CIDRE Portfolio

I am Jaime Stoops. I was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA. I have my undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in history and my M.A.T. from the University of Pittsburgh. I live in Raleigh now by way of Pittsburgh, PA, and Charlottesville, VA. I am a teacher at Holly Ridge Middle School. I have 18 years of experience teaching high school and middle school. I am married with two children, Ian and Simon, and two dogs, Rosie and Toby. In my spare time, I love reading and pop culture.

Written Reflections:

Reflection on the German Education System:

I am impressed with the German education system. Specifically with their willingness to include vocational schooling as an option. Here in the US, we have moved towards a college track mode rather than meeting the needs of all students. Germany seems to offer more high school programs that help to prepare students for the workforce. However, I do wonder how easy or difficult it is for students to move between academic and vocational programs. The teacher education system also made an impression on me. In Germany, teachers receive a two-year practicum where they learn the teaching trade. This internship is paid and appears to be more thorough than the student teaching programs in the US. Lastly, Germany seems to be ripe for reform. I am curious how or if this will play out in the future. And if reform will spread and become an international movement.


Visual Thinking Analysis

(change photo at left to artifact examined):

In this photo, Munich citizens are meeting after the end of World War II. I know this because Nazi symbols have been removed from buildings and the banner reads "ohne säuberung kein Aufbau." In English, this translates to "no construction, without cleaning". Germany had to come to terms with the horrors of Nazism and rebuild their broken nation without erasing and ignoring its past. I wonder how citizens felt individually, as a Munich community, and as an entire population. This picture represents such a small facet, a single time period, I wonder how long the recovery - culturally, morally, historically - lasted. And, if Germany is healed today.

Viktaulienmarkt

The Viktaulienmarkt is located in the heart of Munich. The market is part of Old Town and has been in operation for over two hundred years. The market was originally located in Marienplatz, but has since outgrown the square and is adjacent to Marienplatz. Whether you are a local or a visitor, the Viktaulienmarkt immerses you in Bavarian culture.


For the locals, the market serves two purposes - fresh food and community. Over 140 vendors are located in the square. Locals can find fresh foods or can visit one of the many food vendors. Traditional German foods fill the square. The market provides a real sense of community. Long, wooden tables strewn the beer garden that is found at the center of the market. Locals meet up here to break bread and enjoy a freshly poured beer.


For the visitors, there are many sites to take in. A large maypole stands at the center of the market introducing visitors to the trades and crafts of the locals. Stands sell a variety of hand-made products produced in Bavaria. Many visitors find themselves buying a wooden carved meat board or a German "welcome" sign for their front door at home. The market also provides visitors the opportunity to try traditional German foods and truly enjoy the Munich culture.


Whether you have lived in Munich all of your life and are buying victuals for dinner or just visited for the day, Viktaulienmarkt is a piece of Bavarian history that lives on today.



Reflections & Cultural Insights

The trains have all been on time. In the US, I have been to larger cities that often tardy public transportation. The accurate timing of the trains reinforce the German values of efficiency and punctuality. As a visitor, I appreciate on the reliability.

While at the Chinese Tower I noticed that the pople of Munich embrace their culture - from brass band to riding a highler and wearing traditional garb, visitors and locals enjoy the rich history that Munich has preserved.

While walking just outside the Olympic Park I noticed garbage overflowing from the trash bin. There were about 10-15 food wrappers and papers on the ground beside the bin. This stood out to be because I realized that this was the first "littering" I had seen. From what I have observed, the people seem to value cleanliness and community.

While at the Deutsches Museum yesterday I briefly spoke to a local teacher. The teacher had a group of students the same age as our 7th graders. The students were learning about light. The science unit is the same unit as that taught in NC 7th grade science. I wonder what other curriculum similarities and differencies can be found.

Four Projects on Designated Cultural Theme: Memory Culture

cultural representations mode 1 (writing)

I Am From (Hans and Sophie Scholl)

I am from vegetable gardens - onions, tomatoes, and beets.

I am from the gloss and shine of the Volksempfanger* and was once a member of Hitler's Youth, later questioning what lay beyond the uniforms that symbolized so much more

I am from the straight lines of Bauhaus architecture and the traditional ivory and wood exposed slatted Bavarian homes

I am from the red tulips growing, rolling green hills, and hundred-year-old lingonberry

trees that surround our town

I am from a family of thinkers and politicians

A large family eating around a large oak table: Inge, Hans, Elisabeth, Sophie, Werner, Thilde

I am from an inquisitive people, a family open to liberal ideologies, not willing to be a bystander or victim

From "behandle andere so, wie du von ihnen behandelt werden möchtest"** and strong bonds creating life long friendships

I am from the richness of kasespatzle^ and the childhood memories made while sharing flammkuchen^^. I am from a family dinner table rowdy with conversations surrounding politics and religion. A family taught to embrace open and honest conversations. A family not for the faint of heart.

I am the White Rose. I am a martyr. I made a difference.


*Radio** "Do unto others as you have them do unto you"^like American macaroni and cheese^^Onion and bacon tartPhotos from google image search

cultural representations mode 3 (mapped)

My Maps project was built in Google Maps. The map has 2 layers. The first layer highlights museums and memorials that honor and commemorates the victims of Hitler's Nazi Regime. The 2nd layer takes a closer look at how Nazi resisters, siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl are remembered in Munich.


cultural representations mode 5 (informal/experiential)

Germans remember victims of the Nazis through the use of Stolpersteine (stumbling stones). I used Scratch to introduce students to the stumbling stones.

cultural representations mode 6 (inquiry-based approaches )

Lesson Plan:

Bellringer

  • How do we remember events from our past? How do countries remember events from their past? What events should be remembered? How do we honor the events that can be viewed as evil or a blunder to our history?


Lesson

  • Ask students to recall World War 1 and World War 2, specifically the Holocaust. How do you feel when you remember World War II? The Holocaust?

    • Have students record their answers on the board

    • Mind Map Activity (how do the words connect -- trace a line to connecting words and explain why/how they connected OR categorize the words and explain why those words fell into a category)

  • Have students "walk through" the Google Map representation of the memorials found in Munich, Germany.

    • Discussion Questions

      • What did you see?

      • What did it represent

      • How did it make you feel

      • What questions do you have?

    • Discussion Options:

      • Small-Group

      • Think-Pair-Share

      • Jigsaw

      • Gallery Walk:

  • Students complete the Scratch story and watch a brief video on "Stumbling Stones".

    • Have students spend 7 minutes learning more about stumbling stones.

    • Discussion questions: What impact do these stones have on the way we think of history? Do stumbling stones and memorials adequately help us understand history? What happens if parts of our history are left out of what we learn?

      • Use Padlet or Nearpod for students to record their responses


Assignment/Assessment

  • Create a Memorial

  • Brainstorm events and people of World War II.

    • How are they memorialized?

  • Have students then determine an event or person from WWII that they want to memorialize.

  • Have students complete the Creating a Memorial graphic organizer.

    • What will the memorial be made from (why choose that material)?

    • What symbols will you use? What do the symbols represent?

    • What is on the memorial plaque? (3 - 5 sentences)

  • Extension

    • Build a model of the memorial

      • Minecraft

      • Legos

      • 3-D printing program

      • Hand-drawn

      • Other materials