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Dale Kern » Staff Profile

Staff Profile

Greetings!

 

My name is Dale Kern and I’m the High School Social Studies teacher and Senior Advocate. I received my Bachelor of Arts in History from Tennessee State University where I also minored in Political Science. While I was there, the emphasis of my studies centered around eras of social change in US history and the practices implemented by people who sought social justice. I earned my State of Colorado teaching license through the ASPIRE to Teach Alternative Licensure Program at CU Denver.  

 

 The 2023-2024 school year will be my eighth year of teaching and my fifth at Westgate. Before coming to Westgate, I taught US History and Music at Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center in Golden where I worked with at-risk youth who were in the custody of the Division of Youth Services. My time at Lookout gave me experience practicing trauma-informed care and guided me in adopting the principles associated with TIC; safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment.

 

As a social studies teacher, I believe that it is imperative to not only develop the readiness of my students as critical thinkers and engaged citizens; but to also help facilitate learning experiences where they can find growth and personal enrichment.

 

In my free time I enjoy backpacking, traveling, and snowboarding. I'm also a musician and I play guitar in a few local bands around Northern Colorado. 

 

Classes

Posts

World History - Week of 9/25 - 9/29

Hey Folks!

This week we will finish Topic 3 Early African Civilizations.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Topic 3.3 African Society and Culture

Objectives: Understand that African society was centered on village and family life, with distinct religious beliefs and a rich culture. Explain why African society was strongly influenced by values and customs, such as the importance of the family, common ancestors, and community education. Describe why Africa’s rich culture of paintings, carvings, sculpture, music, and dance often served a religious purpose.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 3.3 African Society and Culture
  2. Topic 3 SPICE Chart
  3. Genghis Kahn Documentary Viewing Questions

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 2 Spice Chart
  2. Topic 2 Quiz
  3. Topic 3.1 Development of African Civilizations
  4. Topic 3.2 Kingdoms and States of Africa

Contemp World Issues - Week of 9/25 - 9/29

Hey Folks! This week we will do a News Review and Analysis for Media Journals on Tuesday. On Thursday we update Topic posts and discuss our individual topics.

Have a great week!

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts

US History - Week of 9/25 - 9/29

Hey Folks!

This week we will continue Topic 11 Progressive Era.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Topic 11.4 Reformers in the Whitehouse

Objectives: Analyze how Theodore Roosevelt influenced the changing relationship between the federal government and private business. Explain the impact of Roosevelt’s actions toward managing the environment. Compare Roosevelt’s policies with Taft’s and Wilson’s. Describe Wilson’s efforts to regulate the economy. Assess the legacy of the Progressive Era.

Topic 11.5 American Influence Grows

Objectives: Identify the key factors that caused Americans to want to take a greater role overseas. Explain how the US took its first steps toward the position of a world power. Evaluate the acquisition of Hawaii by the US.

Topic 11.6 The Spanish-American War

Objectives: Explain the causes of the Spanish-American War. Identify the major battles of the Spanish-American War. Describe the consequences of the war, including the debate over imperialism.

Topic 11.7 The US Emerges as a World Power

Objectives: Analyze how economic concerns influenced the Open Door Policy and US relations with Japan. Examine what happened to Puerto Rico and Cuba after the Spanish-American War. Analyze the effects of “Big Stick” diplomacy and “Dollar Diplomacy.” Compare Wilson’s “Moral Diplomacy” with the foreign policies of his predecessors. 

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 11.4 Reformers in the Whitehouse
  2. Topic 11.5 American Influence Grows
  3. Topic 11.6 The Spanish-American War
  4. Topic 11.7 The US Emerges as a World Power

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 11.1 Progressives Drive Reform
  2. Topic 11.2 Women Gain Rights
  3. Topic 11.3 Striving for Equality
  4. Topic 10 Quiz
  5. Topic 11 PreQuiz

Financial Literacy - Week of 9/18-9/22

Hey Folks!

