topham's attic

3/9 another weekend cometh

2012-03-09T15:08:00.001-06:00

The extended forecast is in the 50's and 60's; here's hoping winter is slipping away for good. In any case, my front garden has yellow, white and purple crocuses blooming, so there's that. :-)

Film: Watch the video I put on yesterday's blog for you. Or click here to watch it on youtube. Then watch the remaining parts of the program: (Part Two and Four are unavailable--though there are a couple of links, they aren't really the right thing; it should not matter much.), Part Three, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven. The whole thing will take about an hour. Take some notes so we can discuss this on Monday; compare it to what you learned in class and in the book. In this week's review, focus on editing.

E2CP and E3H: WW Monday. See yesterday for reading assignments for Tuesday.

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

Monday's Conferences:Summer, Joseph

Junior Portfolios are due on March 19. Do you know where your portfolio is?

Some political humor for the weekend:

So I found this absolutely hilarious pseudo-"ad" that I had to show you because it made fun of the use of double (and triple and quadruple) negatives for its humor, and (because I would not want to be accused of bias) I went searching for something to balance it and I found a perfect video!

Here is the "ad":

Double Negative Political Ad - watch more funny videos

And here is the other video, which consists of slides of all sorts of anti-Obama graphics from all over the web, many of which are truly witty, even hilarious, because they rely on cleverness to convey their message instead of the more usual rancor (which is what makes such videos so hard to find in the first place).

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

3/8 happy international women's day!

2012-03-08T16:45:00.002-06:00

I'm serious. It's International Women's Day. Did you know that?

Film: We finished our movie and started talking about editing. Bring books tomorrow and watch the video below:

E2CP & E3H: We discussed our literature today (Catcher and Antigone). For Tuesday: Sophs read through Chapter 18; juniors finish reading the play. RW tomorrow; juniors we do have a lab for those who wish to write.
WORD OF THE DAY*: INTRANSIGENT
* Click word for information.

Tomorrow's Conferences:Catie, Carter, Amadeus, John Rosencranz

It's International Women's Day!

Rush Limbaugh recently called women who use birth control sluts. These singers would like to respond.

3/7 (not quite yet) the first day of spring

2012-03-07T16:17:00.001-06:00

I need to do this now:

I mean the actual first day of spring it will probably snow. :-)

Film: We just about finished "Singin' in the Rain today. We will do so quickly tomorrow and then discuss Editing so bring your books.

E2CP: Discussed more of Catcher; tomorrow we'll be discussing through Chapter 11.

E3H: Today we had a bit of fun with Oedipus. Here is a little more:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Kylie, Henry, Allena, Ahmmad, Kathleen, Tom, Claire

3/6 sorry so late!

2012-03-06T19:36:00.001-06:00

I was amazed to hear that temps were in the 60's. Well, I did see a couple of crocuses yesterday...

Film: Still watching "Singing' in the Rain."

E2CP: Read Catcher 6-8 for tomorrow.

E3H: I had to leave school immediately after school and did not get home until just now (7:30), so I don't have time to chase down the video I wanted to find. Thus I will instead leave you with this one, which is at least something:

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

3/5 it's beginning to feel a lot like...

2012-03-05T13:31:00.003-06:00

So, three weeks to Spring Break. Why then does it feel like the day after Thanksgiving break? From the temps and the snow, I think we should be heading toward Christmas...

jingle bells, jingle bells...

Film: We started "Singin' in the Rain" today. You should have read the Editing chapter of your text; we will be discussing that either tomorrow or Wednesday; have it with you.

E2CP: WW today. Back to Catcher tomorrow. Read Chapters 4,5.

E3H: WW today. Back to Oedipus tomorrow. Please have finished reading the play.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Kasia, Tommy L, Emmett, Tommy S, Laura, John Roberts, David, Casey

3/1 a new month, a new beginning

2012-03-01T12:24:00.000-06:00

Let us hope so.

Go home this weekend, talk to your parents, talk to each other, and maybe do the two things that are hardest of all: be honest and listen. It's been a rough week. My wish for you all is that you spend time this weekend parsing it and working through it. I'll see you Monday.

No new homework this weekend other than the standard stuff.

This song just seems right today:

So does this one...

OK. Enough. Now here is a cute dog video to make you smile:

Seriously. Try to treat yourselves well this weekend, OK?

2/29 an extra day to do whatever

2012-02-29T15:45:00.001-06:00

One of the things I did with my extra day is this:

I added sections to this blog to record homework assignments for each individual class. If you scroll down the page you will find them. E3H is in blue and on the far left; E2CP is in pink and in the middle; Film is in yellow and in the middle. As new assignments are given I will add them to these boxes, so you will always have a single location in which to locate current and past assignments.

I wonder why I have never thought of this before!

Meanwhile, back at the blog...

Film continued watching "Run, Lola, Run."

E3H continued Oedipus or discussed the issues of the day. In either case, there is a Vocab test/quiz/thingie tomorrow.

E2CP continued discussing Holden. You have a test/quiz/thingie on vocab tomorrow.

WORD OF THE DAY*: YIKES!

Tomorrow's Conferences: Isaiah, Willie, Madeline, Carter, Tommy W, Camron, Kathereine W

One of the great pop stars of my youth died today. RIP Davy Jones of the Monkees.

2/28 what? this ISN'T the end of february?

2012-02-28T13:03:00.002-06:00

:-)

Film: We started "Run, Lola, Run" and would have discussed more of the "Movement" chapter if a few more of you had actually read the thing. Bring your books to class.

E2CP: We started Catcher today, discussing the first few pages and the background of Holden's character. Also we introduced the ongoing journal assignment. Read chapters 1-3.

E3H: Today we discussed more of Oedipus the King. Read through the Oedipus/Messenger scene (around p.124).

WORD OF THE DAY*: VOCAB TEST ON THURSDAY.
SOME OLD WORDS MAY BE INCLUDED!!!

Tomorrow's Conferences: Allie, Emma W, Jenna, Steven

I don't know who is funnier here, the girl caught in the back or the newsgirl when she realizes what's going on:

And a little "behind the scenes" journey into yesterday's video:

2/27 go, meryl!

2012-02-27T15:35:00.000-06:00

Don't let the "silent" thing scare you, or even the "black and white" thing. Go to see "The Artist. You will like it. :-)

Film: Read "Movement," which I am so sure you have not already read. And bring the books tomorrow.

E2CP: Today we had WW; Catcher tomorrow!

E3H: WW/projects today; Oedipus tomorrow!

WORD OF THE DAY*: STUDY YOUR VOCAB!!!

Tomorrow's Conferences: Tommy L, Amy, Andy Nelson, Amanda, Summer, Collin, Jack, Katherine J, Angela, Emma B

2/24 a bit of Currier and Ives, a bit of Oscar...

2012-02-24T13:16:00.003-06:00

...and a bit of a rush getting out the door!

Film: Finished talking about Oscar nominees. Watch one this weekend for your weekly review! The ceremony starts at 7 on Sunday; who will be watching? (You can try to pick the winners here.)

E2CP: Today we began the March RW project. To see details, check out the February 3 blog post. WW on Monday (start of Cycle 4). Catcher in the Rye begins on Tuesday.

E3H: Finished (most of) the projects today. WW on Monday, back to Sophocles (remember him?) on Tuesday.

WORD OF THE DAY*: DON"T FORGET THAT VOCAB!

In honor of the Oscars:

More Honest Oscar Posters:

(Want to read my comparative review of the Swedish and American versions of Girl With a Dragon Tattoo?)

And, just for the heck of it...

The top movie moments of all time, told in Legos...

Make your own Oscar picks!

Cycle Four starts Monday!

2/23 waiting on snowzilla '12

2012-02-23T15:57:00.002-06:00

OK, so it's not really Snowzilla. It's as close as we're likely to get this year. :-)

Here's the scoop:

Film: Finished up "Moulin Rouge" stuff and moved on to Oscar previews.

E2CP: Discussed "Traditions" papers and then focused on RW groups. If groups do not have books tomorrow we'll have one last story.

E3H: More projects. 7th p will have workshop time tomorrow. 8th might get some too.

WORD OF THE DAY*: VOCAB ASSESSMENT NEXT WEEK!

Tomorrow's Conferences: ALL OF E2CP except for David, Annalisa and Joseph, plus my regular Friday B crew of Carter and Henry.

Helpful Signage:
(click to enlarge)

2/22 deuces wild

2012-02-22T16:22:00.003-06:00

Didn't think I'd notice the 2's, did you? :-)

Just a quickie today, as I had some conferences after school and I have appointments I need to get to. So let's get down to it:

Film: We're watching some DVD extras from "Moulin Rouge." Finish reading "Movement." Highlight or take notes on your reading. I just might quiz you on it.

E2CP: We discussed "The Lottery." You did not read Jackson's commentary; do so. Also: write a one-page personal response essay exploring traditions in your family/school/town/country that may be obsolete but are still being done because, hey, it's always been that way. BUY CATCHER IN THE RYE. $7

E3H: We saw some projects today. We'll be reading Oedipus if there is extra time around conferences, so have it with you.

WORD OF THE DAY*: STUDY YOUR VOCAB!

Tomorrow's Conferences: Kylie, Brian, Henry, Allena, Ahmmad, Tom, Claire

Want to revisit Christmas for a moment? No? Well, tough. Anyway, this video is appropriate for any gift-giving occasion:

2/21 fat tuesday

2012-02-21T15:26:00.002-06:00

So was yesterday Skinny Monday?

