Live Blogging: Kite Runner, Chapter 23

Remember to explain your thinking and to reference the person whose comment you're addressing. Enjoy!

Live Blogging: Kite Runner, Chapters 17-18

Dive right in!

Live Blogging: Chapter 13

A few reminders...

Explain your thinking carefully and thoroughly (you know that I love it when you bring in quotations).

Keep your grammar polished.

Refresh by hitting the F5 key.

Have fun!

Live Blogging: Kite Runner, Chapter 11

Please review the expectations that were posted last time. You've made some impressive comments on both the inner and outer circles. Keep up the great work, and try to jump into the inner circle to keep the conversation fresh!

Live Blogging: The Kite Runner, Chapters 1-5

As you listen to the inner circle, please use the blog to discuss your own thoughts and questions regarding chapters 1-5. A few reminders:

1. You're aiming to make around 5 quality comments.
2. Your grammar and spelling should be formal and proofread (try typing in Microsoft Word first).
3. Continually hit the F5 key to refresh the page and see new comments.
4. Be interactive--comment on other people's questions and comments.

Have fun!

Banquo's Murder

Why do you think that Macbeth is haunted by the ghost of Banquo but not the ghost of Duncan?

If you really knew me...

In an effort to get to know each other, trust each other, and inspire each other a little for the next creative writing piece, I'd like you to take a little risk and post five things that you'd like other people in the class to know about you. The quirkier/more unique and personal, the better. Here are my five:

1. I am a terrible sport and throw a fit when I lose--especially when it comes to board and card games.
2. I have a phobia of people throwing up.
3. I like to watch one rerun of "Scrubs" before going to bed because I find it relaxing.
4. Sometimes I'd rather curl up in bed and read a book than go out and socialize. I would have never admitted this in high school because I used to think that it made me a dork. Now I'm automatically a dork because I'm old and a teacher, so I don't really care.
5. I spent three hours last night taking care of my very sick grandmother, who is currently having hallucinations. It was scary.

Your turn.

Questioning Macbeth

1. Please post at least three strong discussion questions that address characters, symbols, motifs, and/or themes from Act 1. Read others' posts before posting your own to avoid repetition.

2. Select ONE question posted by somebody else to respond to on the blog.

Enjoy, go deep, and remember to type in Microsoft Word first.

Chance, Choice, and Tragedy

Please find a fairly recent article (within the past year) that describes a tragedy that a person or group of people have faced.

First, please offer a brief summary of your article (3-5 sentences).

Second, comment on whether or not you think this person had control over this tragedy--did this happen by choice or by chance? Explain your thinking.

Third, please read over the comments on this post and respond to the following question: Which is the greater tragedy--one that happens because of a bad choice, or the one that happens by random chance? Explain your thinking.

The Director's Cut

Thinking back to your performances last Friday and the observations you made today as you watched the film version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, what are some of the directorial choices you noticed in the film version, and what do they signify? In other words, what point do you think the director was trying to emphasize in adding a scene, dressing a character or staging a scene in a certain way, selecting an actor to play a certain part, offering a new symbol, etc.?

As always, remember that this is a conversation; read and comment on each other's posts as well as offering your own ideas.

Unrequited Love

Unrequited love is love that is given but not returned. For example, if you were desperately in love with someone but they failed to love you in return, your love would be unrequited.

A Midsummer Night's Dream explores several instances of unrequited love, but the most predominant instance in Act 1 is that of Helena and Demetrius. Is Helena pathetic for pursuing Demetrius so insistently, or can we call her brave? Is better to follow your love, even if your feelings are unreturned? At what point should you back down and give up?

As always, BE SURE TO READ THE OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE POSTING YOUR OWN. PLEASE COMMENT ON OTHERS' COMMENTS AND AVOID REPETITION.

Your Vision

Since we are in the process of creating future mockumentaries right now, let's take a moment and think about our ideal future school.

What are three characteristics that would be part of a "perfect school" five years from now? Think about the roles of the student, teacher, and technology as you describe your ideal learning climate. As you consider this question, you might also think about what you might look for in your ideal college.

Please consider this question seriously and realistically, as your responses will form part of a presentation to the 21st century learning community of teachers this week.

Glimpsing into the Future

Three years ago, this classroom was filled with old, wooden desks in rows. There were no laptops in the school.

Ten years ago, there were no computers on teachers' desks nor in classrooms. Nobody used PowerPoints, and classes were primarily lecture-based, rather than discussion-based.

What do you think our school will look like ten years from now, in 2017? What will the classroom look like? What will learning look like? How will class be conducted? Explain your thinking.

Just Checking In...

How are things going in English 10? What are some of your goals for the last six weeks of the semester? What would you like to accomplish in our class, and what can I do to help you meet your goals?

Thanks for your feedback!

Banned

Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men has been banned from numerous schools and libraries since its first publication.

1. What specific aspects of this novel could be considered controversial?

2. Do you think that this book should be banned? Should it be optional? Explain your thinking.

If you're interested in banned books, you should also check out the following link: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/People/spok/most-banned.html

Please remember to type in Microsoft Word first to maintain spelling and grammar; also, be sure to read everyone else's comments before writing your own so that you can have a conversation with each other and avoid repetition.

Hope

Consider the following quotation from The Shawshank Redemption:

"Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things."

Do you agree with this quotation? Is hope ever not a "good thing"?

Do you think that this quotation is showing truth so far in Of Mice and Men? Use one passage from the novel to support your response.

The Woman Behind the Bars

Do you think that "The Yellow Wallpaper" could be considered a feminist story? In other words, what does this story have to say about women, men, and power? As you explain your thinking, cite one specific example from the story to defend your ideas.

Please respond by midnight tonight.

Your Discerning Eyes

In class today we discussed using small but significant clues to sneak your way into a "text." Please peruse the above painting, titled "American Gothic," and respond to the following questions:

1. How would you describe the relationship between the subjects of this painting, and what clues helped you figure this out?

2. Why do you think the painting is called "American Gothic"? What image of America does this painting create? Do you agree with this image?

Remember to read the other posts to avoid repeating someone else word for word. Instead, focus on having a conversation with your classmates. Posts are due by midnight tonight.

First Post: Expectations

What are your expectations of me as your teacher? What can I do to help you succeed? If you need help brainstorming, think of a teacher you once had who truly inspired and challenged you and consider what they did to contribute to your success.