Online Journal 13

You don't have to be a "person of influence" to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me.--Scott Adams

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a man who commands our attention.  An unconventional hero, Atticus is a model of courage, humility, and empathy; he is a true example we all can learn from.  Each of our lives have been touched by special people we know and love. For this week's journal entry, I want you to think about someone who has a great influence on you? A friend? A family member? A boss? A teacher (not me--you will not get bonus points!!)? Who has been a real-life role model for you?  Tell me:  Why are they special and how has knowing them made you a better person?  Be sure to tell them too, if you can.  Then, while you are out and about, busy living your life, remember, you never know who might be looking up to you!  Have a fabulous winter break and a very Merry Christmas!!  :D 

Online Journal 12

The act of writing is a kind of catharsis, a liberation, but I never really concerned myself with that. I write because it interests me.  ~Nathalie Sarraute

Well, Thanksgiving is past, and we're headed straight on to Christmas!  Yet, over the break I found myself feeling a tiny bit Grinch-ish as we drug out all of the Christmas decorations to 'deck the halls.'  With only three short weeks till the end of the semester, there is so much to do and so little time to do it in!  I must confess:  I had a hard time maintaining my Attitude of Gratitude like we talked about at the BFR.  Though I certainly believe we all must endeavor to persevere in our positive outlook and work habits, I also feel we need to be self-aware.  After all, how can we overcome our shortcomings unless we first acknowledge what they are?  So--as we were thankful last week--for this week's journal entry, I want you to write about those things that drive you crazy.  What kinds of things really push your buttons, and then what do you do to relieve that stress?  Work out?  Eat?  Correct the grammar in your friends' facebook statuses?  Remember, this is a journal entry, NOT A LIST!!  Write about the things that irritate you, then--having felt the relief that comes from the emotional catharsis of purging those feelings--you can go back to being a "sunbeam" to brighten the lives of those around you.  Well, look at that; I managed to work both a literary element and an allusion into the same sentence!  Now, that makes me happy!  :)

Online Journal Entry 11

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.  ~W.J. Cameron
Mmm, it's almost Thanksgiving!! Family, food, friends, and three days out of school! Tell me, what are you thankful for this year as we approach the season of giving thanks?

Online Journal Entry 10

All the people like us are 'we,' and everyone else is 'They.' ~Rudyard Kipling

"Separate, but equal." It was a phrase derived from a Louisiana law from 1890, but the thoughts behind it--and the support of it--were predominant in this country for more than 60 years after the fact. What do you think? Where there is "separate," can there be "equal?" Could it be a different answer for differing situations? Why or why not?

Online Journal Entry 9

It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life. ~P.D. James

Ah, autumn. The air is getting cool and crisp. The leaves are beginning to change. It's as if a whole new spirit is in the air. What is your favorite thing about this time of year, AND ... what would you do, if you had a perfect fall day to spend however you wanted?

Online Journal Entry 8

“What is wonderful about great literature is that it transforms the man who reads it towards the condition of the man who wrote.” ~E. M. Forster
This week, we are beginning a unit on Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Did you know this novel has been banned frequently throughout our country in the past fifty years since it was published?  Even today, it inspires strong feelings in all those who read it--some of whom love it and some of whom hate it.  You will be able to decide for yourself in the coming weeks, but for now, tell me about a book that you already love. Is there any book that's had a significant impact on your life to date?  What about a favorite novel that you could read again and again anytime you have the time and inclination?  Is there a book you have any fond memories of reading in school?  Something you had to read for class and found it wasn't as bad as you thought it might be?   Come on, whether you love to read or not, tell me about a book you've read (not the one you described  for your book review unless you are going to tell me something new about it and how it has changed your life!) and what it has meant to you.  :)

Online Journal Entry 7

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. ~Edmund Burke
As we are beginning our performances of Sophocles' Antigone, we must stop to consider Antigone's actions. Whether out of personal rebellion or moral conviction, Antigone stands up for her beliefs. Have you ever had to make a stand for anything or anyone? Why was it important for you do to so at that time? Tell me about the situation as well as why you felt the need to take action, OR tell me about what you wished you would have done when you had the chance, but didn't do for some reason. Why is it important to make a stand for some things, and why is it not important at other times? When is it okay to challenge people or ideas, and when is it wrong? Come on, take a stand: Tell me what YOU think! 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  As most of you know, blogger.com was having some issues last week.  This week, just in case, BEFORE you hit "Publish," please please please Copy and Paste your comment onto a word document and then save it to your computer (or your H: Drive at school).  As an alternative, paste it onto an email and send it to me at snowL@branson.k12.mo.us just to be on the safe side.  If blogger's issues do not get resolved soon, we'll look into other journaling opportunities.  THANKS!!  :)

