sparkles #16
DESCRIPTION
October issue of Sparkles is here! :-)TRANSCRIPT
It is amazing to see the
seasons changing, even
though some of us aren’t
looking forward to bad
weather.
Nevertheless, we have to
admit there is beauty in
autumn - all the colours
changing on the trees, the
days turning to nights a bit
faster...
This issue of
Sparkles© also brings
changes. We’ve decided it’
s time to devote more
space to culturally
important
topics and facts most of us
know little about in order
to expand our collective
general knowledge and to
influence our critical
thinking. It might even
help with civic education...
From now on, we will
bring to your attention
biographies of people
whose lives have
somehow changed the
world, starting with the
"Iron Lady". We will also
try to tackle different
issues of significance,
such as Human rights.
But not everything is
changing. As some things
in life are constant, so is
our primary goal to help
you learn and improve
both your English learning
and teaching skills.
So, kids, do try the tips on
taking your English to the
next level. And, dear
colleagues, check out what
makes a highly effective
teacher.
Have a great month, and
don’t forget to have fun
Trick or treating! ▪ M.I.
Did you know? - Margaret Thatcher MARGARET THATCHER (October 13, 1925 - April 8,
2013) was a British politician
who led the United Kingdom's Conservative Party from 1975
to 1990 and served as its first
female Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990. She was the
longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century
and is currently the only
woman to have held the office. A Soviet journalist called her
the "Iron Lady", a nickname
that became associated with her uncompromising and
unwavering politics and
leadership style. As Prime Minister, she implemented
policies that have come to be
known as Thatcherism. ▪ I.P.
“Where there is discord, may
we bring harmony. Where
there is error, may we bring
truth. Where there is doubt,
may we bring faith. And where
there is despair, may we bring
hope.”
Human rights 2
Lady Liberty 4
Telephoning 4
Work on your English 5
Crossword puzzle 6
SŠČ & WTD 7
Habits of highly
effective teachers
8
Inside this issue:
CONTRIBUTORS TO
THIS ISSUE:
Dario Vidić, High School Čazma
Once upon a time in October 1/10/1908 - Henry Ford's Model T, a "universal car" designed for the masses, went on sale for the first time.
1/10/1949 - The People's Republic of China was founded with Mao Zedong as Chairman.
3/10/1990 - After 45 years of Cold War division, East and West Germany were reunited as the Federal Republic of Germany.
4/10/1957 - The Space Age began as the Russians launched the first satellite into orbit.
9/10/1940 - John Lennon, a member of The Beatles, was born in Liverpool, England.
12/10/1492 - After a 33-day voyage, Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the New World in the Bahamas.
13/10/1884 - Greenwich was established as the universal time from which standard times throughout the world are calculated.
14/10/1964 - Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
21/10/1805 - The Battle of Trafalgar took place between the British Royal Navy and the combined French and Spanish fleets.
24/10/1945 - The United Nations was founded.
28/10/1636 - Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in America, was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
30/10/1938 - The War of the Worlds radio broadcast panicked millions of Americans. Orson Welles dramatized the H.G. Wells story
depicting a Martian invasion of New Jersey.
Monthly newsletter for and by English learners and teachers
Editors:
Maja Ivanović, prof. Komercijalna i trgovačka škola Bjelovar
Irena Pavlović, prof. mentor Srednja škola Čazma
email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sparkles.newsletter
Changes… http://youtu.be/Cj25UpcBDt0
Issue 16/14 October 2014
“Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration
constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and
international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of
territories under their jurisdiction. “
THIS MONTH’S BUZZ
What are human rights? Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, whatever our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible. Universal human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law, in the forms of treaties, customary international law , general principles and other sources of international law. International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.
Universal and inalienable The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first
emphasized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions. The 1993 Vienna World Conference on Human Rights, for example, noted that it is the
duty of States to promote and protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of their political, economic and cultural systems. All States have ratified at least one, and 80% of States have ratified four or more, of the core human rights treaties,
reflecting consent of States which creates legal obligations for them and giving concrete expression to universality. Some fundamental human rights norms enjoy universal protection by customary international law across all boundaries and civilizations.
