January 30- Unwritten Rules

We discussed what students will do for independent homework. Here is a sheet that explains what it is.

Why I’m offering self-directed learning as homework:

Two reasons:

ONE: The best way to learn is to choose a topic that interests you. 

TWO: The quickest way to kill an interest in learning is to be forced to learn about things that have no interest to you.

What I’m expecting from you:

• I’m expecting you to figure out what things you want to learn about (with optional help from me)
• I’m expecting you to develop a plan for learning about these things that you can present to me (with optional help from me). 
• I’m expecting you to start working on this immediately, continue working on it throughout the quarter, and finish one week before the quarter ends.

1. What are you interested in?  Focus on things you CHOOSE to do outside the classroom. 

2. What would you like to learn/read/write about?

3. Are you already in a group that discusses any topic?

4. What do you see yourself doing after high school? 

5. What Language Arts skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) will you need to be successful in whatever you choose to do after high school?

Already know what you’re doing? Great! Come see me before school, after school, during lunch, or fourth block and we’ll get you going.

Don’t know what you’re doing? No problem. I’ve got lots of ideas. Bring this worksheet in to me before school, after school, during lunch, or fourth block and we’ll figure it out together.

Some ideas of what to do for the Independent Homework

Generally speaking, you will have to pick two of these- I figure you’ll spend anywhere from two to three hours PER WEEK on your project.

Projects that have been done in the past by other students:

• Journaling
• Build a Little Library
• Read a book
• Read a magazine
• Develop a website
• Act/participate in a play or musical
• Go to a play or musical
• Write a letter to the newspaper
• Participate in a club
• Write an article about:
• A sporting event
• A restaurant
• A movie
• A topic of your choice
• Research a hero and write a paper on it
• Research any topic of your choice
• Present information that has been researched to the class
• Present information that has been researched to the rest of the student body
• Start a petition and get students to sign it
• Write the script for a short film
• Act and shoot a short film
• Do a music video
• Pen pal
• WRITE

o   Write poetry

o   Write fiction

o   Write non-fiction

No matter what you choose, make sure to clear it with Schachter within two weeks of the start of each quarter.

*I also have some worksheets that you can choose to do if you are having a hard time figuring out what you want to work on.

Next, we brainstormed some ideas of things that have unwritten rules (see page 61 of True Diary). Students wrote down 5-10 unwritten rules that everyone knows about that thing.

January 29- Picture of two worlds

Look at the picture on page 57.

Draw a picture of yourself in two worlds. Write down the various things that are in each world.

January 28- three books

How does literature help us understand the world?

Think of three books you've read in the past. How have they helped you understand something about the world (other people, other places, other situations). Write them down

January 27-Indian research

PRE-READING FOR ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN

Email me with the answers to the following questions:

jschachter@madison.k12.wi.us

1.       Who are the Spokane Indians?

                    Where are they located?

                    What are their customs and traditions?

                    What is the Spokane Powwow?

2.  Why were reservations set up in America?

                    What was their goal?

                    Has it been successful?

2. Describe what living on an Indian reservation would be like.

3. If you had to compare living on an Indian reservation to something, what would it be? Explain why you think this.

4.       What are some of the issues and problems facing Native Americans today?

5.       What is the Bureau of Indian Affairs?

January 16

Today we discussed Mood in poetry.

Student read the following poem:

We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We

Die soon.

Then answered the questions on page one of the worksheet.

Then they read the next two poems:

A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"
De La Soul

Oh Mr. Sprinkler, Mr. Sprinkler
Wet me for one, Mr. Sprinkler
I'm heatin' high-five in a daze, no split
With a yawn I trip to the dawn
Out comes the bodies following the one idea
It's clear, rattle to the roll
Hold back up the track, grab your roller skates y'all
And let's zip on by
Zip-a-de-doo-dah, let's zip on by.
Sun is on thick and the cheese is rollin' quick
Come on, there's no time to hide
Season is twist, spinning and winning
No hackey sack, let me in
Spill on the bottom away, but it's okay, huh

