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!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Welcome Back Becky
What's the hardest thing you've done that was also worthwhile? And when I say "hard" I mean that it might have been physically, mentally or emotionally exhausting... or even boring. Describe a time when the outcome outweighed the process involved with the task.
I've spent this week working on power standards for the school district and the process is arduous and it sometime feels like my brain has been cauterized, BUT I have the sense that in the end, it will improve student learning and that is a noble and good goal. But, I have to say that coming back to CAHS and seeing your smiling faces awakened me in a way that discussions about students never can. So, I'm glad to be back.
Your next task: Select a new student to our school. Design 12 interview questions that are open-ended and interesting. You may include a series of close-ended questions in addition to the more involved ones. Then, interview that student. If you need to get a pass to do so, please ask for one so we can be above board on this. Then, share your interview findings in an interesting narrative. Please also take a photo with your subject.
I've spent this week working on power standards for the school district and the process is arduous and it sometime feels like my brain has been cauterized, BUT I have the sense that in the end, it will improve student learning and that is a noble and good goal. But, I have to say that coming back to CAHS and seeing your smiling faces awakened me in a way that discussions about students never can. So, I'm glad to be back.
Your next task: Select a new student to our school. Design 12 interview questions that are open-ended and interesting. You may include a series of close-ended questions in addition to the more involved ones. Then, interview that student. If you need to get a pass to do so, please ask for one so we can be above board on this. Then, share your interview findings in an interesting narrative. Please also take a photo with your subject.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
3rd Hour Notes for Wednesday
An interesting thing happened today that made me think and I'd like to use the idea of it for your prompt today. Do you think that it is more painful to experience tragedy or discomfort OR more painful to watch someone you love going through that pain and tragedy and feeling helpless to do anything? I don't think there's a clear cut answer, but I do think that in loving someone fully, you might begin to internalize and feel their pain. Perhaps the further away we are from a situation or person, the more we can emotionally distance ourselves.
I haven't seen anyone's song projects, but I hope to soon. There are some people who are very consistent about blogging and others who are not. Because of the nature of this course, I don't feel angry or panicked. I will happily award credit to those who enthusiastically and regularly wrote and engaged:)
For your next task I would like you to go to rottentomatoes.com and locate their list of the worst 100 movies of the last decade. I'd like you to read through the list and count the number of movies on the list that you have seen:) Then, I'd like you to select two of the films on the list and defend them as GOOD movies as opposed to lousy ones. I'll be very interested to see what movies you have seen that other critics despised:)
I haven't seen anyone's song projects, but I hope to soon. There are some people who are very consistent about blogging and others who are not. Because of the nature of this course, I don't feel angry or panicked. I will happily award credit to those who enthusiastically and regularly wrote and engaged:)
For your next task I would like you to go to rottentomatoes.com and locate their list of the worst 100 movies of the last decade. I'd like you to read through the list and count the number of movies on the list that you have seen:) Then, I'd like you to select two of the films on the list and defend them as GOOD movies as opposed to lousy ones. I'll be very interested to see what movies you have seen that other critics despised:)
Monday, September 28, 2009
3rd Hour Fellas and Gals
Hello Ladies and Gents,
As you know, I am away. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Thanks too for blogging while I was away. I hope that you are finding that daily blogging gives you a space and place for venting and opening yourself up. I find that writing is therapeutic. The cool thing about blogs is that I don't publish all of them. A lot of times, I start things and then save them and wait for the time when I want to return to them. You might also want to try that:) Today, I'd like you to think about a special space or place for you. And then, I want you to describe that place in detail. For me, that kind of spot is anywhere where Quinn is or has been. Our home, for instance, is speckled with Quinn-things. Everywhere there are signs of his presence. Even a clean house shows signs of him. Right now, as I type from my bed, there's a box of Quinn's diapers in the bed, his pajamas from this morning are strewn on the floor, story books are piled on every surface, and even those things that are not specifically his, have been touched by him. The water bottle, for instance, that is missing a cap because Quinn insisted on taking it off so that he could use another water bottle and pour it into the first one. He really likes pouring things lately. In my closet, is Buzz Lightyear, lying face down because Quinn thought it was a nice spot for Buzz to sleep....
In physical things, there are memories and connections. For today's blog, please do you best to draw compelling connections between surroundings and emotions/feelings. Have a great day!
As you know, I am away. Thanks for your patience and understanding. Thanks too for blogging while I was away. I hope that you are finding that daily blogging gives you a space and place for venting and opening yourself up. I find that writing is therapeutic. The cool thing about blogs is that I don't publish all of them. A lot of times, I start things and then save them and wait for the time when I want to return to them. You might also want to try that:) Today, I'd like you to think about a special space or place for you. And then, I want you to describe that place in detail. For me, that kind of spot is anywhere where Quinn is or has been. Our home, for instance, is speckled with Quinn-things. Everywhere there are signs of his presence. Even a clean house shows signs of him. Right now, as I type from my bed, there's a box of Quinn's diapers in the bed, his pajamas from this morning are strewn on the floor, story books are piled on every surface, and even those things that are not specifically his, have been touched by him. The water bottle, for instance, that is missing a cap because Quinn insisted on taking it off so that he could use another water bottle and pour it into the first one. He really likes pouring things lately. In my closet, is Buzz Lightyear, lying face down because Quinn thought it was a nice spot for Buzz to sleep....
In physical things, there are memories and connections. For today's blog, please do you best to draw compelling connections between surroundings and emotions/feelings. Have a great day!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Foundations of Literature Blog to Read/Video to View
http://humaneconnectionblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/teens-teach-about-rape-culture.html
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Good morning 3rd hour awesome folks
Hello, hello!
Today, I would like you to merge together the lyrics from 3 or more songs to make a new song that you like and has a unique message:) Please let me know the artists, the titles of the songs and why you selected what you did. Be sure that your new song is accompanied by an explanation for what you hoped to achieve by merging the songs lyrics together.
Your next learning task is to select a series of songs that speak to who you are as a person. Please locate at least 6 songs, post the music to your blog and provide a 200 word reflection in a blog about why these songs speak to you and represent your person.
Today, I would like you to merge together the lyrics from 3 or more songs to make a new song that you like and has a unique message:) Please let me know the artists, the titles of the songs and why you selected what you did. Be sure that your new song is accompanied by an explanation for what you hoped to achieve by merging the songs lyrics together.
Your next learning task is to select a series of songs that speak to who you are as a person. Please locate at least 6 songs, post the music to your blog and provide a 200 word reflection in a blog about why these songs speak to you and represent your person.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