Online Journal Entry 6

For this week's journal entry, let's work on something a little different:  Our Powers of Persuasion!  I have a dilemma; last year, my students read Oedipus in class--just like we did--and then performed Antigone.  We divided up the play into Acts (remember, Greek dramas were not so divided) and assigned everyone one speaking part.  The students had a couple of days to rehearse, and then everyone performed their scene for the class!  However, I know we have several students this year who are uncomfortable speaking in front of a group.  So before I make this decision, I would like each of you to weigh in informing me of your opinions.  Tell me:  Would you rather perform Antigone in front of the class, or would you rather continue with the Readers' Theatre format (same rules apply, everyone reads).  Performing the play can be a really fun way to interact with the text on another level; but if I have to force it upon you (like in the picture above), it will be misery for everyone.  In your journal entry, tell me your opinion as well as WHY you feel that way, and then I will let you know what our plan for next week is!  Be PERSUASIVE, be PASSIONATE, be PREPARED to write a full PARAGRAPH, as always!  It may well be chosen on a class by class basis; remember, either way, some parts are large and some are very small.  Whichever we choose, it is still going to be AWESOME!!  Seriously, it's Greek Tragedy;  how could it NOT be?!  :)

Online Journal Entry 5

“We know what we are, but know now what we may be.” William Shakespeare
As we read this week, Oedipus has just discovered the shocking truth about his life. On a very different scale (thank goodness), have you ever discovered something surprising about yourself? Maybe a talent or a skill you didn't know you had until you tried something new? Maybe a place you didn't want to go until you went and found, to your surprise, you liked it?! Or even something that you were anxious to try, only to discover it was not for you after all!! What about something as simple as getting to know someone you thought you already knew and found they weren't the way they seemed at all? Sometimes you find out whom you ARE by finding out whom you are NOT, like trying on new experiences to see if they will be a good fit for you? Trying something new can be illuminating; so for this week, tell me the story of a time you discovered something surprising about yourself (one sentence is not going be enough), and remember what you've learned when the next new opportunity presents itself! :)

Online Journal Entry 4

"Thus we hope to teach mythology not as a study, but as a relaxation from study; to give our work the charm of a story-book, yet by means of it to impart a knowledge of an important branch of education. "  ~Thomas Bullfinch

Life in Ancient Greece.  After studying Greek culture all week, can you imagine what it would have been like to have actually lived during those times?  At your current age, the girls in our class would have been married and the boys would be in the military for the last three or four years at least!  Personally, I've always thought one of the most fascinating aspects of Greek culture lies in the study of their religion, what we know as Greek Mythology.  What do you think it would have been like to believe your fate rested in the hands of a group of all-powerful beings who couldn't even get along with each other most of the time?!  After briefly reviewing the character of each of the major gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece earlier this week, write a journal entry describing which gods or goddesses you would have wanted to be your patron.  From which ones would you have sought support and protection and which ones would you have wanted to avoid at all costs?  Use your graphic organizer from class to help you remember the specific realms and character traits of each deity; you will want to use that information in your answer!!  If you need a refresher, I posted the links to the videos here on the blogsite, right below the Weekly Schedule column.  Use your imagination and try to picture your life in Ancient Greece!  As we begin to read our first Greek Tragedy this week, we are about to see just how influential and interfering the Greeks believed the gods could be!  It's going to be awesome!!  Just wait and see!  :)