It's a Saturday

and

Follow Me
Sage Francis

The secretive type
I like to creep in the night
When you hear me speaking under
my breath to be polite
(I'm talking about you)
Inconspicuous, keep killing that sweet feeling
The mystique's building

I only speak to the freakishly chic children


And answered page two of the worksheet

Then they wrote their own poem using the following outline

List three descriptive words or phrases that define the following:
For example:
Striking out (baseball) 1. shame 2. slump 3. gut-wrenching

A dark alley
A Sundy picnic
Valentine's Day
The Principal's Office

A stray dog



Now write the poem
1. Determine the mood (You may use the list... or not.)
2. Determine the mood you wish to create in the poem.
3. Choose an appropriate setting for the poem.
4. Use strong, vivid language to craft a specific "feel."

For example:

Striking out

All eyes are on the last batter

Da-duump! A heartbeat.

The hot sun-- unforgiving

As STRIKE THREE!!!

Slumping back to the bench,

Watching victors

head for the ice cream truck.

His stomach in knots

No taste for sweets

January 9

Continuing with the Emily Dickinson packet.

I read out loud the second and third pages of the packet. After each letter, students wrote a comment or question about the letter and then we discussed our ideas.

January 8

A cold day again today, but most kids made it to class.

I handed out a packet about Emily Dickinson. Students Read the first page and completed a handout for it. They should get both the packet and the handout from me in class.

January 7- Dickinson

We will begin reading about Emily Dickinson.

First read the following poem:

Emily Dickinson (#1263)

 Tell all the truth but tell it slant –

Success in Circuit lies

Too bright for our infirm Delight

The Truth’s superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased

With explanation kind

The Truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind – 

Then answer the following:

Retell a vivid childhood memory (in prose or poetry) using one of the following slants:

1. Adopt the point of view of another person or thing that was with you

2. Narrate the story from a distance, physically outside the event (watching yourself go through the motions) or using the perspective of time

3. Distort the story by rendering it unfaithful or incomplete, but allow an intended emotion to rise to the surface or capture a particular mood

4. Direct the story toward a particular group of readers (children, gangsters, old timers, etc.)

5. Use poetic license to dramatize or exaggerate for effect

6. While writing, make it obvious that you are biased towards a part of the story

7. Include slant rhyme in your poem

8. Rewrite the poem using other metaphors

Next, use the Dickinson biogram (available in my room) to answer the following:

EMILY DICKINSON WORKSHEET

Find these definitions.  Be sure to write the definitions that most likely apply here.

Obscure:

Circumscribed:

Eccentric:

Intermediary:

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind now that you know that Dickinson was not married?

Tell me about Dickinson’s education.

List three stated reasons for her to avoid human society.

1.

2.

3.

Pick one sentence from this page that is describing Dickinson.  Write it down.  Now tell me about someone that you know that shares this same characteristic.  What specific things does this person do that makes you think this?

January 6-Dickinson

Today we went to the computer lab to research a poet, Emily Dickinson:

Go to www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org

Underneath Emily Dickinson tab, go to Emily Dickinson Biography and then to timeline

1.       When was Dickinson born?

2.       What war was occurring during her lifetime?

3.       List two tragedies that occurred to people close to Dickinson

4.       What’s the name of Dickinson’s first published poem?

Underneath Education tab, click on Fun and Games

Complete the puzzle. Show Schachter.

Do the riddles and definitions quiz

Complete the word search. Show Schachter

Read this poem by Emily Dickinson. Then answer the questions on the right.

I'm Nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too? Then there's a pair of us! Don't tell! they'd advertise – you know! How dreary – to be – Somebody! How public – like a Frog –  To tell one's name – the livelong June –  To an admiring Bog!

1.     WHO IS THE “THEY’D” IN LINE FOUR? WHY DOESN’T EMILY WANT THEM TO KNOW? 2.     HOW COULD BEING “SOMEBODY” BE “DREARY?” 3.     EXPLAIN HOW A FROG LIVES AND WHY EMILY WOULDN’T WANT TO BE LIKE IT.

