot) you come down into Shiprock (tiny, but it has a McDonalds

) and then another 30 miles or so takes you into Farmington, NM. About the same distance (but a much faster drive) is Gallup, NM which is about 90 miles from Tsaile. The next city of any size if Flagstaff, AZ which is about 140 miles away. Phoenix and Albuquerque are about 400 miles away.

I would say that "isolated" is the word.

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to RBWhite)

Post #: 13

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 3:30:23 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Juggalo

quote:

A special plea... I would appreciate your recommendations on favorite historical movies, especially the older ones that may not come to mind. I don't always show the whole movie so feel free to recommend titles that contain a few scenes that would be enlightening for an American History class. I can pull out clips and embed them into a PowerPoint.

What about the movie Windtalkers?

I can hardly remember anything about it (just that it starred Nicholas Cage and the Navajo)...so it's probably not that good...

However, I think your students would be very proud to know that their people made a difference in WWII...

Chad

Every Navajo seems to have seen that movie. The Codetalkers are extremely honored in the Navajo Nation. Cemetaries always seem to have American flags flying on the graves. While the Navajo primarily vote Democratic, I've never seen a more patriotic group of people.

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to TAIL GUNNER)

Post #: 14

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 4:13:44 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave Briggs

Thanks for the very interesting reply Rhonda. The pictures are stunning. It sounds like you certainly have your hands full but I'm sure it is more than rewarding.

What movies to show your classes is an interesting task. Would showing them how Hollywood has portrayed Native Americans in the past be instructive or do you think it might be insulting and do you think your students would be able to grasp the social implications. I was just wondering if contrasting how "Indians" were portrayed in the 30's, 40's, 50's and early 60's with the more enlightened films of the latter twentieth century would help provide them an understanding of the changing attitudes of Anglos and others in the current perception of Native Americans. I'm trying desperately to think of specific films dealing with the Navajo but would be curious as to how they would react to such films as "Little Big Man", "A Man Called Horse", and "Dances With Wolves" as opposed to older films depicting Native Americans as little more than blood thirsty savages. Don't know if they would grasp the significance of the change of attitude by Anglos or not. In the same context, I'm also intrigued as to how they would react to the film "Zulu" as it portrays a similar cultural disaster between Anglos and Africans as existed between Anglos and Native Americans. It would be interesting to see if they could draw any parallels between these two cultural clashes.

Your reply was very interesting and enlightening. Keep us posted and I'll try to find time to give some thought to movies that might have more cultural perspective for your Navajo students.

Those are excellent ideas, Dave! I am wrapping up the American Civil War this week with my 8th graders and then we'll breeze through reconstruction and will be into the "Indian Wars" on the plains. "Little Big Man" is an excellent suggestion, as is Richard Harris's stellar performance in "A Man Called Horse".

I've been told by other teachers that when shown the older "Cowboys and Indians" flicks, the Navajo kids actually cheer for the cavalry and jeer at the Indians! With a very few exceptions, Navajo youth do not dwell on past injustices. There is an isolation in the Navajo Nation that shields these kids from ever confronting discrimination and predjudice. In my entire 7th grade class, for example, virtually none of them have been been as far away as Phoenix. When they do leave the reservation, it is too go shopping at Walmart down in Gallup. On a weekend, 50% of the shoppers are Native American, with 40% Hispanic, and a tiny 10% Anglo. The only people who might get a dirty look are the Anglos... contrast that with the hostility that Apaches face down in Phoenix. I've heard there is a lot of tension down there and a lot of hostility on both sides of the ethnic divide (haven't seen it, just heard about it).

The kids are into the latest music videos and see a lot of movies. What is missing is any real interest in actual news of the outside world. For example, all of the teachers had to force the kids to watch CNN video clips before any real awareness of the Katrina tragedy developed. I try to get my home room to spend 15 minutes every morning reading "news" on the Internet, but I have to ride herd on them every minute to keep them from switching to music videos and games.