Anyway, here we are: business as usual, except that our junior portfolio countdown is now only 28 and our new class countdown goes to spring break. Fun fun fun!

Film: We finished "Moulin Rouge." Tomorrow we will look at some of the "extras" on the DVD and discuss the film more. Then we will be moving on (no pun intended) to the "Movement" chapter of your books, which you should be reading.

E3H: We had a WW, though we did enjoy one yummy project in 8th period. Double check where you are in connection to your portfolio and March 19. Tomorrow is part WW, part projects, and all Late Start.

E2CP: We had a WW today; back to short stories tomorrow (Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"). But first: have you chosen your RW groups and books yet?

WORD OF THE DAY*: study your vocab!!!

Tomorrow's Conferences: Meghan, Kathleen, Katherine J, Annalisa, Ella

Spectacular:

2/16 (updated 2/21) four-day week-end...how time flies

2012-02-16T11:11:00.004-06:00

Think back to a day not that long ago when I explained to you how quickly you would be here. And here you are: the middle of February, five weeks (which include yet another long weekend) from spring break. As I said: once you weather that initial lengthy period of several five-day weeks in a row, time simply flies.

:-)

Speaking of which: if you are in my sophomore or junior classes, time has flown since we have had a vocabulary assessment. I think it's about time for another one, don't you? I mean there are 21 words in list two; that seems enough. Thus: there will be no new vocab words this weekend. Instead, you should look back on List Two and prep yourself for some kind of assessment next week. (I'd remind myself of List One words too; you never know.)

E2CP did not meet today. There will be a WW on Tuesday, of course, with your new stories as your focus. (See this past Monday's blog post.) For Tuesday: Read Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and her comment about it in the back section of the book. (Pages posted yesterday.) Also: it might be a good idea to find partners for the RW group project that begins next week. (Reminder: 2-3 people will read the same book at the same pace and do a project/report on it.)

E3H: We continued reading and discussion about Oedipus the King. And we scared the crap out of ourselves with the Choral Ode of Death. ;-) Have a great weekend and don't forget about your projects!
UPDATE: PROJECTS ARE NOW DUE ON WEDNESDAY. WW IS TUESDAY. (CAN'T LOSE TWO WEEKS IN A ROW THIS CLOSE TO PORTFOLIOS.)

Film: I wish I could say that we finished "Moulin Rouge" today but we did not. We have between 15-30 minutes left, which we will see on Tuesday. For Tuesday, you have your Mise en Scene essays due. (No review this week.) Also, read through the Movement chapter in the text. We will be discussing issues contained in that chapter next week.

WORD OF THE DAY*: Nothing new today*
* See the red text above for information

Tuesday's Conferences: Kasia, Tommy L, Emmett, Tommy S, Laura, John Roberts, David, Casey
Please remember that you need to make up missed Friday or Monday conferences before next Friday.

There is a new meme in town! How others see us (told through stock photos):
(click to enlarge)

Have a great weekend!

2/15 double hump day

2012-02-15T11:58:00.000-06:00

Yes, this is a double-hump day. It's Wednesday, of course, but it is also the fifteenth of a February that contains 29 days: the exact middle of the week and the exact middle of the month!

Happy Double-Hump Day!

Film: We continued watching and discussing "Moulin Rouge." Your Mise en Scene papers are due Tuesday; there is no review this weekend.

E2CP: We discussed Flannery O'Connor's views about "AGMIHTF." Interesting thoughts on your part. Then we moved on to Kincaid's "Girl" and had more interesting discussion. For next Tuesday: Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" (562) and her commentary on it (1254). Course registration is tomorrow. Note to Katherine Jones: your conference this semester is B week Wednesday, Period 5.

E3H: Today we began reading and discussing "Oedipus the King." Read through to p 173 (?)...after Oedipus responds to the first choral ode.

Hey, here's one for the film class!

Key and Peele

And here's one for all of those who can't wait for "Hunger Games":

Get More: Taylor Swift, Safe & Sound, Music, More Music Videos

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Isaiah, Willie, Madeline, Tommy W, Camron, Katherine W

2/14 valentines from a friend

2012-02-14T13:06:00.001-06:00

Katy Perry songs? Such a nice change after about fifteen years of "ooga-chaka." :-)

I hope that everyone has had and is having a lovely Valentine's Day. President Snow wishes it also. ;-)

Film: We continued with "Moulin Rouge" after discussing the state of the gradebook.

E2CP: We discussed "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." Tonight, read O'Connor's commentary on 1287 as well as Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl" on 673.

E3H: We opened the door to a unit on a new and specific art form: tragedy. Springing from SD's definition of the dramatic form and going back over the origins of drama, we moved to the story of Oedipus as all Greeks knew it. We also went over the form of the play and the place where it was staged. Bring in The Theban Plays tomorrow. For tonight, read "Greece and the Theatre," the preface beginning on page 13 of that book.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Allie, Emma W, Jenna, Steven

2/13 and then there was this unexpected half day

2012-02-13T17:07:00.000-06:00

If I had known I would be finished at 10:35, I would have left right after third period. :-)

Ah, junior registration day! Quelle surprise!

Film: Today we discussed your new paper: the Mise en Scene assignment, due next Tuesday.

E2CP: We had WW today and collected Piece #2. Cycle 3 for this semester began. For Piece #3, we brainstormed some of our "go to" stories. The prompt is to take your own or someone else's story, recast it to third person, and tell it. Begin with a line of dialogue followed by narrative. And make a very important factual change in the story itself. Reminder that the "Good Man Is Hard to Find" responses are due tomorrow. The topic is to examine the final conversations in the story and discuss what they tell us about the characters. 1+ pages.

E3H: Registration today; WW tomorrow.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences:Tommy L, Amy, Andy, Amanda, Collin, Jack, Angela, Emma B

2/10 i'm too tired to be peppy

2012-02-10T14:00:00.000-06:00

OK, so...let's see:

It's snowing. It's the weekend. It's February. It's cold.

Well, one of those things is good, anyway...

Film: We watched some extra material on Amelie, and a few of you were less than considerate. In the future I would appreciate it (and I am certain that your classmates would also appreciate it) if you would leave the conversations outside the room. Weekend HW: Review due Tuesday. I notice that I am missing work from several of you; bad way to begin.

E3H: RW today. :-) WW Monday. :-) Essay test due Tuesday. (Should I put a smiley here also?) Project due a week from Tuesday. (How about here?)

E2CP: RW today. :-) WW Monday. :-) HW for Tuesday: What do we learn from the conversations that end "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"? Write a 1+ page (typed) paper.

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

Cycle 3 Begins! Monday's Conferences: Summer, Emma D, Joseph, Adam, Cole

2/9 a dispassionate look at another long day

2012-02-09T16:30:00.001-06:00

It has been another long day.

Was that dispassionate enough for you?

;-)

Film: We finished "Amelie" today and will visit some of the DVD extras tomorrow.

E2CP: We discussed "A Good Man is Hard to Find" today. Review the final conversation between the grandmother and the Misfit: what does it reveal about both? Due to the short period tomorrow we may just talk for a moment or so about it and then go into RW, letting you write about it over the weekend, so come in with questions.

E3H: We finished Portrait completely today and discussed the two final assessment projects, both of which can be found on the E3H page under books and Portrait.

and here is a love song to the internet:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Catie, Carter, Amadeus, John Rosencranz

2/8 my how the days do tick by

2012-02-08T15:25:00.000-06:00

The days may take forever but the weeks go by in a flash. There is something just a little bit weird about that...

Film: We continue to watch and discuss "Amelie" and I continue to forget that it is easier to discuss at the end of the class, having just watched stuff, than the next day, having had time to forget it all.

E2CP: We read and discussed "Car Crash While Hitchhiking." Tonight please consider why this drugged-out narrator is oddly trustworthy. Also read "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (page 904).

E3H: Can you believe that you have handed in Portrait for the last time? :-) We'll finish conversations and talk assessment tomorrow.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Kylie, Brian, Henry, Allena, Ahmmad, Tom, Claire

toddler cuteness:

amazing high school lip dub:

2/7 when do pitchers and catchers show up?

2012-02-07T15:28:00.001-06:00

:-)

Film: Continuing Amelie. Tonight: consider how the director (Jean-Pierre Jeunet) makes us aware of the character of Amelie Poussant. Discussion tomorrow before more of the film.

E2CP: WW today. Don't forget: Cycle 2 ends this week and your second piece is due next Monday. Tomorrow: bring Short Fiction.

E3H: Today we (finally) got to the end of the text of Portrait. All that remains is the journal at the very end., which we will discuss tomorrow. Question for tomorrow's class: How is this book relevant to your life? Don't forget that annotations are due tomorrow!

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Meghan, Kathleen, Annalisa, Ella

This comment thread was found by the folks in the video beneath a seventh grader's photo on facebook. They thought it was just out there enough that the only thing they could do was...parody it. According to the filmmaker, the lines are verbatim from facebook. It's fascinating the melodrama that exists in middle school lives:

2/6 unsuper monday

2012-02-06T15:40:00.002-06:00

What are you supposed to do after the Super Bowl? I mean: for weeks, everyone has been looking ahead to yesterday, and now it's over. Done. Kaput. Finished. It's as if Santa has come and gone, but there are no new presents to play with.

So what now?

