Addresses for business letters

Here are some addresses you might need for your letters:

Mr. Dennis M. Walcott

Chancellor, New York City Department of Education

Tweed Courthouse
52 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
Note: no further address is needed for New York City Hall. 

Mayor William A. Bell, Sr.
Birmingham City Hall
710 20th Street North; Room 205

Birmingham, AL 35203

 

Mayor Frank Melton

Jackson City Hall

219 South President Street

Jackson, MS 39201

 

I haven't been able to track down Diane Nash's address yet, but I've sent some e-mails and I'm working on it.

It's coming...

...and it will be a workout...for your brain.

The Second Ever CCAA Eighth Grade Scavenger Hunt: Friday, October 7

Freedom Riders Homework

Hello 8th graders,

I know all of you have been busy at work on your Freedom Riders layered curriculum level C assignments. Below are some helpful websites for the assignments. Please note that if you have any questions regarding the assignments, make sure to ask either Mr. Toomajian or I prior to the homework's due date.

• If you are interested in reading more about the Freedom Riders and nonviolence, the following links provide some more information: PBS Freedom Riders & Nonviolence, Civil Rights Movement & Nonviolence, and Video clip from about Freedom Riders & Nonviolence.
• There is a wonderful interactive map displaying the Freedom Riders travels from May 4-24, 1961 here:  Freedom Riders rides.
• You will be able to find detailed information on the people Diane Nash, Martin Luther King Jr, John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Eugene “Bull” Connor on this page: People involved with the Freedom Rides. Make sure to used the right sidebar to locate the different people on this page. 
• Listen to some of the popular songs of freedom during the civil rights movement here: Songs of Freedom.
• Finally, if you have decided to create a timeline of the major events of the Freedom Rides, there is a great one on the PBS website that will be of great help: PBS Freedom Riders Timeline

If you happen to come across any other websites that you think could help with the assignments or that you think Mr. Toomajian and I would enjoy, please post the link in the comments sections. 

Have a great Friday!

Introducing the Freedom Riders

Today in the eighth grade, we launched our first unit: Freedom Riders.  The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode interstate buses into the segregated South to test the Supreme Court’s ruling that outlawed segregation in interstate buses and the restaurants and waiting rooms in their terminals. The first Freedom Ride left Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. Along the way, the Freedom Riders were attacked by the Ku Klux Klan, arrested, and worse. 

Over the next several days, we'll learn about these inspiring activists--many of whom were young college students.  We'll be viewing and discussing large portions of Freedom Riders, a PBS documentary.  To find out more, visit the documentary website, which includes timelines, photos, videos, maps, and more useful features.

Thanks for your strong participation in today's gallery walk.  See you tomorrow.

Remembering September 11, 2001

Today is the anniversary of 9-11.  Ten years ago, at 7:59 a.m., an airplane took off from Boston.  Fifteen minutes later, another airplane took off.  And within an hour of that, all hell broke loose in our city.  Every one of our lives changed because of what happened that day.

This post is an opportunity to share memories.  Every adult that I know can tell you exactly where they were on 9-11.  Many of you were only two or three years old in 2001.  But even you might have memories of your own.  In your comment, you answer any of the following questions:

• Where were you on September 11, 2001?  What do you remember?  How did you feel?  What did you think was happening?
• Where were your loved ones on 9-11?  Have you asked your parents what they were doing, what they were thinking, how they felt?  Other family members?  Older friends?  Teachers?  What are their stories?
• How is your life different today because of 9-11?  What were the consequences for you personally?  Did you move to a different place?  Did people in your family join the military and fight in wars?

Remember, please write at least a paragraph and use perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation.  Be sure to sign your post.  Since this is a public website, when you sign your post, use only your first name, last initial, and class number.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

President Obama's Jobs Speech

Welcome, CCAA History students!

Tonight, President Obama is giving a speech regarding the United States' high unemployment rate. Over 9% of Americans want to work but can't find a job. Obama will make suggestions about how to put people back to work.

The speech will be online at nytimes.com at 7 and on many TV stations. When I get home tonight, I'll write a few discussion questions. In the meantime, feel free to post with your opinions. Make sure to use proper grammar and to sign your name.

E-mail me if you have questions. See you tomorrow!

UPDATE (10:35 p.m.): Thanks to everyone who's already posted. Great comments! I promised discussion questions tonight, but instead I'm going to sleep. You can leave comments all weekend, so if you're reading this on Thursday night, you too should go to sleep so you're all ready for Day Two. Hasta mañana.

UPDATE (10:00 p.m. Friday): Great to see you at school today. 

Here is a link to the president's speech.  Take a look.  The speech begins shortly after the 4 minute mark.  Up until then, it's mainly applause and the president shaking hands.

Here are some discussion questions.  You may want to answer one, some, or all of them.

• Do you think President Obama's jobs plan will work?  Why or why not?
• Which parts of Obama's plan seem most likely to work?  Which parts might fail?  Why?
• Our country is in debt.  That means that our country spends more than the government earns in taxes, so our government needs to borrow money from other countries to make ends meet.  Is this a good idea?  Could it ever be a good idea?
• Do you think the president communicated his ideas well?  What did you think of the way he spoke?  Is he a good speaker?  Give examples to support your opinion.