Hello, hello

Just a quick note about some upcoming events that will keep the computer lab busy and your presence will need to be moved to the office or my classroom. Next week there will be testing both Tuesday and Wednesday in the computer lab. On those days, you will need to submit your blog about your book on paper, as opposed to electronically. Thanks!

For today, your question is to describe the various masks and disguises you wear everyday in order to stay sane. Is Halloween a celebration of something specific to your way of thinking? Why do you think we all enjoy the notion of becoming someone else? Is there someone in this school or in your life that you would like to be like or trade lives with, if only for a day? Why?

Looking forward to insightful, intriguing blogs today. Have a marvelous and safe weekend!

The Final Countdown

With just 11 days of class left in the term, I am sure many of us are facing the music on our work for the term. Some may be celebrating and full of elation for a term well done and others may be mulling over what patterns or routines to adjust for the coming term. The use of quarters in our school is just over a year old now and we used to have trimesters. At times, it seems like quarters fly by and other moments things seem just right- very Goldilocks. Next week we have a half day on Wednesday and the following week is 4 days. The end of the term event is on its way and with that comes rehearsals and great excitement. There are likely a flurry of exams and projects to complete, absences to be made up and all while we work to stay healthy and positive. So, for today's blog, please comment on what you need to accomplish over the course of the next 11 days in order to end the term strong. How will you make yourself proud?

Becky Has the Flu

So I've been home sick with the flu since last week. My beloved family is also ill so we end up trading caretaking, which has slowed- somewhat- the healing process. If you can't be the pathetic one resting, how can you heal, right? Quinn is funny with his flu. The first few days he was moody and fickle. Now, he just sleeps extra hard at naps and at night. Otherwise, he's active and wants to play. Me, I want to lay in bed and sleep. Tomorrow is the family's last day on the tamiflu, the anti-viral med they're giving the H1N1 folks, like us. It makes you nauseous, so it's a rather unpleasant medication. Still, if it helps to shorten the illness time, I guess I still take it. Quinn has to take his in chocolate syrup the stuff tastes so horrible.

So, I was just playing around on my blog dashboard and reading recent posts. If you have written about your book I've provided feedback and asked follow-up questions. If my inquiries require further info., please comment on my blog and I can respond. Otherwise, please me cognizant of blogging everyday and reading everyday. There are just two short weeks left in the term and I am reluctant to award credits to people who have not earned one.

Question of the day: How does your family deal with illness? Are there routines? My mom, for example, brought up homemade chicken noodle soup for me. She left it in our side door so she wouldn't get infected even:) I struggle to rest and get well. There are always things to do (care for my child, for example), but I also like when people take care of me and let me sleep. I think it's interesting that kids don't start out being pathetic when they are sick. They see it in others and then acquire that behavior. Or, do they? I'd love to hear your thoughts and hear more about your books.

Random note: While we were reading stories last night as a family, we were all exchanging "I love you's". I would say it to Quinn and he would say it back. His Dad would say it to him and he would say it back. Then, Quinn, on his own, said, "I love you guys". Sweet kid. You can never say or hear that kind of stuff enough!

Illness

So as some of you know, I have been fighting the good fight against a cold all week. I started by purchasing Jamba juice smoothies because I love the vitamin C. I've also taken in a good deal of tea in the last 24 hours. But, now it seems that the illness I have played host to has been passed on to my small son who is now quite sick, poor boy. After waiting hours to conference with a nurse at the careline (they were totally swamped) we were told that we both likely have h1n1. Now, we have yet to be seen, but we both have flu-like symptoms. So, even though I was going to try and tough it out today (Thursday) I am staying away so that I don't get anyone sick if what I have is indeed something contagious.

Foundations of Literature Folks- Your musical compilation is due next Tuesday. You need to have both the music and the paper ready for a short presentation to the class. Remember, your paper is being measured by the quality of your paragraph writing. If you have technical questions or concerns, please comment to this blog and I can return a response to you via your blog or email (leave me your email address in the comment).

3rd Hour Free Thinkers: For your opening topic, I'd like you to consider 3 top challenges that contemporary authors face when writing for a young audience. What do they struggle to accomplish? What considerations must they make when thinking about story appeal? Then, be sure that I get a daily dose of what's happening in your novel and why it is compelling to you.

The Countdown

3 1/2 Weeks remain in the term. It is vitally important that if you want to earn a credit in this course that you have demonstrated approximately 45 hours of work for a credit. It is difficult to know- in this situation- if no one blogs on a particular day for a special set of reasons or if people were distracted by the glorious internet. Were you reading? I'm not sure...

