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Show f Page 4 AMERICAN FORK CITIZEN Thursday, December 6, 2007 NEWS AND IDEAS FROM CLASSROOMS AND EDUCAtORS Teaelieir brings history to life Trixie Walker NORTH COUNTY STAFF While many students at American Fork Junior High School watch videos as part of their school curriculum, students stu-dents in Norm Lyde's history classes don't just watch them, they perform. Lyde estimates that during his 34-year teaching career, he has produced about 30 videos starring his students. "The main reason for the videos vid-eos (originally) was to help me remember what my students were like five years in the future," fu-ture," he said. His first videos were fairly simple, based on a song with "lots of video on top." His recent videos have become be-come more complex, including an hour-long movie entitled "The American fork Code." Lyde said that performing in the videos is a good motivator for his students. "I have students who will do absolutely nothing," he said. "I usually stick them in the video. We had one boy who was really real-ly bad, so we put him in as the star and he was really good." Students said they enjoy his innovative approach to teaching. teach-ing. "I like his class because he does lots of stuff to make it interesting," said Kaijsa Anger-hofer, Anger-hofer, an eighth-grade student. "He teaches us what teenagers were like in the past, and takes time to relate to us." Lyde said that as a college student, he never intended to become a teacher. "I was going to go to medical medi-cal school, but I got drafted," he said. After serving for three years in Vietnam, he continued his studies at BYU and then was hired as a social studies teacher at American Fork Junior Ju-nior High School. "I was just going to teach AFHS ballroom participates in area concert Barbara Christiansen NORTH COUNTY STAFF Members of the Ballroom Dance Company at American Fork High School took part in an AU Area High School Ballroom Concert Saturday at Timpview High School. The group is under the direction of Megan Wiblin, in her first year at the school. They participated in two categories based on their experience ex-perience the junior varsity performed a swing number to "Little Wild One," while the varsity dancers performed a samba to "TuYYo." When they met Monday, they watched a video of their performance and critiqued it. They were in part preparing for a school concert in January. Janu-ary. Wiblin saw room for improvement im-provement and told the students stu-dents she would allow them to make challenges for positions in their numbers. She did the choreography for the performance perfor-mance by the teams, but when it comes time for individual competition, the students do it themselves, she said. Andy Cottrell To text or not to text? That is the question that many people, especially parents, par-ents, are concerned with. My grandmother read in the newspaper recently that people are claiming that our generation does not have social skills because of all the new technology but mostly 7 days. 4 lines K'EY if I ?LAN SHEETS I " , Norm Lyde teaches a class at American Fork Junior High School. temporarily," he said. With a grin, he added, "It was just temporary for 34 years." He retired from teaching in 2002 because of health reasons, but he missed the challenge of teaching and returned to part-time part-time teaching a year later. "The students are at a hard age, but I like being around them," he said. "They're so curious cu-rious and full of energy." During his year off, he wrote a book about his teaching experiences, entitled "Junior High Methods, Movies and Chasing Charlie." Lyde said the book talks about what he learned in Vietnam and how it applies to the classroom. "I wrote the book because my family wanted to know what I do," he said. His book discusses discipline and the importance of making education educa-tion relevant for the students. Referring to the importance of capturing the students' atten She encouraged the students to put in more practice hours. "If you are not practicing outside of class at least twice a week, you are not improving," she said. Some of the students said they were working that hard. "I love ballroom dance. It is so fun," said Kelli Sumsion. "I have been doing it for a year and a half. It teaches you a lot about hard work and perseverance. persever-ance. I practice four times a week with separate partners." Basia Lopez said she was learning things she expected she would use in the future. "It teaches me a lot of stuff that I can use for my whole life," she said. "It is a lifetime activity." Jason Whetten agreed. "It teaches me how to get along with girls, respect and stuff," he said. "And it is fun. I would tell people they should come to our concert in January." Janu-ary." , He said he planned on pursuing pursu-ing dance when he attended college. Kelsey Fox said she loved to dance and would probably teach her children the skill. ' because of