Film: We started the film "Amelie" today. Watch the colors: reds and greens predominate but the art director uses blues to offset them. Watch also the lighting and mise en scene.

E2CP: Today there was a school-wide survey for most of the period, so we will have WW tomorrow.

E3H: Today we had WW. If you are supposed to be doing a writing sample for CW, email it tonight!

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Kasia, Tommy L, Emmet, Tommy S, Laura, John Roberts, David, Casey

If you saw Lana Del Ray's SNL appearance three weeks ago, you know it was...odd. Maybe you have read the criticisms of it in the blogosphere, where it has garnered near-universal negatives. This week, SNL (feeling bad for their guest), defended her:

Don't worry too much about Lana. She's popping up everywhere! Why, here she is dancing at the debates!

I think she'll be all right. :-)

2/3 post in search of a title

2012-02-03T15:13:00.002-06:00

After three weeks of a new semester, I hope we have all settled in well. Only about sixteen more to go!

Film: Today we discussed "Garden State" and some specific scenes and moments that uses mise en scene to advantage to help with the story telling. We will begin a new film on Monday. I know what I want to use, but I'm open to emailed suggestions as well. HW: your weekly review is due Monday.

E2CP: Today we discussed foreshadowing in "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Then we had RW. WW on Monday; be prepared! Your second piece is due in one week!

Reading Workshop Project

Beginning on Friday, February 24, our RW will take on a different form.
During the next two weeks, join up with one or two partners within the class.

Choose a book that you would like to read together from the following categories:

Modern Fiction
Historical Fiction
Scholarly Non-fiction
Biography and Memoir (non-sports)

When you have agreed on a book, bring it to me for approval. Books should be of moderate length and difficulty and should contain literary merit.
Book groups will set their own schedules for reading, subject to the specific book they have selected, with the goal of completing the book no later than the end of spring break.
Each week in RW, groups will spend time discussing that week's reading: what they have learned, what issues have been opened or closed, what techniques the author is using, etc. One member each week will be assigned to write the group's findings for the week and its speculations on what might happen next in the book.
These weekly documents will be compiled at the end and, together with a presentation about the book from the group to the class (the parameters of which will be discussed later) will constitute the assessment for this project.

E3H: We talked individually about registration issues. On Monday, during WW, I will collect the rest of the yellow forms from those who still needed thinking time. CW registrants: don't forget to email me your writing sample (a 500-word description of a place that has meaning to you).

Darned cell phones:

Isn't editing a fun thing?

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

2/2 So the groundhog doesn't believe in spring? I don't believe in groundhogs!

2012-02-02T15:43:00.004-06:00

Punxsutawney Phil? What kind of a name is that anyway? I mean really: they couldn't have found a groundhog from someplace normal, like, say, Normal? It could be fun to hear prognostications from Normal Norman. That would be worth tuning in for...

Film: We finished watching "Garden State." Tonight, either from your notes (Ha!), from a rewatching of the film (Netflix much?) or from your startlingly good memories, write down some moments from the film worth discussing for their specific mise en scene. Also note: if people cannot clean up after their own snacks, no one will be allowed to eat during class.

E2CP: We discussed the Ambrose Bierce short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" after reading it in class. Tonight, I'd like you to watch an old "Twilight Zone" video of it online. (See below.) Focus on elements in the film as well as the story that foreshadow the ending.

E3H: We looked at what the English Dept. offers you as courses for next year. Bring your yellow sheets tomorrow with your selections. Remember that registration for Creative Writing is not complete until you have written a 500-word piece on a place you know well and had it accepted; also remember that you cannot register for AP if you did not receive at least an A- in the first semester.

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge."

Punky Phil...

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

2/1 February? Really?

2012-02-01T15:45:00.004-06:00

Film: Continuing "Garden State."

E2CP: Discussed "Barbie-Q" today. HW: rewrite the story from a boy's POV. (Maybe use GI Joes?)

E3H: Discussed SD's basket! (oy!) Read to 269. Book end for Friday.

Apparently, Newt Gingrich wants to build a permanent US base on the moon by 2020. Uh huh...

Newt Gingrich Would Like To Live On The Moon - watch more funny videos

Equal time now:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: see conference list above!

1/31 Ferris Bueller's Day Off...again

2012-01-31T16:17:00.006-06:00

Welcome back, Ferris:

There is a new conference schedule up. Check it out.

Film: Started to watch "Garden State." More tomorrow.

E2CP: Discussed Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants." No new HW.

E3H: Discussed SD's friends. Read on to page 243 tonight, but the goal is 269 tomorrow night. It's a big jump, I'm afraid, but that is how the chapter is divided. I'd suggest reading beyond tonight's assignment.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: see calendar above :-)

1/30 As January wanes

2012-01-30T14:11:00.000-06:00

Film: Today we discussed concepts from the "Mise en Scene chapter (Chapter 2). We'll continue that tomorrow and then watch a couple of films... Reviews due tomorrow!

E2CP: Today was WW. Don't forget that the current piece is due two weeks from today. Essays are due tomorrow. Bring books.

E3H: Today we did WW stuff. Tomorrow we will return to our buddy Stephen. Don't forget the short (8-page) reading assignment for tomorrow, which includes the Dedalus Basket theory in all of its crazy glory.

Here is a talent to amaze and mystify:

And here is something simply wonderful:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences:

1/27 turnabout is fair play

2012-01-27T16:26:00.002-06:00

Dear Mr. X,

Would you be so kind as to do me the honor of accompanying me to the Turnabout Dance? --Miss Y

Dear Miss Y,

I will be happy to do so as long as you don't wear that yellow dress you wore to the church thing last Tuesday. It made you look like a five and a half foot chicken. --Mr. X

Dear Mr. X,

I will have you know that I happen to like that yellow dress. Five and a half foot chicken indeed! I cannot understand your need to tease so. And what makes you think that I would ever wear the same dress to two dances in two weeks? As if! --Miss Y

Dear Miss Y,

Well that is good to know. I had visions of doing a fast dance with you and having everyone think I was dancing with an epileptic hen. --Mr. X

Dear Mr. X,

I suddenly feel that this is no ordinary teasing. --Miss Y

Dear Miss Y,

Well, to be fair, you were no ordinary chicken. --Mr. X

Dear Mr. X,

My daughter regrets to inform you that she will be unable to attend the Turnabout Dance tonight. She seems to have come down with a sudden case of ~~pneumonia~~ ~~strep throat~~ ~~projectile vomiting~~ ~~dance fever~~ a severe headache. She begs me to send her regards and wishes you a fine evening.

Miss X's mother.

The above message was brought to you by the Committee for a Healthy, Entertaining and Appropriate Turnabout (CHEAT)

Um...anyway...

Film: After discussing CK once more, the HW for the weekend is:

For Monday: write a 2-page (double-spaced, 12-pt, one-inch margins) essay exploring how "Citizen Kane" illustrates some of the photographic techniques we have seen in Chapter One.
For Tuesday: Your weekend movie review (focusing on photography this week) will be due Tuesday.

E2CP: We spent time today discussing the narrator in ""The Yellow Wallpaper."

For Monday: WW; write a 1-plus page essay discussing any two of the 4 short stories we read this week as examples of feminist literature.

E3H: We discussed Davin's story and the "tundish" incident today. Over the weekend, read through 235; annotate carefully. WW Monday.

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

1/26 this is a post. a what? a post. a what? a post. oh: a post!

2012-01-26T16:00:00.001-06:00

For you non-theatre types out there, that title is part of a classic theatre game. (If you want to learn it you'll just have to join theatre!) BTW: There's a play Friday and Saturday!

Film: Yes, we did it! We finished CK today. Tomorrow we will be discussing it and its relationship to various elements and aspects of Chapter One. There will be an essay over the weekend.

E2CP: Several of you had not yet read "The Yellow Wallpaper." Goodness know why not. One assumes you are doing so right now--well, right after reading this message. For tomorrow,

Find ten specific things, positive or negative, that the first person narrator does for the story that help explain the author's choice. Write them in a bullet list.
Also: Here is how to make a Vocab Admit Card:

On a notecard, write the Word of the Day on one side.
On the other, write its definition and a sentence containing it.

E3H: How well do you read? I gave the assignment in 7th Period but I forgot to do so in 8th. So I'm wondering how many in 8th will have it for tomorrow and how many will add it to the weekend...

For tomorrow: read through 227 (that part I gave) and...
As you do so, create a chart of Stephen's college friends. Write their names as you meet them. Next to the names write some defining characteristic once you are sure of it, and a page number we can find evidence of it. Bring this to class tomorrow.
Also: Here is how to make a Vocab Admit Card:

On a notecard, write the Word of the Day on one side.
On the other, write its definition and a sentence containing it.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Everyone who has yet to have one this cycle. (Come early; it's going to be crowded...)

1/25 the state of our classroom

2012-01-25T12:59:00.002-06:00

The State of Our Classroom is getting stronger. I could list all sorts of reasons, but I don't feel like it. Just trust me. :-)

Film: Continuing CK after discussion of Oscar contenders and what the list means about film.

E2CP: Discussion of the three Chopin stories.

From now on: Come into class with an Admission Pass that consists of the Word of the Day, its definition, and a sentence containing it (and of course your name).
For tomorrow: Read "The Yellow Wallpaper," (487) another feminist piece from a similar time period.

E3H: Read in Ch 5 through 205. (Annotations will not be due until next week.)

You may have heard that President Obama gave his State of the Union Address last night. You didn't? Well, I will present it for you in a nutshell.

