April 30, 2013

Great job to all of you for an interesting and mature conversation in class today as we attempted to make some modern day connections to our reading of Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry. I encourage you to read more about the prom in Georgia and please, bring in any articles you find!

For Wednesday: Finish reading chapter 1. You are expected to come in and be able to write 5-10 major events that happened in the chapter and list the people you "met."

April 23, 2012

Due Wednesday: Wisdom Books. Yes, you can print images from the web if you are not feeling super about your art abilities. You can also use real photos from your life.

Remember to bring your compare/contrast sheet so you can write a good in-class write. Knock me out with your concluding sentences!

See you Thursday!!

April 22, 2013

For Tuesday: Finish both sides of the compare/contrast sheet for Tuesdays With Morrie
For Wednesday: Wisdom books due. See below for criteria if you can't find the sheet I handed out explaining the requirements.

Below is the direction sheet for the Wisdom Books.

In Mitch Albom’s book Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie reminds readers about life lessons we ought to remember but have somehow forgotten.

 

Your wisdom booklet will be due Wednesday, April 24^th. This is the first Wednesday after vacation. You will have ample time to work on it before vacation, and 2 nights after vacation.

 

TASK:

Create a pocket-sized “wisdom booklet” featuring 10 examples of Morrie’s wisdom as well as 10 examples of wisdom from inspirational people in your own world. Your wisdom booklet should be at least 20 pages.

 

 

J     Your booklet should be pocket-sized.

 

J     The creatively-designed cover and all pages should be made of durable material (consider scrapbooking materials, index cards, other cardstock… not just computer or construction paper!)

 

J     The booklet should be appropriately bound (metal rings, yarn, ribbon, fabric, etc.).

 

J     All text should be typewritten or carefully written with a high-quality art pen.

 

J     Wisdom from Morrie should appear in quotation marks with correct page numbers identified. Be sure to explain the meaning and value of each Morrie quotation.

 

J     Wisdom from folks in your own world should appear in quotation marks. Be sure to identify the original speaker and explain the meaning and value of each quotation.

 

J     Include illustrations, design, symbols to enhance the meaning of the text on each page.

 

J     Dedicate your booklet to someone special.

 

 

SCORING CRITERIA:

 

__ Booklet includes 10 wisdom quotations from Morrie with page numbers.

__ The meaning of each quotation from Morrie is thoroughly explained in student’s best language.

__ Booklet includes 10 wisdom quotations from folks in student’s real world and clearly identifies them.

__ The meaning of each quotation from folks in student’s real world is thoroughly explained in student’s best language.

__ Illustrations are appropriate, creative, and enhance the meaning of each quotation.

__ Booklet is pocket-sized, bound, durable enough to survive many years of use, and appealing to bookstore shoppers.

__ All text is carefully proofread. No MUG errors appear.

 

 

* Many students produce professional-looking booklets packed with high-quality writing and give the books to parents for Mother’s and Father’s day. J

April 11, 2013

Certainly a bummer that the Walk For Hunger is postponed. Plan on having part of the class to work on your wisdom book, so bring your supplies.
See you tomorrow!

April 10, 2013

For Thursday: You will have the period to work on your wisdom books, so make sure you bring all your supplies (TWM book, paper, special pen, glue, etc.)
Final books due on Wednesday, April 24th.

A Haiku about spring:
Spring Return
Alive springs the earth
Blooming and budding return
Color and scents sweet

Thought you could you a little dose of spring since the weather is not predicted to be terribly spring like the next few days.

April 8, 2013

Start working on your wisdom books tonight. I would suggest doing a 1/2 hour of work-find aphorisms by Morrie, collect ones from your own life or collect all your materials tonight so that you are ready to begin.

****F period-read to page 150!!****

Take pride in this project. It would make a lovely gift for someone meaningful in your life.

April 3, 2013

Due Thursday:
Vocabulary for chapters titled: "The Fifth Tuesday-We Talk About Family" and "The Sixth Tuesday-We Talk About Emotions"
This is the end of vocabulary!!

Journal entry- Books become more meaningful and interesting when you can make connections with what you are reading to your own life. Write about any connections you have made to this book. Does it remind you of something in your own life? Does it remind of you another book you have read or a movie you have seen? Did you once have  a conversation with someone that connects with some part of this book? Did you have any similar experiences with people in the book? Write a  thoughtful response that explains your connection (about a 1/2 page).

****Please remember I will be collecting your journals on Friday.****

April 2, 2013

Due Wednesday:

• Vocabulary for chapters titled : "The Professor" and "The Fourth Tuesdays-We Talk About Death"
• One Journal question: Older people have wisdom that young  people don't have because they have more life experience. That being said, if you were to sit down and hang out with an older person that you know, perhaps your grandmother or grandfather, what would you want to talk about? What stories from his/her life would you want to hear? What advice might you seek from them?  

April 1, 2013

Well, I am embarrassed to admit that Haley and Amanda got me today on their switching places trick! It wasn't until Amanda came in and I said to her, "Wait, did you and Haley wear the same sweatshirt today?" Dah!! You got me, girls!
Due Tuesday:
1. Vocabulary for the chapters titled:
"The First Tuesday-We Talk About the World"
"The Second Tuesday- We Talk about Feeling Sorry for Yourself"
"The Third Thursday- We Talk About Regrets"
**note that we have skipped a few chapters

2. Answer the following journal questions thoughtfully and thoroughly (for those of you who like more concrete guidelines, shoot for about 1/2 page each):

a. Morrie talks about the tension of opposites, like the pull of  a rubber band. "Life is series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you do the other. You take things for granted when you know you shouldn't. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't."

Write about a tension of opposites you have in your life. Maybe it is something with your friends, family or maybe it is a push/pull you feel as a student.

 

b. What change do you sense is coming in Mitch? Why?

 

c. Morrie told Mitch that, "The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it."

 

Write about something in your culture (school, American culture in general, your family culture, your friend culture) that does not make you feel good about yourself. Why doesn't it make you feel good? Did you chose not to "buy it" and do your own thing or did you go along with the culture?

d. One of Morrie's aphorisms is, "Accept the past as past, with denying or discarding it." What does this mean?
Creat 2 aphorisms that reflect what you believe and how you want to live your life. After each one, explain why it is important to remember.