Whatś your story?

When working with Slavery, I show my fourteen-year old students the film "Amistad" by Stephen Spielberg (amazing movie, by the way) After watching it, I give them this activity:

John Quincy Adams, former US president, tells Mr. Joadson to find out about the slaves'story. Joadson answers “they are from Africa” but Quincy tells him “No. no. their STORY” So, what is YOUR story? Answer that question as if you were telling a story in AT LEAST 100 words. Include the points below:

1. When, where and how were you born?
2. What have your parents told you about YOU when you were little? Personality, actions, etc.
3. Are you the only child in your family? What position do you have? Eldest, youngest?
4. Have you always lived in the same house? Or have you moved a lot?
5. What topics/issues/ideas interest you?
6. What topics/issues/ideas make you sad?
7. Which attitudes make you angry?
8. Which anecdote/memory best describes you?
9. What action can you do to improve this world? 
   In this way, I try to connect the students with the African slaves; with the "human" side of the history. I have received beautiful productions! Below you will find one of them. 
   PS: I would appreciate it if you left some comments :) 
   
   
   
   

Learning experiences at the Teacher Training College I

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn" John Cotton Dana

yes, but how cannot I cease when I attend 9 annual, excruciating subjects and work in the afternoons? Let alone, having already a family of my own!! 
well, as a matter of fact, you perfectly can :) 

I have attended a public, wonderful TTC (teacher training college) where I spent innumerous hours discussing essays, gramatical terms, trying to understand the phonetic chart ;) or just drinking "mate" while planning for the feared residence. 

But I believe I just could not have done that without a simple POWERFUL recipe:

Ingredients
a spoonful of your parents' support
a pinch of your classmates/friends' smiles, hugs and shoulders to cry on 
a bag of your attitude

Steps
In an enormous pot, melt your parents' support little by little and with a small fire. Let your parents sprinkle every day some of it (and if it is accompanied by hugs or kisses, much better!) 

Once you have a consistent, shiny mixture, pour your classmates' gifts one by one in any order, but do not forget to constantly stir; you do not want a sticky mixture that then you have to scratch from the bottom of the pot ;) 

Sparkle the last ingredient throughout all the procedure day by day with a confident hand. 

Charles Swindoll once wrote: "(. . . ) I am convinced that 10 % is what happens to me and 90 % how I react to it, and so it is with you. You are in charge of your own attitudes. " So with a true attitude towards your goal, you will definitely be able to achieve that objective. 

What are your thoughts about my recipe?  What has worked for you ?