Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Ha ha ha.. making fun of me on my own class blog. Very cute. So I THOUGHT I would be a good teacher and read WITH my students, but no.. many of you in my night class just had to read AHEAD = something that NEVER happens to me. I was pretty frustrated that night, but I am cool now.
And I did finish the book, thank you. :-P
P.S. Brennan- for the Patriot idea, why don't you use comparisons?.. like I keep hearing how families that have people in Iraq oppose the war, but support the troops.. is that being a patriot? Or is it patriotic to stand by your country and have the ability to critize it too (that's the American way, right?)... For instance, I think higher education is very important, and I will defend it to the end, but that doesn't mean I don't think it could use some tweaking once in awhile.
Tomorrow in class: Clips of movies that reflect The Giver and/or give us more ideas for the Utopia projects: Pleasantville and The Truman Show.
And I did finish the book, thank you. :-P
P.S. Brennan- for the Patriot idea, why don't you use comparisons?.. like I keep hearing how families that have people in Iraq oppose the war, but support the troops.. is that being a patriot? Or is it patriotic to stand by your country and have the ability to critize it too (that's the American way, right?)... For instance, I think higher education is very important, and I will defend it to the end, but that doesn't mean I don't think it could use some tweaking once in awhile.
Tomorrow in class: Clips of movies that reflect The Giver and/or give us more ideas for the Utopia projects: Pleasantville and The Truman Show.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Here's a really great search engine.
This weather is FABULOUS. I get to wear my sandals.. no stupid parkas... no need to find my mittens every morning... no frozen nostril hairs! Yippee. I noticed today that when I closed my eyes, it smelled like I was at the lake and it had just rained. Mm Mm.
I want these Utopia projects to be fun, fun, fun. Sure, there's a lot of thinking involved (do you want retirement plans, taxes, etc), but if you focus your lil island, like Stacey calls it, on just a few major changes (compared to our society), it'll be fun. I wouldn't assign something that didn't work in the past. And, heck, I had a Winnebago Utopia last year. How crazy is that? I also had utopias that had parts of the island where only families lived, eldery, and teens-20somethings...
Be Unique and Have Fun.
This weather is FABULOUS. I get to wear my sandals.. no stupid parkas... no need to find my mittens every morning... no frozen nostril hairs! Yippee. I noticed today that when I closed my eyes, it smelled like I was at the lake and it had just rained. Mm Mm.
I want these Utopia projects to be fun, fun, fun. Sure, there's a lot of thinking involved (do you want retirement plans, taxes, etc), but if you focus your lil island, like Stacey calls it, on just a few major changes (compared to our society), it'll be fun. I wouldn't assign something that didn't work in the past. And, heck, I had a Winnebago Utopia last year. How crazy is that? I also had utopias that had parts of the island where only families lived, eldery, and teens-20somethings...
Be Unique and Have Fun.
Monday, March 22, 2004
I misunderstood my brother a few minutes ago.. I thought he said it was going to be 80 this week.. but he said 50. Either way is alright by me!
Plans for the Tuesday 8am class and the first chunk of class on Thursday night:
- Breakdown of what the rest of the semester looks like
- Talk about the Controversial Dictionary (make sure to print off!) which leads into..
- Group Paper #4 and Presentation: I'll give specifics on the paper/presentation and we'll brainstorm too
- Paper #3 (talk about, time to ask questions, I may have an example)
- The Giver: Questions for discussion (8am class- Thursday, Night class- last half of class) will be on Blackboard by Wednesday afternoon
- Handback Paper #2s
Plans for the Tuesday 8am class and the first chunk of class on Thursday night:
- Breakdown of what the rest of the semester looks like
- Talk about the Controversial Dictionary (make sure to print off!) which leads into..
- Group Paper #4 and Presentation: I'll give specifics on the paper/presentation and we'll brainstorm too
- Paper #3 (talk about, time to ask questions, I may have an example)
- The Giver: Questions for discussion (8am class- Thursday, Night class- last half of class) will be on Blackboard by Wednesday afternoon
- Handback Paper #2s
Saturday, March 20, 2004
Helllllooooooooooo anybody there?
Well, I am. And luckily for me, I am indoors so I will not be blown away half way through this message.
Did anyone run into any controversy over their Spring Break week? Anyone discover a new controversial term?
The most controversial "thing" I ran into was the fact that I said "She borrowed it to me." Apparently (because even though I am a geek, I am naive too), it's: "She lent it to me." I guess it's a Midwest thing to say it the other way around. You can say: "She borrowed it from me." Weird. Gotta love the English language.
Also, another word I came across while telling some friends about our controversial dictionary project was "Dude." He was upset that that was not in our dictionary. Oops.
Well, I am. And luckily for me, I am indoors so I will not be blown away half way through this message.
Did anyone run into any controversy over their Spring Break week? Anyone discover a new controversial term?
