feeling wednesday

No doubt about it: I'm feeling awfully Wednesday today...



Hope you had a good day!

CW: We discussed names. We shared thoughts about each other's names and I read a couple of samples of Name Pieces. Your assignment: start drafting a piece about your own name in which you discuss it with attitude. We also learned how to keep track of your workshop efforts using a Workshop Summary. Create yours tonight, using the name "WS yourname" for the file. Do not use the space bar to move the cursor; use preset tabs and the hanging indent!

E2CP: We discussed how to  use the rainbow draft instructions that can be found here. Otherwise it was a Reading Workshop; tomorrow we shall return to transcendentalism, discussing "Civil Disobedience."

E3H: We discussed how to  use the rainbow draft instructions that can be found here. We also learned how to keep track of your workshop efforts using a Workshop Summary. Create yours tonight, using the name "WS yourname" for the file. Do not use the space bar to move the cursor; use preset tabs and the hanging indent! Finally we began discussion of "A Hunger Artist," which led to the assignment: write a two-paragraph essay for tomorrow about fads that have come and gone in your lifetime.

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on a lovely tuesday

It is, isn't it? I mean I can't actually see the weather or anything; I'm just sort of going by feel here...

Today feels like a gift. I don't know why, but I have just felt really good all day. So don't mess it up, OK?

CW: Now where were we? Oh yes: Today we...were about to start something when the phone rang and they told us that you had to leave. So tomorrow we'll just try all of that again!

E3H: Today we had one on one conferences and they seemed to go quite well. I hope that you all felt that you got some good advice for revisions; we'll discuss how I want revisions handled tomorrow. For tonight: read Franz Kafka's "A Hunger Artist," located on page 635 of your Short Fiction book. And remember to bring your Art Quotes notes in too!

E2CP: It's Reading Workshop tomorrow! Today we conferenced and it seemed to go very well, with everyone getting some good direction for revision. We'll discuss how to handle that revision briefly before we begin the RW. Don't forget your books and also bring your "Civil Disobedience" annotations!

Here's some silliness:

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No hurricanes here

(Please.)

Watching videos from the weekend, I am pretty happy that I am not at the old New England homestead right now...though NH did not get the brunt of Irene as Vermont did. There were any number of videos online of the storm's fury in that state. Here's one:



Bad storm. Weirdly worse inland than on the coast; who could figure that?

Anyway...

E3H, E2CP: Your real Writing Workshop is tomorrow. Bring two copies of your weekend Frozen Moment piece for conferencing. :-)

CW: A rare night with no HW. Take the opportunity to revise something or work on something you love.

All: Have you signed up for the text messaging yet?

And in today's video, there is WAY too much cuteness:

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topham's corrolary

Topham's Corrolary to the General Theory of Relativity states that the first week of school is always the longest week of the year, and you have survived it! Congratulations!!! It's over! You have reached that almighty rest zone called the weekend in which football games and one-act plays reside along with a momentary return to the world of sleeping in. It may not last (cf. "Mondays") but it is nice finally to be here.

So, with all of that in mind, and with the admonition that you enjoy this weekend because you have earned it, I give you this day's notes:

CW: Today we held conferences one on one about one of your prompts. Your assignment is to do one of the following: either revise that piece based upon the feedback you received or write a new piece. If you choose to revise, please use the rainbow draft instructions that can be found here. ALSO: if you have not yet signed up for the text messaging, check the info on yesterday's blog and do so now.

E3H: Today we held a severely truncated Reading Workshop. (It will be much better next time.) Your assignment for Monday's Writing Workshop is to come in with a piece for discussion. The prompt: Create a Frozen Moment piece. Find one specific and dynamic memory from this summer and then take the most memorable portion of it (mid-dive from a cliff, standing atop a mountain looking at the world, yanking a large fish from the water, closing in for a kiss, laughign with friends around a bonfire, etc.) and freeze-frame it, stopping it as if it were a three-dimensional photograph that still somehow manages to maintain the sense of smell (and even in some cases the sense of sound). Then describe the heck out of it. Try to avoid overusing adjectives; the best descriptors are vivid nouns and verbs.  ALSO: if you have not yet signed up for the text messaging, check the info on yesterday's blog and do so now.

E2CP: Today we discussed the posters you made yesterday and introduced the concept of transcendentalism, which we will be discussing for the next couple of weeks. Over the weekend (for Tuesday), you will be reading a piece that covers a different aspect of Transcendentalism. Written by Henry David Thoreau, it is called Civil Disobedience. Please annotate it as before: find five questions about things you do not understand and five places where you feel that Thoreau is absolutely right or thoroughly wrong and explain why. For Monday, you'll need to bring in a piece of writing for Writing Workshop. Here is the prompt: Create a Frozen Moment piece. Find one specific and dynamic memory from this summer and then take the most memorable portion of it (mid-dive from a cliff, standing atop a mountain looking at the world, yanking a large fish from the water, closing in for a kiss, laughign with friends around a bonfire, etc.) and freeze-frame it, stopping it as if it were a three-dimensional photograph that still somehow manages to maintain the sense of smell (and even in some cases the sense of sound). Then describe the heck out of it. Try to avoid overusing adjectives; the best descriptors are vivid nouns and verbs. ALSO: if you have not yet signed up for the text messaging, check the info on yesterday's blog and do so now. (Isaiah, check this out: you are in the wrong class!)

For today's bit of bizarreness:

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so...it's thursday? what now?

We made it to Thursday, you say? Can't we just call it quits now and join the weekend, already in progress?

