TED Talk #13: Why Lunch Ladies are Heroes

Think about it...

Who's Your Hero?

Who are the people that you look up to?  The people that inspire you?  The people that you want to be like?



The people that may reside in your head... that you think sometimes, "What would _________ do?"

We all have them.  They may be super heroes, filling comic books with epic adventures, saving cities and fighting against evil.  They may be civil servants like firemen and police officers who put their lives on the line for strangers every day.  They may be professional heroes: doctors, writers, educators, artists, victorious in a specific line of work that we are a part of or hope to be one day.

They may be in the forefront, captivating everyone's attention.

But,
Maybe
They are the ones who smile, who notice, who care- annnnnnd maybe do a kung-fu-punch while serving up both justice and lunch.




To children's book author, Jarrett Kroscoczka, the lunch ladies he grew up with, became those heroes.   Their superpowers might be hidden and undercover, but quiet, unsung heroes have the power to change lives.



Check out Jarrett's TED talk as he shares the origins of the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, in which undercover school heroes serve lunch... and justice!  His new project, School Lunch Hero Day, reveals how cafeteria lunch staff provide more than food and illustrates how powerful a thank you can be.

Celebrate National Lunch Lady Appreciation Day this May 6th!

TED Talk 12: Be the Coffee Bean: Lessons on Adversity from a Super Bowl Champion | Malcolm Mitchell

In this talk, Malcolm Mitchell shares his challenges with football and literacy to explore a new perspective on adversity.

Malcolm Mitchell is a former University of Georgia football player and one of the top ten all-time receivers. After graduating with a Communications major in 2015, Mitchell was drafted by the New England Patriots and went on to become a Super Bowl Champion as a wide receiver.

Among Mitchell’s numerous awards and accomplishments both on and off the field, he considers discovering a love of reading one of his greatest achievements. Initially, reading was a challenge; however, through perseverance, books became an avenue for expanding his curiosity, creativity, and learning. Mitchell has authored and published a children’s book, The Magician’s Hat, created a youth literacy initiative called Read with Malcolm, and established the Share the Magic Foundation to transform children’s lives through literacy.

Check out his talk here!

TED Talk #11: To This Day... For the Bullied and the Beautiful

Today's TED talk comes from an amazing spoken word poet named Shane Koyczan.  His talk is a powerful poem about bullying and feeling different.  His words have affected so many and caused his talk to go viral.  Since we've been addressing the issue of bullying in English class, I felt that this poem deserved a spotlight.  Enjoy his performance, complete with backstory, animation, and even violin accompaniment.  I hope that we walk away today thinking about what we can do to make a difference and ensure that everyone feels important, beautiful, and an integral part of the 8 White Family.

Here is the link to check out his talk.  

TED Talk #10- The Secret of Nature's Creatures Channeled into Robots

There has been a lot of talk of engineering on 8 White lately.  Recruitment of architects, builders, designers.  When scientists, engineers, and designers are looking for inspiration, where do they look? Sometimes inspiration is right in front of you.
So tiny.
So common.
It may go unnoticed.

Inspiration can be found in nature.
As simple as
the cockroach.



I know what you're thinking. Gross.  Just looking at that picture makes me shiver.  But cockroaches are one of the longest living creatures ever.  There must be a reason for their success. 

Maybe that success can be attributed to design.

Biologist Robert Full explains in his interesting (and slightly yucky) TED talk about the aspects of a cockroach's body that helps them adapt to their environment, stay safe, and live a long life grossing us out.  Robotic engineers have been studying the cockroach to see what they can learn and then use in their designs. 

How can robots learn to stabilize on rough terrain, walk upside down, do gymnastic maneuvers in the air and run into walls without harming themselves? Robert Full takes a look at the incredible body of the cockroach to show what it can teach robotics engineers.

Check out his talk here.  

So, the next time you're building a structure, designing a game, or creating at all, look to nature and you may see inspiration crawling across the floor. Try not to squish it. 

TED Talk #9: The Magic Ingredient that Brings Pixar Movies to Life

Anyone interested in art, technology, storytelling, digital graphics, or even Finding Nemo is going to love this chat!!

