John Marshall Community High School Winter Break Bucket List

What could you do for winter break to make it wonderful?  Here are some suggestions from your school library media specialist:

1. Have some hot cocoa!
2. Make a snow angel.
3. Read (you knew this was coming) Charles Dickens book "A Christmas Carol."
4. Listen to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Ballet"
5. Join a Christmas choir, or go caroling.
6. Make paper snowflakes.
7. Make a snow fort.
8. Make a snow person, like Olaf from Frozen.
9. If you can find a hill in Indiana, go sledding.
10. Spend time with your family.
11. Read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore.  This is actually a poem.
12. Go see Christmas lights.
13. Make a blanket fort.
14. Be Santa's secret elf, and do a random act of kindness for someone else.
15. String popcorn. (You can make a popcorn, or cranberry garland, and hang it outside to feed birds.)
16. Have a game night.
17. Take a special family photo.
18. Have a PJ day.
19. Kiss under mistletoe.
20. Start a new tradition.
21. Construct paper chains.
22. Write a wish list, or a 2016 goals list.
23. Participate in a Christmas ornament exchange.
24. Read the Christmas story in the Bible in the book of "Luke," in chapter 2.
25. Make a New Year's Resolution (Mrs. Shepard wants two A's on your report card!)
26. Read or watch "Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburgh.  Did you know he was a sculptor, and wrote Jumanji?
27. Take a winter nature hike.  How do the trees change?  Can you find pine cones?
28. Learn about Saint Nicholas.
29. Work on a puzzle while listening to holiday music.
30. Have a picnic under the Christmas tree.
31. Kiss at midnight on New Years.
32. Dance!
33. Make a holiday playlist.
34. Throw confetti
35. Develop an indoor/outdoor work-out routine.

Disclaimers: In the 2015 calendar, muslim religions celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed on Dec. 21, Dec. 26, or Jan. 3rd by exchanging gifts and making donations to the poor.  Jewish cultures celebrate Hanukkah before our winter break from Dec. 6-14th. 

Indiana State Standard: World History, Standard 2

WH.2.1 Review the development and key concepts of major world religions and philosophies including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity,  and Islam.  (Sociology)

Christina Shepard 

Media Specialist

John Marshall Community High School Media Center: JROTC Goes to Downtown Indianapolis to Celebrate V...

John Marshall Community High School Media Center: JROTC Goes to Downtown Indianapolis to Celebrate V...: John Marshall Community High School JROTC and their school library media specialist, MAJ Christina Shepard celebrate Veteran's day, ...

JROTC Goes to Downtown Indianapolis to Celebrate Veteran's Day

John Marshall Community High School JROTC and their school library media specialist, MAJ Christina Shepard celebrate Veteran's day, Nov. 11, 2015.

Originally I wore my uniform for Robert Woods, who inspired me to get my "oak leaf," or earn the rank of Major.  As a wife, mother, media specialist, and Indiana Army National Guard soldier, not much time is left.

When you consider:
*less than 0.5 percent of the population serve in the United States Armed Forces
*Only 18% will become an officer in the United States Army
*16,399 of all U.S. Army officers are Majors
*15.5% of the United States Army are female
*While 71% of male officers are married, only 51% of female officers are married

That means only 1,291 out of 318.86 million people people in the United States are married ladies who serve in the United States army and have attained the rank of Major.  

Robert graduated, and another student was jealous that I had not taken the photo with him in it, so we took another one this year.  1SG Richard Woodcox now calls it a tradition.

I am greatly honored to be able to wear the uniform, and to have such support as the JROTC program at John Marshall Community High School.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Major Christina Shepard

Using a Smartboard to Make Math Interactive in Middle School

John Marshall Community High School
Ms. Lacey Beatty is teaching math to an eager group of middle schoolers.

The community school is a philosophy of "schools as centers of community life."  At John Marshall Community High School, grades 7 through 12 are offered  classes in English, mathematics, reading, R.O.T. C., art, physical education, band, choir, and business. 

 

Students can participate in a variety of after school activities such as football, soccer, basketball, baseball, book club, rifle team, drill team, color guard, the leadership bowl, or academic bowl.

 

Ms. Lacey Beatty is teaching mathematics to an attentive group of middle school students using Smartboard Technology.

 

-Written by: Christina Shepard

Media Specialist

College Bound Reading Class Reads "The Pigman"

"The Pigman" by Paul Zindel is on the Harvard bound list for students, meaning it is a suggested book to read if you would like to attend an Ivy League school.  I used a study guide and test from Glencoe Publishers, and the discussion questions from Sparknotes to teach this book to my high achieving 7th graders.

All the elements of literature are included, and easy to teach in "The Pigman." The book takes place in 1968, but the characters John and Lorraine deal with the same issues faced by students today.  John and Lorraine are very fortunate to have a special friend like Mr. Pignati. 

-Mrs. Christina Shepard

Fall Break in Paris

My first view of the Eiffel Tower.

I would like to share with you my first view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  My husband, son and I went all over Paris for fall break.  The apartments of Napoleon at the Louvre were completely forgotten once we arrived in Versailles. 

 

***

 

Celebrating a great work year with Mike Smiley, Nikki Smiley, Daryl Odom and Christina Shepard.