This week we will discuss Cars and Loans.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

List some of the costs of owning and operating a car. Given a budget, decide how much you can afford to pay for a car. List some of the things you should research and some decisions you should make before you begin to shop for a car. Understand the differences between various kinds of warranties and service contracts. List some steps you can take to resolve warranty and service contract disputes. List some of the factors to consider when shopping for a car loan. Calculate the total cost of various car loans. Understand what a co-signer is, and describe when one is necessary. List the responsibilities of a co-signer and of the person getting the loan. List some of the factors to consider when shopping for car insurance. List some of the factors used to set car insurance rates. Understand the circumstances under which a vehicle can be repossessed, and list the legal rights and responsibilities of the creditor and of the debtor. Given a budget, decide how much money can safely be spent each month to own, operate, and maintain a car. Know the advantages and disadvantages of leasing a motor vehicle.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Lesson 9 Cars and Loans Assignment
  2. Lesson 9 Quiz

Last Week’s Assignments

World History - Week of 9/18-9/22

Hey Folks!

This week we will finish Topic 2 The Islamic World and have a quiz on Tuesday. On Wednesday, we begin Topic 3 Early African Civilizations.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Topic 3.1 Development of African Civilizations

Describe how the widely varied geography of Africa influenced its culture and trade. Explain why Kush and Axum and later, Islam arose as strong early civilizations that would influence Africa.

Topic 3.2 Kingdoms and States of Africa

Understand how the expansion of trade enabled the kingdoms and states of Africa to protect their people and to prosper. Describe how powerful leadership helped Mali thrive. Explain how the migration of the Bantu and Indian Ocean trade changed East Africa.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 2 Spice Chart
  2. Topic 2 Quiz
  3. Topic 3.1 Development of African Civilizations
  4. Topic 3.2 Kingdoms and States of Africa

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 2.1 The Rise of Islam
  2. Topic 2.2 The Arab Empire and Its Successor
  3. Topic 2.3 Islamic Civilization
  4. Topic 2.4 Culture of Islam

Contemp World Issues - Week of 9/18-9/22

Hey Folks! This week we will do a News Review and Analysis for Media Journals on Tuesday. On Thursday we update Topic posts and discuss our individual topics.

Have a great week!

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts

US History Week of 9/18-9/22

Hey Folks!

This week we will begin Topic 11 Progressive Era. On Tuesday, we will take the quiz for Topic 10.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Topic 11.1 Progressives Drive Reform

Objectives: Analyze the role that journalists and novelists played in the Progressive Movement. Evaluate some of the social reforms that Progressives tackled. Explain what Progressives hoped to achieve through political reform.

Topic 11.2 Women Gain Rights

Objectives: Analyze actions taken by women to address social issues affecting workers and families. Evaluate the tactics reform leaders used to win passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.

Topic 11.3 Striving for Equality

Objectives: Analyze Progressives’ attitudes toward minority rights. Describe the political organizations formed by African Americans to promote civil rights. Examine the actions taken by minority groups to expand their rights.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 11.1 Progressives Drive Reform
  2. Topic 11.2 Women Gain Rights
  3. Topic 11.3 Striving for Equality
  4. Topic 10 Quiz
  5. Topic 11 PreQuiz

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 10.4 The New Immigrants
  2. Topic 10.5 - A Nation of Cities
  3. Topic 10.6 – New Ways of Life
  4. How the Other Half Live-Jacob Riis Photo Activity

Intro to Psychology - Week of 9/11 - 9/15

Hey Folks!

This week we will have Ms. Charlie and Ms. Blinne co-teaching about Environmental Psychology.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Describe climate change's mental health impacts. 

Examine the role of race and ethnicity when it comes to nature and mental health.

Create an educational infomercial utilizing information about effective climate change messaging.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Environmental Psych Infomercial
  2. Environmental Psych Assignment 2

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 1.3 – Behaviorism
  2. Topic 1.4 – Historical Figures in Psychology
 

Financial Lit. Week of 9/11 - 9/15

Hey Folks!

This week we will discuss Cars and Loans.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

List some of the costs of owning and operating a car. Given a budget, decide how much you can afford to pay for a car. List some of the things you should research and some decisions you should make before you begin to shop for a car. Understand the differences between various kinds of warranties and service contracts. List some steps you can take to resolve warranty and service contract disputes. List some of the factors to consider when shopping for a car loan. Calculate the total cost of various car loans. Understand what a co-signer is, and describe when one is necessary. List the responsibilities of a co-signer and of the person getting the loan. List some of the factors to consider when shopping for car insurance. List some of the factors used to set car insurance rates. Understand the circumstances under which a vehicle can be repossessed, and list the legal rights and responsibilities of the creditor and of the debtor. Given a budget, decide how much money can safely be spent each month to own, operate, and maintain a car. Know the advantages and disadvantages of leasing a motor vehicle.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Lesson 9 Cars and Loans Assignment
  2. Lesson 9 Quiz

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Lesson 8 Credit Cards
  2. Lesson 8 Credit Cards Quiz

Contemp World Issues Week of 9/11 - 9/15

Hey Folks! This week we will do a News Review and Analysis for Media Journals on Tuesday. On Thursday we update Topic posts and watch a documentary on one of our individual topics. I will be looking at the links you posted on Thursday to see what docs are out there.