Human rights are inalienable. They should not be taken away, except in specific situations and according to due process. For example, the right to liberty may be restricted if a person is found guilty of a crime by a court of law.
Interdependent and indivisible All human rights are indivisible, whether they are civil and political rights, such as the right to life, equality before the law and freedom of expression; economic, social and cultural rights, such as the rights to work, social security and education , or collective rights, such as the rights to development and self-determination, are indivisible, interrelated and interdependent. The improvement of one right facilitates advancement of the others. Likewise, the deprivation of one right adversely affects the others.
Equal and non-discriminatory Non-discrimination is a cross-cutting principle in international human rights law. The principle is present in all the major human
rights treaties and provides the central theme of some of international human rights conventions such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women. The principle applies to everyone in relation to all human rights and freedoms and it prohibits discrimination on the basis of a list of non-exhaustive categories such as sex, race, colour and so on. The principle of non-
discrimination is complemented by the principle of equality, as stated in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
Both Rights and Obligations Human rights entail both rights and obligations. States assume obligations and duties under international law to respect, to protect and to fulfil human rights. The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or curtailing the enjoyment of human rights. The obligation to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human rights abuses. The obligation to fulfil means that States must take positive action to facilitate the enjoyment of basic human rights. At the individual level, while we are entitled our human rights, we should also respect the human rights of others.
BE SURE TO CHECK THESE OUT!
HUMAN RIGHTS
Page 2
The first draft of the Declaration was proposed in September 1948 with
over 50 Member States participating in the final drafting. By its
resolution 217 A (III) of 10 December 1948, the General Assembly,
meeting in Paris, adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
with eight nations abstaining from the vote but none dissenting.
Page 3
THIS MONTH’S BUZZ
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the
UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948, was the result of the
experience of the Second World War. With the end of that war, and the
creation of the United Nations, the international community vowed
never again to allow atrocities like those of that conflict happen
again. World leaders decided to complement the UN Charter with a
road map to guarantee the rights of every individual everywhere. The
document they considered, and which would later become the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was taken up at the first
session of the General Assembly in 1946. The Assembly reviewed this
draft Declaration on Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms and
transmitted it to the Economic and Social Council "for reference to the
Commission on Human Rights for consideration . . . in its preparation
of an international bill of rights." The Commission, at its first session
early in 1947, authorized its members to formulate what it termed "a
preliminary draft International Bill of Human Rights". Later the work
was taken over by a formal drafting committee, consisting of members
of the Commission from eight States, selected with due regard for
geographical distribution.
The Commission on Human Rights was made up of 18 members from
various political, cultural and religious backgrounds. Eleanor
Roosevelt, widow of American President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
chaired the UDHR drafting committee. With her were René Cassin of
France, who composed the first draft of the Declaration, the Committee
Rapporteur Charles Malik of Lebanon, Vice-Chairman Peng Chung
Chang of China, and John Humphrey of Canada, Director of the UN’s
Human Rights Division, who prepared the Declaration’s blueprint. But
Mrs. Roosevelt was recognized as the driving force for the
Declaration’s adoption.
The entire text of the UDHR was composed in less than two years. At a
time when the world was divided into Eastern and Western blocks,
finding a common ground on what should make the essence of the
document proved to be a colossal task.
In 1950, on the second anniversary of the adoption of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, students
at the UN International Nursery School in New York viewed a poster of the historic document. After
adopting it on December 10, 1948, the UN General
Assembly had called upon all Member States to
publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded
principally in schools and other educational
institutions, without distinction based on the political
status of countries or territories." (UN Photo)
On October 28, 1886 the Statue of Liberty, a monument
symbolising the United States, was dedicated near the
entrance to New York City harbour. The statue was a gift
from the people of France commemorating the French-
American alliance during the American Revolutionary War.
