Final Post 2010-2011

It's Finals Week and another school year is drawing to a close.

It's been said that a picture's worth a thousand words. Here is a word cloud of this year's blog:

eng 2 blog word cloud apr2011




As I watch students bring in the food they made with love and put the finishing touches on their presentations,

food made with love


I am reminded of the words a teacher once handed me on the last day of school:

I wish to begin this summer well;
to do something in it worthy of it and me;
to transcend my daily routine and that of my townsmen...
I pray that the life of this spring and summer
may ever lie fair in my memory.
May I dare as I have never done!
May I persevere as I have never done!
-Henry David Thoreau

Wishing you good things to read and think about,
Dr. Preston

June 3

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[n/a]

AGENDA:
1. Essay Final

HW:
1. Group presentation (due finals week by period as follows: p.3&4 on Tuesday, June 7; p.5 on Wednesday, June 8)
2. Course evaluation (please print and complete the form below and bring it to your period's final)

COURSE EVALUATION
Please print and complete the following two forms this weekend, and bring them with you on the day of your final.

Evaluation Journal 1


FINAL JOURNAL evaluation

June 2

JOURNAL TOPIC:
The third part of that original journal topic asked, "How far are you prepared to go to achieve your goals?" Did you go far enough this year? Can you go farther?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss final two chapters of Like Water for Chocolate
3. More about tomorrow's essay final
4. More about the group presentation

EXIT TICKET: group names, meals, significance, ingredients, requirements

HW: Study for tomorrow's essay final

June 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
The second part of that first journal topic in August asked, "What do you expect of the class and of yourself this year?" Did the class meet your expectations? Did you meet your expectations? Explain.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. "Immigrants in Our Own Land"
3. Return vocabulary finals
4. Review for essay final
5. Group presentation requirements

HW:
1. Study for essay final
2. Begin working on presentation

May 31

JOURNAL TOPIC:
This is the beginning of the last week of your 2010-2011 journal. The first question this year asked you, "Who are you and what are you doing in this class?" Nearly ten months later, are you the same person who came to this class last August? Are you here for the same reasons? How have you and your motivations changed, and how have they stayed the same?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. "Immigrants": victims and volunteers

HW:
1. Go through your materials from the year and make a list of everything you read in this course, including the books you chose for literature analyses.

May 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
***[no journal today due to final]***

AGENDA:
1. Vocabulary final

HW:
1. Finish memorizing "Immigrants in Our Own Land" (due Tuesday, 5/31)
2. Complete reading/active reading notes on Like Water for Chocolate (due Wednesday, 6/1)

May 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time when cooperation enabled you to survive or succeed in a way you couldn't have on your own. Use as many vocabulary words as you can!

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss LWFC chapters August-October
3. Vocabulary final review

HW: Study for tomorrow's vocabulary final.

May 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
On Thursday at lunch I will host an orientation for students who are taking my class next year. Based on your experience, what should I tell them that will make them successful?

AGENDA:
This week's classes are working periods in preparation for finals. Evaluate your own priorities and invest your time in one or more of the following:

*Study for vocabulary final
*Memorize "Immigrants in Our Own Land"
*Finish literature analyses
*Read/take notes on LWFC chapters August, September and October

HW: Continue your work in these four areas.

May 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What are you doing to prepare yourself for finals? What grades are you hoping for/aiming for this semester?

AGENDA:
This week's classes are working periods in preparation for finals. Evaluate your own priorities and invest your time in one or more of the following:

*Study for vocabulary final
*Memorize "Immigrants in Our Own Land"
*Finish literature analyses
*Read/take notes on LWFC chapters August, September and October

HW: Continue your work in these four areas.

May 23

***REMINDER: ALL LITERATURE ANALYSES DUE FRIDAY 5/27 NO EXCEPTIONS***

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write a brief narrative to go with the following picture/caption, and challenge yourself to avoid any direct characterization:

burdick this time she'd gone too far



AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. "August" quiz
3. Vocab review feedback and how to study for Friday's (5/27) final

HW:
1. Study vocabulary
2. Work on "Immigrants"

May 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Tita's magical meals are way for her to express emotion, creativity, and connections to other people. How do you express these things?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary: final review quiz

HW:
1. Read/take notes on "August" (possible quiz Monday 5/23)

May 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In the spirit of this week's multimedia journal review/revue, here is another musical sample. This time, however, instead of merely analyzing literary elements, you will create your own. Write a short biographical story in which the singer is the protagonist; explain his song or presence on the show in a narrative plot that includes exposition, rising action, a climax, and falling action/resolution/denouement.




AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss "July"
3. Vocabulary review

HW: Study for vocabulary review quiz tomorrow (format described in class, ask a friend if you're not here today)

May 18

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Earlier in the year a journal topic asked you to describe your favorite music to a deaf person. Well, in this case, a deaf person COMPOSED the music. Listen to Beethoven's 9th Symphony and describe the author's tone and the mood he creates through his music.




AGENDA:
1. Journal/return "May" questions and notes
2. Discuss "Grilled Cheese" article and the relationship between Love and Quality
3. "June" quiz

HW: Read/take notes on "July"

May 17

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In order to get full credit for today's extended journal topic, you must demonstrate your understanding of irony and satire (it's been a while, so consult your notes if necessary). Is the song/video "Because I'm Awesome" ironic? Is it satirical? Answer each question clearly and give at least one reason with three examples for each.




AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. LWFC
*correct "May" quiz
*discuss "June"

HW:
1. Finish "June" reading/notes
2. Read "For These Sandwich Lovers, the Cheese Stands Alone"

Immigrants in Our Own Land

Our last poem this year is a powerful reminder that we don't need to go further than our own land to study world literature and culture. In fact, when it comes to Jimmy Santiago Baca, even magical realism hits close to home. According to the September 2008 National Council of Teachers of English magazine, "Chicano poet Jimmy Santiago Baca was born with rattlesnake poison in his blood. In January, 1952, just before his mother gave birth, she was bitten by a rattler. The healer who tended to her wound and then brought Baca into the world said that because of the venom Baca would be able to see in the dark and that he would change many times throughout his life, just as a snake sloughs its skin. And change many times he did."

After you memorize this poem we'll discuss how reading Baca changes us. Due May 31.

Immigrants in Our Own Land

May 16

JOURNAL TOPIC:
People often say, "I wish I had this" or "I wish I had that"-- but we don't know how our lives would change if we actually got everything we wished for. Describe something you wanted-- and got-- that made your life harder. What do you wish you DIDN'T have?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/update your calendar (see below)
2. "May" LWFC reading quiz
3. Vocab quiz this Friday (5/20): final review

CALENDAR/IMPORTANT DATES:
Please make a note of these as we head down the home stretch.

5/27 Last day to turn in Literature Analyses
5/27 Vocabulary Final
5/31 Recite "Immigrants in Our Own Land"
6/3 Essay Final
6/6-9 Final Presentations

May 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Do you think Friday the 13th is bad luck? Why/why not? Do you remember when/how you first heard about it? Why do you think superstitions are so important to so many people?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary quiz
3. Discussion: family traditions and "April"

HW:
1. Read/active reading notes on "May"

May 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
It's been written that, "Scars tell you where you've been, but they shouldn't tell you where you're going." Do you agree? To what extent should past actions/experiences/ traumas guide our choices? Explain.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Use last night's HW to compare family traditions
*Outward rituals/performance
*Inner messages, expectations & emotions
*Similarities
*Differences

HW: Review "April" quiz and notes for discussion tomorrow (Thurs. 5/12)

May 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Two days ago our journal topic was about prejudice (i.e., pre-judging)-- so today let's try an experiment. STEP 1: listen to the song featured in the video below WITHOUT watching the video. Picture the singer and describe him based solely on how he sounds. STEP 2: Watch the video; add detail and/or change your description. How did having more information enable you to accurately describe the singer?



AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. "April" quiz & discussion
3. Writing with vocabulary: describe a family tradition from your own family, and use at least ten of this week's vocabulary words in the process. Finish for HW.

May 10

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a recent event/episode in your life-- in magical realism.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Return "March" quiz & look up textual support
3. Active reading notes
4. "April"


HW: Finish reading/notes on "April"

Active Reading Notes

Here is an example of active reading notes. If you don't have your own book you can take notes in a binder or notebook (just remember to write the page numbers so you don't forget!).

active reading notes lwcf jan

May 9

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe an example of prejudice and explain how you think we can overcome this issue in our community.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary
3. Quiz on "March" chapter of LWFC

HW: Vocab sentences

May 6

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What's the big deal about Mother's Day? Shouldn't we show love for our Moms every day?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab quiz
3. Like Water of Chocolate: finish discussing Jan/Feb questions

HW: Read/take active reading notes on "March" (quiz on Monday, 5/9)

May 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the most recent time you helped someone less fortunate. If you can't think of a time you did this, what can you do for someone today? Can being of service make us better people/citizens? Explain.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss Jan/Feb chapters of Like Water for Chocolate
3. Vocab review

HW:
1. Vocab quiz tomorrow
2. Add to Jan/Feb notes

May 4

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Think of a person you consider to be a success. What talents, qualities, experiences, knowledge, or dumb luck made this person successful?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Answer following questions on "February" chapter (due tomorrow)

February
15. Explain how Tita’s relationship with Mama Elena is different from her
relationship with Nacha.
16. Explain and discuss the beginning of Tita’s rebellion.
17. Explain the significance of Tita’s bedspread.
18. Why does Pedro decide to marry Rosaura? What is the logic to his decision?
19. What is the significance of the color white?
20. Describe the elaborate banquet Tita prepared for Rosaura’s wedding.
21. How was Mama Elena able to obtain the French silk for Rosaura’s wedding
sheet?
22. Who is the "Chinaman"? How was he able to become a millionaire during the
revolution?
23. What is your reaction to Mama Elena throwing such an elaborate wedding for
Rosaura in the midst of the revolution? What conclusion can be made about
Mama Elena?
24. What causes Nacha’s death?
25. How is Tita’s life similar to Nacha’s?

May 3

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Turnabout is fair play. The same teacher you selected for yesterday's topic will be today's narrator; imagine how this person would describe YOUR life outside of school. Write in his/her voice and remember: you're not describing your life, s/he is.

AGENDA:
1. Journal topic
2. Check HW (vocabulary sentences)
3. Five Ideas on Magical Realism (exchange ideas with other students from weekend HW)
4. Write essay on following topic (finish for HW)

ESSAY TOPIC:
Based on what you've read in the first two chapters, does Like Water For Chocolate fit the genre of Magical Realism? Why/why not? Be sure to support your ideas with textual examples. Due Thursday, May 5.

