Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30
More STAR testing! See the newsletter for the full schedule.

US History
1. We'll take quiz on vocabulary related to the Vietnam War.
2. We'll continue our Vietnam timeline, moving forward to escalation of the war under President Lyndon Johnson.
3. If we have time, we'll watch a video segment on the Gulf on Tonkin incident, and answer some questions.
4. I will be checking notebooks during the next week or two. Be sure your notebook is in order: dividers, chronological order, etc.

World Civilizations
1. We discussed the reading "Overview of Oil in the Middle East." I stamped students' outlines.
2. Students took an open-note quiz on this reading, using their outlines as a resource.
3. We started a chart showing key events in the formation of the modern Middle East. We'll finish this in class on Thursday.
4. I will be doing a notebook check in the next week or two. Be sure your notebook is in good shape: dividers, chronological order, etc.

Monday, April 28
This Friday, May 2, is the end of the 4th quarter progress report period. If you have work to make up, now is the time!

US History
1. We reviewed the foreign policy arguments for and against US support of France in Indochina. Students handed in their foreign policy briefings.
2. I handed out a list of vocabulary words related to the Vietnam War. We'll take a quiz on these terms on Wednesday.
3. I also handed out a reading on the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, with an accompanying set of questions. These are due on Thursday.

World Civilizations
1. We completed our notes on Islam, including a discussion of the split between Shi'ites and Sunnis, and the Five Pillars of Faith.
2. I stamped students' outlines on the reading entitled "The Ottoman Empire and Its Fall." I displayed my outline on the overhead, and students compared their outlines with mine.
3. I handed out a reading entitled "The Importance of Oil in the Middle East." Students were assigned to outline this reading; we'll take an open note quiz on this reading on Wednesday (6th period) or Thursday (5th and 7th periods).
4. I gave students time in class to work on the homework while I handed back papers.

Friday, April 25
Fourth quarter progress report period ends next Friday (May 2). During the two weeks of STAR testing, we have no tutorial periods -- many students have missed school due to illness, vacation, school trips, etc., but have not made up the missed work. Please see me immediately to arrange makeups!

US History
1. The Project 540 dialog took all period on Wednesday and Thursday, so...
2. I stamped and we reviewed the map of Vietnam.
3. We watched some of the Vietnam War video.
4. I assigned a short paper (minimun 250 words); students are to act as foreign policy advisors to President Truman, and adivse him on whether to support Vietnamese independence under Ho Chi Minh, or to help France regain her colonial rule there. This is due on Monday.

World Civilizations
1. I stamped and reviewed the homework entitled "Ottomans Build a Vast Empire." We discussed how to write identifications.
2. I handed out a reading on the fall of the Ottomans, and assigned students to create a reading outline. Outlines are due on Monday.
3. We watched a bit more of the video on Islam.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday -- April 22, 23, and 24
Star testing! See your newsletter for the full schedule.

US History
1. We'll have our third dialogue for Project 540.
2. I will stamp and review students' maps of Vietnam.
3. We will watch a bit of the great PBS TV series on the Vietnam War.

World Civilizations
1. I will stamp and review students' maps of the modern Middle East.
2. Homework (Ottomans Build a Vast Empire") is due on Friday.
3. Students will take notes on a video showing the origins of Islam.

Monday, April 21
We begin STAR testing tomorrow! All students test in their 3rd period class. See your newsletter for the full schedule.

US History
1. We started our case study of Vietnam. Students were given a map to complete -- the map is due the next time we meet...Wednesday for 3rd period; Thursday for 4th period.
2. Students started a sheet of lecture notes on the background to the Vietnam War.

World Civilizations
1. We started a new unit on the Middle East. Students were given a map to complete -- it's due the next time we meet...Tuesday for 6th period; Wednesday for 5th period; Thursday for 7th period.
2. I assigned a textbook reading with questions entitled "The Ottomans Build a Vast Empire." Answers are due on Friday.

Thursday, April 10

US History
1. We discussed a review timeline of the Cold War (not including Vietnam).
2. Students had time in class to answer study guide questions in preparation for the unit test.
3. Test is tomorrow! Bring your notebooks so you can turn in work.