First, please rise for our National Anthem:

And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States:

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

1/24 litmeister! litster! literamos!

2012-01-24T16:42:00.000-06:00

AH, literature. How I have missed thee!

Film: Our literature is "Citizen Kane," so we returned to it after continuing the discussion of Chapter One for a bit. If you do not own a book, GET ONE!!!

E2CP: We discussed Chopin's "Story of an Hour" and tonight your assignment will be to read the other two Chopin short stories in the book and, in your journals or notebooks, write three points of comparison among the three pieces and three dissimilarities. You will not need to turn this in but I will check it tomorrow.

E3H: We're back to SD and his wild, wild life. In Ch. 4, he found that the priesthood was not for him, opening the door for...what? Re-read the final pages, the epiphany to find out. And consider what his odd name has to do with all of this.

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

1/23 the festival is over; long live the normal

2012-01-23T15:22:00.002-06:00

And now, we return you to your regularly scheduled English teacher...

Film: Today we discussed the beginning of Chapter One. Of course, by "we" I mean "one student and I." Maybe we can do better than that in the future? :-) More on Chapter One tomorrow.

E2CP: Today we were in WW. Of course, by that I mean "the class was scheduled to have a Writing Workshop." Whether you actually took advantage of that is another story. Beginning next week, your in-class WW effort will be entered into the gradebook as an individual grade.

Tomorrow, we will be in the Short Fiction book. Bring it. No story required tonight because you do have a little matter of an essay on ATDOAPTI to write. :-) (See Friday's blog for specifics.)

E3H: Today, we were in WW. Tomorrow: Chapter Four! (Yes, we will finish Portrait before we are all old and gray.)

Here are our hairy songs of the day:

and...

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

1/20 forget me not

2012-01-20T23:54:00.001-06:00

I need a double shot of whatever vitamin it is that is supposed to help with memory. (I forget.)

:-)

This festival planning has me in knots, and I keep forgetting to post my blogs! But it's nearing midnight and I just remembered and, though I need to be back at school at 5:30, here I am.

Film: Tody we stopped and went over some major points so far in CK, then wtched some more. BUY THE BOOK and read and take notes on Chapter One.

E2CP: Yes we did! We finished Absolutely True Diary today. Assignment(s):

If you didn't do it for today, then for Monday: 1-page personal essay exploring your personal reaction to the idea that the book is supposed to get you thinking about your own need for "escaping and confronting familial and community expectations."
For Tuesday, a more analytically oriented piece, about two pages long, that focuses on this thought by Junior's friend Gordy (p 132): "Well, life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community." How does Junior discover this to be true? How does the book leave him in his "struggle"?
Writing Workshop Monday!

E3H: We had RW today! For Monday, annotations in Ch 4 will be due. It's also WW.

And now, a look into the future...

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

1/18 And the COLD happens

2012-01-18T17:49:00.003-06:00

Yes, let future historians note that it was on this day, January 18, 2012, that frigid, ugly, nasty winter at last came to the midwest this year. Let us hope it does not enjoy a prolonged stay.

Film: We began watching "Citizen Kane."

E2CP: After returning final exams and discussing vocab quizzes, the assignment was to take your own final exam and the school rubric and in a one-page typed essay either support or argue with your score. Quote from both the rubric and your essay. We also had 25 minutes of RW. Back to the book tomorrow.

E3H: After returning Vocab and final exams, the assignment was to take your own final exam and the school rubric and in a one-page typed essay either support or argue with your score. Quote from both the rubric and your essay. Afterwards we went back to hell, examining the first of the spiritual pains.

Loving me some Mittster:

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

1/17 New Semester!!!

2012-01-17T19:15:00.002-06:00

So...welcome back!

Today we all got a foothold on Semester 2, 2012, and the Great Reset is off and running! Welcome, too, Film class, to the Wonderful World of the Topham Blog!

Not much to say today but that I hope it's going to be a great semester (and that the current cold snap ends quickly). Otherwise...

Film: Today we discussed why we study film--as a continuation of the study of story-telling that is innate to human nature. As the world changes we find new means of telling stories and right now film is our best way; it is important to understand the techniques directors use to manipulate their audiences while getting those stories to work. Bring books, notebooks, something to write with, an open mind and a desire to learn every day and this will be a pretty cool way to spend second semester.

E2CP: Vocab Test today. Tomorrow we go over it and the final exam, and then we move back into the book.

E3H: Vocab Test today. Tomorrow we go over it and the final exam, and then we go back into the book. Annotations due tomorrow.

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

Ever experience a bad Powerpoint presentation? This guy is the master:

1/13 Oh, yeah! (finals done, grades...almost.)

2012-01-13T17:21:00.004-06:00

I am almost fully finished with grades. At this moment, to my knowledge, I have three CW portfolios left and that is it. (Sorry, Justine, Alex and Kevin, but they'll be done soon.)

Grades should be correct right now. If they are anything but that, let me know immediately.

1/10 did you enjoy that?

2012-01-10T15:06:00.001-06:00

:-)

Good luck on the rest of your finals.

Anything yet to be graded will be posted to PowerSchool during the week. You may see me or email me Thursday or Friday if there are issues; nothing should be missing at all by then.

1/9 finals at the door

2012-01-09T16:53:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow is the English Final. Not much to say about that. Good luck!

A few words for all about next week...

But first a goodbye:

CW: I've truly enjoyed this class. I hope that you have too, as much as you've indicated on the Final Projects and all. Thank you for all of the excellent suggestions for next year. I will try to use as many of them as I can. I'm definitely going to try out the Blogfolios. I think that the notion of establishing a once-a-week "class review" day, at least for the first quarter, is excellent. Having time in the first week to set up WS and other structural things is also a fine idea. These and other things I will implement next fall. If you come up with anything else, drop me an email! (Or stop by. You can always stop by!)

Here are the remaining Final Projects:

Have a great second semester!

OK, now: let's talk to those who are coming back...

To all: Don't forget that there is a Vocab Test Thingie on Tuesday, right away, when we return.

E3H: Finish Chapter 3 annotations for Wednesday back. We'll be moving through the rest of Portrait in the next few weeks. Also, it might be a good idea to take a look at the English offerings in the Student Guide to Courses. We'll be discussing them a bit when we return, but you have some big registration decisions to make!

E2CP: In the few days of that first week back, we will finish our novel and write about it; then we will be moving on. Short stories are our next stop before another novel pops up in February.

OLD PEOPLE DANCING!

I found one with a grandma dancing to "Rack City" but the song is too obscene to link to...

This woman is 97!!!

WORD OF THE DAY*: GOOD LUCK!!!!

1/4 i hear finals coming (prompt here)

2012-01-04T15:45:00.000-06:00

Oh, yes, they are coming. I hear them being printed right now. Listen. Cup your hand over your ears. Can't you hear it? The faint "clack clack clack" of the copier? It's coming. It's coming soon.

CW: Nothing left but to enjoy each other's presence...and to check out each other's final projects. Look for them here:

Come back for the rest tomorrow!

E3H: Today we took our practice final. Tomorrow I am going to have you work with each other (and the rubric) to see what these partial essays suggest about the quality of the essays that would be written if time permitted. (You will have a RW on Friday.) All remaining ex cred projects will go on Monday. We will save the vocab assessment until the second semester.

E2CP: Today we too our practice final. Tomorrow I will go over them with you and talk about some of the things I observed in each of them.

And once again, here is the ACTUAL EXAM ESSAY PROMPT:

Write an essay that explores an important idea suggested bythis story.
That idea may relate to a character or characters in the story, a dominanttheme that emerges from it, or literary techniques the author uses to conveyits central concepts. You may also use a combination of these approaches if youprefer.

Before you begin writing, plan your essay using any strategies you have foundhelpful—brainstorming, outlining, free writing, webbing, etc.

Focus your essay on a strong thesis statement; use mapping statements, mappingpoints, or some other clear plan to establish the paper’s organization; andprove your
arguments with solid textual support.

Remember, this essay is an exploration of ideas, not a plot summary.

1/3 The new year rises

2012-01-03T17:01:00.001-06:00

Haiku:

Vacation's over
Leaving again in two days
Boy, that's really short

:-)

You know what's going on. You know where we are. You know if you owe me something. If you do...

GET IT TO ME!!!

WORD OF THE DAY: FINALS! (they are coming!)

12/22 revision apologies

2011-12-22T22:19:00.000-06:00

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.

12/16 surgery update

2011-12-17T12:55:00.000-06:00

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!)

12/15 Merry Christmas/Happy Hannukah One and All

2011-12-15T15:38:00.000-06:00

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!

12/14 nothing new today

2011-12-14T16:03:00.003-06:00

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.

:-)

12/14 Surgery coming, so stuff happens

2011-12-13T13:59:00.000-06:00

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!!!

12/10: The last week of 2011

2011-12-12T15:13:00.000-06:00

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:

12/9 just one last week before break

2011-12-09T18:01:00.001-06:00

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.

12/8 time flies

2011-12-08T16:35:00.001-06:00

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

12/7 crazy day

2011-12-06T16:51:00.001-06:00

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

12/6 ignoring the funny folk

2011-12-06T16:09:00.001-06:00

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

12/5 monday blahs

2011-12-05T16:29:00.001-06:00

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:

12/2 into the weekend

2011-12-02T20:01:00.001-06:00

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:

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.
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:

12/1 a new month

2011-12-01T13:07:00.001-06:00

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

11/30 end of november: a word about annotations

2011-11-30T11:39:00.001-06:00

Ah, another week has passed the halfway point. Time flies when you are having fun! Seriously: remember when I said on Oct. 1 that things would speed up? Well?