May 2

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Contrary to popular belief, teachers are people too. Choose one of your teachers and imagine what his/her life is like outside of school.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Vocabulary (see below)
3. [If time] share ideas/questions about magical realism with partner

HW:
1. Vocabulary sentences
2. Read Chapter 2 ("February") of Like Water for Chocolate

THIS WEEK'S VOCABULARY LIST*
(*is also a review list; don't take it for granted, use the opportunity to improve your last score on this list and prepare for the final!)

cantankerous
quaff
ostracize
otiose
visage
indolent
scabbard
juggernaut
aggregate
conjugal
zenith
voluptuous
zephyr
prestidigitation
tantalize
fatuous
taciturn
paroxysm
animosity
parched

April 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Recent research suggests that excessive texting may be linked to anxiety, distraction, falling grades, repetitive stress injury and sleep deprivation. What does your experience tell you about this? Be sure to support your answer with specific examples.
***OR***
(ALTERNATE TOPIC/STUDENT SUBMISSION):
Why is it that some teachers are more effective than others if they all receive the same training? What makes someone a good teacher?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary quiz
3. Discussion: genre, culture and magical realism

HW:
I. Read the definitions of magical realism here and write down at least three ideas and three questions you want to discuss on Monday.

II. Read the first chapter (January) of Like Water for Chocolate and answer the following questions. Make sure to support each of your answers with at least one textual quote:

1. Who is narrating the story?
2. What happened to bring on Mama Elena’s early delivery of Tita?
3. Where was Tita born?
4. How come it was not necessary to slap Tita on the bottom at birth?
5. Why did Tita feel a deep love for the kitchen?
6. Explain what happened to Tita when she was two days old.
7. Explain the relationship between Tita and Nacha. What made their relationship special?
8. What made it possible for Nacha to nourish Tita and impossible for Mama Elena?
9. Compare and contrast Tita’s world to that of her sisters.
10. What was the reason given to prevent Tita from marrying Pedro?
11. What is the significance of the family tradition?
12. What issues does Tita bring up when she questions the family tradition?
13. What is Tita’s punishment for having a headache?
14. What is the significance of the song, “The Eyes of Youth,” that Gertrudis plays on
the piano?

Extra Credit Opportunity #2

Watch the prezi below and post a brief paragraph in which you:
* explain what made the most sense to you and what didn't
* discuss the advantages and disadvantages of open source learning
* argue that school should either stay the way it is or become open source.

The Open Source on Prezi

April 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do so many people love books about love, death, and the supernatural? What is it about these abstract concepts that move us?

AGENDA: (30 min. period due to testing)
1. Journal
2. How to use your homework to change minds/lives
3. Check out Like Water for Chocolate

HW: Vocab quiz tomorrow

April 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
There is approximately one month left in the school year-- what are you looking forward to, what do you dread, and what will you miss?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Discuss upcoming E.C. opportunities on blog
3. Prepare to study last novel of the year (see HW for more)

HW:
1. Read "The Ants" (pp. 550-570 in textbook)
2. Answer R&A Questions on p. 570
3. Write a brief paragraph in which you explain the central conflict of the story
4. What is a GENRE? What genre do you think "The Ants" represents and why?

Extra Credit Opportunity #1

What if school was more interactive, like what you see in this video? Would it be more engaging, more distracting, or would it make any difference at all? Post a thoughtful paragraph and win.

April 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Welcome back. Describe the three most interesting things you learned about culture, your novel, and yourself during the last few weeks.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Observations on the home stretch
3. Vocabulary

HW:
1. Vocab
2. If you still need to complete the literature analysis requirement for the semester, BEGIN THAT WORK NOW. As Hanz & Franz (look it up) would say, "Hear me now and believe me later"; each moment you procrastinate will haunt you as we approach finals and the end of the year.

Can You Believe It?

Tonight's edition of "60 Minutes" contained a segment about Greg Mortensen (see it here) that presented a different version of the truth from what we read and were led to believe. The report sure didn't look good and now I'm confused. Should I teach his book next year? If I do, should I present it as fiction or non-fiction? Is he still a basically good guy who did amazing things that made a lot of people better for knowing about him, or is he a bad guy for embellishing the facts and misusing donations from schoolchildren?

This is where you come in. Write me an essay that organizes information from at least five sources to CREATE a view of Greg Mortenson that will guide my decisions. Notice that create is in capital letters; instead of forming an opinion and finding evidence to support it, you must FIRST do the research, and, based on what you read, THEN form an opinion. Amount of extra credit negotiable depending on the quality of your argument and sources.

Literature Circle Presentation & Binder Submission Requirements

English 2 literature circle binder and presentation guidelines

April 14

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Did your mind wander during the California Standardized Testing & Reporting? (Mine did.) What did you find yourself thinking about? How did you manage to refocus your attention on the task at hand?

AGENDA:















HW: Literature circle work

April 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
The inconsistent testing schedules can be viewed as an inconvenient disruption-- or they may actually be helping our brains by causing us to think about our daily routines instead of operating on autopilot. Describe a routine in your life that you can constructively disrupt for this purpose.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Literature circles

HW:
1. Finish literature circle novel
2. Compile binder
3. Prepare post-break presentation

April 12

[No class today due to California Standardized Testing and Reporting]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe something you learned during the test this morning.

