Our essay topics are becoming more complex and are moving away from being exclusively personal explorations. This cycle we're exploring a public interest issue. Again, we'll be using the wikispace as a way to collaborate and get feedback. We'll also take a look at a full-length example essay. And don't forget about our digital photography sentence work.
A Few Important Changes
1. Label all your posts with cycle number. And add a side bar element for "labels."
2. A few weeks ago, I set up a blog reading schedule. But it was too confusing for me. So the new plan is that I'll read your blogs at the end of each cycle. So for both classes, your posts are due F-days by midnight.
3. Continue to pay attention to the quality of your blogging. They are an especially good place to start exploring public interest topics. Do some web research, start linking and commenting.
Day 1 - Discuss 3 short public interest examples, sentence work
HW: Make sure you have topics posted on wiki, respond to two classmates' ideas, post
Day 2 - "Getting In"
HW: Post
Day 3 - "Getting In"
HW: Post
Day 4 - Work on public interest draft
HW: Post, prepare for elbowing on Day 1 of next cycle
Friday, March 30, 2007
Welcome to 4th Quarter - Cycle 22 - Freshman
Soon, we'll be finishing The Woman Warrior, revisiting our essential questions, completing the 1001 Flat World Writing Project, and switching gears for some Shakespeare.
A Few Important Changes
1. Label all your posts with cycle number. And add a side bar element for "labels."
2. A few weeks ago, I set up a blog reading/Flat World checking schedule. But it was too confusing for me. So the new plan is that I'll read your blogs/story revisions at the end of each cycle. So your posts need to be completed each cycle by F-day midnight.
3. Continue to pay attention to the quality of your blogging, feedback, and creative writing.
In Class:
Day 1 - "At The Western Palace" quiz, silent reading time
HW: Critical response to passage on blog
Day 2 - Flat World work, podcast story
HW: Flat World feedback (see wiki for schedule)
Day 3 - Flat World work, podcast story
HW: Story revision
Day 4 - "A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe" reading in class, discussion, lit circle meeting (new group)
HW: Lit circle post
A Few Important Changes
1. Label all your posts with cycle number. And add a side bar element for "labels."
2. A few weeks ago, I set up a blog reading/Flat World checking schedule. But it was too confusing for me. So the new plan is that I'll read your blogs/story revisions at the end of each cycle. So your posts need to be completed each cycle by F-day midnight.
3. Continue to pay attention to the quality of your blogging, feedback, and creative writing.
In Class:
Day 1 - "At The Western Palace" quiz, silent reading time
HW: Critical response to passage on blog
Day 2 - Flat World work, podcast story
HW: Flat World feedback (see wiki for schedule)
Day 3 - Flat World work, podcast story
HW: Story revision
Day 4 - "A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe" reading in class, discussion, lit circle meeting (new group)
HW: Lit circle post
Welcome to 4th Quarter - Cycle 22 - Sophomores
Soon, we'll be finishing The Poisonwood Bible, revisiting our essential questions, and starting independent quality projects. For the next two cycles, you will continue to use your weblog as a commonplace book and reading response journal.
A Few Important Changes
1. Label all your posts with cycle number. And add a side bar element for "labels."
2. A few weeks ago, I set up a blog reading schedule. But it was too confusing for me. So the new plan is that I'll read your blogs at the end of each cycle. So 11:30, your posts are due E-days by midnight; 1:30, your posts are due F-days by midnight.
3. Continue to pay attention to the quality of your blogging. Go back to the critical thinking standards and wheel and make those moves in your writing/thinking.
In Class:
Day 1 - "Judges" quiz, silent reading time.
HW: Critical response to passage
Day 2 - SAT practice essay.
HW: Word process (on blog) and print essay, then bring to class.
Day 3 - SAT scoring panels activity
HW: Commonplace post
Day 4 - Lit. Circle meeting for "Bel and the Serpent."
HW: Lit circle post
A Few Important Changes
1. Label all your posts with cycle number. And add a side bar element for "labels."
2. A few weeks ago, I set up a blog reading schedule. But it was too confusing for me. So the new plan is that I'll read your blogs at the end of each cycle. So 11:30, your posts are due E-days by midnight; 1:30, your posts are due F-days by midnight.
3. Continue to pay attention to the quality of your blogging. Go back to the critical thinking standards and wheel and make those moves in your writing/thinking.
In Class:
Day 1 - "Judges" quiz, silent reading time.
HW: Critical response to passage
Day 2 - SAT practice essay.
HW: Word process (on blog) and print essay, then bring to class.
Day 3 - SAT scoring panels activity
HW: Commonplace post
Day 4 - Lit. Circle meeting for "Bel and the Serpent."
HW: Lit circle post
Friday, March 16, 2007
Daily Bookmarks: Technology and Independence
Psychology Today: Mood Tools: High-Tech Tethers
The ubiquity of cell phones has dramatically increased the number of "grooming calls," nonessential expressions of concern, support, and love...