See how animators create the realistic digital worlds and characters that we've come to love! 

Danielle Feinberg, Pixar's director of photography, creates stories with soul and wonder using math, science, and coding. Go behind the scenes of Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Brave, WALL-E and more, and discover how Pixar interweaves art and science to create fantastic worlds where the things you imagine can become real. This talk comes from the PBS special "TED Talks: Science & Wonder."

Click here to view Danielle's Talk 

TED Talk #8: What Does It Take to Master Something?

Everyone wants the easy route.
The quickest way to get somewhere.  Why waste time?

They enter an address into the GPS just to find a way to get to a destination a little bit quicker.
No, don't go this way.  Go that way!  It will shave 3.457 minutes off your driving time.  3.457 minutes.... Phew, that was a close one.  What a waste it could have been. That's time you can never get back.

We are always rushing.
Fastest is better.
Quicker.
Shortcuts.

Well, that may work when we are driving around town, but that's not how it is in the real world.

Usually, when someone focuses on the fastest way, they ignore the best way. How many times have you sped through a project, just to get it done?  Sure, it's a little messy.  The details are not quite developed.  Some parts may be missing.  You may have finished quickly, but show no spirit of excellence.

This is a problem.

If we truly want to be excellent at something, we need time: time to create, time to think, time to practice, time to bounce ideas around, time to play, time to explore, time to master.

You want to be a master.... a master of something :)  I challenge you to find your passion, like our TED talk speaker today, whatever it may be.  Find that passion and then throw yourself into it.  Don't just take the easy way out.  Don't just throw things together and call it finished.  Take the time.  Use the energy.  Dive deep.  Have a spirit of excellence.  After, weeks, months, years, decades... you may be able to call yourself a master one day.

It took a long time for our speaker today to find his passion.  He failed at so many other things.  He was told he was dumb.  Told he wouldn't amount to anything.  Told he was a disappointment. Then, one day,  he found it.  What he was most passionate about: the yo-yo!

Today, check out  Japanese yo-yo world champion BLACK as he tells his inspiring story of finding his life's passion, and gives an awesome performance that will make you want to pull your yo-yo out of the closet.

Let his talk inspire you to find or jump into your own dreams!

You deserve a chance to be excellent.

You owe it to yourself to become a master.

TED Talk #7- Truth, Lies, and IPods

The next TED Talk we're going to watch is about the power of Deception.

As we study and discuss literature, life, and current events, I'm sure many of you have discovered some instances of deception: people in power deceiving, hiding the truth from those that rely on them.  Sometimes, it's done for the better of society.  Sometimes it's done for greed.  Sometimes it's just hard to tell.  Either way, considering how truth, lies, or deception factors into what we've been reading brings up an interesting question:  Is it ever ok to lie?



Our TED Talk today is brought to you by Marco Tempest.  Marco is a techno-magician, meaning that he combines sleight of hand (magic) and technology to bring his audience the ultimate illusion.  His talk today is a clever, surprisingly heartfelt meditation on truth and lies, art and emotion.





Check out the Talk Here at this Link

As you watch consider these points in general and how they relate to the SSR novels you are reading.
- What is real?
-What are the differences between truth and lies?
-Is it possible (or good) to be totally honest all the time?
-Is it ever ok to lie?
-What is the power of deception?
-How does propaganda fit in?
-Do we deceive ourselves sometimes?
-If you're happy with the lie you're being told, is the lie wrong?
-Is it better to always know the truth?
-Is censorship lying?
-Why do leaders sometimes lie?  

Let's talk Truth vs Lies

TED Talk #6 The Hidden Power of Smilling

We've been talking about success a lot this year!  Specifically, what are strategies we can use to help us succeed?  Today's TED talk is just that!  A seemingly small action you can take to help you be more successful, more healthy, more happy, and just all-around better!  

Sounds good, right?

Get ready for the secret.....

It is.....

Smiling!!

That's right!  Smiling! 

Babbies Do it!

Animals do it!!