In the box on the back of this paper, write a poem following the directions given.

Directions for poem

Begin with:

I’m _________________________, who are you?

Then tell a bit about being that thing.

Then tell a bit about what it would be like to be the opposite of that and why that would not be desirable.

Try and follow Dickinson’s poetry structure as closely as possible.

January 5- 4 questions

answer the following and email to me.

1. What your independent homework is
2. What you've done on it so far
3.What assignments you have a zero on

4. What the answer to the question is on my blog for today's date

Answer as many questions as you'd like. I'm looking for 100 words total- You can answer 100 questions with one word each or 1 question with a 100 words or 5 questions with 20 words each... Whatever you want.

1. What’s the toughest decision you made today?
2. What’s the toughest decision you made this year?
3. What’s the toughest decision you ever made?
4. What have you forgotten?
5. What do you want to be when you grow up?
6. What’s it like being you right now?
7. What makes you nostalgic?
8. If you had two hours left on earth what would you do?
9. What’s the most beautiful word in the world?
10. Who makes you laugh more than anyone?
11. What did your father teach you?
12. What did your mother teach you?
13. What’s the best gift you’ve ever given?
14. Best gift you ever received?
15. How many times a day do you look in the mirror?
16. What do you bring most to a friendship?
17. If 100 people in your age group were selected randomly, how many do you think they’d find leading a happier life than you?
18. What is or was your best subject in school?
19. What activity do you do that makes you feel most like yourself?
20. What makes you feel supported?
21. Whom do you secretly admire?
22. What time of the day do you feel the most energetic and what do you usually do in those moments?
23. What’s something you never leave home without?
24. What’s a recurring dream you have?
25. What makes you feel safe?
26. What’s the best thing that ever happened to you?
27. What do you want people to say about you once you’re gone?
28. What’s the coolest thing about science?
29. What’s the best money you ever spent?
30. What’s a bad habit you have?
31. What are you grateful for?
32. Whom are you envious of?
33. What’s an image you’ll never forget?
34. Describe a near-death experience.
35. If you had a clone, what would you have the clone do?
36. What’s your idea of Heaven?
37. What’s your idea Hell?
38. When did you know?
39. What can you do better?
40. When are you most yourself?
41. What superpower would you most like to have?
42. If you were granted three wishes, what would you do with the second wish?
43. What is your actual superpower?
44. If you won 100 million dollars, what would you buy first?
45. What's the best sound in the world?
46. What’s perfect about your life?
47. What song do you sing only when you’re alone and what memory does it bring back?
48. Describe a moment you were so embarrassed you wanted to disappear.
49. How many times a day do you think about money?
50. Who has been the biggest influence on you in your relationship to money?
51. What's one thing you're certain of?
52. Describe one of your colossal failures.
53. What makes you cringe?
54. What does your inner voice tell you?
55. What crime have you considered committing?
56. What's great about your mom?
57. What’s great about your dad?
58. Which day would you gladly re-live?
59. What are you awesome at?
60. What do you want people you meet for the first time to think about you?
61. When were you most afraid?
62. What are you terrible at but love to do anyway?
63. What weapon would you carry during the Zombie Apocalypse?
64. Which of your five senses would you keep if you could only keep one?
65. What’s something you love to make?
66. What do you cook better than anyone?
67. What do you wish you’d invented?
68. What would you like to invent?
69. Out of 100 random people, where would you rank yourself in terms of your intelligence?
70. Where do you want to be right now?
71. If you could be someone else for a day who would it be and why?
72. What makes you feel powerful?
73. What’s the meanest thing you’ve ever said?
74. What’s the meanest thing someone has ever said to you?
75. What three words would you have on your grave stone?
76. What’s your first thought when you wake up?
77. What’s one thing you wake up to in the middle of the night worrying about?
78. If you could tell someone something anonymously, what would it be?
79. Whom would you like to forgive and forget?
80. If you could get rid of one of your responsibilities today, what would it be?
81. What type of person angers you the most?
82. What is your greatest strength?
83. What is your worst weakness?
84. How do you show your love for others?