Shaping Tomorrow's Citizens: Education, Religion, and Cultural Norms in the Classroom

In this blog post from Stones of Erasmus, I connect philosophical ideas with practical aspects of teaching and societal values. Let's invite reflection on the role of education, the influence of religion, and the importance of cultural norms in shaping the citizens of tomorrow.

The sun may appear small and lightbulb-like to the viewer,
but it's actually a massive fusion-powered
 fireball that sustains life on Earth.

Parity in the Classroom: The Common Gifts of Our Students In every classroom, there lies a hidden world of potential. That gossipy student in the back row? Perhaps a budding playwright, weaving tales for the stage. Our students are not just learners; they are creators, thinkers, and future citizens. The Personal Stance vs. The Professional Stance Education is not just about imparting knowledge; it's a national effort to produce productive citizens. But what does that mean? Producing productive citizens is about nurturing individuals who contribute positively to society and the economy. It's about fostering responsibility, hard work, and a commitment to the common good. It's about developing skills like problem-solving, communication, and teamwork that are vital in today's workforce. The Image of Citizenship: A Reflection of Values What should citizens of a country look like? The nineteenth-century image of the American family was a myth, yet it shaped perceptions. Today, we recognize that there is no one specific way citizens should look. Every individual is unique, bringing their own strengths and perspectives. The goal is to cultivate responsible, engaged members of society who contribute to the common good. Religion and Education: A Complex Relationship "Orderliness is godliness." This saying reflects how we often infuse public education with ideology, including the notion to "pull yourself up by your bootstrap." But do religious influences benefit the school system? The Puritans were able to impose their ideology, but the relationship between religion and education is complex. Some believe that religious values can create moral grounding and community. Others see challenges in separating church and state, ensuring inclusivity for all students. Folkways and Mores: The Fabric of Society Folkways and mores are the threads that weave the social fabric. Folkways are the everyday customs and traditions, while mores are the deeper, moral values that guide a culture. Together, they shape our collective identity. Opinions: The Personal Take on Knowledge An opinion is more than a fleeting thought; it's your unique perspective on what you know. It's a reflection of your understanding, your beliefs, and your individuality.

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Tracking & Analyzing Myth Variations: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Graphic Organizers and Visual Aids in the Classroom

What is a trope tracker? Tropes are repeating narrative bits that show up in works of literature. For example, I love the "gods behaving badly" trope, which often appears in Greek and Roman mythology. Zeus, the king of the gods, is also a philanderer. This trope shows up in contemporary television shows, like Homelander, a kind of gussied-up "gods behaving badly" superhero who is far from a homely, humble hero. 

Who would win in an epic battle? Zeus or Homelander?
Image Credit: (l) Zeus with eagle and lightning, Athenian red-figure amphora ca. 5th Century B.C.E., Musée du Louvre
(2) "Homelander," from The Boys, Amazon Prime Entertainment © 2019

When teaching mythology, there are not only dozens of variations within one myth, but tropes in myths are scattered across art and literature. One of the pleasures of reading myth is tracking and analyzing these tropes. Explore tools for tracking myth variations with graphic organizers, anchor charts, and visual aids. Enhance student engagement in mythology.

Myths have always fascinated creative types, students, writers, and even television show writers, but tracking variations in different versions can be a challenge. 

That's where using a comprehensive teaching resource comes into play! Designed to help middle and high school students explore the rich world of mythology, the toolkit includes graphic organizers, anchor charts, entrance and exit tickets, and even a BINGO-style Trope Tracker. 

The Homelander/Zeus Connection: A Case Study in Mythological Tropes

It sounds far-fetched that Homelander, the main antagonist of a TV series on Amazon Prime, could be tracked and traced back to Zeus, a god who represents supreme authority on Mount Olympus. But that is where the fun starts. Both characters are powerful, charismatic, secretly sadistic, narcissistic, and sociopathic. Homelander is the leader of the Seven, a team of superheroes who are sponsored by Vought International; whereas, Zeus is a leader of twelve on Mount Olympus, and he runs things down on Earth. That checks a lot of boxes. As the god of the sky, thunder, and justice, Zeus's actions and decisions profoundly impact both gods and mortals; and so does a superhero — but unchecked power can become corrupted quickly. 

Using Graphic Organizers to Understand Myths

Of course — that is just one example, and I purposely used popular culture as a way to make a dramatic point. But tropes can crop up anywhere, and it is important as a reader to employ an organizational strategy. That's why the resource includes an anchor chart that can be printed, hung in the classroom, or projected on a smartboard for a mini-lesson. It's a versatile tool that aids in reading myths and completing the "Variations on Myths" graphic organizer. The entrance and exit tickets, in addition, offer a creative way to check for understanding and build background knowledge.

