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AnonymousStudents often ask me about why pilots would commit suicide and I always went with the standard answer, "they are fanatical patriots". I would like to use this journal to show that not all pilots were willing to kill themselves. Some wanted to live.
AnonymousI think it might be difficult to work in the Japanese diaries into my curriculum (medieval world history and early US history). However, Clay's presentation about Confucius and his lasting influence was quite useful. I never knew that all the information we have about him is from his students. It might also be a fun activity to have a mock civil service exam inside my classroom, after the kids have learned about Confucian ideals.
clay dubeI'm surprised that no one has mentioned The Red Scarf Girl in our discussion of biographies. It's mentioned in the Asia in My Classroom forum. Many teachers have used the book. The author's website is at: http://www.jilijiang.com/. Do any of you know the book? Have any of you hosted the author?
I'm on the author's mailing list and by chance today I received this note:
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Hi there:
I can't believe it's almost Nov, and it is the time to plan.
I will be visiting schools overseas next March and April. If you are interested in inviting me again, I will be available before March 10 or after April 30.
As many of you know, my presentation fits with curriculum units on China , world history, and government. It has been described as powerful, inspiring, and educational.
The honorarium is $1300 per day plus travel expenses. I also encourage two schools to share a day to reduce the cost.
If you're interested, please find more details at http://www.jilijiang.com/school-visits/generalinfo.htm and contact me directly at [email protected].
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If someone has experience with Jili as a speaker or her book as a source, please do share.
edited by Clay Dube on 10/28/2014
clay dubeI asked Anne Walthall about this book and was gratified to hear that she likes it as well. When I taught modern Japanese history (back at Berea College), I assigned it and thought that it was excellent. Here's the info:
Saga, Junichiro. Memories of Silk and Straw: A Self-Portrait of Small Town China. Kodansha USA, 1990.
I couldn't find it on Kodansha's website, but Amazon and Barnes and Noble both list it.
When the book came out, it was even reviewed by Charles Soloman (an animation expert) for the LA Times:
http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-17/books/bk-141_1_japanese-culture
AnonymousThe link to five versions of Mulan provided below by ybanuelos opened up a window for me to research ideas on how I can incorporate Mulan into my Kindergarten classroom. Most of my students are already familiar with the character from the Disney movie which provides prior knowledge to my students which will be helpful when new ideas/information of this important female will be presented to represent Asia in our studies.
AnonymousThank you for pointing out Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang. This biography could be a great resource in sharing insight into China's cultural revolution from a child's perspective. Based on what I read from reviews it is a story of a twelve-year-old girl and her struggle between her belief in the Communist Party, and her family. In the beginning she is an enthusiastic member of the Young Pioneers, a Communist Youth Organization. As time passes she has to decide between denouncing her father and turning her back on her family, or refusing to testify against him and sacrificing her future with the Communist Party.
This biography makes the Cultural Revolution meaningful to children (ages 10 and up) as well as adults.
AnonymousI know we're talking about using biographies in the classroom, but I think that using a tv show might be a bit more accessible and also easier (showing an episode, as opposed to having to buy copies of books). I really enjoy the PBS show, Finding Your Roots, hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates. He traces guests' family histories through newspapers, government records, and DNA. He recently did an episode on the Chinese American chef, Ming Tsai, whose father escaped the Cultural Revolution. They were able to trace back his lineage to Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor.
The show (and its predecessor, Faces of America) has profiled many Asian Americans, including Margaret Cho, Yo-Yo Ma, and Kristi Yamaguchi. Most episodes are available for streaming. It's probably necessary to watch the show with a healthy dose of skepticism, but it's entertaining, nonetheless, and gives a lot of historical background that might be interesting for students.
AnonymousIn Modern World History, one of the concepts that must be taught is Nationalism. I think Nakane Mihoko is the the perfect example to be able to teach this. Early in the year I teach about Sparta and their indoctrination of the children into their militaristic system. These diaries lend themselves perfectly to the standard. I can use them in solation to teach nationalism during wartime or as a comparative between two different time periods and regions. finding the sources for this is always the hardest part of teaching for me. Professor Yamashita's book is a great resource for me to use when I teach about WW2. It will give the students insight into the minds of the Japanese at this time.
AnonymousThe pacing guide for my district has students covering WWII in United States History at the start of Quarter 3. In typical fashion, everyone is behind the pacing...
AnonymousI think integrating PBS' Faces of America gives the students a relatable person who they can identify with in modern times and illuminates their ancestry. Kristi Yamaguchi was American born and her family spent time in concentration camps during WWII. It is a pretty impactful story! The most significant aspect that would persuade me to use this in my classroom is that it gives students a face to the story. And more importantly, it is a face that relates to their pop culture upbringing.
clay dubeGreat suggestion, Tara!
Here's a link to the Faces of America page on Kristi Yamaguchi: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/kristi-yamaguchi/3/
And for Yo-yo Ma: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/yo-yo-ma/7/
Bill Moyers: Becoming American: The Chinese Experience http://www.pbs.org/becomingamerican/index.html
And more PBS (donate!) - Children of the Camps, stories of Japanese internment: http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/
clay dubeOne documentary that deals with the training and experiences of kamikaze and the American sailors targeted by such attacks is Wings of Defeat. Information about it can be found at:
http://www.edgewoodpictures.com/wingsofdefeat/
It is available on YouTube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZNy4l2j-Yc
AnonymousTwo auto/biographies that I have enjoyed are Red Azaelas and Five Swans. I learned so much about Communism in China instead of just reading newspaper articles that skirted the impact on individual human lives. These two books really personalized the sacrafices and penalties assessed upon people who mostly just wanted to survive through the end of the day. I think excerpts would be easily used in World Literature class or even in a Creative Writing class when focusing on autobiographies. I know in the past I have had students who had a difficult time understanding the difference between fiction and non-fiction. When they were able to understand that non-fiction was about real people and real events, it changed their reading experience and their understanding of the world.