Best Advice Ever?

What's the best advice you've ever received?  Tell me a brief story about who gave the advice and the situation that led to it.  How have you applied this advice to your life since?

Be descriptive in your telling--show, don't tell!

Post your response on your blog.

Graduation Speeches

"Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)" by Baz Luhrmann



"A Musical Journey Through High School" by Lance Jabr & Jeffrey Herman

Independent Reading Check-in

In a blog post of your own, please respond to ONE of following prompts regarding your Independent Reading book.  You may not use a prompt that you've already responded to.  Each response should be a minimum of 150 words.

    * Tell what you like or dislike about the current chapter or the book and why. Be specific.

    * Tell what you noticed about the characters or people in the chapter or book…such as what made them act as they did or how they changed.

    * Find a “key quote”. Share it with your readers and explain its importance to the book as a whole.

    * Illustrate, through a picture or a symbol, an idea scene, or some part of a chapter or the book. Explain your choice.

Independent Reading Book

Today I want you to spend some time telling me a little about your Independent Reading book.

1. What's it called and who wrote it?  Genre?  What's your book about?

2. How does your book connect one of your passions to a possible career?

3. And finally, what kind of project(s) might your book lend itself to.

If possible, find an image of your book's cover and include it as well.

Thanks!

What is a Hero?

To begin this week, I'd like you to think about heroes.  How do you define a hero?  What are some characteristics of heroes--real or imaginary; past or present?

Give some examples of people you consider to be a hero, idol, or role model.  Explain how this person/people fit your definition of what it means to be a hero.

Write 50 words and be as specific as possible.  Post your response on your blog--but you might want to begin by writing in a Word document.

Road Trip!

At the end of Senior year, if you had the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime where would you go? What type of transportation would you use to travel to your destination(s)? Who would you take with you as your travel companion(s)?

In a blog post of your own, describe this Road Trip. Post your travel itinerary. Your trip should be at least 2 weeks and include 8-10 destinations of your choosing.  You can use Google Earth or Google Maps to chart your journey.


Be specific and creative!

The Motorcycle Diaries - Preview,Prefaces, and Beck Reflection (Periods 1 & 3)

Reflection...

Based on what you've done (Book Preview), read (the prefaces), and watched (Glenn Beck) over the past 24 hours, what do you expect from The Motorcycle Diaries?  What kind of person, experiences, and events do you think you're going to read about?

Share your thoughts in a post on your blog...please write at least 30 words.

The Motorcycle Diaries - Book Preview Reflection (Periods 2 & 4)

After having completed the Book Preview Activity, what do you expect from The Motorcycle Diaries?  What kind of person, experiences, and events do you think you're going to read about?

Share your thoughts in a post on your blog...please write at least 30 words.

When you're finished, ask your teacher for a copy of the next activity.

Independent Reading - What Gets Your Attention?

Imagine you are walking through a bookstore and are interested in buying a book.  What does it take for a book to get your attention? What are some examples of books that caught your attention?  Why?

Please write 25 words and include specific examples.

When you're finished, close your lid so I know you're finished.

New Semester - Reflection and Resolutions

Today's the first day of the second semester of your SENIOR YEAR!  It's also a good chance for you to reflect on the first half of the year, and set some goals for your final semester of high school. So to begin today, I want you to spend some time reflecting on your performance this past semester (or marking period) and setting some goals for the next. In a post on your blog, please answer the following questions:

1. What went really well for you this past semester/marking period? What was your greatest success? What enabled you to achieve this? Why? What will you do to continue your success in the upcoming semester?

2. Looking back over the first semester, what do you think you could have done differently or better? What will you change in the second semester to improve?

3. Now, take some time and create some resolutions for the second semester. What do you hope to achieve between now and June? Divide your goals into 3 categories: English Class; School in General; and Other. List them below, and for each one create a mini-plan for how you plan to achieve them.

Remember: a goal without a plan is just a wish.

Please take your time with this and really reflect on your successes and some opportunities you have to improve and grow--as a student and as a person.

When you've finished, head to Mr. Yost's Moodle site for the next activity.

Invisible Man - Reflection

Now that you've finished the novel (hooray!), you're ready to answer one key question:

What have the Narrator realized about himself, his identity, and his place in the world?  How do you think these "insights" will affect him as he continues through life?

Please write at least 50 words and include at least one quote from the novel to support your answer.

Invisible Man Reflection

"Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat"(577).

"'Because, Mr. Norton, if you don't know where you are, you probably don't know who you are'"(578).

In a post on your blog, reflect on these statements in regards to:
1. The Narrator, his journey of "self-realization", and "where" he is at the end of the novel
2. Your personal search for self, identity, and "where you are" at this point in your life

Please write at least 50 words, and if appropriate, include an image to enhance your response.