AGENDA:
















HW:
1. Journal (consider the preposition)
2. Literature circle work

April 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Mahatma Gandhi said, "An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind." What did he mean? Do you agree? Explain your answers.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Literature circles: status/planning, essay prep

HW: Literature circle work

April 8

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Popular wisdom holds that, "You may pick your friends, and you may pick your nose, but you may not pick your friends' noses." Why not? (Don't settle for the obvious; use what you've learned about norms and cultural customs.)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary quiz/correct
3. Literature circles (remember to plan around next week's testing schedule)

HW:
1. Lit. circle work
2. Type up notes for Monday

April 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why is the light bulb such a popular symbol/metaphor for an idea? Do you experience ideas as sudden occurrences, or as the product of gradual (even painstaking) processes?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Literature circles: a)status, check-in, and planning for five roles; b)extend cultural analysis; c)partners/essay review

HW: Literature circle work

April 6

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Our national anthem ends with the lyrics, "O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." How free are we? If our government became more restrictive, what would you do? What price would you pay for your freedom?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Literature circles meet

HW: Literature circle essay #1 (see below-- due tomorrow, Thursday April 7)


LITERATURE CIRCLES essay 1

April 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If you could give one piece of advice to one character in the novel you're reading, what would it be and to whom would you give it?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check vocab HW
2. Return/discuss vocab midterm
3. Literature circles

HW: Literature circle work

April 4

JOURNAL TOPIC: Write a short story based on the following picture [Source: Van Allsburg, Chris, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: Massachusetts (1984)]:


burdick pumpkin

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Meet with Literature Circle
3. Vocabulary

HW:
1. Vocab sentences
2. Literature circle work

April 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In a brief paragraph, develop a realistic plan for refinancing the national debt. Avoid party politics and trace causality and possible effects as they relate to Cubism, the Donatist Controversy (or the Shia-Sunni Split) and the Wave Theory of Light. Outline a method for predicting and/or preventing similar effects and criticize your plan from all perspectives (if you are concerned about time you may write a computer algorithm to do this for you.)

[Happy April Fool's Day: no journal today.]

AGENDA:
1. Vocabulary midterm
2. Brief meeting with literature circle

HW: Literature circle work

March 31

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Explain what you think Ralph Waldo Emerson meant when he wrote, "A chief event of life is the day in which we have encountered a mind that startled us."

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Discussion: definition and study of culture in literature
3. Vocab midterm review
4. Literature circles

HW:
1. Vocab midterm tomorrow, Friday 4/1
2. Literature analysis #5 due tomorrow, Friday 4/1
3. Literature circle work

March 30

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Explain the name of your favorite musical group. Does the name have a meaning? Does it make sense to people (and is it supposed to)? Who chose it, and why do you think it "stuck"? (Hint: Don't just say "it's catchy"-- there are lots of "catchy" ideas we've never heard of because they didn't catch on.)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Literature circles meet to: a)contribute discussion questions & take notes on conversation, b)list outstanding passages, c)list vocabulary, d)list/discuss connections, e)list/discuss items for further research, f)identify group needs and assign action items to group members for tomorrow.
3. EXIT TICKET: Write a "thinker's narrative" for the narrator of your novel. If your information is incomplete because you just started reading, include the information you've gotten already and list questions that you'll seek answers to in upcoming pages. (One paper per group.)

HW:
1. Study vocabulary for Friday's (4/1) midterm
2. Make sure literature analysis on track for Friday
3. Literature circle work
4. Read Wikipedia entry on culture and explain (in a brief written paragraph) whether or not a skateboard is a cultural artifact. Be ready to discuss this and definitions of culture in class Thursday 3/31.

March 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Who is the best athlete of all time? How do you define best and athlete?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in "thinker's narrative" HW
2. Literature circles
3. Check out: Anna Karenina, A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Things Fall Apart, or Good Earth


HW:
1. Reading/assignment per literature circle


LITERATURE CIRCLES2

March 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How important is the narrator's identity to your understanding of a story? How important is the reader's (or listener's/viewer's) identity to "getting the message"? Explain using at least one example from Rashomon.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab [good news: no quiz today, no list this week; other news: vocab midterm Friday, 4/1]
3. Narrator's thinking/thinker's narrative (Rashomon, prepare for literature circles)

HW:
1. Thinker's narrative (please see below & answer questions)
2. Study vocabulary
3. Remember to bring I.D. tomorrow for checking out books in library


influences on subconscious thinking

March 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine watching today's weather in a scene of an Akira Kurosawa movie. Since we know he did everything on purpose to send the audience a message, what do you think the weather might symbolize?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Group discussion using the nine intellectual standards of critical thinking (opening questions: Which version of the truth is most accurate so far and why? Are there any other explanations you can think of that would tell yet another story about the same set of facts? What will happen next and how do you think the plot will end?)

HW: Study for vocabulary quiz Monday 3/28

March 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
This is a visual prompt; write a short story about the following picture & caption. [Source: Van Allsburg, Chris, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston: Massachusetts (1984)]


harris burdick stone skipping back

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Rashomon: continued

HW: Read the discussion thread here and write down three new ideas that you think are of value.

March 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Give your opinion on this classic riddle: If a tree falls in a forest, but no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Provide at least two reasons for your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Quiz: Rashomon study guide
3. Rashomon: continued

HW: Read the following study guide (and note the typo in the title). Use your notes to begin answering the following questions. Remember, especially where your information is incomplete, to write yourself some questions and ideas about what to look for in the rest of the movie.