texting. Maybe this is a true statement state-ment for some people. As for me and many other people I know, texting is just another way to communicate with friends and family. Say it's the weekend and you want to get a bunch of friends together but don't want to make a million phone calls. The solution is simple. Get out your trusty cellular phone, write one text, then send it to all of your buddies at the same time. This brings people together to interact, not keep us apart. Many people, myself in and a photo. Indudes tion, Lyde wrote that "Effort goes where interest is." Kayden Laudie, an eighth-grade eighth-grade U.S. history student, said that he thinks Lyde's class presentations pre-sentations are very interesting. ' "Last year I didn't like history," his-tory," he said. Now it is one of his favorite classes. He said that the presentations were more motivating than lectures. This month's class focus was on the U.S. Constitution. Lyde began a recent class discussion on the "Right to bear arms" by giving statistics on the number of guns and number num-ber of people killed by guns in different countries. Students , became quiet and listened more intently when he said that the United States had 300 million citizens and 100 million guns. "Eighty percent of people killed by guns are family members," he said. He then asked students to name famous people who had been killed by guns. Giselle Wright and Keenan Smout performed at a multiple school members of the American Fork Company. cluded, text while we are with other people. If you think that detracts from our social experience I would say that you are wrong. With how fast teenagers can text, it takes away from talking to others a grand total of three to five -seconds per text. ' I I know a certain young person who texted over 14,000 texts last month, I am here tot tell you that this has not af- fected this particular persons social life one bit. If anything i( they interact with people more. Also there have been reports re-ports that say teenagers text ; r r 4 - " 1 . VV " ' J ' Classified Marketplace & online. If it doesn't sell, renew for 7 I' , TRIXIE WALKERNorth County "Kennedy.Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln," were some of the replies. For each person named, Lyde told students stu-dents the type of gun used and the nature of the wounds. He also acknowledged the validity valid-ity of having a gun for self-defense, self-defense, and showed a video. Students were encouraged to study the facts and to formulate formu-late their own opinions. Lyde said it is important for students to understand what is happening in our country. "I like to talk a lot about patriotism," patri-otism," he said. "It's something you can teach in videos, learning learn-ing activities, stories and plays." Taylor Warner, eighth-grade student, said she enjoyed learning learn-ing about U.S. History. "It helps me to see how much peqple put into making me free." For more information on Lyde's book, e-mail him at buychasingcharliegmail.com. s.. I I --.v.t- BARBARA CHRISTIANSENNorth County practice a samba they concert Saturday. They are High School Ballroom Dance too much and it shows in their writing. On my cell phone bill, it states that on average, I send between two and three thousand text messages a month. So I am here to ask you, does the fact that I text show in this newspaper article? Does it bother you that I write for the newspaper even though I text? I have created a special e-mail e-mail account and would love to hear your response. You can send it to anflrewcot-trellIyahoo.com. anflrewcot-trellIyahoo.com. I hope J'ou write me and until un-til next week, stay classy. Utah County Academy of Sciences Holiday dance The annual an-nual holiday dance is Dec. 14 at UVSC's Centre Stage. , Winter break The UCAS semester ends Dec. 21 and winter break is from Dec. 22 until Jan. 2. Class will begin on Jan. 3. Applications being taken Utah County Academy of Sciences administration is accepting applications to its early college high school from Jan. 3 to March 7 for 2006-2007 freshmen. A charter school sponsored by the Alpine, Provo and ' Nebo school districts and with the partnership of UVSC, the academy will select 110 students stu-dents for the 2007-2008 sophomore sopho-more class by lottery. Students who stay on track with the UCAS program can receive their UVSC associates degree, textbooks and tuition free, by the time they graduate gradu-ate with their high school diploma di-ploma and receive a two-year scholarship to further their education. Applications will be available avail-able online Jan. 3 until the submission deadline at www. ucas.kl2.ut.us. Additionally, more information about the school is accessible at the school Web site, by calling the school at 863-2222, or by visiting its UVSC campus at 940 W. 800 South, Orem. American Fork High School Help for holidays The annual an-nual SBO sponsored Sub for Santa Drive began on Monday Mon-day and