Trope Trackers: A Fun Way to Engage Students with Myths

Our graphic organizer is a valuable tool for tracking students' thoughts on myths, whether reading Edith Hamilton’s version of “Cupid and Psyche” or “Prometheus,” and comparing it with the well-researched and academic version from Robert Graves. It encourages students to compare and contrast different versions, including multimedia adaptations from popular distributors like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney or Warner Brothers.

Notes to the Teacher

This digital download doesn't include the text of any myth, but it provides a structured way to engage students with the variations they find in myths. Whether you're teaching classic texts or exploring modern interpretations, these tools foster a deeper understanding of mythology.

Note: This content is protected under U.S. copyright law. Please respect the commercial non-distribution license and support teacher-authors by sharing our store with others who may be interested. Thank you for enhancing the study of myths in your classroom!

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Unlocking Success: A Guide to Building Strong Parent-Teacher Connections with Our First-Day Surveys

Hi, teachers! Are you putting together the resources you need for your classroom? Don't forget to set yourself up for success by communicating with the parents and guardians of your students on day one of the school year. Enhance parent-teacher communication with comprehensive surveys from Stones of Erasmus. Tailored for English Language Arts, these surveys foster meaningful relationships.

Download a Suite of Print and Digital Tools on TpT.

Connecting with your students' parents or guardians is vital for a successful school year. Our specially designed parent surveys, tailored for the first day of school, are here to help. Created with secondary students in mind, these surveys include sections on general information, student learning attitudes, and additional insights. Whether you choose to send the survey home via email, print it out, or make it available at your school's first parent-teacher conference, it's good to know you have a tool to make a positive impression (and all of the forms are editable to suit your community's needs).

Unleashing Creativity: Crafting Engaging Digital Content for Humanities Education

Dive into the world of digital content creation for middle and high school humanities education. Discover how public domain resources are transformed into engaging and fun learning materials.

As a passionate educator, I've dedicated countless hours to crafting engaging digital content for middle and high school humanities teachers. The intricate process involves dozens of steps and takes up to six hours per listing. But the result? A treasure trove of resources that bring depth and engagement to the classroom.

My journey begins with sourcing public domain content from libraries such as the New York Public Library digital collections and public domain content I find on Google Books and from the Library of Congress. These timeless resources serve as the foundation upon which I build. I then add my original lesson plans, question banks, exit tickets, writing prompts, and activities. The aim? To create content that not only educates but also captivates.

Sometimes, the raw materials need a little sprucing up. An illustration from a nineteenth-century book might be old and dingy, or text from a public domain source might be outdated. That's where Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator come into play, helping me breathe new life into these resources. 

Revitalizing history: the top image showcases my restoration of a 19th-century lithograph, significantly enhancing its clarity compared to the original below. Retrieved from the NYPL digital collection.

My favorites? Mythology resources and philosophy activities. There's something incredibly rewarding about bringing these age-old disciplines to life for today's students. It's a labor of love, and I'm always excited about dreaming up what I should create next. Join me on this journey of making learning more engaging and fun, one digital resource at a time.

I partner with TpT to provide educational content for Humanities and English language arts teachers.

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A Multiverse of Possibilities: A Review of Matt Haig's 'The Midnight Library'

Dive into our review of 'The Midnight Library' by Matt Haig, a philosophical journey through alternate lives and existential questions.

Haig, Matt. The Midnight Library: A Novel. United States, HarperCollins, 2020.

Matt Haig’s “The Midnight Library” thoughtfully explores life’s choices and regrets. The story centers on Nora Seed, a former philosophy graduate student who now works as a music tutor and store clerk. Nora lives in Bedford, a small town north of London, and is navigating a series of personal tragedies. After contemplating suicide, Nora discovers the Midnight Library, a multiverse realm where she explores the numerous lives she could’ve lived.

How Giphy Imagines the Midnight Library

Haig deftly weaves in meticulous details that grow increasingly significant throughout the narrative. He introduces an array of alternate lives for Nora – a rock star, an Olympic swimmer, a glaciologist, and more, imbuing each with unique existential questions. The novel employs elements of fantasy to pose a provocative question to readers: What if we could live out all our 'what ifs?'

