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.

Wired Magazine - "Gone Forever" Reflection

The Wired magazine article we read documented Evan Ratliff's attempts at shedding his identity and becoming 'invisible'. Along the way, the article discussed topics such as the emotional toll and paranoia this brought on, the impact of a 'digital footprint' on a person, and the need to 'become visible' in order to 'become invisible.'

Taking all of this into consideration, compare and contrast the article & these issues to the stories of 2 of the following:

1. Chris McCandless
2. James Gatz/Jay Gatsby
3. the Narrator

Write your response in a Word document, but then post it to your blog. Be prepared to share!

On Freedom's Wings, The Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen

Part 1



Part 2

Reading for Meaning - Poetry

Today we're going to take a look at 2 poems, but before we do, we should take some time to talk about how we read poetry. Here's my question:

How is "reading for meaning" with poetry different than it is with short stories or novels? What types of things should we look for when we read poetry?

Write 30 words in your notes--feel free to make a list of things to look for when reading poetry for meaning.

MP #1 - Reflection and Goal-Setting for MP#2

To begin today, I want you to spend some time reflecting on your performance this past 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 marking period? What was your greatest success--or your most successful strategy? Why? What will you do to continue your success in MP#2?

2. Looking back over MP#1, what do you think you could have done differently? Was a it a project, assignment, or something more general? What will you change in MP#2 to make sure you don't make the same mistake or display the same behavior twice?

3. Take some time and set some goals for MP#2. What do you hope to achive between now and the end of January? Divide you 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.

Please take your time with this and really reflect on what you did well 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.