12/22 revision apologies

Just a mid-vacation word for those awaiting revision corrections, especially on Asher Lev papers. I've been sleeping a lot from the pills I've been taking for pain from my surgery, and have spent most of my waking time in a strange little chair with my shoulder hooked up to a contraption that keeps it moving. This is to say that I have not forgotten you but have had little opportunity to do the job.

I hope to get to some of them tomorrow. Please bear with me.

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12/16 surgery update

I'm actually writing this on Thursday night because I have no clue if I will be coherent enough to post anything tomorrow night, but I thought I should have a Final Day post anyway. Look at yesterday's post for information about CW final projects and Vocab Extra Credit stuff.

I hope you all enjoyed the last day today. I left the sub "The Nightmare Before Christmas" with exact instructions so that what you'd see would time out almost perfectly; I hope it worked. And, CW folks, I hope you enjoyed the WWF; don't forget to submit to YI!

Surgery Update:

I thought I had already done this but apparently I had only dreamed it.

All went well. The doctor said that he was able to remove all of the scar tissue, so now I just have to get through the pain and the meds and the recovery and the therapy...

(Isn't it sweet that I dreamed of sending you  message?)

Here is one of the coolest videos of the year:


2011: The Cinescape from Matt Shapiro on Vimeo.


WORD OF THE DAY*:       SUBMIT TO YOUNG IDEA!
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences: (What conferences? It's vacation!)

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12/15 Merry Christmas/Happy Hannukah One and All

So this is the last day of school for me before the break, as you know. I awaken bright and early tomorrow to go to the hospital (or to the "horse-pistol" as someone in my family once nicknamed it) to have my shoulder operated on. They get to go in with an arthroscope and clear out some scar tissue from an accident last summer and (if I'm lucky) an old cyst that isn't doing any harm right now but you never know. And then...I get to be on monster pain killers for quite a while and I get to sit in a ridiculously uncomfortable chair connected to a machine that manipulates my shoulder to make sure the scar tissue does not reform.

Why do companies that make things like that have to make them so uncomfortable?


Anyway, I hope that all of you have utterly awesome holidays.

CW:

Yes, you did it. (But where oh where is Haley????)

And now a word from our sponsor:

(Oh yes, that would be me.)

OFFSCREEN VOICE:     Feeling depressed and empty now that your portfolio is finished?

CW SENIOR:                   Now that you mention it...

OV:                                   Well don't worry. Topham Enterprises has a cure for Port-Portfolio Blues.

CW SENIOR:                   Oh Boy! Tell me all about it!

OV:                                   I thought you'd never ask! Just look here:

Examine pieces from each of your high school years. Find work from each of the Writing Workshop experiences you have had and trace your growth as a writer through this fall.

• What have you learned?
• What have been the greatest catalysts of that growth?
• With what do you continue to struggle?
• Where will your future focuses be?

Quote from your own work. Liberally sprinkle this with bits and pieces of you. Finally, put it together in a micro-portfolio (no need for anything fancy this time) that illustrates your personal writing journey over the last four years.

You may do a mini-portfolio, but I’d actually prefer that you do this in a completely different format. Try something you’ve never tried before. Make a DVD* or CD-ROM. Make a web-site** or blog***.You are creative people: be creative! The rules are that you must explore your career in writing as noted above, but the format iswide open.

* Lots of programs make this easy. I’m a Mac girl myself, so I use iMovie. Easy as pie.

** Mac has one for this too: iWeb. I imagine Vista has one, but I don’t know that universe.

*** Here’s a super-simple option and it’s universal: use Google! If you create a free account on Google, they will guide you through the creation of a blog, provide templates, and publish it for you!

****Another presentation site is prezi.com, a fun site to create unusual presentations with: sort of an "I'm sick of PowerPoint" kind of site.

So…have fun!

This is due when we get back, so we can share them in class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. (I won’t be here on Friday due to Theatre Fest.)

Want an example or two?

Try: Johanna's web page, or Heather's blog, orLilly's blog, or Betsy's blog, or Sarah's blog. I cannot link you to things other than blogs, sadly, but they are definitely possible and have been done. I hope some of your will try some! 

E3H: No, there is not homework over break. (But see below.)

E2CP: No, there is no homework over break (as long as you have finished reading the book). (But see below.)


THIS IS "BELOW":
WORD OF THE DAY*:       EXTRA CREDIT


* We have been doing "Word of the Day" now for about a month, and we have a lot of words. We will be having a vocab assessment (read that "quiz/test") soon (when we get back), so it behooves you to get a handle on these words for yourselves. I'm going to provide a bit of incentive.


Over break, if you desire, you may create an extra credit creative presentation based on the vocabulary words.


