Your new post assignment on Thursday, December 18

So, I have been re-reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. What have you been reading? It has started me thinking about situations we find ourselves in where we really can't see how they are going to work themselves out and how frightening that can be for most of us. In the 5th book of the Harry Potter series, Harry struggles with his lack of knowledge...he feels if he was "kept in the loop," he would be better able to handle what is going on around him. This could be true of many situations...sometimes, I feel that if I had more information further in advance, I would be able to better deal with and handle things when they become stressful. But then, I wonder if this is really true. Dumbledore protects Harry by keeping certain information from him, and maybe this was the best decision? It is difficult to know, but perhaps if we knew all the facts in advance, we would not really make better decisions. In a post on your blog, discuss something from your independent reading book that applies or connects to your life and explain how the experience of the character in your book connects to your own experience.

Comments for Thursday, December 18

Considering The Alchemist and what we've been reading in it, what do you think of it so far. What are your questions? What do you want to find out about Santiago and his quest? How does Santiago's quest compare to other quests we have discussed in class (Ophelia's in Pan's Labyrinth, Perseus and Theseus in Heroes, Gods, and Monsters)? What are some similarities and differences? Please post your comments on here.

My Star Wars NAME is Marcr Tavis...may the Force be with you.

Your Star Wars Name Is Marcr Tavis

Your Star Wars Title Is Eercin of Ydna

Publish your comments here...

As a comment, please answer the following question...as more responses come in, check back to read other students' responses as well. What are some things you think are interesting about the book you are reading right now? Is there anything you would change? What is it and why? Would you recommend it to your classmates, why or why not? Please include the title of the book and the author in your comment.

Ideas for posts...

Last week, we talked about requirements for blogs (see "Literacy Blogs" handout). This week, I want to see you create your own post that satisfies some requirement mentioned on the handout. Here are some ideas for your post...or, come up with your own! 1. Journal/Diary entry from main character's perspective. 2. Compare/Contrast different texts. 3. Write a book review- tell what you thought about the book and persuade people to either read it or not to read it. 4. Write/draw an "open mind" activity where the audience gets a sense of what is going on in the mind of the main character. 5. Post a playlist for your main character. 6. Write about an event in the book from the point of view of another character than the main character. 7. Create an alternate ending that makes sense to the story (kind of like a "what if?"). 8. Think about what might have happened after the end of the book...you could even fast forward 10 years and write about what you think your characters are doing in the future. Or, if you come up with something else, check with me to okay it.

How men turn into "monsters"...

Think about the video we just watched and what it says about human nature. Do you think the SS officers would have been the same? Even if they were not involved in the war? What makes a man a "monster" and do the SS officers meet your definition of that? Explain why you think what you think.   How were the German SS officers monstrous?  How were they like normal people?  Do you think they would have behaved the same if there wasn't a war going on?  Or would they have been "normal" guys, not killers?  Explain why you think what you think, in a new blog post.

Today is the greatest WEDNESDAY I've ever known...

Take a lyric from your favorite song and use it to freewrite this morning for a few moments. Tell the artist and title of the song, then use it as a sentence starter to write a blog post. You can even change it a bit to match your mood... Here's my example: "Today is the greatest Wednesday I've ever known because it means it's halfway through the week, which is further along than yesterday (Tuesday). It also is great because I have nothing after school, though I will have to go and work on my stupid assignment for teacher credentialing. Sorry, but that's really how I feel about it. Dr. A is the devil incarnate, at least when it comes to making us do things we really shouldn't have to do. Sometimes, I wonder if finishing my teaching credential is really worth it...even for the money and/or job satisfaction. But, I really need to focus on the fact that today is the "greatest" Wednesday I've ever known and get away from all of this other negative energy...Positive, positive, think positive."

Empathy

Take a minute to step into your main character's shoes. Write a journal entry from his/her perspective describing a particular scene or moment from the book. Try to transport us, the audience, to the scene through your descriptive powers and the voice of your character. You may write using language that "fits" Then, find a couple of fellow students' blogs, read their journal entries, and comment on their journal entries.

Now, for your second mission

Now, to experiment with posting comments on someone else's blog, respond to the following prompt by submitting a comment. Reading is important...but why? What have you learned about yourself, the universe, or life from your reading this year? Please explain how you've learned it, as well as what you've learned.

First Post Assignment

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to compose a post that is a reflection on your reading life so far this year. You should include the books you have completed, and your thoughts, opinions, and feelings on these books. Please choose at least 1-2 that are highlights, and 1-2 that were lowlights and why you label them this way. You can talk about any book that you've read- either in class or outside of school- as long as it has been read during the school year.