March 27- One pager

We discussed an outline for a one-pager.

One-pager THEME assignment

You will create a page that:

1.                       Visually expresses an important message/theme in the book

a.                       This will be a drawing (or cutouts from a magazine). Carefully and nicely done.

2.                       Includes quotes from the book

a.                       At least two quotes that help support this theme.

3.                       Has an explanation of your picture and quotes.

a.                       Your explanation will explain your entire drawing as well as how the quotes are connected to the theme.

Lastly, students finished reading section three of Perks

March 20- Isthmus

We read independently and then worked on a worksheet for the newspaper, The Isthmus.

Put your name here:  ________________         No, I mean here:  ________________           

 Isthmus Happy Happy, Joy Joy Worksheet. 

Hi kids.  I’d like to introduce you to the Isthmus, Madison’s FREE and weekly paper.  It’s got all sorts of good, local news.  Let’s check it out. 

Ok, Let’s look at the cover page. The Case of the Missing Moon Rocks. Make a wild guess. What happened to the rocks?  

Way to go!  Hey!  You’re OK!  Say it, “I’m OK.”  OUT LOUD you scaredy-cat.  Say “I’m OK” nice and loud so the whole class can hear.  Now open the paper up to page 3. Pick one event that you think you would be interested in going to. Write it down here.

There are a couple of articles on page 8 and 9 on Tony Robinson. Read through them and write down a couple of pieces of information that are new to you.

1.

2.

Next there is an article about a dental clinic closing. There is a picture of Morgan with some nice choppers. Change her appearance to how she would look if the clinic were to close. Show me what you did.

Okay.  Time for another question.  Are you ready?  If you are, go and write your name on the board.  In cursive. I’ll wait.

Okee dokee. Uber and Lyft. Match the mayoral candidate with how he feels about the two companies.

Paul Soglin                                                      Likes Uber and Lyft

Scott Resnick                                                  Hates Uber and Lyft

POLITICAL CARTOON #1 on page 14. Tom Tomorrow has some very specific opinions. What political party do you think he’s a part of? Why do you say that?

Here’s our big cover story. Were you right about what happened to the moon rocks? Don’t lie to me. You were way off. You don’t even know what a moon is. Oh, you do? Prove it. Draw where the moon would be and its size if this circle would be the earth.

 

  You’ve gotten this far.  Stand up and loudly say, “I’ve gotten this far and I’m number one.”  If someone else has already said this, say, “I’ve gotten this far and I’m number two.” Keep going in order up to ten.  Because after ten, you’re just going too slow.

Pull out the paper’s insert. Make it into a hat. Model it for Schachter. He’ll take your picture.

A great part of this free paper is that it always has a decent review of the local music, arts, television and movies section. Check out the reviews from page 24-34.  There is one place where you can drink something that is like, “kissing your high school girlfriend for the 13^th time.” Where do you need to go to get that experience?

Go to page 42-44 you big silly.  This is a list of where and when all the music is in Madison.  Not bad, hunh?  Pretty great music scene Madison has, isn’t it?  Pick one event that you’d be interested in going to, write it down, and write down the place, time and price also.  

Won’t that be a great show?  I bet it’s going to be the party of the year!  But guess what?  You can’t go.  You’re too young.  These are almost all bars and you have to be 21.  Ha-ha.

All right. Last thing. Go to the crossword puzzle. Solve one clue.  Or more. Solve the whole dang thing if you want.

So you’re done.  Yeah for you.  What do you want?  A paperclip?  Fine.  Go over to Schachter and he’ll give you a paperclip.  Not a great prize? Shows what you know. There was a guy a year ago who went on Craigslist with a paperclip. He traded it for something else, then for something else, then for something else until finally he wound up with a house.  He was clever. He was motivated. He was unique. And what are you? You’re wasting your time filling out a stupid worksheet. What a waste of your life. You should be ashamed.

Extra credit. Write a letter to the editor.

More extra credit. Send the letter into the paper.

Super extra double secret credit. Get the letter published.

Another extra credit. Pick out a song for Schachter to play. But then you have to dance to it. In front of the class. 

March 19- maturity questions

Today we finished work on our maturity questionnaire.

Directions.

Is the person described in each of the following statements old enough to do what he or she wishes to do? Write “yes” or “no”. Then explain your answer in 2-4 sentences.

1. On the first day of summer vacation after fourth grade, Jim wants to go

to the beach with one of his friends. The trip to the beach involves crossing the

city, changing buses three times in the process. His parents are hesitant about

allowing him to go. Would you let Jim take the trip to the beach? Why or why not?