Rashamon

Rashomon Study Guide

Please read the following study guide (and remember how helpful it can be to print and mark up a copy!) for quiz Wednesday 3.23.


Rashomon study guide

March 22

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the taste of water.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Partners: Rashomon
3. Notes/Discussion on "big picture" and "the little things that make the big things happen"

HW: Read Rashomon study guide (see next post)

March 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What was the first thought you had when you woke up today? What would you like your first thought to be tomorrow?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Correct 3/18 vocab test
3. This week's vocabulary
4. Habits of mind

HW:
1. Vocab sentences
2. First thought of the day

March 18

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe how something you learned this week changed your thinking. If nothing did, ask yourself whether this represents a strength or a weakness.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab/lecture quiz
3. Read literature analysis book (#5 due Friday, April 1)

HW:
1. Read literature analysis book
2. Write down your first thought when you wake up each morning (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)-- be ready to discuss in class on Monday, 3/21

March 17

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Do you dream? About what? Why? Does dreaming have any impact on your "real" life?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Applying intellectual standards
3. Attribution theory

HW:
1. Read "Through the Open Window" (p.540-544) and answer R&A questions #1-7 on p. 544
2. Prepare for vocabulary quiz tomorrow-- and make sure you know each of the nine intellectual standards

March 16

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If you could communicate fluently in two other languages, which languages would you choose? Why? What would you express, and to whom? What information would you have access to that you don't now?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Group discussions: applying critical thinking/intellectual standards to reading

March 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Happiness has been described in many ways, from "a warm puppy" (Charles Schultz) to "a warm gun" (John Lennon). What is happiness to you? Explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Critical thinking defined
3. Nine intellectual standards of critical thinking (click HERE for original at Critical Thinking Foundation's website)

HW:
1. Read "Contents of the Dead Man's Pockets" (pp. 6-20 in blue textbook)
2. Answer questions #1-6 on p. 20
3. Answer this question-- How did the nine intellectual standards of critical thinking help you think about this story and/or answer the questions on p. 20?-- and be prepared to discuss your ideas with a small group in class tomorrow.

March 14

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine: in the next few minutes you will be summoned to the principal's office, where you will be ambushed by a roomful of officials who falsely accuse you of wrongdoing. How do you feel? How will you respond? Explain in detail.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary (can you remember as much as the average toddler?)

HW:
1. Vocab sentences
2. Have you chosen your next literary analysis book?

March 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in literature analysis
2. Vocabulary quiz

HW:
1. Find a good book and a few minutes to relax, because next week will be busy...

March 10

JOURNAL TOPIC:
The owner of a time machine gives you a choice: travel back 30 years to visit your parents' lives, or travel 30 years ahead to visit your own. Which will you choose? Why? What do you expect to see?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review/study vocabulary
3. Read/work on literature analysis

HW:
1. Quiz tomorrow
2. Literature analysis due tomorrow

March 8/9

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How did this class help prepare you for the CAHSEE? Was the writing task on the exam harder, easier, or about the same as the average daily journal topic?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Attention/Perception

HW:
1. Study for vocabulary quiz Friday 3/11
2. Literature Analysis due Friday 3/11

March 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Look 24 hours into the future and describe in detail your experience of passing-- better yet, blowing the doors off-- the CAHSEE.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. CAHSEE Room Assignments
3. Vocab

March 3

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Some people believe words describe our thoughts-- other people believe words create our thoughts. What do you believe? Why?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. CAHSEE practice questions
3. Visual lit. (cont'd.)

HW:
1. Study for tomorrow's vocab test

March 2

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a mistake you're glad you made. Was it a difficult experience? What did you learn from it?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. More standardized testing tips
3. The medium is the message (continued)

HW:
1. Think. Be prepared to report your work tomorrow (Thursday 3/3)

March 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Do you think the opposite of love (i.e., a strong positive feeling) is hate (i.e., a strong negative feeling) or apathy (a lack of feeling/caring)? Explain.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. CAHSEE prep: multiple choice questions and essay prompts available this week at lunch
3. 21st century literature online and on the big screen

HW:
1. Read/work on Lit. Analysis #4 (due 3/11)

February 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
When should an argument bring people together? When should it end a relationship?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab

HW:
1. Read for Lit. Analysis #4 (due 3/11)
2. Vocab sentences (due Tuesday 3/1)

February 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a habit of yours that bugs other people.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Writing a thesis statement
3. The meaning of "If"-- how to decode a poem
3. The persistence of memory


HW:
1. Read a good book (the weather will be perfect for it!)
2. OPTIONAL ESSAY

In honor of the upcoming CAHSEE (March 8-9), you have the option to complete the following essay and turn it in Monday for teachers to read during our meeting time after the early dismissal. This essay is mandatory for College Prep classes. Although Honors students have already completed assignments that exceed this standard, it is important (and legally compliant) to offer equitable access to academic support, so if you want/need the practice, please respond to the following prompt and bring it with you on Monday.

WRITING TASK

Community curfews for teenagers are controversial. Some people believe that community curfews for teenagers are a good idea. They reduce certain crimes connected to teenagers, such as vandalism and underage drinking, and they also protect teenagers from becoming victims of more serious crimes. Others assert that communities shouldn’t take over the role of parents. In other words, it should be up to individual families to decide upon an appropriate curfew for their teenage children.

