The Hawks Talk

1. Describe the tone of the poem “The Funeral” and explicate the poem using the chart we made. What similarities did you find between this poem and “The Courage That My Mother Had”?
2. Visit Poetry 180 and choose a poem to talk about on tomorrow.

Earlier this week, we visited Blogical Minds and tired to guess the subject of this picture. We had fun sharing our answers with the students on their blog. To learn the answer, visit Blogical Minds class blog or visit Mr. Fisher’s class blog.

We just finished writing our paper on “What is a Teenager?” I ran across some interesting web sites that provided definitions. Time magazine’s 2005 article, “Being 13,” takes a look at the differences between teens from earlier generations and comparing them to the current generation.  This August 2005 special report issue focuses on several articles dealing with the lives of new teenagers.  Several Thirteen year olds reflect on being aged thirteen.

Tell us your story. What was it like for you being thirteen?

I have restored the link to the South Fayette Library blog. Because I had not prepared you properly for commenting by having each create a Google account, many of you were not able to leave comments on this blog. We have received excellent responses to our commenting from other authors.

I have learned, through our Speak experience, that effective blogging and commenting is about conversation. Removing the link cut off a thread of that conversation. My thanks to all of you–my students, Vicki Davis, and James Brush–for helping me learn a valuable lesson.

Update May 6, 2007 - I have restored the link to the South Fayette Library blog.

After completing your assignment, return here to write your comments about Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel Speak.

1. Read three on-line book reviews about Speak
2. Visit one of these blogs and write a comment about your feelings about the book
   • Coyote Mercury (by James Brush - high school teacher and writer)
   • South Fayette Library
     
   • Memphis Reads
   • Hopkinton High School
     
3. Write your own review

• Share your feelings about the video.
• Why did the students create the video?
• How could this video help other students?
• What kind of video could we create in English 9 to help students next year?

I discovered this video while visiting one of my favorite blogs. Did you know that next September’s kindergarteners will be the class of 2020? Wow!

You will be attending your 10th class reunion! Awesome!

A couple of ideas expressed in the video seem possible. I chuckled regarding some of Mr. Fisch’s ideas surrounding Google and Microsoft buying companies like Dell, Apple and Ford.

This video will definitely get a conversation started about the future of education. What do you think?

View the video on Mr. Fisch’s blog, then return here to post your comments.

DIRECTIONS:

• All journal entries must be written in a spiral, clothbound, or composition notebook.
• All entries must be dated
• If you posted an entry online, you must write in your journal notebook: “entry posted online
• Loose paper or binders will not be accepted

ENTRIES

9/15  How do encouragement, active listening and class standards of behavior make life at St Georges a good experience?

9/20  What is your opinion of the way Richard’s mother is raising her son in the excerpt from Black Boy? What would you have done? Why?

9/25  Write about a time you had to overcome fear. Were you as successful as the narrator in the Black Boy excerpt?

9/27 Conflicting Conflicts

Which type of conflict is worst to endure: man vs. man, man vs. nature, or man vs. self? Do you need to be a stronger person for some types of conflict? Please make sure to give specifics to justify your response; a sentence is not a response-remember?
If you posted this entry online, please write in your journal notebook: “entry posted online”

10/3 Homework Reflection
Answer these five questions:
1. What is the purpose of homework?
2. Do you think homework meets this purpose?
3. Why do you do your homework when you do it?
4. What keeps you from doing your homework?
5. If you could change homework, how would you change it? (Getting rid of it is not an option, sorry)
If you posted this entry online, please write in your journal notebook: “entry posted online”

10/6  Behavior Journal
Using the Behavior Rubric, please rate your own behavior for the past week on each category

10/13 - Behavior Journal
Using the Behavior Rubric, please rate your own behavior for the past week on each category

10/19/06  Behavior Journal
Choose a category to work on to improve.
Tell where you are with behavior, now.
Talk about your plan to improve.

10/23/06  Cell Phone Debate I Pro
Is banning cell phone use during the school day a realistic method to ensure students are not distracted from learning?
Give your reasons in support of the current school policy.
If you posted this entry online, please write in your journal notebook: “entry posted online”

10/26/06 – Cell Phone Debate II  Con
Is banning cell phone use during the school day a realistic method to ensure students are not distracted from learning?
Give your reasons against the current school policy.
If you posted this entry online, please write in your journal notebook: “entry posted online

Thank you for your comments during our first debate. Now, you will take the opposite position.
Read the article in USA Today and share your thoughts on the following issue:

• Is banning cell phone use during the school day a realistic method to ensure students are not distracted from learning?
• Give your reasons against the current policy at our school.

• Is banning cell phone use during the school day a realistic method to ensure students are not distracted from learning?
  Give your reasons in support of the current policy at our school.