Here are a couple of examples using basic Powerpoint: This one uses a stuffed bunny to illustrate words. And this one uses movies. Sick of PowerPoint? Try prezi.com; a PowerPoint-alternative. And then there is one that made use of rap and movement here. Don't do something BORING. Have fun if you're going to do this and make sure we'll have fun watching it! 


And BTW: I know there are some websites that make certain kind of word-oriented projects very easy, like plug and play; you might want to avoid those if you want actual credit.)


Meanwhile...



Now, do not watch this if you care about having Christmas movies spoiled.  You have been warned:










And for equal time:

(If it looks small to you, that's a Hulu thing. Sorry.)

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

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12/14 nothing new today

I mean it.

Literally.

There's nothing new.

Send me anything that looks "missing" on PowerSchool. CW, bring portfolios tomorrow (and goodies!). E3H, bring cookies for WWF.

Honestly, there's nothing new here.

Not even a video.

Go away now.

:-)

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12/14 Surgery coming, so stuff happens

So I find out today that I have to miss much of tomorrow for a stress test before Friday's surgery. Oh joy! Oh rapture! I should return by 7th and 8th periods, but still...

A message to sophomores and juniors:

Look at PowerSchool. It is as up to date as I know right now. If you do not have a grade or a check mark indicating that I have something in my possession, then I do not have it. If you have done it and you want me to have it so I can grade it, make it so. Email it to me today if possible. Just do it quickly; I am going to have to update these scores early next week so that missing grades turn into zeroes, and that will not be a very nice Christmas present.

CW: There is only tomorrow before portfolios are due. If you are desperate for another conference...while that is not my problem, try emailing it to me. It might work. You never know.

E3H: We'll show off our various versions of hell tomorrow and then talk about Stephen's.

E2CP: you'll go to the WWF tomorrow. Bring cookies!




WORD OF THE DAY*:      Watch this space. There will be an extra credit vocab vacay project coming in the next couple of days!!!

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12/10: The last week of 2011

It's really late this time. And I am not at school. I am just getting home from "My Afternoon At The Doctors' Offices." Doesn't sound as if it will be able to be adapted into a major motion picture, does it?

Anyway...

Here are a few things to ponder:

The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.

If you outlaw catapults, only outlaws will have catapults.

Is it too fast or am I too slow?

If knowledge is power but ignorance is bliss, some days I wish I could be completely retarded.

Is a well-made sign that says '' bad '' on it a good sign or a bad sign?

CW: Countdown is 4. You know the score.

E2CP: New reading assignment takes us fifty pages into the future. So keep reading!

E3H: Although you have a counselor seminar tomorrow, there is an assignment (due Wednesday). Here it is:

• Create a graphical depiction of your own concept of hell. It does not have to be the religious "fire and brimstone" hell; it could be a metaphorical hell if that is what you believe. Or, if you do not believe that there is an actual "hell," imagine what your personal hell might be like and create it.
• You can draw these, but it may be more fun to make them three-dimensional. In the past I've seen mobiles, diaramas, and quirky, individual inventions. 
• One of the most memorable examples I can think of at the moment: a shoebox painted black outside and inside. Within it was a single chair on which a small clay figure sat in the dark. This was someone's idea of hell: trapped alone, forever, in total darkness.

George Takei brokers Star Peace in order to allow SF fans to combat the Real Enemy: Twilight!





Tomorrow's Conferences:

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12/9 just one last week before break

I seem to be posting short messages this week. Probably a function of getting out of here after 6:00. :-) Have a nice weekend!

CW: The countdown says there are 6 days left.

Do you know where your portfolio is?

(BTW, CW-ers, we're still looking for WWF submissions! Black drafts, no crossouts, blue stripes!)

E3H: Today we mostly made decorations. :-) Assignment:

• In Chapter 2, Stephen grew into high school and (at the very end) fell into the ways of sin. He continues deep in those habits as Chapter 3 opens, although to all outward appearances he is one of the most upstanding boys in the school. Then--because these boys are at the age where prurient thoughts are a constant danger to their chastity--the boys have a two-day retreat given by Father Arnell (from Clongowes) about the danger of such sin to their immortal souls. Read the first morning of that retreat and Stephen's reaction to it, which will take you to page 136 at the words "Time passed."
• Bring in a draft of at least one WW piece if you have not already--black draft, no crossouts, yellow stripe--for the WWF.

E2CP: Today we made decorations and finished the RW project. Assignment:

• Continue reading in your books.
• Bring in a revision of your WW piece.
• Bring in a draft of at least one WW piece--black draft, no crossouts, green stripe--for the WWF.