What do you think? Write an essay in which you express your opinions about community curfews for teenagers. Taking either position is acceptable as long as you present clear, well-reasoned evidence to support your position. You should anticipate and respond to the arguments of people who would disagree with your opinion.

February 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Modern science has led to the creation of new breeds (labradoodle, e.g.) and even animals (consider the liger). What hybrid or new species would you create if you could? Why?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finish "If" and discuss Kipling's intended meaning
3. Last week's essay prompt
4. Discuss "Mind-Gamer" memorization article

HW:
1. Make sure you've got a literature analysis book (#4 due 3/11)
2. Quick-write: What is your impression of standardized testing? Do you think it's helpful? Do you think it should be continued, improved, or abandoned? Why? Come to class Fri. ready to discuss.

February 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine that you've accomplished all you set out to do. What would it take for you to risk it all, lose it, and move on without complaint?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss "If"
3. Analyze weekend essay prompt & thesis statements
4. E.C. opportunity

HW:
1. Read "Secrets of a Mind-Gamer" (if you haven't already) and take active reading notes for discussion Thursday 2/24

Secrets of a Mind-Gamer

Friends, Romans, Countrymen:
It's been a while since we memorized anything in class, and some of you struggled with the poem "If." Apart from the neurological and practical benefits we've discussed in class, memorization also causes us to spend time with a text, which changes the way we think about it, so it's worth giving another thought-- especially if you think you can do it better.

Since a strong, flexible mind is the ultimate learning technology, I'm always interested in ways to improve it. This weekend I read an article (see below) that describes a simple technique people just like you and me have used to increase their ability to memorize more information than I would have guessed possible.

Click on the link below to read "Secrets of a Mind-Gamer" and be ready to discuss in class on Wednesday 2/24:

Secrets of a Mind-Gamer

February 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe how you would make a person with no sense of humor smile.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in HW
2. "If"
3. Leftover meetings with guidance techs
4. Begin discussing weekend essay prompts

The Importance of Primary Sources

Ever wonder why the game of telephone works so well, or why your gossip-y friends never get the story quite right, or why some of your textbooks contain incorrect information?

As much as we try, we have a hard time replicating ANYTHING exactly. Check out this video to see what happens when 500 people try and trace a simple line by looking only at the one that came just before and not the original. That seems simple enough, doesn't it?

A Sequence of Lines Traced by Five Hundred Individuals from clement valla on Vimeo.

February 18

***REMINDER: MEET IN CAREER CENTER FOR COURSE REGISTRATION***

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[No journal today]

AGENDA:
1. Registration/ROP Presentation
2. Poetry for E.C.
3. Discuss homework/ask questions to prepare for Tuesday

HW:
1. "If" due 2/22
2. Literature analysis #3 due 2/22
3. Expository essay due 2/22 (see below, and use both your primary resources and your Socratic seminar notes to help you)

ESSAY TOPIC:
Based on your examination of primary sources, explain the events that led to the recent fall of the Egyptian government. Describe the causes of the protests. Analyze the reasons the protests were successful. Predict what you think will happen next. Compare conditions in Egypt with our own economy, culture, and systems of government to determine whether nonviolent protest can make such a dramatic difference in 21st century America. Agree/disagree with the statement popularized by the protests: "Innaharda, ehna kullina misyreen." Be sure to cite sources where appropriate.

IF by Rudyard Kipling

1. Memorize the poem;
2. Write a brief paragraph in which you explain Kipling's intended meaning.

DUE: Tuesday, February 22
EXTRA CREDIT: If completed by Friday, February 18


if by kipling -

February 17

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe something unusual you'd like to see happen today.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Socratic seminar
3. Collect HW

HW: Please note due dates as follows:
1. Memorize poem "If" (see next post) by Tuesday, 2/22; E.C. if completed by Friday, 2/18
2. Literature analysis #3 due Tuesday, 2/22
3. Expository essay (see 2/18 post) due Tuesday, 2/22

February 16

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write the introductory paragraph of a persuasive essay in which you attempt to convince the reader that it would be a good idea to run around in circles, screaming, wearing only the ugliest underwear on Earth.

(CAHSEE prep notes: make sure your introduction includes a clear thesis statement, a minimum of three clear supporting reasons that can form topic sentences for body paragraphs, and at least one counterclaim; also be sure to proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization.)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review/update 6-year plans
3. Discuss yesterday's quote and primary resources

HW: Prepare 3 comments/3 questions and annotated bibliography of 5 primary sources for tomorrow's Socratic seminar.

February 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How far away from you (or how different a life from yours) does a person have to live in order for you to consider him/her a "foreigner"?


(Note: This week we have two registration meetings with guidance staff, so there is no vocabulary list; please keep your journal and assignments up to date by working at home)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Innaharda, ehna kullina misyreen
*Translate (by 2/16)
*Research using five primary sources (for in-class discussion on research 2/16)
*agree/disagree with prepared resources, comments and questions (for Socratic seminar 2/17)
*prepare for take-home expository essay this weekend (due Tuesday 2/22)

February 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[No journal today.]