Have a great week!

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts
  3. Data Gathering Discussion

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts

World History - Week of 9/11 - 9/15

Hey Folks!

This week we will begin Topic 2 The Islamic World.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Topic 2.1 The Rise of Islam

Understand how the creation of Islam led to great changes in the social and political systems of Southwest Asia. Describe how trade routes of the Arabs expanded, communities prospered, and tensions among the rich and poor increased. Explain how the revelations of Muhammad led to the creation of the Islamic religion. Relate how Islam is also both a set of religious beliefs and a way of life.

Topic 2.2 The Arab Empire and Its Successors

Describe how successors of Muhammad organized the Arabs and set in motion a great expansion. Explain how Islam experienced prosperity and a new cultural outlook under the Abbasid dynasty. Understand why the violent invasion of the Mongols destroyed the old Islamic Empire established by the Arabs and created a new center of Islamic civilization in Cairo, Egypt.

Topic 2.3 Islamic Civilization

Explain how despite Islamic teaching says that all people are equal under Allah, this was not strictly the case throughout the Arab Empire. Describe how growing trade and favorable geography allowed both urban and rural areas to flourish during the period of the Arab Empire.

Topic 2.4 Culture of Islam

Describe Islamic achievements in philosophy, science, and history. Explain how Islamic arts had an important influence on European civilization. Compare and Contrast why The Rubaiyat and The 1001 Nights are two major early Islamic works of literature that are still enjoyed today. Describe how Muslim art and architecture reflect the spiritual glory of Islam.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 2.1 The Rise of Islam
  2. Topic 2.2 The Arab Empire and Its Successor
  3. Topic 2.3 Islamic Civilization
  4. Topic 2.4 Culture of Islam

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. SPICE Chart for Topic 1
  2. Topic 1 Quiz

US History - Week of 9/11 - 9/12

Hey Folks!

This week we will continue with Topic 10 Industry and Innovation.

Have a great week!

Learning Objectives

Topic 10.4 The New Immigrants

Objectives: Compare the “new immigrants” of the late 1800’s to earlier immigrants. Explain the push and pull factors leading immigrants to America.

Topic 10.5 - A Nation of Cities

Objectives: Analyze urban growth in the late 1800’s. Explain how technology improved city life. Evaluate the problems caused by rapid urban growth and ways that city dwellers tried to solve them.

Topic 10.6 – New Ways of Life

Objectives: Explain how technology, new types of stores, and marketing changed Americans’ standard of living. Analyze mass culture and education in the late 1800’s. Describe new popular cultural movements in the late 1800’s.

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 10.4 The New Immigrants
  2. Topic 10.5 - A Nation of Cities
  3. Topic 10.6 – New Ways of Life
  4. How the Other Half Live-Jacob Riis Photo Activity

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Topic 10.1 Innovation Boosts Growth
  2. Topic 10.2 Big Business Rises
  3. Topic 10.3 Organized Labor Movement

Financial Literacy - Week of 9/5 - 9/8

Hey Folks, 
 
This week we will be finishing up Credit Scores, and transition that into how we use Credit Scores for Credit, Credit Cards, and Loans. 
 
Have a Great Week!

Intro to Psychology - Week of 9/5 - 9/8

Hey Folks, 
 
This week we are working on our Topic 1 Projects. The Projects are due next Monday. Please find the prompt in Teams and turn the assignment in on Teams as well. 
 
Have a great week!

Contemporary World Issues - Week of 9/5 - 9/8

Hey Folks!

This week we will do a News Review and Analysis for Media Journals on Tuesday. On Thursday we update Topic posts and watch another documentary on one of our individual topics.

Have a great week!

This Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts
  3. Data Gathering Discussion

Last Week’s Assignments

  1. Media Journal
  2. Topic Posts