Only a few of you took advantage of the extra credit offer from last night's blog. Watch this space for further opportunities. You never know when they might show up unannounced. :-)

CW: Today we wrote and conferenced. Tomorrow we'll be in the lab. Be sure to double check the Prompt List elsewhere on this page!

E2CP: Today we discussed more of the book, focusing on Arnold's poverty and why it made him especially susceptible to bullying due to the lowering of self-esteem. We also discussed how it led to his going to Reardan. No new reading tonight. Focus on your RW project, due next Monday!!!

E3H: Today we were in Writing Workshop. We worked specifically on creating stories, focusing on the notion that the best stories come from our lives but contain specific changes from what actually happened: the facts are not the important thing; the truth is. We are heading back to Portrait tomorrow: read through to page 25, annotating as follows:

Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man, as challenging as its structures make it, shows a young man coming to terms with issues connected to growing up, issues that still concern young people today.

So...let's get specific...

You need to annotate the book, so a note about annotations:

Annotate the book as you read by highlighting and writing notes in the margins or even adding post-its if need be. Annotations can be many things:

Be Personal: How do you feel about a character or event? Has such and such a character or person ever reminded you of something that’s happened to you. How well do your relate to the novel. Does it ring true? Do you love or hate or empathize with a character.
React: Be blunt. This is boring; this character is petty and I can’t stand him; nobody I know would do this under these circumstances. Be prepared to justify such comments in class discussion.
Note wordplay: What “games” does the author play with language? When does the pure word choice, whole phrases and sentences, or figurative language call attention to itself? What ideas do you have about why this might be?
Cross reference: If a certain word or concept or image comes up on a certain page and you see it come up again, note that recurrence by putting the page number in the margin. For instance, if the main character makes reference to a favorite character from a book and many pages later that same book comes up, go back and find the pages and make a marginal note where they occur. Why? Because tracing patterns will lead to an understanding of how the novel is structured and work like blazing a trail through a forest of words. Cross references help you find and remember patterns that lead to ideas about the novel. This will help for class and online discussion and writing papers.
Circle unfamiliar words: This can save you interrupting your reading to look up words on-line or in the dictionary. You can ask about them later and note definitions in the margins so you can re-read those sections.
Pose questions about things you don’t understand: If you do this, you will make a positive contribution to discussion when you ask them in class or online. Your questions will often be similar to other class members; besides, many who didn’t have a question about a certain passage will still have a lot to learn too.
Make Outside Connections: If something from outside of the book strikes you as connecting to the book, discuss it. Or even (if it can be done) paste something about it into the book from the web. Your brain fires synaptic connections a million miles a minute: let them be a part of your annotations too!

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

WORD OF THE YEAR**: TERGIVERSATE
** Seriously! Click on the word to find out!

Seven Life Lessons From Star Trek (by David Borgenicht)

The best way to travel is to boldly go where no one has gone before. This is true for vacations, for self-exploration, for life itself. If you want your days filled with adventure, laughter, love, learning and the occasional mind-meld, follow this route.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few--or the one. Sometimes you must make great sacrifices for the greater good. And, like the Genesis device, it will all come back around.

Expressing your emotions is a healthy thing. Sure, McCoy seemed angry all the time when exclaiming, "Dammit, Jim! I'm a doctor not a mechanic/bricklayer/soothsayer," but he knew that by expressing his anger and frustration it wouldn't get the best of him and he could then perform at his peak capacity.

When estimating how long a job will take, overestimate--and when you do better your captain will always be impressed. Replace the word "captain" with "teacher" or "mom/dad" and you'll see what I mean. Sure, Mr. Scott might have been telling the truth--maybe it would take six hours to get the warp engines back online in the heat of the battle. Or maybe he was padding things so he looked good. Either way, when the engines did come back on line, everyone was happy.

Wearing red makes you a target. This is true of cars, dresses and, most especially, shirts. Red gets you noticed--which is good if you want to be noticed, bad if you don't want to end up vaporized.

When you don't know what to say, pause. It will give you the time to figure it out. Or at the very least, you'll sound like you're being thoughtful. "But....Spock.....why?"

The most powerful force in the universe is friendship. It's more powerful than phasers, photon torpedos, even more powerful than the force itself. With friends, you can accomplish any task, escape any perilous situation, defeat any enemy--and you get to laugh together when it's all over.

Tomorrow's Conferences:Willie, Jenna, Tommy, Ryan, Henry, Katherine W

11/29 And the word of the day is...STORY

2011-11-29T17:55:00.001-06:00

There must be a story in why I am still at school at 6:00. I don't know what it is, but I do hope someone will figure it out, write it, make it darned good, and email it to me. Best and most original story gets a couple of extra credit points...

CW: We had a visit from Peter Ferry today. You started a story. Take it to the next level and bring it in tomorrow. Let's see if it goes anywhere interesting!

E3H: Today we discussed the SC in the rugby scene. Tonight, your HW is to visualize that scene's SC in your own original graphic design. (It does not have to be a river, and probably shouldn't be.) Bring it in tomorrow.

E2CP: Today we continued discussing bullying and talked about life on the rez. Read through p.53 for tomorrow.

Awkward Thanksgiving Family Photos:

WORD OF THE DAY*: ALACRITY

* Click word for information.

Tomorrow's Conferences: Peter, Henry, Steven, Emma W

Today's Music:

11/28 Cyber Monday Sale: 1/2 off your daily post!

2011-11-28T16:25:00.001-06:00

Back to school again, stuffed from turkey and trimmings. What has happened? Let's see... The Bears lost. The NBA is back. Newt is still ahead in the GOP race to see who gets to try to beat Obama. It's cold outside.

Sounds fairly normal to me.

On with the show...

CW: Lab today. Pete Ferry tomorrow!

E2CP: Discussion of weekend packets today. Read through page 33 for tomorrow. Don't forget RW project is due Dec. 5!

E3H: Portrait intro today; discussed stream of consciousness. Read the playground scene (3-7 for tomorrow, highlighting places where Stephen digresses in his thoughts from the actual scene in which he is participating and writing in the margin what he is thinking about.

Here are a couple of old comedy perspectives on Cyber Monday:

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Allie, Andy Nelson, Jack, Joseph, Brynn, Andrew F

11/22 and then there was a five day weekend

2011-11-22T11:56:00.001-06:00

It's not that I am not thankful or anything...but when the weekend is five days long and the week is only two days, how does that work exactly?

CW: Write. Write again. Then write some more. And look for a letter from me!

E3H: Consider the connections between the film we just watched and the book we have just read. Extra credit opportunity: 1-2 page essay discussing Georges 1 & 2 as artists and what their journey tells us about Asher Lev. Use quotes from the play. (Musical lyrics can be found here.) Email it over break. Points won't be huge, but every little bit helps, right?

E2CP: Do the three pre-reading activities I gave you in class today. If you were not in class:

As on p.57, draw a "2 worlds" cartoon for yourself about your "school" self vs. your "home" self.
Read the poem in this document and answer the questions.
On p. 176 Junior speaks of finding joy in his life. Make four lists four yourself of things that give you joy: people, songs, foods, and books and movies.

And now a Thanksgiving song from Adam Sandler...

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: We're back to "A" week next week, so... Monday's conferences are Angela, Emma B, Katherine J, Gabby, Margot, Tommy, Meghan, Camron

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

11/21 natalie d is still missing a b-day celebration!

2011-11-21T15:35:00.001-06:00

I know, right? Even though her birthday was Friday, we still have not feted Natalie Durot! That's crazy! Friday was the Clothesline Project--not a day for cheery happy birthday songs. And then today...she was not in class! Gosh, Natalie, you'd better be here tomorrow or I just don't know what I'll do!

CW: Lab time today, lab time tomorrow.

E2CP: Today I outlined the RW project. See me if you were not here and need a better explanation than what follows:

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.
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:

Deadline: 12/5. Have fun!

E3H: We continue to watch Sunday In the Park With George. Essays are due tomorrow on Asher Lev.

Are you a cat person? Here is the guy of your dreams!

And HERE is REALLY WITH SETH AND KERMIT!

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: This is a make up week

11/18 clothesline day

2011-11-18T17:07:00.001-06:00

I'm always a bit wiped out after clothesline day.

CW: Prompt #10: This derives from the Clothesline Project. Write anything you want based on the project: a poem, a story, an essay, etc. For Katie and Mac: you've seen it before, haven't you? Email me if you have not.

E3H: We started watching Sunday in the Park With George as an enrichment piece. Essays are due Tuesday. Purchase Portrait of the Artist ($12) by Tuesday.

E2CP: We went to the Clothesline Project. Essays are due Monday.

and if you never saw the original Marcel the Shell With Shoes On:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: NEXT WEEK IS A CATCH-UP WEEK.

11/17 thursday...or something like that

2011-11-17T16:13:00.001-06:00

I never seem to go home. I want to. That's why this is short. :-)

CW: Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. (Does this seem familiar? Do you get a sense of deja vu?)

E3H: We worked on transitions between paragraphs. Though there are a couple of topics remaining, I think we are going to start a video tomorrow. :-) The essay is due before you leave for break. There is a book waiting to be purchased at the bookstore (also before break): Portrait of the Artist ($12).