AGENDA:
1. Turn in Journal
2. Turn in Career Portfolio
3. In-class persuasive essay

HW:
1. Begin reading your next book if you haven't already (Literature Analysis #3 due February 21)

February 10

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes a person "hard core" or gentle? Are such qualities innate or learned? Can they be changed? How?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Working period: portfolio, vocabulary, and/or literature analysis reading

HW:
1. Portfolio due tomorrow
2. Study vocab for in-class essay tomorrow

February 9

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Design a robot that serves a useful purpose. Think about what you and your community need, and explain how your invention will meet that need.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finishing your Portfolio

HW: Work on Portfolio

MLA Bibliography Format

mla bibliography format -

Skateistan

One benefit of being home sick is discovering things I wouldn't have otherwise, like a perspective on Afghanistan that is different from what we've seen in The Kite Runner and even Three Cups of Tea. When you're ready for a break from your Career Portfolio, check out this three-minute interview with a documentary filmmaker about skateboarding in Afghanistan:

Turnstyle » Talking About “Skateistan” w/ Director Orlando von Einsiedel

CAREER PORTFOLIO CHECKLIST

Don't forget your cover letter (it should go first, before your resume).


CAREER UNIT PROJECT

February 8

The biggest assignment of the semester so far is due on Friday. Your teacher is nowhere to be found and the clock is ticking. Career Lesson #147 (for which there is no curricular standard): Don't Panic. This is a lousy week for any of us to get sick, but the show must go on. That's why I'm posting the Career/Research Portfolio requirements (see next post). This is your checklist to make sure your portfolio is complete. We've discussed each element and I've even collected drafts of a few, so even though I'm not there you should have no trouble finishing by Friday. I should be back on Wednesday, so you'll get your cover letters back with two days to revise as needed. I will ask tomorrow's substitute to return your lists of resources and TIP write-ups. Remember to find the MLA guide in the back of your textbook to format your bibliography; I'll also take questions on this in class when I get back. Tomorrow (and on your own, if necessary) you should complete a draft of your email to your future self. I'll give you the website instructions etc. when I see you on Wednesday. By Thursday you should only have some light typing and printing left. If you run into trouble, crowd source your question here on the blog, ask a classmate, or send me an email. As for tomorrow, I'll miss you. Try and convince the substitute teacher that you are in fact the wonderful people I say you are.

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time when you felt panic but later felt foolish about it. What accounted for the change in your perspective?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Work on your portfolio (Future Me email, TIP write-ups, research paper, and/or anything else you need to complete)
3. Literature Analysis #3 reading (If you haven't found a book yet, find one and remember to bring it to class whether I'm there or not)

February 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
To paraphrase poet Robert Burns, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Describe a time you planned something perfectly and it got all messed up anyway.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Turn in: TIP write-up, list of 10 resources, Literature Analysis #2, youtube research
3. Vocab/sentences due Tuesday

February 3

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[No journal today]

AGENDA:
Meet in Career Center for presentation on college/career research.

HW (DUE MONDAY 2/7):
1. Time Investment Portfolio write-up
2. Youtube.com assignment
3. 10 resources for SMART goal research
4. Literature Analysis #2

(Have a nice weekend!)

Research assignments

1. Please complete the youtube.com assignment for Monday.
2. Please review the Career Pathways research assignment and collect ten (10) resources that help you answer these questions. Bring them-- along with your textbook-- to class on Monday.


research handouts 1 and 2 -

Analyzing your Time Investment Portfolio

HOW TO ANALYZE YOUR TIME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (use this for your 1-2 pp. write-up and turn in with your actual TIP in the final portfolio)

1. Imagine your IDEAL week. How many hours would you sell, give, spend, and pass?
2. Total your ACTUAL weekly time investment totals; how many hours did you sell,give, spend and pass?
3. Did any of the totals from #2 surprise you? Explain.
4. Was there a significant difference between weekdays and the weekend? Explain.
5. Was there a significant “one-time” event that changed your time investment
patterns? Explain.
6. Does your time investment support the SMART goal you have in mind? How? Can
you tweak either your time investment or your goal to lessen your stress and
increase your effectiveness? How?
7. Describe how understanding your use of time helped you think about your goal(s)
in a different way.

February 2

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Out of all the vocabulary words you've learned so far this year, choose three that you've adopted/used in your own thinking/speaking/writing. Describe a time that having these words enabled you to express something you might not have otherwise.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in
2. Collect resumes
3. Check formatting on cover letters/discuss content
4. T.I.P. analysis

HW:
1. C.O.P.S. survey
2. Cover letter
3. Remember that we meet in the Career Center tomorrow (Thursday 2/3)

notes on cover letters

As seen in today's class:

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverlettersamples/a/covertemplate.htm

Sample Resume

sample resume -

February 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe your favorite color-- to a blind person.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Resumes
3. Cover letters

HW:
1. Make sure your T.I.P. is current; bring to class tomorrow

January 31

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Eat the Rich" by Aerosmith; "Junk Food Junkie" by Larry Groce; "Eat It" Weird Al Yankovic]

Are "secret ingredients" ever a good thing, or just a cynical ploy that entices us to eat cheaply manufactured nastiness?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Blaudit
3. Vocab #2 review

HW:
1. Prepare for tomorrow's quiz (vocab + learning myths)
2. Make sure your blog is up to date

Career Portfolio Requirements

CAREER PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS -

Nonfiction Analysis

NONFICTION ANALYSIS -

January 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
A Native American elder described his conflicting emotions as two dogs, one good and one evil, fighting all the time. When someone asked which dog wins, the elder replied, "The one I feed the most." Describe a time you were ambivalent and explain which dog you fed.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Nonfiction Analysis (see next post for questions)
3. Preview of coming attractions: portfolio and next week's schedule
4. Review for tomorrow's test

HW: Study for tomorrow & keep your TIP up to date

Sample Time Investment Portfolio

Here is a simple way to track your time using the four categories (plus Necessities) that we discussed in class.