The entire structure stands 92.9 meters tall, representing a
woman wearing a stola, a crown and sandals, trampling a
broken chain, and with a torch in her raised right hand and a
tablet, where the date of the Declaration of Independence
JULY IV MDCCLXXVI is written, in her left hand. The
pedestal contains the words from Emma Lazarus' sonnet,
New Colossus: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your
teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" The statue welcomes
visitors, immigrants, and returning Americans travelling by
ship. ▪ I.P.
Page 4
OCTOBER TRIVIA
STUDENTS’ CORNER
CHECK IT OUT! Have you heard this? Have you seen this? Have you read this?
Maroon 5 “V”
The fifth studio album by American pop rock band Maroon 5 aptly named “Five”,
was released on August 29, 2014. The
album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, selling 164,000
copies in the first week. The first single “Maps”, was released on June 16 and
immediately peaked on the Top 20 lists
in several countries. On August 22, “Animals” was released, and the video
has shocked anyone with a weaker stomach. “It Was Always You” was
released as the album's promotional
single and has brought us to our knees. It received mixed
reviews, but is
generally liked by Maroon 5’s most
faithful fans. Definitely worth
listening! ▪ M.I.
The Giver
The haunting story centres on Jonas, a young man who lives in a seemingly
perfect community. Yet he is chosen to
learn about the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world and as he begins to
spend time with The Giver, who is the sole keeper of all the community's
memories, Jonas quickly begins to
discover the dark and deadly truths of his community's secret past. With this
newfound power of knowledge, he realizes that the stakes
are higher than
imagined... And if you don't find the plot
intriguing enough, have
a look at the cast - a perfect mix of youth
and experience. ▪ I.P.
David Mitchell, The Bone Clocks
Although published less than a month ago, Mitchell's sixth novel has already
been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2014. It tells a story of a fifteen-
year-old Holly Sykes, who, following a
scalding row with her mother, slams the door on her old life. But Holly is no
typical teenage runaway: a sensitive child once contacted by voices she knew
only as “the radio people,” Holly is a
lightning rod for psychic phenomena. The novel is a
marvellous
combination of elements of a thriller,
horror and fantasy. If you liked the Cloud
Atlas, you'll love this
one. ▪ I.P.
LANGUAGE TITBITS
Page 5
TAKE YOUR ENGLISH TO THE NEXT LEVEL - QUICKLY & EASILY! Have you ever wondered why some of your colleagues seem to master English
without breaking a sweat while you need to study for hours upon end?
Well, most of them do something related to
learning English every day... and it is not doing homework...
Here are five tricks successful language learners do on a daily basis. ▪ I.P.
1. Listening to Music has more
benefits than you're probably aware
of. While putting on some tunes with
lyrics in whatever language you’re
learning, you'll practice your listening
and comprehension skills which
means you'll learn how to understand
what you hear. Also, if you choose
the songs you like, you'll learn them
by heart and sing them, boosting your
speaking abilities.
5. Writing can help you improve your
spelling and grammar and your ability
to use both to clearly communicate
ideas. Of course, it doesn't mean you
have to write lengthy essays (though it
couldn’t hurt!), but taking the time
each day to write a bit will greatly
improve your language skills. It can be
a to-do list, a note to yourself or a few
lines from the song you've heard. All
in all, a simple tweak to your daily
routine to include more language
immersion can help make the process
easier and far more enjoyable.
4. Talking to Yourself may sound
odd and be interpreted as a symptom
of being crazy, but have no worries.
Successful foreign language learners
do this often. One of the most
important components in learning a
language is being able to speak. But if
you’re in a country where this
language is spoken, speaking to
someone isn’t always an option -
talking to yourself is often the only
choice. Whatever you choose to talk to
yourself about, doing it in another
language will take it to another level.
2. Reading the News may sound like
the least interesting thing to do but,
besides boosting your reading
comprehension and learning new
words, you'll also learn something
about the culture which is a big part
of learning a foreign country’s
language. This is important because it
helps you get a deeper understanding
of the language, and not just the
grammar and pronunciation.
3. Watching Films is something you
probably do every day anyway.
