february 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Good morning, and welcome to the last day of February -- in 2049.  You are 30 years older.  Describe your life.  Where are you living?  Do you have a family?  Are you doing something meaningful with your days?  Are you happy?  Is there anything you wish you would have done differently along the way?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Writing our stories
3. Reading our next story

POST:
When you are gone, what will people say about you?  What do you WANT people to say about you?  Write it now.  (title: MY OBITUARY)

february 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today the focus is on collaboration.  Think about the direction your masterpiece is headed, and ask yourself how talking about your work can refine your thinking and help identify additional skills, talents, & resources to help you?  What skills/talents/resources do you have that might help someone else?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Self-evaluation
3. Big Question: it takes a village (*find the others)
4. Revising your essay and/or answer column: 10 vocab words from "First Love"

self-evaluation

As we head into the first progress reporting window of the Spring semester, it's a good time to reflect.  Since I only see you for a few hours each week, and you spend 24/7 with yourself (including that oh-so-valuable time with your subconscious while you sleep), please answer the following questions as we begin to assess your performance.  Please write your answers in complete sentences-- you do not need to copy the questions-- on a piece of paper and turn in ASAP.  Please remember to write your name in the upper right hand corner.  Mahalo.

1. What do you do best in this course?  Where are you strongest, most confident?  What can you say you have actually accomplished or learned so far this semester?
2. Where do you need improvement?  Support?  What can you or the teacher do to help you?
3. On a scale from 1-10, how much effort are you putting into this course?  (*You can separate this out into categories; for example, if you put in a huge effort on your blog, but not so much on the reading or the journals or the lit circles, explain)
4. What letter grade do you believe you have earned at this point in the course?

february 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do you feel tired so often?  Since I assume most people know how to address being tired (sleep, rest, reduce stress, eat better, etc.), what is preventing you from living in a way that sustains your positive energy throughout the day?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Now that you are the expert on "First Love"...

POST:
Your advice on "First Love."  Here's how:

1. Look through the story and find 3 examples of what (in your opinion) people did right or well;
2. Look through the story and find 3 examples of what (in your opinion) people did wrong or poorly;
3. Write a "How To" article for readers who want to know what it's like to fall in love for the first time
4. Your article must include:
1. An introduction to what you think is important about love, and first love in particular
2. Advice about what to do (use your 3 examples)
3. Advice about what not to do (use your 3 examples)
4. A conclusion that leaves the reader thinking and gives the reader next steps about how to be/ what to do.

february 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the worst villain you've ever experienced in a story.  What made this villain so... VILLAINOUS?  Use an example to explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finish "First Love"
3. Write a review of the story.  Would you recommend it to a reader?  Why/why not?  What did you think about the characters, the action, and the message you took away after reading?  Is this story valuable?  What lessons does the narrator learn and share?  Does the story reveal anything about love and people that you can apply in your own life?  Be sure to explain your answers and use examples from the story to support your points.

OUR PROJECT:
Now that we are experts in "First Love"...

february 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes something funny?  To explain your answer, use an example from real life.  Describe a time something happened, or someone told a joke that made you laugh out loud.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Testing
3. Chapter 19 & 20 of "First Love"

POST:
Why do you think Turgenev doesn't use more humor in "First Love"?  (title: FIRST LOVE ISN'T FUNNY)

february 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Sometimes ideas from class stick with us and sometimes they don't. Describe an idea that you learned in class that has stuck with you longer than you expected. Why does it stick out in your memory? Was it presented in a memorable way, or is it particularly meaningful or valuable?

AGENDA:

1. Journal

2. TESTING

3. Independent reading/work

lit circles discussion questions

What is setting of the book?

What do you think the author wants you to learn from reading this story?

How does the main character remind you of yourself, another character or someone you know?

Can you relate to the main character’s conflicts or problems?

What is the main conflict in the story?

Which character do you like the most?

Which character do you like the least?

At what point in the story did you decide if you liked it or not?

Do like the way this author writes? Why or why not?

How does the main character change throughout the story?

Explain how the title connects to the story.

Do you like the resolution? Why or why not?

What motivates the main character’s actions?

Do you think those actions are justified or wise?