Apparently not: one day to go.

So what happened today and what does Friday have in store? Let's check into the old attic and find out...

CW: We had a class conference today (thanks, Colin, for being the guinea pig) and will have individual conferences tomorrow on either of the prompt-drive pieces from this week. Bring two printed (typed) copies for conference. Also: Sign up for my texting service by texting "@mstoph" to (484) 334-2220.
Should you desire the redundancy of adding a signup by email as well (and thereby getting an email of any notifications in addition to the text messages), send an email to: mstoph@remind101.com with the subject and body empty.

E2CP: We discussed Emerson's "Nature" in small groups and then created posters about our ideas of what it said. You left your assignments from last night with me for grading. Tomorrow we will work with those posters. There is no new HW tonight except to sign up for my texting service by texting "@mstopha" to (484) 334-2220. Should you desire the redundancy of adding a signup by email as well (and thereby getting an email of any notifications in addition to the text messages), send an email to: mstopha@remind101.com with the subject and body empty.

E3H: We went around the room to see each other's pieces of art--a very interesting and eclectic selection, too. There were a few who did not have theirs; they will bring them in tomorrow. In addition, everyone will bring a Reading Workshop book. There is no other new HW tonight except to sign up for my texting service by texting "@topha" to (484) 334-2220. Should you desire the redundancy of adding a signup by email as well (and thereby getting an email of any notifications in addition to the text messages), send an email to: topha@remind101.com with the subject and body empty.

Today's video is a movie compilation:

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caught in a slow-time bubble

Hi, all:

Third day of school. It feels as if we should have reached the weekend by now, doesn't it? I think that it always seems to take forever to reach the end of the first week of school. It's some sort of adjunct tot he Theory of Relativity: the first week of school causes time to slow down.

Anyway...


E2CP: Today in class we discussed the use of the website for awhile and then moved on to the topic of Nature as we had been discussing it. Tonight's assignment is to read a part of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay on Nature (link here: the Emerson essay). You only need to read Part 1: Nature. As you read it, annotate it by responding with at least five issues you have with it (things that need explaining, things you disagree with, etc.) and five things Emerson says that are suggestive of your own involvement of nature. These annotations need not be very long--a couple or three sentences each will suffice.

E3H: Today we discussed the annotated art quotes. I did not collect them because I am not sure our discussions are finished, but rest assured that I will. Be sure that you have them tomorrow and Friday. Your assignment is to bring in a work of art.

CW: Today we discussed the Walk in the Here and Now pieces and I read Jori Richman's from last year as an example of where this kind of piece can take you with revision. Discovering that most of the class has never done a Frozen Moment piece, I assigned one as a second prompt: freeze in time a single fascinating moment from your summer and describe it in great detail. Try not to overindulge in the use of adjectives; nouns and verbs are best for description.

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better late than never

Sorry I'm so late: things kept happening so that I did not get home until right now. So I'll just get to it tonight instead of having any kind of long preamble...

CW: we spent most of our time today discussing the 20-minute walk that was last night's assignment. Tonight the assignment was to go onto the website here and to the CW pages and check them out.  Oh, yes, and get a journal!


E2CP: we read through and discussed several people's responses to yesterday's assignment, which is going to lead us into out first significant unit. Tonight's assignment was to go onto this website and to the E2CP pages and to come up with three specific questions about something you find here.  Oh yes, and get a journal!

E3H: we discussed the website for a short time before shifting our gears to discuss what ART is. Each class came up with numerous definitions and examples. Tonights assignment was to go onto the E3H pages, to the projects page, and read through the "What Is a Work of Art?" sheet (A-N). Annotate (or take notes on) your thoughts regarding these statements and bring them tomorrow. We'll base our discussions and/or arguments on them.

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come back at 7:00

Post here. Today's Missed Conferences: Tomorrow's Conferences:

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back to school

Well, that was fast. Why does it always seem, when you start the first day of school, that you have never even left? Or is that just me?

Hello, everyone,

In these posts, you can expect a few things, though posts vary and not all of them contain everything. First, there is usually some sort of greeting or message from me at the start. It is sometimes serious and sometimes silly or utterly frivolous, but I don't normally dive straight into the class stuff.

As to the class stuff: I will usually recap (very briefly) the day's events--we're talking a sentence or so here--and then offer a written version of whatever homework assignment was given and/or is due. Should I forget to do so, you are not excused from the assignment. Ultimately you are responsible for knowing what the assignments are if they are given in class and when they are due.


In addition, I usually find some silly or interesting video, comic, etc. to include, just for fun.

OK, then: now that you know the procedure, let's move on to today...

CW: Today was an introduction, and we talked about how the class will work. Assignments: buy a journal (not a spiral notebook) that somehow reflects who you are and take a walk for 20 minutes, keeping your focus on what is going on in the Here and Now. When you finish the walk, write your reflections or the imagery that comes to mind. Bring that tomorrow.


E2CP: Today was an introduction, and we talked about how the class will work. Assignments: buy a journal (not a spiral notebook) that somehow reflects who you are. Also, spend some time outside and then write a paragraph about your relationship to any element of nature. (This could be about camping, about insects, about gardening, about walking in the woods, about swimming in streams, etc.) Bring this in tomorrow.

E3H: Today was an introduction, and we talked about how the class will work. Assignments: buy a journal (not a spiral notebook) that somehow reflects who you are. Also, go online here and on the 3H class pages and explore them as thoroughly as you can.

Here is how to deal with those rude folks who actually answer cell phone calls during shows:

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