Tomorrow, both my 7th and 8th graders have their final exams for this grading period (WOW! Time has flown!). They can't use their text book, but can use handwritten notes. I spent an entire day teaching them how to take concise notes on key terms and personalities. The idea of 10 words to trigger their memories as opposed to copying an entire page of the text is really a foreign concept. I was amazed at how difficult it was to get my point across. I did get them shook up because this is a 100 point test with 80 questions plus 4 short answer essays. I'm told that there has never been a test of that size given in this school. I am pleased that I saw a lot of history text books headed home today! The kids had today off due to our water supply to the area going down for the 2nd time this month. If we can't flush toilets, we can't have school... so everyone got sent back home at 9 am. We'll have to make up the day though so President's Day and Martin Luther King day will now be school days. I'm coordinating with the Language Arts teacher to do some kind of joint activity on both of those holidays.

My goal is to steadily increase the challenge level on these tests over the year. Second semester will see the elimination of "crib sheets" and total reliance on memory. We'll see how that transition goes.

I'm also offering prizes for the top scorers in each class (DVD's and music CD's) which has them excited.

Whatever motivates them.....

Back to Navajo Culture... although the kids have classes in Navajo culture, I've gotten some negative vibes from some of the kids that "they are useless". They also teach classes in Navajo language as many of the kids can barely speak it. While the Navajo teachers will occasionally slip into Navajo to express a thought to each other, I've never ever heard two students speaking to each other in Navajo. They are all fascinated to hear me speak French and Spanish though. There are no foreign languages taught in our school which is a shame because I think they would really like to have some exposure.

It is all very complicated. Navajo youth are so very complex in their attitudes and the influences that guide them. I do think that my classes will be quite different in a few years though as the elementary kids come up into Junior High. They are getting a much better academic start now as our school is very focused on getting everyone up to standard in Reading, Writing, and Math. The big push right now is on Math, where we are still low. Tsaile did meet the "Average Yearly Progress" standard under "No Child Left Behind" this year. Only 2 out of 7 schools in the district managed to do that. The problem is whether it is even possible to keep increasing our test scores year after year. Right now we are working on the kids who are "approaching" the standards. At some point, we're going to hit a limit and won't be able to keep cranking out 4% increases. I've seen estimates that within a few more years almost all American schools will be labeled "failing" under NCLB because the requirements are unrealistic. Of course, since politicians are in charge they'll just adjust the passing score to "fix things" and then "declare victory" and go home.

In the meantime, I'm not complaining about the impetus this has given our district to really push for academic progress.

I have to get back to crafting these two tests... what have I got myself into?... 160 questions to write plus the 8 short essay ones! I'll be up half the night!

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to Brigz)

Post #: 15

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 4:21:52 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: FreeBird

The southwest is a really neat place to live! There are so many beautiful places to see and it is so rich in history that it is small wonder that New Mexico's motto is the Land of Enchantment. It is amazing how vast this country is and it is very easy to lose the sense of scale.

Be sure that you take the opportunity to visit Chaco Canyon! I haven't been there in ages, but I found it to be an absolutely amazing place. There is a location there were Carl Sagan stood while he was filming his series Cosmos (I'm dating myself ) Above him was the depiction of a supernova that the Anasazi observed sometime in the 10th century. Some of the buildings there were used as astronomical calendars, the famous Sun Dagger which heralded the equinoxes and soltice. It is also a pleasant drive through very beautiful country well worth the trip.

My Navajo friends are quite proud of the contributions of the "Code Talkers", and I'm sure that any lesson you provide that includes their history will be of interest to the children.

I got into wargaming because of my History/Western Civilization teacher. He felt that it was an appropriate way to try to bring history to life and make us students think beyond the rote memorization of dates and names. It was cardboard chits on hand drawn maps and other supporting aids. It certainly made it much more interesting and transformed my attitude towards history as some sort of stale subject to be suffered through into an epic story of people who lived, loved and died.

Regards

That is part of my strategy (to use historical simulations), but it's tough (not enough computers, no tables or open space in the classroom to set up a board game etc).

So much to do...

This is going to be my life work...