World Civilizations
1. We reviewed Russian history through the revolution.
2. Students had time in class to complete a two study guides (The Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin; The Soviet Union since Stalin).
3. The unit test is tomorrow! Bring your notebooks.

Block Periods: Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9

US History
1. I reviewed "The Cold War: A New Battleground" with the class. Then, students took an open-note quiz on this assignment. I didn't collect the notes this time, since it's so close to the unit test.
2. We analyzed a political cartoon.
3. Students took a page of lecture notes on the Cold War's impact on the social and political climate of the USA. We discussed McCarthyism.
4. Bring your books to class tomorrow! We will be reviewing for the unit test, which will take place on Friday.

World Civilizations
1. Students took an open-note quiz on "The Cold War." I did not collect the notes; please use them to study for the unit test!
2. We analyzed a political cartoon.
3. I handed out a sheet of notes on the Soviet Union after Stalin. We went over these together.
4. I stamped and we reviewed the assignment entitled "Soviet Reforms." We discussed Gorbachev and the fall of the USSR.
5. Bring your books tomorrow, to use in reviewing for the unit test, which will take place on Friday!

Monday, April 7

US History
I forgot about the ASB forum! We attended the candidates' forum all period.
1. We'll take the open-note quiz on "A New Battleground" at the block period this week.
2. If you need to make up the quiz on "Cold War Begins" and "Cold War Deepens" you must do this immediately! I will hand these quizzes back during the block periods; once I've handed it back, there will be no more makeups.
3. Please bring your textbooks to class for the rest of this week.
4. The unit test will take place on Friday.

World Civilizations
We attended the ASB forum all period.
1. Your answers to the questions on the handout enitled "Soviet Reforms" are due at the block period.
2. We'll take the open-note quiz on "The Cold War" during the block period.
3. If you need to make up the quiz on "Totalitarianism"you must do this immediately! I will hand these quizzes back soon, and after I've handed them back, there will be no more makeups.
4. The unit test will take place on Friday.

Friday, April 4

US History
1. We finished the video on the 1950s.
2. Students had time in class to work on the textbook assignment "Cold War: A New Battleground." The open-note quiz on this section of text will take place on Monday, April 7.
3. We'll finish with this unit and take the unit test on Thursday, April 10. I'll also collect a packet from students' notebooks on that day.

World Civilizations
1. We reviewed the homework assignment entitled "Cold War." There will be an open-note quiz on this assignment on Monday, April 7.
2. We also reviewed the handout on the Cold War that students worked on in class on Thursday.
3. I handed out a reading with questions on Gorbachev's reforms, and gave students time in class to work on it.
4. We'll finish this unit and take the unit test on Thursday, April 10; I'll also collect a packet of work from students' notebooks on that day.

Thursday, April 3

US History
1. Students wrote a 3-level analysis of a political cartoon on North Korea; they chose either today's cartoon write-up or the one we did on Monday to turn in for a grade.
2. We started watching a video on the 1950s.

World Civilizations
1. I gave a page of lecture notes on the imapct of WWII on Russia, and the beginning of the Cold War.
2. Students worked in class to complete a worksheet on the Cold War.

Block Periods: Tuesday, April 1 and Wednesday, April 2

US History
1. Students took an open-note homework quiz on two sections of text: "Cold War Begins" and "Cold War Deepens."
2. We reviewed the map and questions on the Korean War, and discussed Truman's firing of MacArthur.
3. Students wrote a 3-step analysis of a political cartoon about the nuclear crisis with North Korea.
4. I handed out a set of reading guide questions on the textbook section entitled "Cold War: A New Battleground." Answers are due on Monday, April 7. We'll take an open-note quiz on this assignment either on Monday, or during the block period next week.

World Civilizations
1. We reviewed "Totalitarianism Part II."
2. Students took an open-note homework quiz on "Totalitarianism Parts I and II."
3. I showed a series of slides showing Soviet era propaganda, and students took notes on the "official version" and the reality of life in the USSR under Stalin's rule.
4. Reminder: the text assignment "Cold War" is due on Thursday, April 3.