Online Journal Entry 3

"Without labor nothing prospers."  ~Sophocles 

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a celebration of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country (www.dol.gov).  I hope you all are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend!  It is always nice to have a three day weekend to celebrate the end of summer and to allow us to rest and recoup for all the work to come this fall!  In class, we are finishing our first major writing unit, Personal Narratives; in your spare time, you've been reading your books for your first independent book review (right???); and this week, we are going to dive into our first literature unit:  Greek Tragedies!!  Oh, the excitement that is to come!  But for now, as we are enjoying the holiday, it got me to thinking.  What is YOUR favorite holiday of the year?  Does your family have any traditions you particularly enjoy (or do NOT enjoy)?  Remember, this is a journal entry.  Don't just answer as quickly as possible; DESCRIBE what is your favorite holiday and WHY!  Then, enjoy the rest of your weekend--or the rest of this short school week, however the case may be.  :)

Online Journal Entry 2

“Every person is the creation of himself, the image of his own thinking and believing. As individuals think and believe, so they are.” ~Claude M. Bristol
Ah, personal narratives ... aren't they going to be fun?! All that focus on YOU: What YOU think, how YOU feel, how YOU've grown and changed! What would YOU think if I said we were going to share them with the class? Excited? Nervous? Remember, we are a Classroom Community!! We are here to share with each other, support each other, encourage each other, and celebrate with each other!!  Seriously, it is going to be fun and each one of you has an AMAZING story to share:  The Story of YOU!!  For this week, to practice sharing a story from your life let's start with something easy:  Write a journal entry describing one event from your summer break.  It can be your funniest story, your best summer moment, your worst summer moment, your boringest (Is that a word?  No?  Fine,  your most boring or dullest) experience, your most challenging event, ANYTHING!!  Pick one quick story about YOU and tell us all about it.  Remember, an online journal entry MUST be at least a good paragraph long.

One more thing, if your Display name gives away ANY part of your first or last name, YOU NEED TO PICK A NEW ONE!!  Anonymous, people; it means a name that does NOT identify you in any way.  Work with me here.  If your display name does not fit this description, go to your dashboard (top right corner or to blogger.com) and choose EDIT PROFILE.  Scroll down to DISPLAY NAME and pick something that cannot be traced back to you.  I was lenient the first week; this week I will not publish anything with your name (or last name, or part of your name, or nickname) in it.  And be sure to tell me what you choose--that is, after all, how you receive your grade for these!  :)

Online Journal Entry 1

“The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools.” ~Confucius.

Sophomore year.  How does it feel to not be the little freshmen anymore?  Older?  Wiser?  More Experienced?  Just taller?  Anything!  Now that this next new adventure has begun, what are your expectations for this school year?  Are you going to participate in a new activity?  Go out for a new team or club?  What are the goals you have set for yourself?  Get better grades?  Be more outgoing?  Discover a love for literature you didn't know you had?  Hey, I can dream!  Take a few minutes and then write a journal entry describing what you would like to see yourself accomplish throughout the next year.  Then, as Confucius so wisely said, think about the diligence and tools you will need to succeed in achieving those goals and describe how you will work things those in to your plan as well.  It's only the fourth day of school; the year is wide open with possibilities.  Don't just wait and see what happens.  Make a plan!  The future starts now; what are you going to do with yours?      

Official Blog Rules!!

"A few strong instincts and a few plain rules suffice us."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

1. This blog site is intended for classroom use but parents and/or guests are welcome to post at any time so long as they adhere to the rules.

2. This site does have public access. Please use screen names only and do not include any personal information such as your name, age, address, phone numbers, etc. (nor those of anyone else!).

3. No vulgar or obscene posts will be allowed.

4. No disrespectful remarks about another student, teacher, or any person will be allowed.

5. Anything that could be perceived as a threat of physical violence will be punishable according to school policy.

6. Do not use this post to advocate the immediate violation of any law or school rule.

7. The teacher reserves the right to delete any post that does not strictly adhere to these rules.

8.Online journal entries are an assignment and will be given a grade for participation.  As these will be specifically graded for participation, spelling, grammar, and punctuation will be given minor consideration.  Make a effort, try not to use 'textese,' but focus mainly on exploring and expressing your thoughts.

9. Zero credit will be given on a deleted entry—it is the students' responsibility to check and make sure their entries have not been deleted and, as needed, replace them with appropriate responses by the due date to receive full credit.

10. All journal entry responses MUST be a MINIMUM of 5-6 sentences.  Insightful and/or particularly thought-provoking entries will receive extra credit. Late entries get half credit. Do your own work. Do it on time. Do it well. And we will have no problems.  :)