"NHD: It's not just a Day.... It's an Experience...."

National History Day (NHD), is one of the awesome programs under PRISM like FPS, Senario Writing, Inquiry and Makers. For those of you who may not know about the program, NHD is a history competition where students chose a topic related to the year's theme. After choosing their topic, they will research by gathering primary and secondary sources and conducting interviews. After doing so, students create a product that reflects their research. 

I have been doing NHD for the past two years. Last year's theme was Rights and Responsibilities. My topic was "Responsible Food Labeling: Consumers' Right to Know." I didn't make it past the regional competition since my final product did not follow the rules. Though I felt discouraged, I learnt a lot that year and felt motivated to do it again the following year. The most important thing I discovered that year was my love and passion for informing others about food issues. One of the people I interviewed for my NHD project was Dr. Micheal Jacobson of the CSPI (Center for Science in the Public Interest). He suggested that I run Food Day at CMS and from there the seed grew. 

Now fast forward to this year's NHD season. The theme was Leadership and Legacy. Being passionate about food, specifically pure food, I made my project about the man who created the first laws to regulate food and ensure the public was safe from food adulteration. My project (a website) was "Leading the Pure Foods Movement: Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley and His Legacy of Food and Drug Safety." After making it through both the regional and state competitions I finally advanced to the National tournament at DC during the last week of school. At first I was skeptical about missing Hershey Park, Salute (8th grade graduation), 8th grade awards and the Picnic for a history competition but now I see it was worth it.

Competing against the best of the best, receiving comments from experienced judges, answering questions about my topic and watching the presentations and projects of others inspired me. Competing was only a part of the experience. There were so many other things that came along with it. I visited the FDA and CSPI, two organizations with people who I had interviewed for my project. The highlight of my trip was when I went to the FDA and was allowed to sit at the desk and in the chair of Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley, the person who my project was about, as well as when we took a selfie with Senator Cory Booker (one of NJ's senators).

NHD has taught me so many skills, like how to answer questions in a concise yet forceful way, how to interview people, how to send good emails and how to explore and express my passion.

The effort I put in, people I visited, places I saw and projects I watched all helped me understand that National History Day is more than a day. 

It is an experience. 

 

Teachable Moment: Failure is Inevitable

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One of the worst, most profoundly harmful quote of Vince Lombardi is "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Gifted students carry an unmanageable burden when this is the voice playing in their head. We want our students to prosper and take risks, but if they are too afraid to fail, we may never see all they can achieve. 

For many of our gifted students, local competitions generally result in a win, a trophy, or a certificate of achievement. When they stretch themselves and compete in a larger pond, the ribbon counts diminish significantly. This does not necessarily mean that their research was not exceptional, but learning how to lose gracefully is a hard, humbling, and necessary lesson for all.  

Research is a process, not a competition. When we enter the gifted student into a competition, we subtly shift the focus from process to end product. While I understand that it is important for students to have authentic audiences evaluating their work, for many students, the extrinsic motivation of a ribbon or medal can sometimes detract from the learning. It is essential to remember that when students spend time investigating a topic, adults can be the guide keeping them focused on the process. What we say to children can help them combat negative self-talk, anxiety and disappointment. How we say it is even more significant. Kids need to hear that we are proud of their decision to tackle a research project on top of their demanding work load. They need to know that they are loved no matter the outcome. If we spend too much time focused on winning a medal, a child can equate loss with decreased value. We can learn from our mistakes by failing, finding new alternatives, and learning the pathways that were unsuccessful.  As adults, we can honor and empathize with the sadness they feel for not winning, and remind them how many times they fell before they walked. 

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What does it REALLY mean to be gifted?

Honestly, to be gifted... well... it's not when you're really brainy and a total genius.  I think the real meaning of being gifted is that you have unique attributes that are unique against all others.  For example, some of us in PRISM are good thinkers, good researchers, skilled "MAKERS", etc.  If we only had leaders,or only followers, or only the people who stop fights, nothing would work out.  We need to cooperate and weave together all of our ideas, skills, and personalities to create a work of art. To do this, we must all be gifted in our own way, and find our own light that will add a little spark into the darkness. #Uaretalentedtoo

Maker Updates

Dear Makers,

The MOST IMPORTANT Maker Session is Tomorrow! You will get required information for Makers that is irreplaceable by just watching the presentation yourself! And now we will be meeting Thurs and Fri!

If you have not joined the Maker Ambassadors Edmodo Group, please do so now as all the important information is posted there!

Code: snbvuc

All the information will be given Thursday!

Requirements to continue with the Makers Program

Attention Makers!

By Friday Flex, to continue with the Makers program, you must:

Find a partner
Complete the Design Thinking packet Steps 1-7

See you Friday!

Correction to Instructions

Correction:
You will get the invite to your project after you share the final group members (4 members to a group)

Makers Announcements for week of 1/19

Work to do for this week:

Go to this site and install the app: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/tod... 

Sign up with an email or password or do it with google.
Once you signed up, email the Email Address you used to sign up to 710176@wwprsd.org OR c059bcaf@opayq.com
Once you get the invitation for the project, accept it.
Then, see that pane to get your tasks.
This week, there will be lessons on the task program, Todoist.
TUESDAY: Troubleshooting - if you cannot sign up for makers or cannot join Todoist, please attend this individual troubleshooting session. 
WEDNESDAY: Todoist Basics- Tasks, Projects, Due Dates, Priorities
THURSDAY: Advanced Todoist- Recurring Deadlines, Shared Projects, Comments, Sub-Tasks and Sub-Projects
If you have not signed up for Makers, please do so now with the link: goo.gl/ROqZIC
Remember to check Edmodo, 814cms.blogspot.com, and prismblog180.blogspot.com for Updates!