Freshmen: Today we focused on the best way to begin a free verse poem, which is, to summarize the words of the Greek poet Horace, "in the middle of things." In other words, start you poetry inside an experience, as Stafford does in "Traveling Through the Dark." Your homework is to revise your current poem for this principle, and to craft a new poem based on the three principles of free verse we have learned so far. Both poems should be typed up and with you in class on Tuesday. You are also to read for 20 minutes twice over the three day weekend.
Sophomores: Today we looked at a couple of essays on This I Believe that tie in well with Life of Pi. Your task over the weekend is to finish Part I and to have a dozen notes for seminar on Wednesday. Keep working on your This I Believe assignment, and get a jump on vocab too if you can.
CNF: Today we had an interesting seminar on the first chapter of Blink. I enjoyed the ideas you brought to the class and learned a lot. Good work. Email me a photo of your bedroom if you haven't already. Next time in class we will test our powers of thin slicing using these photographs.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
turnitin.com Log-in Information
This year we will use www.turnitin.com for many essay submissions. In order to submit to this website, you must create an account. Here are the steps to follow:
1. Go to the website and click on "create account" on the upper right of the page.
2. Click on "student."
3. Enter the class ID.
-For Freshmen Period 1 it is 5458123.
-For Freshmen Period 4 it is 5458128.
-For Sophomores Period 5 it is 5458129.
-For Sophomores Period 8 it is 5458132.
**These are written down on the east wall of my classroom as well.
4. Then enter the enrollment password. It is Judge. Be sure to capitalize the J.
5. Then enter your name and so on. You must enter an email address and create a password. Write both of these things down in your planner so that you don't lose them.
6. In order to enroll, you must agree to their terms.
This will enroll you in the course and allow you upload papers.
1. Go to the website and click on "create account" on the upper right of the page.
2. Click on "student."
3. Enter the class ID.
-For Freshmen Period 1 it is 5458123.
-For Freshmen Period 4 it is 5458128.
-For Sophomores Period 5 it is 5458129.
-For Sophomores Period 8 it is 5458132.
**These are written down on the east wall of my classroom as well.
4. Then enter the enrollment password. It is Judge. Be sure to capitalize the J.
5. Then enter your name and so on. You must enter an email address and create a password. Write both of these things down in your planner so that you don't lose them.
6. In order to enroll, you must agree to their terms.
This will enroll you in the course and allow you upload papers.
Thursday, August 30
Most importantly, this week's prediction: Utah 35, Northern Colorado 7. Let's go, Utes!
Freshmen: Last period we focused on the importance of using "I" in your free verse poetry; today we focused avoiding participles, as they are a verb form which obscures the actors in a poem. Your task tonight is to revise your current poem for anything that you find will improve it, but most especially for using I and avoiding participles. Read for 20 minutes, and don't forget that vocab is upcoming.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on the common elements we found in the various creation myths you researched, and what those common elements reveal about human beings. Remember, Book I from Life of Pi, and 12 seminar notes, are due next Wednesday, 9/5.
CNF: Today we focused on finishing the Introduction and Chapter 1 from Blink; we will have a seminar on the reading on Friday.
Freshmen: Last period we focused on the importance of using "I" in your free verse poetry; today we focused avoiding participles, as they are a verb form which obscures the actors in a poem. Your task tonight is to revise your current poem for anything that you find will improve it, but most especially for using I and avoiding participles. Read for 20 minutes, and don't forget that vocab is upcoming.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on the common elements we found in the various creation myths you researched, and what those common elements reveal about human beings. Remember, Book I from Life of Pi, and 12 seminar notes, are due next Wednesday, 9/5.
CNF: Today we focused on finishing the Introduction and Chapter 1 from Blink; we will have a seminar on the reading on Friday.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Some Suggestions for What to Write in Your Socratic Seminar Prep Notes
Remember, the purpose of taking notes on what we read is two-fold:
1. Create a record of what you were thinking about as you read. It is a transcript of what was going on in your head while reading.
