The Hawks Talk

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?

Here are more links related to Speak

• Laurie Halse Anderson’s blog
• Laurie Halse Anderson’s web site
• Laurie Halse Anderson’s page on MySpace
• Article about Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Life After Death by PowerPoint
I found this amusing video by Don McMillan posted on the U Tech Tips web site. This humorous presentation highlights some of the mistakes many make when using PowerPoint. You will have to view the video from a computer outside of the school environment because the video is hosted on a MySpace web page.
Life After Death by PowerPoint

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

Here is a copy of a story I shared with my students to demonstrate the writing of a narrative. They really enjoyed it.

Update May 6, 2007 - I have included link to the story, “The Order,” for download.

Here is the video that propelled me into setting up a hosted blog. In the clip, I share a story I wrote during my senior year of high school. I posted this video to YouTube in December 2006. Enjoy!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License

• 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.

While searching for examples of English teachers using blogs in the classroom, I discovered Smith’s 9th Grade Blog. I like some of the ideas proposed. She offeres her students an opportunity to write for an authentic audience on a national stage.

Read some of the ideas on the blog. Return to our blog and write your comments or write your comments in your journal. Would you like to create something for a national audience? Why?