If you could insert yourself in the book, what character would you be?

Is the plot well developed and believable?

What passage in the book

is the most memorable to you?

If you could interview the author, what would you want to know?

What is a character trait that you could use to describe your favorite character?

What events cause the character to change?

What actions, thoughts, dialogue or reactions from other characters support your choice?

Does the author use flashback, going back and forth between present and past?

Who is the narrator?

Are there any quotes or passages in the book that inspire you?

Are there any characters or events that remind you of another book? Explain.

Was the story predictable or surprising? Explain.

Do the characters or events connect to people or events in our world?

Were there any parts of the story that confused you?

Are there any words that confused you?
If so, can you still understand what is happening? Which words?
What page?

If you could give this chapter a title, what would it be? Explain why.

Describe what was happening and what about the passage confused you?

february 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a practice that's good for you -- working out, eating vegan, sleeping 8 hours a night, flossing every day -- that you don't do.  Why don't you do something that you KNOW is good for you?  Logically, this seems absurd, but we all develop habits and life practices that need improvement.  What will it take for you to take better care of yourself?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. First Love
3. Lit circles

study confirms that books at home are good for us

Don't take my word for it; read THIS.  And if you don't have books in your house, get some.

meet the five year-old who started a library

"The benefits of having access to books are clear: According to a 2018 study, people who grow up surrounded by books develop higher reading comprehension and better mathematical and digital communication skills. But not every kid has access to reading materials in their house or even their hometown. A 5-year-old resident of Alpha, Illinois recently solved this problem within his own community by opening..."

Please read the full story HERE and comment below.

chapter 17/18 vocab essay

You have received a letter from the narrator in "First Love":

Dear SMHS student,
You seem to know a lot about love and the way the world works.  As you know by know, I am completely in love with Zinäida -- but I don't understand her.  Why did she tell that story about the garden?  Why did she kiss me but then say she didn't love me?  Why does she always have so many guys around?  Should I do something else to make her love me, or should I give up already?  Please give me some advice.
Thank you,
Vladimir

Please answer with a well-organized essay that is supported with at least three quotes from the story and at least 10 vocabulary words from the story.

february 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How far away from you (or how different a life from yours) does a person have to live in order for you to consider him/her a "foreigner"?  Are you inclined to welcome "foreigners" -- whether they be from a different country, city, or even just another social clique on campus-- or are you inclined to favor people whose experience is more similar to yours?

AGENDA:
1.  Journal (please turn in)
2. Chapter 17 & 18 vocabulary essay
4. Agreement: how much should we read this weekend?

POST:
What's the difference between agreeing to complete work for each other, and being told what to do for homework?  (title: HAVE TO VERSUS WANT TO)

'first love' chapter 16 quiz

1. What was the game Zinäida played with her guests?
2. Summarize the story that Zinäida told.
3. What did Malevsky say to Voldemar, and how did Zinäida react?
4. Describe what happens at the end of the chapter, and explain how this relates to Zinäida's story.

february 14

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "My Funny Valentine" by Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker; "California Love" by 2Pac]

How will the love you express today be remembered tomorrow?  Also, if you really love someone, why do you need a 'holiday' to express the way you feel?

(P.S. Help those poor people who paid 3x the price for roses this week by being a role model for love the other 364 days.)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. "First Love" Chapter 16 quiz
3. Chapter 17 & 18
4. Vocabulary quiz

POST:
How can you show what you learn about what we read?  (title: HOW YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW)

teen journalism

Sometimes the writing of teenagers causes me to reflect on the integrity and passion that adults so often lose to age and the compromise of "maturity."  This is one of those moments.  Have a look at SINCE PARKLAND and let us know what you think in a comment to this post.

(Thanks, BoingBoing!)

february 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do you think the author wrote the story "First Love"?  What is so interesting about love?  We have more poems, stories, movies, songs, greeting cards, etc. etc. about love than any other idea-- why?  What makes love interesting to you? 

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Chapter 12 quizzes: review
3. Chapter 13 - 15

POST:
Vocab for Chapters 13-15 (title: VOCAB 13-15)

*Please include definitions of the words and sample sentences in which you use each word correctly.