2. Prepare for our seminar discussion on the text, ensuring you can contribute in a meaningful manner.
These are some things you might do in your notes:
• Write down unfamiliar words. Try to figure out what they mean.
• Write down questions that occur to you about things you don’t understand, or about things you want to discuss.
• Write down things you think are particularly important, and write why.
• Write notes about what the reading section makes you think of, perhaps another text or event in your life.
• Write your personal reaction to the text, whether you agree or disagree with the author and why.
• Write a short paraphrase of any sentence or concept that seems more difficult. This way you will be able to remember it more easily later.
**Most importantly, use the question stems on the handout provided to help you craft questions that you would like the group to discuss.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29
Freshmen: Today our focus was on an introduction to free verse poetry and our first key principle for writing free verse poetry, which we're going to call "The Power of I." In other words, good free verse poetry often relates a first-hand experience, which requires a first person speaker. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and to write a free verse poem. The poem is due Thursday, and should be typed, it should be about a first-hand experience, and it should adhere to the principle we covered in class today.
Sophomores: Today spent some time reading, introduced the notion of Socratic Seminars and how you should prepare for them, focused on some issues that are pertinent to our text, viewed the rest of the Joseph Campbell interview "The Message of the Myth". Thursday, we will do compare and contrast with the creation stories we found and the key item will be answering the following question: What do the similarities found in many creation stories reveal about humanity? Check the blog for the reading schedule as well.
CNF: Today we focused on reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 of Blink. We also focused on what good Socratic Seminar notes should look like in preparation for the seminar we will have on Friday.
Sophomores: Today spent some time reading, introduced the notion of Socratic Seminars and how you should prepare for them, focused on some issues that are pertinent to our text, viewed the rest of the Joseph Campbell interview "The Message of the Myth". Thursday, we will do compare and contrast with the creation stories we found and the key item will be answering the following question: What do the similarities found in many creation stories reveal about humanity? Check the blog for the reading schedule as well.
CNF: Today we focused on reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 of Blink. We also focused on what good Socratic Seminar notes should look like in preparation for the seminar we will have on Friday.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Monday, August 27
Freshmen: Today our focus was on responding to poetry using a method known as CQC (comment, question, connection). We read Stafford's "Traveling Through the Dark." Your homework is to read for 20 minutes, and be sure you are working on your Letter to the Editor, Great Thought assignment, and vocabulary.
Sophomores: Today we started Life of Pi, stressing the implications of the author's note. Check for an earlier blog entry that has the reading schedule. Please read a couple of chapters before Wednesday's class. Bring the creation story you found and bring it to class as well on Wednesday.
CNF: Today we focused primarily on the three tasks of Blink that Gladwell lays out in the introduction. We'll read the Introduction and Chapter One this week.
Sophomores: Today we started Life of Pi, stressing the implications of the author's note. Check for an earlier blog entry that has the reading schedule. Please read a couple of chapters before Wednesday's class. Bring the creation story you found and bring it to class as well on Wednesday.
CNF: Today we focused primarily on the three tasks of Blink that Gladwell lays out in the introduction. We'll read the Introduction and Chapter One this week.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Friday, August 24
Freshmen: Today our focus was on introducing our quarterly Letter to the Editor assignment. Honors students must hand one in on or before Thursday, September 20, and all students (including honors), must hand one on or before Tuesday, October 16. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes this weekend, work on your Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment if possible, and work on your letter if possible.
Sophomores: Today we focused on an interview between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers about myth, specifically creation myths. Your task is to find and print a creation myth from the culture you were assigned. Bring Life of Pi Monday.
CNF: Today our focus was on the responsibilities creators of non-fiction texts need to adhere to. Bring Blink on Monday.
Sophomores: Today we focused on an interview between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers about myth, specifically creation myths. Your task is to find and print a creation myth from the culture you were assigned. Bring Life of Pi Monday.
CNF: Today our focus was on the responsibilities creators of non-fiction texts need to adhere to. Bring Blink on Monday.
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