Watching a film in a foreign language
is a great way to improve your
listening and comprehension skills. At
first, it'll probably help if you upload
subtitles - but not in your mother
tongue! That way you'll be reading the
lines and listening to them at the same
time. You’ll gain a host of language
learning benefits while sitting on the
couch with a bowl of popcorn.
STUDENTS’ CORNER
Page 6
Do you like doing
crossword puzzles? Here's
the one closely connected to
something happening in
October. Perhaps you’ve
seen it published on our
Facebook page and you
already know the final
solution. If not, enjoy doing
it and don’t forget to post
comments on our post on
https://www.facebook.com/
Sparkles.newsletter. Hint -
there is a final solution, a
phrase made of highlighted
letters. Good luck!
LET'S TRY THIS
CONGRATS TO MARINA TADEJ, 1.C FROM HIGH SCHOOL ČAZMA, WHO WAS THE FIRST TO SEND HER ANSWERS!
The history of high school education in Čazma starts in 1964
even though there was no high
school in the traditional
meaning. Gimnazija Bjelovar
opened a department in Čazma,
with their teachers having
classes in both towns. Such
practice went on until 1978.
Altogether some 250 students
attended classes and received
high school diploma. At the
same time, a large number of
students enrolled at various
vocational programmes and
studied to become car
mechanics, smiths, plumbers,
whitesmiths, machinists etc.
After that, due to changes in the educational system, the
school got a new name (Centar za usmjereno obrazovanje)
and offered programmes related to
traffic, engineering and agriculture
which were now independent from
Bjelovar and functioned as a
proper high school in Čazma. The
biggest problem, due to a number
of students who attended (around
400 per year), was space and
equipment. The new building,
mostly thanks to the headmaster
Željko Kralj, was built in the 1990s
and since 1999/2000 the school has
been located in Livadarska Street.
To commemorate its 50th
anniversary, High school Čazma
made a millennium photography. ▪
I.P.
Page 7
ČAZMA HIGH SCHOOL
NEWS FROM SCHOOLS
World Teachers' Day, held annually in over 100
countries on October 5th since 1994,
commemorates teachers’ organizations
worldwide. Its aim is to mobilize support for
teachers and to ensure that the needs of future
generations will continue to be met by teachers.
According to UNESCO, World Teachers' Day
represents a significant token of the awareness,
understanding and appreciation displayed for the
vital contribution that teachers make to education
and development.
2014 World Teachers' Day is observed under the
motto Invest in the future, invest in teachers.
Celebrations will be taking various forms - while
some countries organize special CPD sessions,
others invite the whole population to take part by
saying thank you to the teachers who have
inspired them and sharing stories of life lessons
they have learnt at school. There will also be
some nonconventional events like a Selfie with
your Teacher Competition and Hug your Teacher
Day.
Teachers do an incredibly important job, many
working in difficult conditions and with limited
resources. Wherever you are on October 5,
whatever you do, take a minute of two of your
time and say a quiet thank you to the very best
teacher that influenced you – almost everyone
will have someone that springs to mind. ▪ I.P.
WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY
The main variable in classroom performance is not students. It’s not parents.
It’s not the principal or the board of education. It is the teacher. The most important factor contributing to student success is the effectiveness of
instruction. It is unreasonable to expect excellence from our students unless we know
what excellence actually looks like. Let’s see what habits highly effective teachers have
that we could all benefit from accepting to achieve excellence as professionals.
Highly effective teachers...
1) take a wider view of student success. Outstanding teachers know that the purpose of school isn’t solely students’ academic
performance but also to do well in life. A practical vision of schooling makes it
difficult to justify students mindlessly learning irrelevant facts, thoughtlessly
completing word searches or robotically memorizing material in a textbook when such
activities have little to do with real-world challenges. Do whatever you can to make sure your lessons have real-life value so your students can take with them something
they actually need.