E2CP: We worked on the thesis paragraphs. We'll be in the lab tomorrow. This essay should be finished tomorrow. There is a book waiting to be purchased at the bookstore (also before break): The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian ($11).

One of the great videos of all time gets a sequel:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Ahmmad, Amadeus, John

11/16 at last: an irregular school day!

2011-11-16T16:55:00.001-06:00

It seems like forever since we had a school day that was not normal. I'm sick of these long, boring, dragged-out school weeks. You know?

What? We missed two complete days just last week? And we're missing three more next week?

Oh.

Never mind.

CW: Tomorrow, bring in the dialogue piece changed into a story with tags, narration, a first person character and internal thought.

E2CP: Today we discussed your thesis statements and maps. Tomorrow, bring in your revised essays with the full thesis paragraph rewritten so that the structure is clear.

E3H: Today we discussed opening paragraphs and maps. Tomorrow, bring in revisions including at least the first body paragraph and the start of the next one.

Missing Rebecca Black? Here's her latest!

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

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

11/15 after the meetings...

2011-11-15T16:29:00.001-06:00

It was a good meeting, but it took me away from some of you. And that isn't good! But I will return tomorrow...after the late start, anyway...

CW: Dialogue turned into story form? I'm looking forward to seeing it!

E3H: Revise the intro so that it includes a strong MAP, hook, and good, inviting writing. Also outline where the essay will go if you follow this map.

E2CP: Bring in a thesis paragraph with maps highlighted.

OMG this looks fantastic!

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

11/14 Who made it Monday again?

2011-11-14T17:24:00.001-06:00

Hey, don't blame me! It wasn't my fault. I ordered a whole bunch of Fridays culminating in June.

CW: Today we had dialogue. Your assignment was to become spies. Record two conversations--one between 2 people and one among more than 2 people. Transcribe and bring in for tomorrow's class.

E3H: Today we discussed possible topics for an essay on Asher Lev and thesis statements. Your assignment is to come in tomorrow with a topic and the opening including a highlighted thesis statement.

E2CP: Today we read the five possible poem selections and discussed how to write thesis statements. Your assignment was to choose a poem and write the first draft of an essay answering the question asked in the book. Focus especially on a thesis paragraph containing a highlighted thesis statement.

Ah, I miss the 60's...

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

Tomorrow's Conferences:

11/11 don't forget to make a wish

2011-11-11T22:28:00.001-06:00

11:11:11:11:11

11/9 four days off? really? what did you do to earn THAT?

2011-11-09T22:24:00.002-06:00

Yes, it is indeed a four day weekend. I get to meet parents and you get to relax. Ain't that cool?

CW: Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write. Write and come in with everything on Monday.

E3H: super conversations today to wrap Asher; enjoy the weekend.

E2CP: fun poems! Over the weekend:

revise the poem I send back w/parents
draft (for Tuesday) a 1.5-2.0 pages essay answering the question at the end of either Chapter 3 or 4. If Ch 3, select poem 4 or 8. If Ch 4, select poem 1, 2, or 6.

So today we take a weird taxidermy commercial...

and we songify it:

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Next week is a B week!

11/8 The sound of ultimate suffering

2011-11-08T16:21:00.001-06:00

I clicked on a snippet of "The Princess Bride" that purported to contain this scene, but it was edited to include instead the song "Friday," hearing which (I guess) induces ultimate suffering.

I love "The Princess bride." It is a great movie, one of my favorites. It is not my very favorite, though. That would be "The Wizard of Oz."

I mean, who doesn't love this thing, right?

CW: I showed you some character pictures to aid in creating characters; we spent the rest of the period in the lab. More of the same tomorrow.

E3H: Finished discussion of Asher. HW: Write a one-page personal response to the first page of the book: how do you see Asher?

E2CP: Discussed your poems in WW. Rewrite them tonight and have them ready to turn in tomorrow!

Can't wait for your Muppet fix?

Would you want to fight Cobra Cat?

Want some politics?

Live Funny Or Die in 2012 from Darrell Hammond

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

Tomorrow's Conferences:

11/7 a new week

2011-11-07T18:01:00.002-06:00

It's almost 6:00. Few words, just assignments. :-)

CW: We went over Portfolio Requirements in more detail today. Labs the rest of the week.

E3H: We discussed Asher and the Mythic Ancestor. 8th: review pages 323-330.

E2CP: We spent the period playing with how to write poetry. Tonight: write a poem! Bring it in tomorrow for WW.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: This is a make-up week. DROP IN ANY TIME!

11/5 in iowa, where it's also windy

2011-11-05T11:32:00.001-05:00

You can't escape the wind. It's everywhere. I saw on the news this morning video of dust storms in Arizona, which of course are fed by wind. And then there is a new "possible sub tropical storm" (whatever that means) whirling around near the Bahamas. Wind is not limited to the Windy City, though we've sure had our share this ~~winter~~ fall.

Speaking of fall, FALL BACK this weekend! You get an extra hour of sleep! Enjoy it!

CW: We worked on Prompt #9: the character piece that was initially based on (glup) me. No specific HW...but I did note that Pete Ferry will likely speak to us on 11/29, so if you are going to read Travel Writing, you might want to buy it, oh, NOW.

E2CP: We finished up the major elements of our poetry unit and had a RW today. Next week is a week to focus on a new RW project and a poetry essay we will work on together.

E3H: The posters will serve as a foundation for final discussions of Asher Lev, which begin Monday (no WW). We'll be finished with that book by T or W and heading into assessment time! :-)

Have a nice weekend! (That is, if there is any "nice" left to spare after these two...)

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Next week is a CATCH-UP WEEK. No conferences will be scheduled, so anyone may drop in at any time. The following week will be B week.

11/2 there is absolutely nothing special about 11/2

2011-11-02T17:25:00.003-05:00

Really. I mean it. Nothing. It's a boring day. I mean, yeah, the "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline came out on this day, and Howard Hughes' huge wooden "Spruce Goose" took its only flight on this day, and George Washington gave his "Farewell Address to the Army" on this day, and the Episcopal Church consecrated its first gay minister on this day, but tell me: what has it done for us lately?

B-O-R-I-N-G

We should really just take it off the calendar.

CW: today was all about how we learn about characters, both when we are reading and when we are writing. after discussion of this, we moved through POV and tense and into conflict, where we finished with a small assignment: everyone come into tomorrow's class with an OVERRIDING TOPIC on a piece of paper, a topic that, even if it is not "what the story is about," ultimately cannot be ignored as a major theme in it. Examples: coming of age, unrequited love, etc.

E2CP: today we discussed both "I Felt a Funeral In My Brain" and "After Apple Picking," as well as a bonus: "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening." Your HW is to find another poem in the book, by an American author (I suggested Dickinson or Frost) that speaks to you through its imagery. Read it, listen to it, examine it: bring it in ready to discuss it tomorrow!

E3H: Today we met in groups of four to create posters reflecting what problems, ideas, conflicts and issues drove Asher Lev to paint the Brooklyn Crucifixions. These posters will be finished in the first 10-15 minutes (no journals tomorrow) of tomorrow's class and then we will do a Gallery Walk and discuss both them and the book.
WORD OF THE DAY*: EVANESCENT
* Click word for information.

Tomorrow's Conferences: Tommy, Ryan, Katherein W, Willie, Amy

You probably know about Siri, the iPhone's new voice assistant. Ever wonder what she might say if she were, um, stoned?

And here's an "unboxing" video you might actually enjoy!

See all the CollegeHumor Original Videos here.

11/1 new month, lots of ones

2011-11-01T16:27:00.001-05:00

11/1/11: it's all 1's. Since we won't be in school on 11/11/11, this is as good as it's going to get for you numerologists out there. So at 11/11 tonight, make a wish. It may not be the 11th but it will still be sort of cool. :-)

CW: I promise that tomorrow will be somewhat more structured than today. :-)

E3H: Some nice discussion today about the pieta and Jacob Kahn. Finish reading by tomorrow so our discussions can become more focused and in depth.

E2CP: Nice imagery talk today on the Spring poems. Tonight, re-read the Emily Dickinson poem and come in ready to discuss the followup questions. And also read carefully the Robert Frost.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Peter, Henry, Steven, Emma W and people trying to make stuff up

Putting Halloween to bed once and for all:

She's so darned cute!

10/31 spooky and sickly

2011-10-31T16:20:00.002-05:00

You have no idea how irritated I am to be sick on Halloween. The only upside is that I've been sick since getting home on Friday so I didn't waste any time this weekend making a costume that I didn't get to wear. Those who had me 8th period or (especially) in forensics know I was losing my voice Friday afternoon: that was the start. Terrible, awful, no good, very bad cold. And once again I have lost days to the Great God Sleep.

This is becoming an annoying habit.

I hope that you Halloween weekend and your Halloween Day have been enjoyable. And I hope to see you tomorrow when we shall, I trust, resume things as they stood last Friday...

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: (sorry, I don't have the list at home with me!)

Check this out (today only!):

ZOMBIES

MORE ZOMBIES

Happy Halloween!

Scary Girl with Chloe Moretz from Chloe Moretz

10/28 Find a costume, silly people!

2011-10-28T16:49:00.000-05:00

Another week bites the dust.

Some of you asked for something for extra credit. OK, here goes:

As you walk into Monday's class, hand me a poem, rhyming or free verse, using all of the current vocab words. Use them in such a way that I can see that you clearly understand what they mean and how they are used. Be sure that your name is on the poem. Be aware that I will share them.