Chapter 12 quiz

1. Vladamir (the narrator) says that Zinäida is getting "stranger."  Describe two examples that give him reason to say this.

2. Describe the relationship between the narrator's parents.

3. What does Zinäida ask Vladamir to do?  Why do you think he does it?

4. What happens after Vladamir regains consciousness?  How does this make him feel?

5. Why do you think Vladamir ends by saying that he is still a child?  Do you agree?  Why/why not?

february 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If your shoes could talk, what story would they tell about your weekend?  Use your imagination and have fun: "Wow, she took us to the [...]..." or, "She didn't even notice that we stepped in gum!" or, Oh, man, she left us under the bed and we didn't even see daylight..." 

-OR-

Choose your own topic.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review Chapter 12 & list vocab
3. Chapter 12 quiz (end of period 3)
4. Read Chapter 13 together
5. Map the plot

great idea!

For years I have embedded and linked to videos and audios of text so that students could choose the resources that would help them.  When I started, all of this technology was new and exciting-- but what's really exciting to me is that new tools are being invented all the time.  For example, I have used Google Translate on my course blogs so that students and parents/guardians could see everything in languages other than English. 

Today I learned (thanks to Nayeli :) that I can combine these ideas and use Google Translate to "read" to me!  Here's how:

1. Select the text you want and copy it to your clipboard (note that there is a maximum length for Google, so you may want to experiment with chunks to see how much it will take at once)

2. Go to https://translate.google.com and paste the text.

3. Click "Listen"

It's that simple! 

february 8

JOURNAL TOPIC:
So far, what do you think of the story "First Love"?  Is it realistic?  Believable?  How is it similar or different from anything you have experienced or heard of in real life?

AGENDA:
1. Journal (please remember to turn yours in)
2. Chapters 10-12

POST:
Summaries of Chapters 10-12 (title: CHAPTERS 10-12 SUMMARIES)

chapter 9 vocab quiz

Please define each of the following words and use in a sentence:

1. Conscious
2. Insignificant
3. Passion
4. Composure
5. Malignant
6. Fastidiousness
7. Sly
8. Indignation
9. Saucy
10. Gazed

february 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
To paraphrase poet Robert Burns, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Describe a time you planned something perfectly and it got all messed up anyway.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. "First Love" Chapter 9 vocab quiz
3. Read Chapter 9 together
4. Paragraph: predict Chapter 10
5. Read Chapter 10 together
6. Speed read: skim Chapter 11

POST:
What are the highlights you noticed in your "quick read" of Chapter 11 (title: FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF CHAPTER 11; first sentence: "When I skimmed Chapter 11, I noticed that...")

chapter 8 quiz: vladimir's father

In a well-organized paragraph, please describe Vladamir's experience of his father in Chapter 8.  How does Vladamir experience his father's moods?  What does this lead Vladamir to conclude about his father's thinking?

february 6

JOURNAL TOPIC:
For the last week or so we've been reading "First Love" by Ivan Turgenev.  Do you think falling in love is a decision, or a choice, or does it just happen to a person?  For that matter, what in your life do you think you have the power to decide?  How do you make decisions?

Think about THIS DECISION and ask yourself-- why do people do what they do?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Check in on reading progress
3. Questions
4. Read Chapter 9 and list vocab words
5. Vocab quiz

POST:
Explain how you make important decisions (title: DECISIONS, DECISIONS)

people can be SO stupid

Read the full article HERE

february 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write about whatever's on your mind.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Continue reading First Love (as far as you can get)

POST:
Reading notes & vocab (title: FIRST LOVE NOTES)

february 4

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Did it occur to you to read this weekend?  Why do you think this sort of idea comes naturally to some people, and not to others?  What will you have to do in order to support this habit?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. First Love

POST:
1. Why is the end of Chapter 6 a surprise?  (title: SURPRISE ENDING OF FIRST LOVE CH 6)

(after reading Chapter 7)
2. Summary of Chapter 7 (title: SUMMARY FIRST LOVE CH 7)

Read Chapter 8 *quiz at end of period 4

february 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time you did something impressive without being asked.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finish reading "First Love"
3. Create master vocabulary list (on paper) and turn in
4. Create 3 essay prompts (on a different piece of paper) and turn in