Haig peppers the story with philosophical musings, Nora’s favorite being Henry David Thoreau, inspiring readers to contemplate their own life choices and regrets. The novel offers up copious philosophical tidbits, as this one from Thoreau, “It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. You don't have to understand life. You just have to live it.” And this pithy, funny, but pointed quote from David Hume, “But the life of a man is of no greater importance to the universe than that of an oyster.”

Engaging ELA Lessons: Exploring the Greek Myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with Middle and High School Students

Dive into the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with a comprehensive, interactive, and distance-learning-optimized ELA resource.

Stones of Erasmus offers an Educational Download designed to teach the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice

In the realm of English Language Arts (ELA), the ancient, tragic tale of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice offers a rich tapestry of themes and lessons for middle and high school students. Stones of Erasmus has created a comprehensive educational resource that provides an engaging, interactive, and distance-learning optimized approach to this timeless tale.

Orpheus enters the underworld.
Image Credit: NYPL Digital Collections

Orpheus stands at the precipice of the underworld, known as Orcus in Roman mythology — and, as Hades in Greek mythology. This signifies the moment in the enduring myth of Orpheus when the gifted musician, driven by desperate love and profound grief, dares to venture into the realm of the dead. His aim, to retrieve his beloved Eurydice, would become one of the most poignant tales of love, loss, and the power of art in ancient myth.

The story of Orpheus, the divine musician who loses his wife Eurydice twice, is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the creative power of music and art. Our resource brings this myth to life in the classroom, whether virtual or physical, through a variety of activities and discussion prompts.

Over a three-day lesson plan, students will delve into the myth, analyze its characters and themes, and engage in critical thinking. The resource includes:

• 1. Art + Literature Connections: Students compare the myth with artwork by renowned artists like Auguste Rodin, fostering a deeper understanding of the story.

• 2. Reading Cards: This lesson is most effective when supplemented with diverse texts from Edith Hamilton's Mythology, Bulfinch's Mythology, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. However, the resource also includes an introductory dictionary entry on classic Greek and Roman mythology for a comprehensive start.

• 3. Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking Questions: These questions encourage students to delve deeper into the text, promoting comprehension and critical thinking.

• 4. Frayer Model Vocabulary Cards: This visual approach to vocabulary helps students understand terms, geography, and challenging words in the context of the story.

• 5. Exit Tickets: These provide immediate feedback on students' understanding of the lesson, helping teachers adjust future instruction as needed.

• 6. Essay Writing Activity: This activity caps off the lesson, allowing students to express their understanding of the myth in a creative way.

Our resource aligns well with the Common Core Standards, particularly the reading literature standard that encourages the analysis of a subject or key scene in two different artistic mediums.

Whether used as a stand-alone lesson or paired with a larger unit on Myth, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Robert Graves’s Greek Myths, or Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, or Parallel Myths by J.F. Bierlein, this resource offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice.

For more resources like this, visit the Stones of Erasmus TpT store, and join us on our journey to make ELA education more engaging and interactive.

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Discover Wink: The Charming Penguin Statue of Jackson Heights, Queens

Unearth the charm of Jackson Heights, Queens, with Wink, the adorable penguin statue. Located at Elmjack Mall, this quirky city sight adds a touch of whimsy to the urban scene while playing a crucial role in traffic safety.

@cafedumonde Discovering the adorable quirks in the heart of Jackson Heights, Queens. Nestled within a grassy patch at the bustling intersection of 37th Road and 74th Street, a charming penguin statue guards the Elmjack Mall. Far from being just a delightful sight, this small figure plays a crucial role in traffic safety, poised to take on any potential impact. Located near the busy Roosevelt Avenue IRT elevated station, this hidden gem adds a touch of whimsy to the urban scene. • • • #JacksonHeights #Queens #PenguinStatue #ElmjackMall #UrbanExploration #QuirkyCitySights ♬ original sound - A.G. Millington

A delightful surprise awaits urban explorers in the heart of Jackson Heights, Queens. Amidst the hustle and bustle of 37th Road and 74th Street, a charming penguin statue named Wink stands guard at the Elmjack Mall. This whimsical figure, far from being just a delightful sight, plays a crucial role in traffic safety, ready to absorb any potential impact.

Wink is located near the busy Roosevelt Avenue IRT elevated station, adding a touch of whimsy to the urban scene. This small, yet significant figure has become a beloved landmark in the neighborhood, a symbol of the unique charm that Jackson Heights has to offer.

Wink's presence serves as a reminder that amidst the urban jungle, there's always room for a bit of fun and imagination. So, the next time you find yourself in Queens, be sure to pay a visit to this charming sentinel of the city streets."

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