WORD OF THE DAY*:       PENULTIMATE
* Click word for information.

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12/8 time flies

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems to me that time is just flying these last few weeks before break. I come in on Monday and it's suddenly Thursday. How does that work anyway? And how can I bottle it to use it on the slow weeks?

CW: The countdown says 7 days.

Do you know where your portfolio is?

E3H: We spent time with pandybats and moving to Dublin today. For tonight: finish Part Two. It's RW tomorrow (or making a decoration) and I'll be grading annotations.

E2CP: We had more RW projects today. Tomorrow we will finish them and hang the graphics. We will also start the door project if people are ready and do the WWF decoration. People not decorating: bring a book for RW.

Do you watch "Community"? (Why not?)




WORD OF THE DAY*:       AESTHETIC
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences:  Ahmmad, John, Amadeus

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12/7 crazy day

Short days are inherently crazy. But today takes the cake, with forensics stuff and missing essays and a whole slew of other nonsense. Is it vacation yet?

CW: There are 8 days left.

Do you know where your portfolio is?

E3H: We went over things that go wrong on essays, using examples from Asher papers. We'll be back in Portrait tomorrow.

E2CP: We discussed the Door. We'll do more RW projects tomorrow. Keep reading your books!


Here is possibly the single coolest video i have ever posted here:



WORD OF THE DAY*:       EPHEMERAL
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences:Kylie, Anton, Claire F, Allena, Kathleen, Isaiah

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12/6 ignoring the funny folk

There are funny people in my room.

I'm serious. They are behind me as I type this, being silly and doing hilarious things that are massively distracting. They are improvising things:

"What happened to your face?
"Job interview."

It's hard to pay attention to what I am trying to think of. Someone back there is killing random small animals in various states. I think one of them is named Laura.

CW:    There are 9 days left:

Do you know where your portfolio is?

E3H: If you have not yet had annotations graded, bring your book to me in the morning. Today we discussed more of the dinner scene, the smugging scene, and the pandy scene. Read to page 91.

E2CP: We had a counselor seminar today; back to RW projects tomorrow...and anyone with door ideas!

More crazy Christmas lights:

And kitties:

WORD OF THE DAY*:       TEMERITY
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences: Mitchell, Kathleen, Annalisa, Emmett

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12/5 monday blahs

Oh boy do I have them!

CW: Your portfolio is due in 10 days.

Do you know where your portfolio is?

E2CP: See Friday's reading assignment.

E3H: See Friday's reading assignment. If you have not yet had your annotations assessed, please bring your books to me early in the day so I can get to them before class.

If you are likely to be offended by Kristen Stewart trivializing the Christmas story, please do not click on this link. If you are likely to be offended by Kristen Stewart playing herself as if she were a bimbo, you might want to skip this one too. If you are likely to be offended by Kristen Stewart, I think it goes without saying.



WORD OF THE DAY*:       INDELIBLE
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences:

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12/2 into the weekend

It's awfully late. 
It's after 8. 
I know: it's true.
I usually do
have posts online
in quicker time.
But this day's work
remained to lurk
into the night
(which wasn't right)--
but anyhow
it's over now
so here we go
(on with the show!):
Time for a post!
Enjoy it most!

:-)

CW: Your portfolio is due in 13 days. Do you know where your portfolio is?

E3H: We discussed the Christmas dinner scene today. There will be WW Monday, and I will also be grading annotations for Ch 1 then. Read through p.76 (at *** break) for Tuesday.

E2CP: We finished the movie today. Over the weekend:

• In your journals, explore the connections among Thomas, Victor, and Arnold. How are their lives intertwined? What are we supposed to take from this film? How is it connected to our book?
• For Tuesday, read to p.100.
• For Monday, the RW project is due! As a reminder, here are the parameters again:

1. You need to make a presentation to the class consisting of what the book is about, why you recommend it, and a selection from the book that you have practiced reading and can make come alive for the class.
2. You need to create, on a 5x7 note card, a visual Catalog Card for the book. This Catalog Card must contain the name and author of the book, some quote(s) that clarify what it is about, and a visual/graphic representation of what it is about. A couple of examples:

And now a Black Friday shopping prank:



WORD OF THE DAY*:       PEDANTIC
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences:

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12/1 a new month

December? Already? OK...NOW it's OK to put up those decorations. :-)

Those are COOL!

and now...


CW: Lab today, lab (?) tomorrow.

E3H: discussed annotations and Stephen through p.25; read through p.39 (the Christmas dinner).

E2CP: Watched start of movie "Smoke Signals."

WORD OF THE DAY*:       INSINUATE
* Click word for information.


Tomorrow's Conferences: Andrew Nehring, Ella

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