This is a one-day offer, good on Monday only. If you will not be in class on Monday, email me the poem before class time.
WORD OF THE DAY*: ANTITHETICAL
* Click word for information.

CW: Today was Friday. Sometimes that's all that needs to be said. (We did share journals though.) :-)

E3H:

Today, using window notes, we worked our way through important elements of Book Two.
WW Monday
Finish the book for Tuesday

E2CP:

Today, we discussed imagery in "Meeting at Night" and "Parting at Morning"
Then we had RW
Monday is WW
Tuesday: Read the two poems dealing with spring (the next two in Chapter 4) and answer the questions following them on paper to be handed in as you enter the class.

Monday's Conferences: Jenna, Collin, Summer, Emma D, Adam, Cole, John, Claire J, Laura

This is your spider:

This is your spider on drugs:

Ever wonder what you're missing on "Conan"? Pretty much this:

10/27 D(A)MV

2011-10-27T15:15:00.000-05:00

Well, my daughter, despite my best efforts yesterday, did not get her driver's license. We just did not get to the DMV on time. O course she was bitterly disappointed (assuaged a bit by dinner at Jimmy's Charhouse). Still, I obviously have to do better this afternoon, so here I am before 7th period writing this so I can dive out of the building after school, rush to Stevenson, get her, and get up to the DMV.

BTW: When someone says that road tests end at 5, shouldn't that mean the last roast test goes out at 5? I certainly took it that way. But no...at the DMV it means that the last road test has to be back at 5.

grrr...

CW:

Today we (finally!) finished and hung the collages. Then it was workshop.
Tomorrow, we will be sharing journal entries, among other things.

E3H:

Today we discussed more of Asher, focusing on the Rebbe's decision to separate the family at the end and the boy's essential character.
Tomorrow, we will be in Book Two! Finish reading that tonight. (Maybe I will be kind enough not to give a reading quiz. Maybe.)

E2CP:

Today, we spent much time talking about simliarities between the two poems from yesterday.
After that, we discussed and played with what an image is.
Tonight, read the first three pages of Chapter 5 and answer the questions after "Parting at Morning" in your journals.

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

Tomorrow's Conferences: Ahmmad, Amadeus, John

Here's how to handle a camera blooper:

Signs improved by graffiti:

10/26 originally untitled

2011-10-26T15:26:00.001-05:00

Crazy weird schedules seem longer than regular days sometimes. At least they do to me. :-)

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

CW:

We mostly finished the collages. (Sorry, Natasha.) More workshopping tomorrow.

E2CP:

We discussed yesterday's assigned poems in small groups and full class.
Tonight, look at them with an eye toward being ready to talk about whether the girl in "Pathedy" is at all similar to the people in "When My Love."

E3H:

We took a quiz on Book One of Asher.
Mini-discussion (so little time!) centered on Asher's gift in conflict with his parents' wishes.
Tomorrow we will focus on Asher's slow discover of self.
Continue reading!

Tomorrow's Conferences: Kylie, Anton, Claire, Allena, Isaiah, Martin

Now here is a reason to watch Animal Planet!

10/25 Starting over

2011-10-25T17:43:00.000-05:00

Hello, once again!

If you have things posted on turnitin.com, try to access them. Log in and click on them; can you see what is attached? Can you see my feedback? Your peers' reviews? I need to know these things.

Check your grades on PowerSchool also; are they correct, as far as you can tell? Is anything missing or recorded incorrectly? I need to know that too.
WORD OF THE DAY*: concomitant
* Click word for information.

CW: We shared (most of) the collage poems today. We'll finish them tomorrow and then...move on!

E3H: Tomorrow we're back to Asher: Book One at least should be done (and there could be a quiz).

E2CP: We had some grade discussion today and discussed things that you'd like us to do in the second quarter, and then we looked at poems. Tomorrow, we will be looking at more poetry. (Very descriptive, right?) HW: Read the sonnet on p. 43 and the poem on p. 44; choose one and answer the questions after it in your journal for tomorrow.

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

Now here is a weird talent:

A journey through the world of film from 1917-1970 in about 40 seconds:

10/24 monday again?

2011-10-24T17:11:00.001-05:00

You know, if these Mondays keep coming around I might have to give up my subscription to Weeks.

CW: We really will share and hang those posters tomorrow. :-)

E3H: I hope I can get through all of those turnitin essays tonight. (They are so much slower than I imagined they would be!) In any event: let's have a WW tomorrow and then back to Asher!

E2CP: We had a WW today; back to poetry tomorrow.

In this space there is usually a silly video. Instead, today I bring you a link to SEVEN of them because everyone should have the right to be a record-setter:

The weirdest records set this week.

10/21 End of the world, end of the quarter...what's the difference?

2011-10-21T13:18:00.003-05:00

Yes, it is the end of the quarter today, folks. Haven't we had fun? Once more we appear to have escaped an apocalypse, so that's good. (Now if we just have this much luck with the Mayans...) And most of you are still here, and still here with your GPA's intact, so that's good too.

A note to those whose GPA's are in danger of not remaining intact:

If there is work you can make up, for goodness sake make it up before the weekend is over!!! Email it to me so there is a fragment of a chance that I can get it into this quarter's grade. I shall try to do so.

OK, now...

CW:

Today we had a workshop day.
Monday we will share the collage poems and hang up the collages!

E3H:

Today we saw more fantasias.
Monday we will see more of them still; any we do not see in these two days I will grade independently and show the class later in the week.
Fantasia written element is due on Monday.
Tuesday's assignment: Read through Book One of Asher; read ahead if possible.

E2CP:

Today was RW.
Monday will be WW; come ready!

Child Star Psychologist with Kiernan Shipka from Kiernan Shipka

10/20 missing a day

2011-10-20T17:37:00.000-05:00

Yes, Mr. Bill: it is sadly true. I actually did miss a day yesterday! I know, I know. I'm ashamed. It never should have happened.

I would excuse myself by saying that I left school early to take my daughter to her doctor's appointment, did not arrive home until after 6 PM, and (having lost the entire afternoon) was utterly lost and simply failed to find my way back to my ordinary and habitual pursuits. While the absolute truth, though, I suspect that would not be enough. I will just have to beg the forgiveness of my students and promise to endeavor not to have too many repeat performances of this sort of truancy.

:-(

WORD OF THE DAY*: ZEITGEIST

* See Tuesday's blog for details; click word for information.

CW:

Today we were in the lab.
Tomorrow we will be finishing up the collage poems so that we may share them on Monday.

E3H:

Today we started sharing fantasias.
Tomorrow we will continue doing so, hoping to complete the process on Monday so everyone will get the opportunity to go during this quarter. Priority will be given on both days to those whose projects are not portable; that is to say students whose projects require them to be present to make them work. I can view others, should we fail to finish on Monday, on my own on Monday evening.

E2CP:

Today we discussed more of Billy Collins's "Introduction to Poetray" so that we may use it as a standard for our own reading of poems. Then, using Emily Dickinson's "There Is No Frigate Like a Book," we spent the bulk of the class discussing denotation and connotation.
Your assignment is to rewrite the poem using different words whose denotations are the same but whose connotations give the poem a very different feeling.

Ever wonder what it would be like if William Shatner sang "Bohemian Rhapsody"? These two teens didn't either, but here's a video answering the question anyway. I think it's sort of like watching a train wreck: you can't take your eyes off it as much as you might want to.

10/18 starting something new!

2011-10-18T16:02:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone!

Today we are beginning something completely new! Yes, today Topham's Attic introduces Pain Free Vocab! Increase your usable vocabulary one word at a time! It is a concept whose time has come, and a time whose concept has found a place to be!

Here's how it works (and it is SO SIMPLE that it hardly needs any explanation at all!):

Each day I will post one new word to add to our Universal Vocab Lists. (All classes use the same lists. What the heck? Everyone can benefit from new words, right?) I'll link it to the dictionary.com site for that word, which will give your definitions, sentences, and someone pronouncing the word out loud: basically all that you need to know to make it yours. I will also add it to the Universal Vocab List on the left side of the blog. As the semester progresses, make a special endeavor to add these words to your in class conversation, to your essays, etc. Sprinkle them into outside conversations as well. Soon you will find that they have become your words.

And if at some point I decide to give a quiz about them or some such thing...it will be no problem for you because you will own these words!

So with all of that preamble, here is the first word:

preamble

(Click on the word to go to its meaning.)

CW:

Tonight, create a poem from the various images in your folders. When you make your posters, the poem as well as the images will be on it. Tomorrow, however, you will be workshopping the poems so that you can make them as strong as possible in a brief time. Bring pix and poems back tomorrow. (Glue sticks would help.)

E3H:

Good discussions today, especially 8th period. The mysticism (kabbalah) on which the sect was founded in Eastern Europe in the 18th Century (which, as you pointed out, seems to contradict the orthodoxy of their apparent behaviors) is very important to our understanding of Asher's dreams and struggles in the novel. For your next reading assignment: finish Book One (p.150) for Tuesday. (However, since we will be moving quite quickly, you might read further if the opportunity arises.)

As to the fantasias: we will be in Lab 356 tomorrow (just meet there) to finish your work on them. If you are already finished, bring WW materials to work on. Fantasias are due on Thursday. If a few people are not ready that will not be a problem; if a large number are not ready, that will be a problem. Your best bet is to bring your project on DVD or upload it to youtube. As to the written element of the project, it can be completed later; it need not be finished on Thursday.