Watson'sComment: After spending some time at all grade levels in our school, one of the questions that keeps coming up is: how does technology change the way we (students) interact? This article addresses the questions from a few angles. Read on.
Watson'sComment: After spending some time at all grade levels in our school, one of the questions that keeps coming up is: how does technology change the way we (students) interact? This article addresses the questions from a few angles. Read on.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Inspirational
Spring break is almost here. And here's a poem that I love.
How To Be A Poet
(to remind myself)
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill - more of each
than you have - inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your work,
doubt their judgment.
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensional life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away form anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.
Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.
Wendell Berry, Given
How To Be A Poet
(to remind myself)
Make a place to sit down.
Sit down. Be quiet.
You must depend upon
affection, reading, knowledge,
skill - more of each
than you have - inspiration,
work, growing older, patience,
for patience joins time
to eternity. Any readers
who like your work,
doubt their judgment.
Breathe with unconditional breath
the unconditioned air.
Shun electric wire.
Communicate slowly. Live
a three-dimensional life;
stay away from screens.
Stay away form anything
that obscures the place it is in.
There are no unsacred places;
there are only sacred places
and desecrated places.
Accept what comes from silence.
Make the best you can of it.
Of the little words that come
out of the silence, like prayers
prayed back to the one who prays,
make a poem that does not disturb
the silence from which it came.
Wendell Berry, Given
Cycle 21
The last cycle of the quarter is here! In the next few weeks, sophs and frosh, we'll be finishing our novels and looking ahead to final projects. Juniors and seniors, we'll continue to improve and innovate in our writing with fresh topics and model essays, as well as interesting, I hope, activities that will help you think about composing sentences and paragraphs in different ways. Oh, and that spring break thing too.
Cycle Theme: Recharge
SAT Vocab: paucity and appropriate (verb)
Freshman
In Class
Day 1 - "Shaman" quiz and discussion.
Day 2 - (After break) Flat World. CLCC.
Day 3 - Flat World. CLCC.
Day 4 - "At The Western Palace" quiz and discussion.
HW:
Over break, read "At The Western Palace."
When we get back, feedback for voice and sentence fluency, and a new revision. Denver and Seoul are going to take a break with us.
Sophomores
In Class:
Day 1 - "Revelation" quiz and discussion.
Day 2 - Film: Mosquito Coast.
Day 3 - cont.
Day 4 - Lit Circles
HW:
Over break, read "Judges."
Before break, a post comparing film to PB and anything else you find relevant.
After break, a commonplace post and a lit circle post.
Composition
In Class:
Day 1 - Sentence/Grammar Work.
Day 2 - Posting photos and writing sentences on wiki.
Day 3 - More work with sentences.
Day 4 - New essay, new topic
HW:
Over break, non-required writing and reading.
After break, posts due.
Cycle Theme: Recharge
SAT Vocab: paucity and appropriate (verb)
Freshman
In Class
Day 1 - "Shaman" quiz and discussion.
Day 2 - (After break) Flat World. CLCC.
Day 3 - Flat World. CLCC.
Day 4 - "At The Western Palace" quiz and discussion.
HW:
Over break, read "At The Western Palace."
When we get back, feedback for voice and sentence fluency, and a new revision. Denver and Seoul are going to take a break with us.
Sophomores
In Class:
Day 1 - "Revelation" quiz and discussion.
Day 2 - Film: Mosquito Coast.
Day 3 - cont.
Day 4 - Lit Circles
HW:
Over break, read "Judges."
Before break, a post comparing film to PB and anything else you find relevant.
After break, a commonplace post and a lit circle post.
Composition
In Class:
Day 1 - Sentence/Grammar Work.
Day 2 - Posting photos and writing sentences on wiki.
Day 3 - More work with sentences.
Day 4 - New essay, new topic
HW:
Over break, non-required writing and reading.
After break, posts due.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Blogging By Example
Check out these composition bloggers.
James is exploring the politics of blogging and school, while exercising the power of hyperlinks.
Linda is asking questions and reflecting on her service experiences.
Daniel is challenging his own assumptions and experimenting with point of view shifts.
Kate is showing us that presenting posts in different visual configurations can be quite effective.
James is exploring the politics of blogging and school, while exercising the power of hyperlinks.
Linda is asking questions and reflecting on her service experiences.
Daniel is challenging his own assumptions and experimenting with point of view shifts.
Kate is showing us that presenting posts in different visual configurations can be quite effective.
Mr. Watson's Reading Habits
Here's my blog reading/grading schedule.