2) recognize instruction as a performance. At some level, teaching is a sales job, meaning how lessons are “sold” is as important as
the product itself. It doesn’t really matter how hard teachers work and how many
degrees they hold. If instructional delivery is boring, students are unlikely to make
intellectual “purchases” during the lesson. Students are unlikely to learn if not engaged,
so try out different strategies to improve your instructional delivery and, most
importantly, always know what you're talking about.
3) internalize personal accountability. The very best teachers do far more than perform. They internalize lofty performance
standards for themselves. Master teachers focus on what they can always control — their own actions – and feel personally responsible for student learning, and their
mantra of “If they fail, I fail” is simple yet powerful. Whatever the challenge, both
students and teachers will more likely persevere if they feel an increased sense of
personal responsibility and control. Do not be quick to deflect accountability or rationalize inadequacy by focusing on personal efforts rather than on student results.
4) understand student motivation. The fact is that most students are motivated to learn — especially when it comes to
reciting sports statistics, recalling song lyrics or vanquishing foes in video games. Yet they may be disinterested in learning what you are trying to teach them. Excellent
teachers use instructional strategies that overcome such lethargy by focusing on
learning’s essential motivating factors of do-ability and importance. To foster learning,
tasks must be both doable and important. If either factor is absent, little or no effort will be made, no matter how much of the other variable is present. The reason is simple. If
tasks are doable but perceived as unimportant, few people will expend energy on such
“trivial” pursuits. And if assignments are important but not seen as doable, most people
will give up rather than struggle with “impossible” undertakings.
5) are continually focused on instructional improvement. The best teachers have an insatiable appetite both for good student results and for their
own learning. This is so because they realize the more they learn, the more they
recognize their own ignorance. They are driven to continually challenge past practices, try new approaches and always do what is right for kids. They attend in-service
presentations hoping to pick up even one idea leading to improved pedagogy. On the
other hand, weak instructors view staff development much as disruptive students view
substitute teachers. With a smug “You can’t teach me anything” mind-set, these inert educators attend conferences doing crossword puzzles, reading the screens of their
handhelds or grading papers. Schools would be transformed if all educators accepted
full responsibility for instructional results, if new approaches were considered with an
open mind and if decisions were based on their benefit to kids rather than on avoiding difficulty for themselves. Too many working in a profession dedicated to improving the
world for future generations remain in an underperforming past. Continuing to do what
they have always done, they ensure the poor results they have always achieved. ▪ M.I.
HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TEACHERS
TEACHERS’ CORNER
PERSONAL QUALITIES EVERY
EFFECTIVE TEACHER POSESSES:
EENJOYSNJOYS TTEACHINGEACHING MMAKESAKES AA DDIFFERENCEIFFERENCE
SSPREADSPREADS PPOSITIVITYOSITIVITY GGETSETS PPERSONALERSONAL
GGIVESIVES 100% 100% SSTAYSTAYS OORGANIZEDRGANIZED
IISS OOPENPEN--MMINDEDINDED HHASAS SSTANDARDSTANDARDS
FFINDSINDS IINSPIRATIONNSPIRATION EEMBRACESMBRACES CCHANGEHANGE
CCREATESREATES RREFLECTIONSEFLECTIONS
CPD in ten minutes or less
http://www.teachthought.com/teaching/25-things-
successful-teachers-do-differently/
Though this article by Julie DuNeen really fits into a
ten-minute-CPD session (wherever you are - there is a
mobile version J), it will probably make you think
and re-examine some of the things you're doing in the
classroom. Ms DuNeen explains 25 things successful
educators do differently and actually reach their
students. ▪ I.P.
Have you tried...?
Yes, we all know it is 2014 and both students and teachers prefer using technology, but it
doesn't mean some good old-fashioned ways should be forgotten. One way to learn is to
remember things unintentionally, on the go. Classroom posters can be of great use here
because students look at them all the time. Of course, it is not enough just to ask your
students to make them and put them on display. Why not turn it into a project? Think
about different aspects of vocabulary or syntax your students struggle with. Help them
make a poster that deals with the problem but ask them to come up different examples
every week. Idiom of the week poster is just an idea. A vindicated one, though. ▪ I.P.