And working with these kids is the greatest and most rewarding challenge of my entire life...

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to FreeBird)

Post #: 16

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 4:22:28 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

And... I will check out Chaco Canyon!

Thanks for the suggestion!

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 17

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 7:21:03 AM

FreeBird

Posts: 15
Joined: 8/11/2002
From: Albuquerque, NM
Status: offline

True, the traditional wargame/simulation doesn't cut it in a small classroom. Too bad, I think that some of the students would actually feel a part of history if they took on the role of a brigade, division or corps commander at Gettysburg, or in any other battle and play it through. It would also open an opportunity for them to write a short essay on the person, unit or the battle.

Have you developed a taste for Chile yet? Once you get hooked, red or green, food never quite tastes the same without it!

Keep us up to date on how things are going for you!

Regards..

< Message edited by FreeBird -- 9/28/2005 7:22:44 AM >

_____________________________

A tank attack which is divided into phases is like a cavalry charge with meal breaks.
Kurt "Panzermeyer" Meyer

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Post #: 18

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/28/2005 7:37:22 PM

Erik Rutins

Posts: 37503
Joined: 3/28/2000
From: Vermont, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn
Eventually, I expect to be approaching companies like Matrix and HPS in hopes of getting some kind of break on obtaining a school license so that we can put some of their games up without having to buy individual copies. I would love to have the entire Matrix and HPS lines available, but buying that many games is probably out of the question. If anyone has contacts or suggestions, please shoot them my way.

Thanks for the update, sounds fantastic. I drove by near that area about a decade ago and have regretted not taking some of the side roads into the reservations, just out of curiosity. Looks like I missed some great country.

Anyway, we'd be happy to help however we can. Drop an e-mail to davidh@matrixgames.com and erikr@matrixgames.com when you know what your needs are.

Regards,

- Erik

_____________________________

Erik Rutins
CEO, Matrix Games LLC

For official support, please use our Help Desk: http://www.matrixgames.com/helpdesk/

Freedom is not Free.

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 19

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/29/2005 3:36:11 AM

Stuffedlogon

Posts: 14
Joined: 9/27/2005
Status: offline

I'm gob-smacked by those pics......simply beautiful. How come you are having so much trouble getting equipment (computers) and books???????

(in reply to Erik Rutins)

Post #: 20

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/29/2005 2:28:56 PM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Erik Rutins

quote:

ORIGINAL: rhondabrwn
Eventually, I expect to be approaching companies like Matrix and HPS in hopes of getting some kind of break on obtaining a school license so that we can put some of their games up without having to buy individual copies. I would love to have the entire Matrix and HPS lines available, but buying that many games is probably out of the question. If anyone has contacts or suggestions, please shoot them my way.

Thanks for the update, sounds fantastic. I drove by near that area about a decade ago and have regretted not taking some of the side roads into the reservations, just out of curiosity. Looks like I missed some great country.

Anyway, we'd be happy to help however we can. Drop an e-mail to davidh@matrixgames.com and erikr@matrixgames.com when you know what your needs are.

Regards,

- Erik

Thank you so much!

I'll keep putting the pieces together out here and will be in touch!

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to Erik Rutins)

Post #: 21

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 9/29/2005 2:52:10 PM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Stuffedlogon

I'm gob-smacked by those pics......simply beautiful. How come you are having so much trouble getting equipment (computers) and books???????

I think the big problem is that new computers get parceled out amongst all the classrooms - resulting in big headlines like "School District acquires 347 new computers" which actually translate into one or two new computers per classroom. Computers are always a welcome addition, but you need a certain critical mass of them before classroom activities can move beyond the rationing of computer time between individuals and allow development of real computer based classroom projects.

I'm promised that "things are in the pipeline" so we'll see what happens by January. I do have a new printer sitting in the box in my classroom, but no timetable for when it will be set up and no idea of when the promised networking of printers will happen. Right now I have one old LaserJet 1100 hooked up to one of my classroom computers and that is all. Kids have to e-mail their files or else use floppies to try and get over to the printer equipped workstation. The older computers have USB ports but they are inaccessible so flash drives can't be used. I've often got 20 or 30 kids trying to get onto my computers and students are starting to be sent around from classroom to classroom to find an available computer to do "research".