The most controversial "thing" I ran into was the fact that I said "She borrowed it to me." Apparently (because even though I am a geek, I am naive too), it's: "She lent it to me." I guess it's a Midwest thing to say it the other way around. You can say: "She borrowed it from me." Weird. Gotta love the English language.
Also, another word I came across while telling some friends about our controversial dictionary project was "Dude." He was upset that that was not in our dictionary. Oops.
Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Once upon a time.....
I thought that winter was over. Today proved me wrong.
I thought that winter was over. Today proved me wrong.
Monday, March 15, 2004
Hey all.
Glad to hear you are all having relaxing breaks (or had planned to do so).
Here are some things in my head right now. Written down for your enjoyment or entertainment:
- I am putting together the Controversial Dictionary right now. I have most of it done. I want to try to print it off and get it to all of you next week whenever I see you. Plus, I may just throw it on the Blackboard site and let you get it off of there too.
- For the Thursday when we come back, March 25 (for both class times), have about 2-3 pages done on paper 3. Peer Review for that paper is due the Thursday after and the paper's page amount is 5-7. HOWEVER, if you are stumped next week before Thursday (March 25), just bring in chunks of what you know you want to use. Like a printed off copy of a dictionary definition.. or a webpage that tries to define something... or a story that you definitely want to use, etc. I will have no problem with chunks of stuff as long as those pieces end up to equal about the 2-3 page minimum.
- I am going to TRY to get to all of the Paper #2s and put those grades into the gradebook this week. Try = key word.
- This book, The Giver, is awesome. It is definitely going to give us a background for the Utopia Group projects. For the 8am crew, read the first 1/3 for Tuesday or so.. and for the Thursday night crew- the first 90 pages.
- Lastly, I am spending my break doing all of the above and more... thesis stuff too. Plus, I get to bring my cat to the vet today and get covered in gray fur!
Hope you all are well. Enjoy your breaks to the fullest!!
Glad to hear you are all having relaxing breaks (or had planned to do so).
Here are some things in my head right now. Written down for your enjoyment or entertainment:
- I am putting together the Controversial Dictionary right now. I have most of it done. I want to try to print it off and get it to all of you next week whenever I see you. Plus, I may just throw it on the Blackboard site and let you get it off of there too.
- For the Thursday when we come back, March 25 (for both class times), have about 2-3 pages done on paper 3. Peer Review for that paper is due the Thursday after and the paper's page amount is 5-7. HOWEVER, if you are stumped next week before Thursday (March 25), just bring in chunks of what you know you want to use. Like a printed off copy of a dictionary definition.. or a webpage that tries to define something... or a story that you definitely want to use, etc. I will have no problem with chunks of stuff as long as those pieces end up to equal about the 2-3 page minimum.
- I am going to TRY to get to all of the Paper #2s and put those grades into the gradebook this week. Try = key word.
- This book, The Giver, is awesome. It is definitely going to give us a background for the Utopia Group projects. For the 8am crew, read the first 1/3 for Tuesday or so.. and for the Thursday night crew- the first 90 pages.
- Lastly, I am spending my break doing all of the above and more... thesis stuff too. Plus, I get to bring my cat to the vet today and get covered in gray fur!
Hope you all are well. Enjoy your breaks to the fullest!!
Monday, March 08, 2004
Rena: Ooooh. That's deep, man.
Bill: I thought anthropology was okay. My sis says that sociology was more fun, however.
Nikki: Just try to think of yourself as an outside reader. Are there any points you make or statements that need more elaboration? Any examples you could add to emphasize certain ideas/points?
Heather: I love Jessica. I am addicted to Newlyweds. Can't wait to read your paper and learn more about her.
Jonathan: Yea, pop music is tough. Maybe give examples of what it isn't and is to try to define it... Britney Spears versus an unknown underground female artist... something like that.
Becky and Stacey: Actually, since you'll need lots of stories and examples for Paper #3, it's a little easier.
Sarah: But when the weather is awesome, how can you NOT talk about it? :-)
Emily: How about an overall definition of ditz-es and then include blondes, cheerleaders, valley girls...
Bill: I thought anthropology was okay. My sis says that sociology was more fun, however.
Nikki: Just try to think of yourself as an outside reader. Are there any points you make or statements that need more elaboration? Any examples you could add to emphasize certain ideas/points?
Heather: I love Jessica. I am addicted to Newlyweds. Can't wait to read your paper and learn more about her.
Jonathan: Yea, pop music is tough. Maybe give examples of what it isn't and is to try to define it... Britney Spears versus an unknown underground female artist... something like that.
Becky and Stacey: Actually, since you'll need lots of stories and examples for Paper #3, it's a little easier.
Sarah: But when the weather is awesome, how can you NOT talk about it? :-)
Emily: How about an overall definition of ditz-es and then include blondes, cheerleaders, valley girls...