And I can be patient and understanding, but I won't compromise the meaning of a credit. A credit is a credit and though I've said time and again that this does not constitute an ideal learning situation, I have provided you with directions, tasks and feedback on your work. To the best of my ability I am creating a course that you can navigate with relative ease. I will happily conference in person with people, meet you after school or respond to blogs that ask for more direction, but I need your dedication and work ethic to match my enthusiasm and willingness to help.

Please.

Today's writing prompt: How would you respond to a day without technology? And yes, I realize the irony of this question considering I am asking it in a blogging class. How would you react to no phone, no texting, no computers, tv et al? To me, computer use is compulsive and I might go a bit crazy not being able to check emails or see the latest celeb news on People.com. hehe. Tell me your thoughts.

Ah, MEA:)

What would life be like if we all had 4 day weekends every week? Delightful:) I always want to accomplish a great deal over breaks and feel like anything is possible. At the same time, my soul aches for unplanned, alone time where I can be spontaneous or lazy in equal proportions. So, how was your break? What did you do? Did it give you just enough kick to get you to the end of the quarter?

Share:)

Long lost Becky

So there I was, enjoying the gorgeous snow and outdoor world of Afton, MN... the snow was falling softly because the trees were catching it and then releasing it in bunches. There was a gentleness and hilarity to the snow fall. One minute you're reveling in its glory and the next it splats on you. There's some magic to the woods and no human-made signs that guide your way. That is, until you are horribly lost and OFF the map. At times, my journey with the three delightful students whose company I was keeping was fun and spirited. Other times, people were discussing who'd be eaten first if we remained lost in the woods. Crazy. So, for today's daily post, please write about the experience of being lost, whether it was literal or figurative:)

Hello sweet writers

Hello, hello!
There is a flurry of work for me to read- hurrah! This is good stuff, folks! I am glad to read introductions to your books AND your interviews:) Marvy. Now, things to include as your novel kicks off: introduction to the characters and their relationships to one another; the setting and how that influences the plot; the action or conflict that is driving the story. Beyond that, I want to hear why you selected the book you did and your history as a reader. Do you frequently read? If so, within what genres? Please devise a schedule for your reading so that you finish your book by the end of the month. With that said, this means that you will need to read at home so you can blog while you're here- at school.

Cool.

Hello, hello

Hi there fair folks,

Sorry that you got kicked out yesterday. Just a random note: if Cadex is unhappy with our presence in the lab, help to monitor one another so that you're represented well. It may not be you who is off task, but it might be your neighbor. Advocate for the best in student etiquette in the lab and know that I appreciate your self-discipline. I know you don't NEED me for the discipline piece of functioning in the lab. I appreciate how people are coming to conference with me about this course. I love the chance for us to connect in person.

By tomorrow, it would be ideal for you to have a book to start. Each day, mark in your blog how many pages you have read and provide a summary of your reading, including powerful quotes, your personal reaction to the text and more:)

The interview projects remain outstanding for most people (the late kind of outstanding). Please complete this.

Another new day

Good morning happy bloggers,

Well, surely you've heard... the Vikings won. The rush is in the air and crispy comments back and forth between Packer and Viking fans will speckle many a conversation. In the wake of the big game, there's a state representative that is once again trying to make a go for building a new stadium for the Vikes and financing it with public money, in part. The debate over whether MN and Minnesotans should help out is intriguing to me. Much revenue is made by the city of Mpls when it hosts big games. A sort of civic pride and quality of life exists in states where teams are big deals. And yet, in a economic crunch, what should we spend our money on? Do we build a stadium so the team doesn't leave so people have something to put them in a good mood? Or, do we make sure that schools have enough money so that JV and freshman teams don't get cut so kids can still think about professional football? Complex, eh? What do you think? What place do professional sports play in our culture? Is it for good or ill? What benefits are there to being a fan? Are professional athletes mentors? How have sports played a role in your life?

Show me those novels as soon as you select them-- and once your interview project is done.

Cool. Have a great day!

A New Day

Hello learners,

What a weekend! Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night in the wee hours of a Monday morning and wish that it was not going to be Monday? That was the case for me last night. We hosted Luke's family for the day in St. Paul and it was exhausting. It was a fine day and all, just not totally my own, do you know what I mean? SO, my question for you today is what sacrifices do you make for family? What sacrifices do they make for you? What amount of time each week do you devote to family? Does that amount of time feel like enough to you? If you define your family in some other way, describe that?

Now, to other news. This week conferences are Thursday. With your parent or guardian, I will pull up your blog and show them your progress, on both daily blogs and major assignments. To my knowledge, little work has been done on the most recent interview project. Please advise me if I am mistaken.

For the second part of the term, I would like each of you to select a novel (have me check it out first, please) to read and blog about on a regular basis. I will post blogs that ask you to summarize, describe and analyze components of the novel. We will have a lengthy in-person book conference prior to the end of the term. More details to follow.