will continue through Dec. 14. During this time, Sub for Santa jars will be in local businesses for any patron or community member who would like to donate. Several activities are scheduled sched-uled that students, faculty members, patrons and community com-munity members can participate partici-pate in including the Giving Tree, Christmas Grams, car change collections, dollar Fridays Fri-days and a movie night. , The Giving Tree is current-ry current-ry set up in the commons area with "gift wish" ornaments for the selected families. Anyone Any-one interested in helping can select an ornament, purchase and wrap the gift and return it to room 25 with the ornament orna-ment attached by Dec. 14. Christmas Grams are also be sold each day at lunch for 25 cents. The Christmas. Grams will then be delivered along with a candy cane. Student council members were in the parkiTg lot this past Monday and will be again this next Monday asking for any change that students might have in their cars. All donations will benefit bene-fit the Sub for Santa families. Student council members . invite any and all students to go caroling outside of local stores for donations. Interested Interest-ed students should meet in the school parking lot at 5 p.m. Locations will be assigned from there. Community help sought Tonight the student council coun-cil is especially seeking.the communities help by attending attend-ing the movies at American Fork's Towne Cinema on main street. SBO, Rochelle Geertsen said, "This is where we need the community's help. Part of the ticket and concession sales from the movies will be donated to the Sub for Santa effort." The movies that will be playing are "Passage to Zarahemla" and "Borne Ultimatum" at 7 and 9:15 p.m. She added, "We really need everyone who can to come." Dollar Friday will be tomor-, row and next Friday. Student council members wffl go to hi each classroom during first period to collect donations. Students and staff are encouraged en-couraged to donate $1 each of the two Fridays if they are able. After the boy's basket ball game against Timpview on Dec. 14, a Christmas stomp will be held until 11 p.m. At both of these activities activi-ties students and community members will have opportunities opportuni-ties to donate toward Sub for Santa. The student council appreciates appre-ciates the efforts and involvement involve-ment of everyone and recognize recog-nize that local families could not be provided for without the help of everyone. American Fork Junior High School Conferences planned Parentteacher Par-entteacher conferences are today from 3:30-8 p.m. Parents Par-ents are encouraged to attend with their student to take advantage ad-vantage of this opportunity to meet their student's teacners and check on their classroom progress. Community Council to meet The school community council will meet Friday at 7 a.m. Members are encouraged encour-aged to attend. School colors Red, white and black dress-up day is tomorrow. Students are encouraged en-couraged to show their school spirit by wearing the school colors. Concerts scheduled The elementary and junior bands will present their holiday concerts at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Admission is free. Parents, friends, families and community commu-nity members are encouraged and invited to attend. Choirs to sing The ninth-grade ninth-grade choirs will sing in Salt Lake Tuesday and Wednesday. Wednes-day. The eighth-grade choir will sing at the University Mall Dec. 13. Barratt Elementary Drivers cautioned Parents Par-ents are reminded to slow down when traveling near Barratt or any school. The speed limit from 300 North to 50 South is 20 mph. School officials of-ficials ask that drivers do not hurry down the street only to sit and wait. PTA board to me,et The PTA board will have a meeting meet-ing on Monday at 9:15 a.m. Concert planned The Christmas chorus concert is Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Parents, families and friends are encouraged and invited to attend. t Forbes Elementary Reading charts due BEAR reading charts for November are due Friday. Legacy Elementary Concert scheduled The 5th and 6th grade chorus concert will be Dec. 13 at 6:30 p.m. Parents, friends and families are encouraged and invited to attend. Shelley Elementary Parent meeting for science fair Science fair parent meetings will be today at 2:15 and 3:30 p.m. Parents whose students will be participating in the science fair are encouraged encour-aged to attend. Parents invited to concert Shelley Sounds concerts will be presented tomorrow at 9:40 a.m. and 1 p.m. Parents Par-ents are invited to attend. PTA board to meet The next PTA board meeting will be Monday at 10 a.m. in the library. NOVA graduation The 6th grade NOVA graduation will be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. This program encourages students stu-dents to be drug free. days FREE. t heraldextra.com Dailiflfcratd 1 I Mill, il.mili i. ,., m, |