Oh... and I haven't addressed the problem of obsolete equipment... as the new stuff dribbles in to the classroom we are left with 4 or 5 year old computers who are past their prime, worn out monitors, mice that are barely usable and so forth. I have no idea what is in my two new Dell's (everything is locked up) but they are "dogs" compared to my finely tuned home machine. The monitors are the tiniest of available LCD displays.

The Art Room has 8 brand new systems that look pretty decent, but the teacher keeps them off limits because the doesn't want the kids "messing them up" so they sit with protective plastic sheeting taped over the screens. I haven't seen them turned on yet. I posed the idea of sending some of my kids down to use them and she reacted in horror! I'm trying to get plans off the ground for a school yearbook and she politely declined to get involved or allow her computers to be used for photoediting on the project. We'll have to see about that!

It is difficult and frustrating, but I'm sure things will improve. We've just got to keep pushing and looking for benefactors and new sources of funding. I'm breaking new ground here with my suggestions.

After all, this is still my first semester out here! By next year I'll have my program together, but until then every day is a bit of a scramble and always contains and exploratory element to find out what works and what doesn't.

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to Stuffedlogon)

Post #: 22

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/1/2005 6:13:05 PM

jwarrenw13

Posts: 1897
Joined: 8/12/2000
From: Louisiana, USA
Status: offline

Gee, Rhonda, after reading your posts I just wanted to tell you I'm in love with you and want to come live with you and teach with you. Okay?

Well, actually I greatly enjoyed reading this thread, my wife's first name is the same as yours, and I've been teaching since retiring from the Army in 1992. What you are doing sounds both fascinating and a very good thing to be doing.

I started out teaching social studies and now teach English and am the yearbook sponsor at my school. I taught until this school year at a very small, rural, poor school, mostly very poor minority students, in rural NE Louisiana. This year I've moved to a more diverse, bigger high school, the school my daughter will be attending starting next school year.

My kids at my old school had more similarities to your kids than you might imagine. Most were very isolated. Many had never been out of the state, though we were within an hour of Mississippi and 30 minutes of Arkansas. And they had very parochial views about the world brought about by the poverty and isolation of their communities.

One thing I'll mention about computer programs. When we first began receiving computers at my old school, I put Civ II on several computers (shhhhhhhhhhhh!) and taught some kids to play. You can run Civ II w/o the CD. Many had never used a modern PC, only old Apple II's. And they loved the game. And the game taught a lot of neat lessons about economics and diplomacy and geography and other things. They also liked Oregon Trail, though that might not fit in well in your situation. And some of the Sim games. We also did flight simulator, and the kids loved that, too. So some older and now cheaper programs might be of use to you.

Again, I enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to continued updates.

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 23

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/2/2005 12:31:17 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: JW

Gee, Rhonda, after reading your posts I just wanted to tell you I'm in love with you and want to come live with you and teach with you. Okay?

Well, actually I greatly enjoyed reading this thread, my wife's first name is the same as yours, and I've been teaching since retiring from the Army in 1992. What you are doing sounds both fascinating and a very good thing to be doing.

I started out teaching social studies and now teach English and am the yearbook sponsor at my school. I taught until this school year at a very small, rural, poor school, mostly very poor minority students, in rural NE Louisiana. This year I've moved to a more diverse, bigger high school, the school my daughter will be attending starting next school year.

My kids at my old school had more similarities to your kids than you might imagine. Most were very isolated. Many had never been out of the state, though we were within an hour of Mississippi and 30 minutes of Arkansas. And they had very parochial views about the world brought about by the poverty and isolation of their communities.