Baseball Players Do it

Buddy Loves it!

Watch this talk to find out why you should do more of it too!!  Better your life!  Smile!!! 

Ron Gutman reviews a bunch of studies about smiling and reveals some surprising results. Did you know your smile can be a predictor of how long you'll live -- and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being? Prepare to flex a few facial muscles as you learn more about this evolutionarily contagious behavior.

Head over to this site to watch his talk.  

TED Talk #5: The Art of Misdirection

Focus.
Focus.
Focus.

We hear those words a lot. In terms of classes, lectures, activities, and goals.  Where we focus our attention is often where we will go.  As a dancer spins in a turn, he or she focuses on a stationary spot on the wall in front.  If they focus on their feet instead, they fall.  Likewise, our focus or concentration can also predict our paths in life.  If we think we are going to fail, we do.  If we think we are going to succeed and work hard to do so, we often do.

But what happens when something distracts us and that focus strays?  When our attention wavers to rest on something more interesting at the moment? When our eyes catch something shiny, something funny, something cooler?  When the prize set before us gets kind of fuzzy and loses the attraction? When we are distracted by something more glittery, pleasant, appealing?

Just like the dancer whose eyes fall to her feet, we fall.

Focus helps us stay on the right path to achieving our goal.

When we lose that focus or attention on our goals, misdirection comes and steals our wallets and watches.

Wait, what?

Today's TED Talk is all about the Art of Misdirection and a great illustration of what can happen when our focus is manipulated.  Don't let something flashy or shiny come and steal your dreams.  Don't let time pass without you realizing it.  Pay attention.  Stay focused.



Check out Appolo Robbins's TED Talk here.

   Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner’s shoulder while they remain clueless.

Welcome 8 White!!! It's Nice to Meet You!

I am very excited to be your 8th grade English teacher!! It is my job to guide you through your final year in middle school and get ready for high school and what lies ahead!  We'll be using many different tools in our English class to start discussions, analyze, write, respond, and research.  You'll find some great resources here on our class blog.  I hope that by having these resources here at your fingertips, you'll feel like you have your own Miss Enos at home to help when you need it!  If you have trouble finding something here on the blog, just let me know and I will help you find it!  If you ever have suggestions for a great resource/topic to add to the class blog, just let me know!!

Here is a video tour that I created to show you around the blog. 

In fact, let me know if you have any questions at all (any time at all!).  You can ask during class, before/after-school, through an e-mail.  I don't care how you ask but ask!!!  I want to help you.  You are my number one priority!

One thing you will hear me mention about a million times is my hope for you to have a Spirit of Excellence! I recently heard a quote "Keep working until you are proud!"  Make that your motto for your final year at DMS and many more after!

My goal is to help you strengthen your reading and writing skills this year, but I also want to teach you skills to help you be successful as you grow into the amazing adult you are meant to be.  I want to help you grow by collaborating, creating, and communicating.  I also want to see you become champions! Just like these boys! 

Check out their story and think about what you can accomplish if you set your mind to it!  Add a comment here on the blog to say something we can learn from these boys that will help us succeed this year or tell us about one of your goals and your plans to reach them.  Offer up any advice or tips you have! 

Are you up for the challenge?  Because I know I am!


Let's enjoy the year!!

Go, White Team!!!

TED Talk #17: Two Nerdy Obsessions Meet and It's Magic

David Kwong is a magician who makes crossword puzzles -- in other words, a pretty nerdy guy. And for his next trick ...



Check out his TED Talk! 

TED Talk #15: Want to change the world? Start with your toys!

Hi Everyone, 

Our talk today comes from a girl who is right about your age.

McKenna Pope's younger brother loved to cook, but he worried about using an Easy-Bake Oven

— because it was a toy for girls. So at age 13, Pope started an online petition for the American toy company Hasbro (based right here in Rhode Island!) to change the pink-and-purple color scheme on the classic toy and incorporate boys into its TV marketing.

 In a heartening talk, Pope makes the case for gender-neutral toys and gives a rousing call to action to all kids who feel powerless.

I hope her talk will motivate and inspire you all.