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Making Changes

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on January 31, 2009 at 4:37:36 pm
 

 

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Happy New Year! Here in the United States, we talk each January 1st about our resolve or committment to make changes in our lives. We call them our "resolutions. See this page in our blog here.

 

 


 

 

What kind of changes have you considered?

 

In our discussions about our online work at the beginning of the year, I reminded you of this quote:

 

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

 

by Mahatma Ghandi, who lead change in India in the first half of the last century through non-violent actions.

 

Margaret Mead, an American anthropologist, said,

 

"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

 

And, on the third Monday of January, we celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr whose "I Have a Dream" speech has inspired many to dream of a place where

 

"my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged

by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

 


Changers We Know

 

Who do you know or have you heard about who has "been a change" s/he wished to see in the world? What did they do? What was the change? Examples:

 

World:

Who: Muhammad Yunus

What: "Micro-credit, which grants small loans to poor people who have no collateral and who do not qualify for conventional bank loans"

Why: "Enabled millions of Bangladeshis, almost all women, to buy everything from cows to cell phones in order to start and run their own businesses" -- now millions of people around the world are finding the way out of poverty

 

United States:

Who: Michael Jordan

What: Grants to teachers for innovation and improvement

Why:

"The Jordan Fundamentals Grant Program was born out of my firm belief that education is the key to opportunity and to building commitment among students to the core values which foster personal excellence and achievement. The core values which serve to guide the Jordan Brand are known as Brand Truth’s: Authentic, Uncompromised, Earned and Aspirational."

 

Here:

Who: Val Vargas-Thomas and others

What: Mill Pond Days

Why: To gather people into a renewed spirit of community

 

Reflection and Discussion here.

 


Changers We Want

 

What change would you like to see in the world? Would you like a world that is

  • more kind?
  • more accepting?
  • more giving?
  • more sharing?
  • more just?
  • _________[fill in]______
  • _________[fill in]______
  • _________[fill in]______

 

What would we see in the world if the world were more __________________ ?

 

Reflection and Discussion: If the world were more _________________, we would see:

--

--

--

 

Our ideas here.


Changers We Are

 

Think about it: How could you *be* that change? What one thing could you do today? Write it down as a GPAR*.

 

Goal: So the world could be more _____________________________, I will __________________________ today.

Plan:

Act:

Reflect:

 

 

My Granddaughter's GPAR example:

 

Goal: So the world could be more kind, I will be kind and clean my Grandma's pantry.

 

Plan: I could go out with my friends, but I know we kids have messed up Grandma's pantry. I will take everything out, clean the shelves, and organize everything when I put it all pack.

 

Act: It took me a day and a half; much longer than I thought.

 

Reflect: I feel better, and we (Grandma helped) have a great story to tell about the day. Actually, the visiting was the most most important part. I'm going to visit Grandma more often; we took breaks:  played cards, ate fun food like Pizza Rolls, and went to the beach to play with Pooka and swim.

 

Reflection and Discussion here.

 

Use your GPAR strategy to become a "world changer" yourself. Try the Resolution Ideas below.


Resolution Idea 1: What kind of changes have you considered?

 

The Martin Luther King Day of Service website encourages people to take the day "on," not "off," by offering to be a citizen of service on that day. What could you do for your community on January 19th to make it a better place?

 

At the site is a link to the Martin Luther King "I Have A Dream" Public Service Announcement by King's nephew, Isaac Newton Farris, Jr., CEO and President of the King Center in Atlanta.

 

What could you do yourself or as a team? Use GPAR strategy.

 

Write about what you will do on MLK Day on your own home page on this wiki as a draft for your blog. You may also choose to do something as a team.  Write about what you did: Record your service here.

 

Do you have a camera so you upload a picture onto your page, or email the picture to Ms. Edwards? Post any questions to this assignment in the comment section below, in case others have the answer or the same question.


 

Resolution Idea 2: What kind of changes have you considered?

 

If you complete Resolution Idea 1, or if you are unable to complete an action that day, try this idea next. What kind of world would you like to see? How could you "be the change" here in your community? Check out the Right The World idea on our wiki. It's a chance to right and write your world. What can you do with your words and actions to help your world?

 

Use GPAR strategy. Include your goal and work on your home page.

 

Do you have a camera so you upload a picture onto your page, or email the picture to Ms. Edwards? Post any questions to this assignment in the comment section below, in case others have the answer or the same question.


 

Resolution Idea 3: What kind of changes have you considered?

 

Sometimes, once you start something, other ideas and possibilities arise for which action can continue. What did you resolve to do? What else could you do? What are your specific resolutions for 2009?

 

Use GPAR strategy. Include your goal and work on your home page.

 

Do you have a camera so you upload a picture onto your page, or email the picture to Ms. Edwards? Post any questions to this assignment in the comment section below, in case others have the answer or the same question.


 

What ONE small, specific change can you resolve to make in 2009 that will make the world–your world–a better place?

 

Now you have something to blog about!  Write your draft reflection on your home wiki page. When ready, your teacher will provide directions for writing your blog at our site and as comments to the Making Change site.

 

 


 

This idea is based on the work of Sue Waters and Jan Smith at Making Change to which we will respond with our resolutions from at least one of our three resolution ideas.   A record of our service is here: Serving Others.

 

Respect Elders; Flickr Creative Commons
Respect Elders; Flickr Creative Commons

 

Kids Helping Tasks

 

Kid's Helping Tasks

* GPAR comes from the work of William Glasser which I continue to adapt in my instruction.

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