One thing I'll mention about computer programs. When we first began receiving computers at my old school, I put Civ II on several computers (shhhhhhhhhhhh!) and taught some kids to play. You can run Civ II w/o the CD. Many had never used a modern PC, only old Apple II's. And they loved the game. And the game taught a lot of neat lessons about economics and diplomacy and geography and other things. They also liked Oregon Trail, though that might not fit in well in your situation. And some of the Sim games. We also did flight simulator, and the kids loved that, too. So some older and now cheaper programs might be of use to you.

Again, I enjoyed reading your posts and look forward to continued updates.

Thank you for the kind words! I can see that we do share a common teaching philosophy (and perception of the probems of all children who are isolated through geography, poverty, politics, or even culture). Civ II is a great suggestion for a "starter" simulation... hmm.... must slip it onto some classroom computers!

And you are more than welcome to come out to the Navajo Nation. We desperately need motivated and caring teachers like yourself out here. As we begin reviewing and grading the big class assignments in anticipation of next week's grade cards for 1st quarter, I am struck by how far these kids need to come. I just got off the phone with our new Language Arts teacher (she's been teaching next to me for two weeks now, her first teaching job)and she was so depressed over the papers that she received after two weeks of work. I'm working on collaborating with her to try and integrate my social studies curriculum with her writing assignments. Our classrooms are adjoining and we can easily combine two separate class periods into one two hour block for our 4 of our 5 sections and "team teach". We tried it last week after a field trip when we had all of our 7th graders for an unscheduled two hours because we got back early. With both of us moving about the classrooms and sharing our computers we got a lot done and had time to work individually with students.

I took a table of 4 boys who were staring at a blank piece of paper without having written a word of their assignment and then had a discussion about ADD, procrastination, learned helplessness, and time management. I basically talked about my own problems (myself and two of my children are ADD) and how I had to attack big jobs one step at a time. We talked about just trying to focus on writing the first opening sentence and not to get overwhelmed by the whole task (the "baby steps" philosophy)... to take one portion of a task at once and just get that done.

I came back 20 minutes later and they all had over a page written and were making great progress. I've been counseling the new teacher to try that approach herself. It also helps to get the kids in small groups or individually and just have a frank chat with them about things. All of the classroom bravado and clowning disappears when you are "one on one" I have found. I had to send three girls to the principal this week for refusing to take their final exam. It was the ulitimate "test of the teacher". They took the exam in the Library, turned it in to me, and delivered a personal apology for their actions. I used this incident to put some stringent new class rules into place and we all did just fine the rest of the week. No hard feelings and still plenty of smiles

It all really comes now to the kids knowing that you really do care about them. Most of them know how much I gave up to become a teacher and that I am here because I want to help them. They are, quite frankly, amazed that someone would do this for them and even more amazed when I tell them that I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work with them and be part of their community.

It was a pretty good week - challenging - but one that left me feeling very good. I just started setting up a planning session for all of the Jr High teachers at my house for during intercession break to explore how we can all coordinate our classes and do combined projects. The Jr High has needed someone to exert some leadership. They see me as that person. I'm already official teacher rep for the Jr High now and already got us guaranteed one hour a week in the Library for each of our sections. Now I want to work on getting the same deal set up to give us an hour in the school computer lab while the computer teacher has her prep period. That would be a big help!

I've never felt so motivated and alive. It beats the heck out of my old business career! Let me encourage all of you who may be nearing retirement or just tired of the "old rut" to consider becoming a teacher. There are increasing numbers of alternative licensing procedures that can let you start teaching with a minimum of courses. They recognize that your life experiences and maturity are invaluable. Part of the problem in American education is that most of our new teachers are still kids themselves, lacking in life experience and wisdom. More than half of them leave teaching within the first couple of years. We need people with maturity and varied experiences that can be shared with the kids. It's all about helping them grow up to be useful, productive, and happy members of society. Too many of our schools produce nothing but despair and hopelessness with unacceptably high drop out rates. No Child Left Behind, I am afraid, has done far too much to drive kids away with it's testing "club". It's driving teachers away too, because our math, reading, and language arts teachers know that they have to somehow improve their test scores on the state achievement tests or else they are going to be discredited as teachers. I'm starting to sense the stress levels they are under (and I'm glad that Social Studies doesn't operate this way....yet). The whole school is obsessed with meeting our NCLB targets. We squeaked by this year by filing and appeal and disputing some of the statistics, but next year will be harder. Eventually, I read that virtually all American schools will be labeled "failing" under NCLB because we will never be able to get 100% of our students to meet the standards established by the legislation. We MIGHT succeed in wrecking our schools, driving away our best qualified teachers, and putting a large percentage of an entire generation of children out on the street without a high school diploma. OK, end rant....