2. Patty’s neighbor John has asked her to go to a movie with him on

Saturday. He will pick her up in his car at 9:00 P.M. At thirteen, Patty is afraid

to ask her parents if she can go out with John. If you were one of Patty’s parents,

would you allow her to go out on this date? Explain.

3. Jon has returned home on leave after completing basic training at

Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Although only eighteen, and thus not old enough to

drink legally, Jon goes to a neighborhood tavern and orders a shot and a

beer. The bartender refuses to serve him. Should Jon be able to have a

drink? Explain.

4. After school one afternoon, Sarah comes home, turns on the television,

and lights up a cigarette. Sarah’s father surprises her when he comes home early

from work. He scolds her, insisting that a twelve-year-old should not be smoking.

Do you agree with Sarah’s father? Explain.

5. Although Julie is only sixteen, she and Albie have been dating

for two years. When he graduates from high school in June, they would like to

get married. Is Julie old enough to marry? Is Albie old enough? Explain.

6. Sixteen-year-old Ann has been invited to visit her aunt and uncle in

Oregon, hundreds of miles from her home in Wisconsin. Ann’s parents are willing

to pay her airfare to fly there directly, but Ann would like to take the train and

see some of the country on the way. She can stop overnight at a friend’s house

along the way, but her parents still feel that she is not old enough to travel for

that long alone and are insisting that she take the plane or not go at all. If you

were Ann’s parents, would you have made the same decision? Explain.

March 17- draw the poem on page 70

Today students read pages 42-73.

Then we discussed the poem on page 70. Students divided a paper into four sections. For each section of the paper, they drew 2-3 images from the corresponding section of the poem.

March 16- new happiness/productivity

Today we read independently for a while and then discussed a few things:

1.  Independent Homework is due this Friday!
2. Wallflower homework is due tomorrow!
3. Pick a new Happiness/Productivity goal and write a letter(100-200 words) to a friend/family member. In this letter, state...
    What your goal is
    How it will help you in your life
    How this person can help you complete the goal.

Then have the person sign it and you bring it to class tomorrow.

March 11-Wallpaper homework

Finished reading to page 39.

Perks homework assignment:

Stand against a wall for 20 minutes.  Take notes on what you see. 

Take the notes home and look them over.  Write about the experience.

• How did you feel while you were being a Wallflower?
• Did you notice anything?  What?
• What are some Perks of being a Wallflower?
• What did you discover about other students at the school?

Feel free to go into as much depth as you’d like for each of these questions.  I figure that you should be writing 200 words or more all together.

March 10- ind. hw, happiness reflection

First, I had had kids write and reflect on their independent homework.

• What you've done
• What you still have to do.
• Explain your homework to three different people and write down their names.

Then we reflected on our happiness/productivity goals

       Will I keep doing it?
        Was it helpful?


We then created an identity map-5 or more important events in our life that have helped make us more mature. 2-3 sentence explanation for each.

Begin reading Perks Read to page 21

March 9- Rave

We read a short story, RAVE, in class (see me for a copy).

Then answered some questions on the story.

March 2- Perks of Being a Wallflower pre-reading questions

We began discussing the themes surrounding Perks. Students filled out the following worksheet:

Let me just start by saying that “Perks” is a great book.  It’s one of those books that when you’re done with it, you want to be a better person.  It forces you to look at life in a new way.  It helps you appreciate things more.  It also deals with some very real and very intense themes.  Themes that some people in this class may have a difficult time with.  Drugs, homosexuality, suicide, pain.  There are other themes also, but not ones that are difficult to discuss. 

Before we begin reading, I would like to talk about some of the more difficult themes and make sure that people feel comfortable talking and reading about them.  Or at the very least are prepared for them. _______________________________________________________________________

I would like you to answer these questions as honestly as possible.  I will collect them, but your answers will not be shared with anyone else.  There is no wrong answer.  Your opinion is the only thing that counts.

HOMOSEXUALITY:

1.  List 3 words that come to mind when you think of homosexuality.

2.  How do you feel about homosexuality/homosexuals?

3.  What would your friends do/feel/say if you “came out” to them as a homosexual?

SUICIDE:

1.  Some people call suicide “a cry for help.”  Some call it a “selfish act.”  What would you call it?  Would you call it something else? Explain yourself.

DRUGS:

1.  Why do people use illegal drugs or alcohol?

2. Do you look down on people who use drugs?  Why or why not?