 

When we got back home, we went to hubbie's event for work at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, the largest Marriott in the world.  You will have to excuse his shaggy hair and beard, he is growing out his fur in celebration of retiring from the United States Army.  I made him promise to donate his gorgeous auburn hair to Locks of Love.

 

College, Careers and Entrepreneurship Resources

Research a new career!

John Marshall Community High School (JMCHS) recently received a grant from the Central Indiana Community Foundation to provide resources for college, careers, and entrepreneurship. 


www.myilibrary.org/IPS
Contains databases, websites, search engines, home access, and the Destiny card catalog for the media center.

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/
Bureau of Labor and Statistics, authoritative website for job outlooks, education, salaries, work environment, and similar careers.

https://www.petersons.com/
Complete guide to college programs for you!

-CRMS-

-Christina Rose Marie Shepard-

Resources for Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy Project

I am creating a resource page for a financial literacy project for a grant I am writing to Central Indianapolis Community Foundation's Library Fund. 

*This is a work in progress for John Marshall students.*

www.playspent.org
Players can try different jobs such as a "temp," a warehouse worker, or a waiter/waitress, and experience what it is like to on a budget of $1,200 a month.

Billionaire app (iphone)
This is an iphone app that allows players to start a business, grow your business, and sell a business. 

SAMR Model apps for teaching and learning

 http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/resources-for-teaching-financial-literacy.html
The National Education Association website offers resources for teaching financial literacy such as standards, lesson plans, online games, and more!

-CRMS-

 

Teaching in and Urban School Setting

To dispel a few myths of teaching in an urban school setting,  I am grateful for the opportunity to blog on the issue.

Question: How do you teach urban students?
Answer: You teach the same content, or standards, as you teach in a rural, or suburban environment. 

Some tools that have worked for me include:

Ruby K. Payne's "A Framework for Understanding Poverty"

Harry K. Wong & Rosemary T. Wong's book
"How To Be An Effective Teacher:  The First Days of School"




Students living in a rural environment, or suburban environment have challenges as well.  These resources can be used in any teaching experience.

-CRMS-

 

 

John Marshall Community High School Patriot Page Turners (Book Club) Compete in the "Battle of the Books" at Ben Davis High School

Patriot Page Turners (Book Club) at the Battle of the Books competition on Ben Davis campus

For the first time, the John Marshall Community High School Patriot Page Turners (book club) competed in the Battle of the Books at Ben Davis High School in the spring of 2015.  Last year, one of the books we read was Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes" to build vocabulary.  Ironically, the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre was offering the play.  Book club was able to attend, and wants to go again this year.



Christina Shepard, MLS and book club student

Book club has their first meeting of the 2015-16 school year this Thursday in the media center.  We are planning a field trip to Barnes & Nobles, hopefully, another play at the IRT, and to compete in the Battle of the Books again this year.

Represent Your College Day at John Marshall Community High School

First Sergeant repping Indiana University, and Mrs. Shepard repping Indiana Military Academy

Today is "Rep Your College Day."  Teachers and students wear their college gear to inspire the students to go to college.  I did not want people to forget our military academies, so I wore my old battle dress uniform (BDU) jacket with my Lieutenant rank.  Students got quite a kick out of seeing this old uniform, and hearing the stories behind it.

 

I used Bill Wither's song "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" to explain what the feeling of being away from home is like for soldiers.

 

***

Other than that, my reading students got their Google Docs, and their Goodreads accounts.  We talked about the 5 standards their ELA predictor test for ISTEP indicated they needed to improve, and about taking ownership of their education.  My students know the standards, but they may not share the experiences with the administrators who write the test.  Because of this, we also watch Channel One, so when the students write, they at least can give supporting facts about current events, despite any cultural differences.

 

One area we are suffering with is using supporting documentation.  If you are not around people who are reading about their profession, you may not understand the importance using academic journals, or supporting documentation.  

John Marshall ROTC support Major Christina Shepard, their Media Specialist

John Marshall ROTC, and their citizen-soldier Media Specialist, MAJ Christina Shepard

Being included in the John Marshall Community High School Patriot family is very special to me.  Robert Wood, who is now graduated, came into the media center every day asking when I was going to become a Major. 

I had been a Captain for several years, for many reasons.  One, I have family commitments.  Two, there are not many slots available to females in the Indiana National Guard for Major because we are an infantry state.  Three, vision.

Having Robert, and the JROTC students to inspire me, I was able to earn my Major rank through changing branches.  I am now in an infantry brigade, as a public affairs officers.

Since this photo, I have begun working towards becoming a Lieutenant Colonel. 

-MAJ Christina Shepard
-Mrs. Christina Shepard, MLS
*It's the same person*

First Thirty Days of School

Donald Trump, this is a 10.
Christina Shepard, Media Specialist

In just the first month, I have already taught four weeks of lessons covering vocabulary (Anglo-Saxon, Latin, and Greek), and poetry (Robert Frost and Walt Whitman). 

Next week, I am looking forward to teaching online safety, GoogleDocs, using the Destiny catalog, and online databases for research.

I have also been writing grants for projects for the High School classes.

Welcome Back To School

Christina Shepard, Media Specialist
John Marshall students are one in a minion!

Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year at John Marshall Community High School.

We are a 7-12, public school in Indianapolis.