Time to get back to grading tests!

Here are a couple of pictures. It is a shot of the "White House Ruins" one of the largest ancient pubeblo ruins found in the Canyon de Chelly near my home. The canyon is about 2,000 feet deep at this point and an entire civilization flourished there until they disappeared with no explanation. The Navajo came later as the Apache people migrated south from Canada and the Bering Strait land bridge. Yes, the Navajo are actually an Apache tribe who split off centuries ago and adopted much of the culture of the Hopi and other Pueblo Indians. The second shot is a view from the canyon edge above White House looking west down the canyon. It had recently rained so there is actually a stream of water. Normally, it is dry with periodic flash flooding.

Enjoy the pictures!

Attachment (2)

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to jwarrenw13)

Post #: 24

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/4/2005 3:38:15 AM

Raverdave

Posts: 6520
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Melb. Australia
Status: offline

rhondabrwn

I could sit and gaze at the pics that you posted for hours on end, they are simply breath-taking. A girlfriend of mine married a yank and moved from Australia to Iowa about five years ago. She is a trained teacher at high school level and used to teach what we call over here "Home economics", basic stuff such as how to cook and sew and all of that "girly" kinda stuff. Anyway she took up a job teaching in Des Moines and had a real culture shock for the first year or so, as an example she once taught the kids how to make Cornish pasties, which is simply a baked "pie" with mince meat and vegies. The kids were horrified that you add raw meat with the vegies to bake in the oven and she even had complaints from parents about this and had to front the headmaster who told her that Cornish pasties were no longer to be taught in cooking classes. The kids idea of a cooking class was how to read the instructions on the box for the micowave cook time

. She has now adjusted well and enjoys her job but it is sure different to what she was used too. (I will be seeing her this week as she is back home for her brothers wedding).

_____________________________

Never argue with an idiot, he will only drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

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Post #: 25

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/4/2005 5:54:21 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Raverdave

rhondabrwn

I could sit and gaze at the pics that you posted for hours on end, they are simply breath-taking. A girlfriend of mine married a yank and moved from Australia to Iowa about five years ago. She is a trained teacher at high school level and used to teach what we call over here "Home economics", basic stuff such as how to cook and sew and all of that "girly" kinda stuff. Anyway she took up a job teaching in Des Moines and had a real culture shock for the first year or so, as an example she once taught the kids how to make Cornish pasties, which is simply a baked "pie" with mince meat and vegies. The kids were horrified that you add raw meat with the vegies to bake in the oven and she even had complaints from parents about this and had to front the headmaster who told her that Cornish pasties were no longer to be taught in cooking classes. The kids idea of a cooking class was how to read the instructions on the box for the micowave cook time. She has now adjusted well and enjoys her job but it is sure different to what she was used too. (I will be seeing her this week as she is back home for her brothers wedding).

Fortunately, all of my suggestions have been welcomed and I have a free hand to run my class as I wish. My own brand of cooking has been extremely popular as I like things spicier than the Navajo tend to make them and they really like the added kick in my stews and chili beans.