A - Composition 12:30
B - English I 2:30
C - Composition 10:30
E - English II 1:30
F - English II 11:30
Friday, March 9, 2007
Don't Miss This Game
Date: Friday, March 30, 2007
Time: 7:00pm - 8:45pm
Location: Pool
Tickets are $5 and t-shirts are $10. Both teams will include students and faculty (watch out for Mr. W representing). The meat club will also be selling food. All proceeds go to Sara Simmons (Mr. Johnson's wife) and their two children for educational and every day purposes. This is just a small way for our community to have fun while giving back to a family that has given us so much.
Tickets will be sold in the week before the game (possibly earlier) and at the door.
If you're interested in playing in the game, please contact Sasha Fuller.
If you're interested in helping us run/organize the game, please contact Lani Maher.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Cycle 20
We've been busy! And we've experimented with the use of a lot of new technology. So this cycle, we're not going to introduce anything new. Instead, we're going to reflect on where we've been and continue to do what we're doing. We'll do some more podcasting as a supplement to writing in all classes (frosh-seniors). I'm also going to ask you to consider what 'self' you've created on your blog and whether or not you're satisfied with that self. With the exception of my composition classes, we'll be moving deeper into our core novels. Lastly, don't forget that the end of the quarter is right around the corner. So make sure you're caught up with EVERYTHING!
Cycle Theme: Raising the bar.
SAT Vocab: penchant and pragmatic (add to your sidebar, make notecards, use in posts and class)
Sophomores
In-Class:
Day 1 - Class discussion led by lit. circle groups, new group and role
assignments.
Day 2 - Walk activity. Examples in sidebar.
Day 3 - Lit. circle time, center-of-gravity quotes.
Day 4 - In computer lab for reflective blog work. ("Revelations" quiz next A-day)
On Blog:
2 Lit. Circle Posts
2 Comments on other blogs
Blog revision and assessment (we'll discuss)
Freshman
In-Class:
Day 1 - In computer lab for Flat World Story Work - Organization.
Day 2 - In computer lab for Flat World Podcasting.
Day 3 - Lit. circle meeting.
Day 4 - "Shaman" quiz. Class discussion.
On Blog/FlatWorldWiki:
Feedback for two writers in row below your row posted by Thursday midnight.
New draft by next Tuesday (these are new deadlines)
Post a Hawaii ghost story on your blog.
1 Lit. circle work post.
Composition
In-Class:
Day 1 - Elbowing Day 2.
Day 2 - In computer lab for time to revise/give feedback using Wiki.
Day 3 - Finish King essay.
Day 4 - Defining Moment Essay due. Grammar work.
On Blog:
Leave 5 comments
4 Entries (Revise/delete after class discussion).
Extra: Mr. Burell and I are looking for some students to Skype with us and some of his students over the weekend. We'll talk about blogging and record our conversation as a podcast. Talk to me if interested.
Cycle Theme: Raising the bar.
SAT Vocab: penchant and pragmatic (add to your sidebar, make notecards, use in posts and class)
Sophomores
In-Class:
Day 1 - Class discussion led by lit. circle groups, new group and role
assignments.
Day 2 - Walk activity. Examples in sidebar.
Day 3 - Lit. circle time, center-of-gravity quotes.
Day 4 - In computer lab for reflective blog work. ("Revelations" quiz next A-day)
On Blog:
2 Lit. Circle Posts
2 Comments on other blogs
Blog revision and assessment (we'll discuss)
Freshman
In-Class:
Day 1 - In computer lab for Flat World Story Work - Organization.
Day 2 - In computer lab for Flat World Podcasting.
Day 3 - Lit. circle meeting.
Day 4 - "Shaman" quiz. Class discussion.
On Blog/FlatWorldWiki:
Feedback for two writers in row below your row posted by Thursday midnight.
New draft by next Tuesday (these are new deadlines)
Post a Hawaii ghost story on your blog.
1 Lit. circle work post.
Composition
In-Class:
Day 1 - Elbowing Day 2.
Day 2 - In computer lab for time to revise/give feedback using Wiki.
Day 3 - Finish King essay.
Day 4 - Defining Moment Essay due. Grammar work.
On Blog:
Leave 5 comments
4 Entries (Revise/delete after class discussion).
Extra: Mr. Burell and I are looking for some students to Skype with us and some of his students over the weekend. We'll talk about blogging and record our conversation as a podcast. Talk to me if interested.
Friday, March 2, 2007
Protect Your Podomatic - ATTN: Sophomores
Podomatic has a friend service that we're not going to use. So any requests for friends need to be denied. Thanks.
Check Your Email!
I sent an email to several of you about following the class blogging policy. It's a big deal so check you email and see if I sent you one. And I'd like everybody to go into their settings and make sure you've unchecked the box that makes you searchable.
Flat World Out Loud - Attn: Freshman
Our classmates around the world have begun podcasting revisions of their stories. Now you can listen to the authors read their work aloud and give feedback. What if you could record your feedback out loud? Mr. B links to Jessica Y as a great example of how podcasting and reading aloud can improve writing. Give it a listen and get ready to podcast your stories.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
