Online Journal #17

I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.  ~Billy Joel
Last week as I watched Steven Tyler sing the national anthem, it got me to thinking about music.  A few blog entries ago, I noticed a number of your responses included music as a way to de-stress your lives.  As you may have noticed, I like a wide variety of music:  Different day, different music.  From easy breezy to southern rock and showtunes to Aerosmith, I change my music depending on both my mood and my task at hand.  What about you?  Is there a certain type of music you love, or do you have a variety to fit your own repertoire?  Is there a certain song that is your favorite, or does it change with your mood?  With all the advancements in today's technology, do you think music has taken on a more significant meaning for your generation?  Why or why not?  And, as we have been talking about for our in-class writings, remember to add DETAILS!!  So for this week's journal entry, consider all these questions, and describe what music means to you.  

Research Week! :D

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?  ~Albert Einstein 
Since we have a limited amount of time in the library, let's just focus on the task at hand:  Research, Research, RESEARCH!!  Five sources, due this Friday!  :)

Online Journal 16

 

An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King lived his life as a model of equality, justice, truth, and courage during one of the most critical periods for civil rights in our country's history.  Through the example of his nonviolent principles, the world came to see things in a new--and brighter--light.  Though civil rights have come a long way since MLK's day, there is a plethora of other issues which continue to threaten our rights, our freedoms, our health, and our peace of mind.  For this week's journal entry, describe what you feel is the most important issue facing teens today?  Is this a problem all over the country (or the world), or is it particular to one area?  Do you know anyone who has been personally affected by this issue?  (Be respectful of others' privacy!  No naming names!)  Explain why you feel this issue is the most important as well as how you, or other teens, should respond to it.  Remember, Dr. King also said, "He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it."  Something to think about.

Online Journal 15

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.  ~Dr. Seuss

At the end of To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout describes a misunderstood character from The Gray Ghost telling Atticus that he ends up being really nice.  Atticus answers with one of the most poignant lines from the novel saying, "Most people are when you finally see them" (THEME THEME THEME).  

For this week's journal entry, tell me:  Do people see you?  The real you, I mean?  Think about it for a few minutes.  When others think of you, what is important about your character?  What things do you want them to see?  And then, tell me:  Is that what they see?  Why or why not?  If it is not, what should you do about that?  Are there certain types of people who just don't see you?  Then, while we are thinking about it, are there other people--or other groups of people--who you just don't see?  What does that say about you?  Let's start off the New Year with some introspective metacognition, shall we?!  And for those of you needing some vocabulary tutelage, here you go:  Dictionary.com.
     

Online Journal 14

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Happy New Year!!  I hope you all had a wonderful break and are now ready to start a fresh new year. Are you making any resolutions?  Write a journal entry about how you would like to improve yourself throughout the next year?  What exciting things do you hope to accomplish?  Here is your opportunity to choose a new course for your future.  Good luck! :)
Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

He who breaks a resolution is a weakling; He who makes one is a fool.~F.M. Knowles