I can honestly say that "culture shock" has really been pretty minimal for me. I settled right in and felt at home immediately! That wasn't what I expected as I anticipated having to work hard to cultivate friendships and trust within the Navajo community, but that hasn't been the case at all. Maybe the real difference is my positive attitude and ready smile

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to Raverdave)

Post #: 26

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/5/2005 7:41:01 AM

wesy

Posts: 224
Joined: 2/10/2002
From: Berkeley, CA
Status: offline

Great Work Rhonda - I've been a lurker on this thread, but when I saw the AD/HD stuff i had to chime in. It's recently been determined that I have AD/HD (Inattentive Type)and I'm 40!, and it has made a world of difference just to know thatI do...PROCRASTINATION, Terribly short term memory etc. All those things made learning more difficult for me. I graduated from the Univ. of California and I've had a very successful career despite the AD/HD, but I had to do a lot of self-medicating and adapting to the condition that I didn't realize was a condition.
I just wish that I had known about it as a child, it would have made a big difference with the available meds today. The benefit of having AD/HD is the ability to hyperfocus - that's what I did with WW2 Naval History, war games and later politics and international relations/foreign policy, computers, and software!

Anyhow, great work! Another thing you may want to think about if you can find them around today are old "easy" AH Board Games such as "War at Sea" and "Victory in the Pacific". My folks grew up in Japan during the war, so it gave me an early understanding of the IJN, working in a factory as a kid making torpedoes. Really to me unfathomable, living my very comfortable life in the US.

When there is so much talk about making a difference, You're actually doing it!

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 27

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/7/2005 5:02:26 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: wesy

Great Work Rhonda - I've been a lurker on this thread, but when I saw the AD/HD stuff i had to chime in. It's recently been determined that I have AD/HD (Inattentive Type)and I'm 40!, and it has made a world of difference just to know thatI do...PROCRASTINATION, Terribly short term memory etc. All those things made learning more difficult for me. I graduated from the Univ. of California and I've had a very successful career despite the AD/HD, but I had to do a lot of self-medicating and adapting to the condition that I didn't realize was a condition.
I just wish that I had known about it as a child, it would have made a big difference with the available meds today. The benefit of having AD/HD is the ability to hyperfocus - that's what I did with WW2 Naval History, war games and later politics and international relations/foreign policy, computers, and software!

Anyhow, great work! Another thing you may want to think about if you can find them around today are old "easy" AH Board Games such as "War at Sea" and "Victory in the Pacific". My folks grew up in Japan during the war, so it gave me an early understanding of the IJN, working in a factory as a kid making torpedoes. Really to me unfathomable, living my very comfortable life in the US.

When there is so much talk about making a difference, You're actually doing it!

That's a good suggestion about using "War at Sea" or "Victory in the Pacific". I think I've still got "War at Sea" stashed away in a box somewhere.

I share your own amazement at getting diagnosed late in life. While not formally tested, I took a Special Education course and concentrated on AD/HD. Wow... did that explain so much about my life! While I am not a fan of taking mind altering drugs (regardless of their benefits), it was so valuable in letting me finally come to terms with myself and to recognize why all my coping strategies work (and are necessary). As you have discovered, AD/HD - if it doesn't destroy your life, is actually a blessing in many ways. You just have to be able to use your gifts and apply them intelligently.

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to wesy)

Post #: 28

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/7/2005 5:07:40 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

A bit of bad news. One of my favorite students came up to me this afternoon and told me that tomorrow would be her last day at Tsaile. She is transferring to another school, but wouldn't tell me why. I talked to some other teachers later and heard a sad story of an abusive mom who has really wrecked this girl's life. Speculation is that she's being taken away from her and moved elsewhere to live with relatives.

I can only hope that her new guardians will be an improvement because she is a really sweet girl and doesn't deserve having her life jerked around this way. She never gave me the slightest indication of what she has been dealing with at home.

It was my "downer" of the week

The good news is that 1st quarter is over, my grades are posted on the computer system, and I have a whole week of intercession break to catch my breath!

I will also have a chance to get out and explore so expect some new pictures soon!

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 29

RE: Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update) - 10/7/2005 5:08:49 AM

rhondabrwn

Posts: 2570
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Snowflake, Arizona
Status: offline

Oh yea... and I see I just got promoted to "Matrix Elite Guard"

_____________________________

Love & Peace,

Far Dareis Mai

My old Piczo site seems to be gone, so no more Navajo Nation pics :(

(in reply to rhondabrwn)

Post #: 30

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Teaching in the Navajo Nation (Update)