SAMPLE TIME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO -

January 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Draw three circles: one that represents your past, one that represents your present, and one that represents your future. Explain why you drew them the way you did (they can be any size or relation to each other, as long as they make sense to you). Take notes on our discussion as we compare circles and discuss ideas.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. The Cottle Circle Test
2. T.I.P. day 1 feedback
3. Writing a resume

HW:
1. Brag sheet

January 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What do you think of when you see the word FUTURE?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW/collect SMART goal
2. Vocab questions
3. Time Investment Portfolio

HW: Begin categorical T.I.P.

January 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Tomorrow morning you suddenly realize you can "hear" the thoughts of everyone around you. Describe a moment this makes you happy, and a moment it makes you miserable.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocabulary
3. SMART goal/turn in HW
4. Introduction to the Time Investment Portfolio

HW:
1. Begin tracking your T.I.P

January 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
It's a common phrase: "The best years of my life..." What makes one year better than another? Assuming there is such a thing, how will you recognize "the best years" (or moments) when they happen?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab/lecture quiz
3. Recap week & preview of coming attractions

HW: Rewrite SMART goal (1-2 pp., due Monday)

January 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a goal that is important to you. Explain why it's meaningful and describe one step you can take TODAY toward accomplishing it.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss HW
3. Goal-setting
4. Research & writing

HW:
1. Literature Analysis #1 due tomorrow (Friday, January 21)
2. Rough draft: letter to your Future Self

January 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
I understand why adults use sayings like "A watched pot never boils" to make a point about being patient. As you have probably discovered, however, in real life a watched pot DOES boil. Describe a lesson you learned from an adult that contradicted your own experience, and explain what effect (if any) your discovery had on your learning.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss last night's HW & opportunities/challenges of online research
3. Stranger in a strange land
4. Literature analysis reading (time permitting)

HW: Go back to today's journal and spend at least five minutes to reflect and revise/extend your response.

January 18

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a credit card?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab
2. Nonfiction: finding information to write about

HW: Is there a species of octopus that lives on land in the Pacific Northwest (i.e., Oregon or Washington state)? Research this question online. Tomorrow, please bring your answers, your sources, and a brief description of how you went about getting the information (including the search engines and terms you used).

January 14

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe your favorite pair of shoes.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab quiz/correct
3. NF continued


HW:
1. Choose a book and begin Literature Analysis #1 (due January 21)
2. Find a television program that represents itself as "news" (i.e., nonfiction) but is actually fiction. Write (no more than a page) a description of what the show was advertised to be, what it actually was, and how you know. Use at least two sources that show you fact-checked your information.

January 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Forget about school for a minute and ask yourself this simple question: If you could learn about ANYTHING, in ANY WAY, what steps would you take to get the information you want?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss HW
3. NF techniques: page layout, diction/syntax, graphics
4. NF history and types

HW:
1. Watch Bill Moyers' interview with Greg Mortenson here (for more background on the show and a transcript of the interview, go to http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/01152010/profile2.html)

2. Imagine an argument between Greg Mortenson and an American supporter of war in the region. Write the dialogue.

January 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Why/why not? How can setting a goal help you achieve it? What goal(s) are you setting for yourself in this class this semester?

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Review vocab list
3. Intro to nonfiction
4. Discuss Three Cups of Tea

HW: Analyze your AZ article using the KWL table and the NF questions we discussed in class.

January 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe your lasting impressions of Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea. Can you apply any of the "lessons" Mortensen learned to the shooting in Arizona?

AGENDA:
1. Journal (HW)
2. Vocab (definitions and sentences for HW due Tuesday, January 12; see list below)
3. ESSAY EXAM on The Kite Runner and Three Cups of Tea

HW:
1. Write definitions and sentences for Vocab #1 (see below)
2. Find an article about the shootings in Arizona and bring to class tomorrow

VOCABULARY LIST 1
Achieve
Accomplishment
Fulfill
Resolution
Contribute
Ambitious
Acronym
Attainable
Occupation
Vocation
Avocation
Hobby
Professional
Novice
Amateur
Dilettante

January 10

Happy New Year everyone!

Before break you were asked to check the blog prior to the first day of class. Those who remember this simple instruction will be richly rewarded, as follows:

Tomorrow you will have an in-class essay exam in which you be asked to compare Three Cups of Tea with The Kite Runner. To prepare, review your active reading notes and be sure to bring them with you. You may refer to them (if you have time) during the essay, but remembering them well will help you more than shuffling through them in the limited time you have to write.

HERE IS THE QUESTION YOU WILL BE ANSWERING:
What have you learned about the benefits and risks of helping people in a different group or culture? How can these lessons help people in Afghanistan—or Haiti, or even Americans who experience traumatic events in our communities (such as last week’s shooting in Tuscon, Arizona)?

You MAY include your own experience, or the experience of someone you know who has tried to make a positive contribution to the lives of others. You MUST support your answer with at least two quotes (each) from The Kite Runner and Three Cups of Tea that you think exemplify the differences between fiction writing and nonfiction writing.

_______
Tomorrow we will also have a vocabulary list and a journal topic; see January 11 post to get a head start and avoid having to do everything for homework tomorrow night. (If you need background on the shooting in AZ, click on the rollover link in the journal topic.)