Note: although I will not be in class tomorrow, I will be in school through 6th period, so show up for your conferences!

E2CP:

Nice conversation, folks! We talked about the Shakespeare poem and why you didn't like it and then about the more modern ones and what made them work for you. The assignment for tonight is to examine the poem "The Red Wheelbarrow" and find ways of explaining what is poetic about it. How do we justify that this little tiny slice of life is a poem? Write your thoughts in your journal, which I am going to collect tomorrow!

Best. Wedding. Ever.

and just for fun, more little child silliness:

Have a nice day. And remember...

10/17 SHORTEST POST EVER

2011-10-17T16:59:00.000-05:00

Today was writing workshop.

See Friday's post for tomorrow's assignments.

:-)

10/14 Once again into the weekend

2011-10-14T16:23:00.001-05:00

So that was a revelation:

At the start of the passing period between 6th and 7th periods, I finished up in the women's room at the far end of the second floor, exited, made my way through the crowds on the senior hallway to the other end, went down the stairs to the basement, and stopped at the bookstore to procure a copy of My Name Is Asher Lev, which required time to fill out forms. From there I proceeded through the Lower Commons to the music wing--the farthest one can get in this building from Room 305. Having achieved this distance, I turned around and walked back, up four flights of stairs, down the full third floor hallway, and back to my classroom, arriving in time to hold the door for a student on crutches who was arriving just slightly after the clock showed that class had begun. Four students entered behind us.

I was not even winded. And I am in crappy shape.

I noticed the clocks throughout the building as I walked, too: they are all in near-perfect synchronization. Interesting. So, besides that, here is what I now know: one can, during a passing period, walk two lengths of this building including a bathroom stop and another significant stop (like a stop at a locker or the bookstore) and still get to class on time. And no one has to walk two lengths of the building in one passing period.

Conclusion: Everyone should be on time, having concluded all of their "business" before arriving.

Interesting, isn't it? :-)

Weekend stuff:

CW:

Today we discussed things to consider when starting to write fiction. As one of the key things to consider is, of course, characters, one of your weekend assignments is to amass a collection of characters. Go forth and find them! Collect them! Search the world for them! They might be people you know, or they might be people you only see once in passing. But if someone is interesting enough either in personality or in physicality (or both!), write them down. Build a small journal collection of people that you can play with: colorful characters who might be of use to you. Describe them, and as you do so try to let each one come to life at least a bit; that will keep them from remaining generic.
Your other assignment, of course, is to bring magazines, scissors and glue sticks!

E3H: Today was RW, but we started with a couple more fantasia examples. Next week we will have WW on Monday, Asher Lev on Tuesday (your assignment: bring in information from more than Wikipedia on Hasidism and read the first 50 pages of the book), a day in the lab to finish the fantasias on Wednesday, and then we begin presenting them on Thursday. So HW this weekend is the reading and the fantasias (though don't forget to have a draft for WW on Monday!).

E2CP: Today was RW. Your HW this weekend is twofold, and both relate to WW:

For the first quarter process grade, bring in Monday a folder on which will be your name and the name of your piece, and in which will be: your yellow sheet, your black draft, and each draft thus far of the piece.
For Monday's WW, bring in a new piece to conference. Your second WW prompt is to work on a poem!

Had enough of adorable flower girls yet?

What about a little boy who just wants to listen to heavy metal?

And what about the girl with that super bass?

Have a great weekend!

10/13 Change in the weather

2011-10-13T15:47:00.000-05:00

I hate it when the unseasonably warm and sunny weather comes to an end. I want that weather to last until, oh, next June. But it's gone: vanished with yesterday's sun into today's cloudy and drizzly skies. Tomorrow's 61 is the warmest day on the ten-day forecast, and next Wednesday's high won't even reach 50.

Have I mentioned how much I hate the cold?

CW: Lab time today. Are you getting you magazines ready for Monday? Are you where you should be on conferences?

E2CP: Lab time today for the Our Town essay, which is due tomorrow. (Email it or hand it in.) Reading Workshop tomorrow!

E3H: Lab time today for fantasias. Tonight, if you have not selected a poem, do so; bring that selection with you tomorrow. (Print it out if it is not in the book.) Also tonight: spend some time (at least half an hour) getting to work on your own fantasia. Take a look at the rubric for scoring located at the lower half of the assignment page. Also tomorrow: bring a book for RW and money for Asher Lev if you have not yet bought it.

I don't usually put actual commercials here, but this is a great one:

And in today's dose of cute:

10/12 Well that was short

2011-10-12T15:28:00.000-05:00

I'm not even sure that was worthy of a blog entry.

I mean...23 minute classes? Wha...?

So anyway...

CW: We beat on, boats against the current... Lab tomorrow. Get Travel Writing!

E2CP:

E3H: We showed examples of fantasias and discussed more of what they are. Choose your poems from "Poems for Further Reading" (S&S) or email me with the poem you're interested in.

This was the video from today's journal song. Totally cool fan video!

10/11 Ah, the weird little week begins

2011-10-11T15:51:00.002-05:00

So, let's see: today is a Tuesday that acts like a Monday but thinks it's a Wednesday because tomorrow, which in fact is a Wednesday, is actually a bizarre little day of 25-minute class periods, so it hardly seems like a day at all, or maybe it's a Thursday, which will still be a Thursday so I don't know what to do with that, and Friday is Friday is always Friday and then it's back to a weekend again.

Right?

Isn't that the way that just how Rebecca Black taught it to us?

CW: Tomorrow is Check-in Day!! Bring the latest copy of All Prompts as well as other unprompted pieces in some sort of neatly organized presentation. (Dare I say a binder?)

E3H: Today was an intro to Asher Lev/WW day. Don't forget to buy Asher Lev tomorrow! Also tomorrow: we will be talking a bit more about the fantasias.

E2CP: Today we had Writing Workshop; tomorrow we will be discussing the thesis paragraphs of your Our Town essays; be sure to have them with you or to have emailed them to me!

for you, some bears:

do you wonder sometimes whether headline writers even see the front pages of their newspapers?

10/7 Finally another long weekend!

2011-10-07T16:32:00.001-05:00

So we have finally made it to the end of a long countdown. Yes! As you might have been able to tell from my "the school year is almost over" speech, the next countdown will be to Halloween, so it will begin at 20 on Tuesday...not as long as this one was.

This weekend has the following weather report:

Sat: 80 and sunny. Sun: 75 and sunny. Mon: 72 and sunny. Do you see what these have in common? No? I will give you a small hint...

I'm not giving much HW to anyone this weekend other than this:

Do not spend all of your time cooped up in your rooms huddled over a computer or video game. Get outside and enjoy what might be the last great weekend of the year!!!!

In the actual reality there is this, but (as I said) it is not much:

CW: If that outside time spurs you to write something, then write something.

E3H: If you did not complete your essay on figurative language (see last night's blog post for details) in class today, get it finished and submitted to tii by Monday. Start looking for a poem for your fantasia project as well. (If you feel like beginning the project, clear the poem selection with me and then go ahead, but that is not necessary. This project will not be due for about two weeks.)

E2CP: If you have not cleared your thesis and five quotation with me, you must do so via email this weekend, the earlier the better. Then you should start drafting the final Our Town essay, a 1.5-2 page essay based on your thesis, using your quotes (and others too if you wish) as support. Be careful to start with a strong thesis paragraph. In fact, that's the first thing I want to see. When you finish writing it, send it to me by email so I can give you feedback. It will really help your final grade! The actual essay is not due until next Friday, and I will invite you to bring it in to discuss it in conference. The thesis paragraph, however, is due on Monday. (The thesis + five quotations were due today.)

(Some folks can be a bit slow...)

And for your daily dose of Absolutely Adorable:

10/6 technophobes and other characters

2011-10-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

So...the results on turnitin.com are still coming in... If you have comments to make, let me know.

Calling all technophobes!

If you are unnerved by the online stuff, don't be afraid to let me know. [Half the time it unnerves me too. :-) ] I've spoken to a couple of you about it, and I've tried to be clear in class:

What we have done in the last two weeks is experimental. If the class does not like the site, we will not use it. If the class likes it enough to use it but someone has real issues with doing work online, there will be alternative methods of doing assignments. No one will be left behind. Do not fear. In any case, the internet is just another tool in our toolbox. Our best tools are still each other, face to face.

E2CP: We finished Our Town today and discussed potential themes. Your assignment tonight is to select a theme for a possible essay and find five strong quotations from various locations in the play that you would use to support it if you wrote this paper. This will be turned in tomorrow.

CW: Don't forget the new "After Art" prompt; see yesterday.

E3H: We discussed allegory at length today, spending a lot of time on "Fire and Ice." For tomorrow: Choose a poem from the "Poems for Further Reading" chapter that contains significant figurative language. Compose an essay of about one page that explores the poem's meaning and how the poet uses figurative language to get that meaning across to the reader. We will be in a lab tomorrow so you'll have time to work on this in class. When you finish, upload it to turnitin.com as the assignment "figurative language."

About Google Groups: the Mrs. T's E3H group will be discontinued. It was a failed experiment. As such, after much consideration, I have decided to convert all grades into extra credit points. C will get one point, B will get 2, A will get 3. A+ will get a bonus point. I'll try to take care of this over the weekend. (At this stage, a single point represents about 0.3% of your grade.)