Week of October 3, "On Turning Ten"

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to begin reading a poem called "On Turning Ten" by poet laureate Billy Collins.

Here is the poem being read aloud and the words are written below. When you click on the link, a short commercial will play. Then fast forward the video to 16:50 to hear just the poem "On Turning Ten" being read aloud by the poet.

On Turning Ten by Billy Collins

The whole idea of it makes me feel

like I'm coming down with something,
something worse than any stomach ache
or the headaches I get from reading in bad light--
a kind of measles of the spirit,
a mumps of the psyche,
a disfiguring chicken pox of the soul.

You tell me it is too early to be looking back,
but that is because you have forgotten
the perfect simplicity of being one
and the beautiful complexity introduced by two.
But I can lie on my bed and remember every digit.
At four I was an Arabian wizard.
I could make myself invisible
by drinking a glass of milk a certain way.
At seven I was a soldier, at nine a prince.

But now I am mostly at the window
watching the late afternoon light.
Back then it never fell so solemnly
against the side of my tree house,
and my bicycle never leaned against the garage
as it does today,
all the dark blue speed drained out of it.

This is the beginning of sadness, I say to myself,
as I walk through the universe in my sneakers.
It is time to say good-bye to my imaginary friends,
time to turn the first big number.

It seems only yesterday I used to believe
there was nothing under my skin but light.
If you cut me I could shine.
But now when I fall upon the sidewalks of life,
I skin my knees. I bleed.

Now please answer the questions below, in google docs:

1. What is your favorite line in the poem and why?
2. What were your favorite things to do when you were ten?
3. What does the poet feel is the difference between being ten and being younger? Do you agree and why?
4. What do you wish you could still believe or do today that you believed or did when you were younger?

Now post your answer to our blog.

Finally, read the posts of two other classmates and do the following:

1. What do you like about his/her post and why?
2. Answer their question if you can.

Week of September 26, Alone time or Isolation?

Hi everyone,

This week, we will learn more about the risks of being alone for teens and the value of alone time.

Please listen to the podcast below about Linda Cuevas' experience with depression.

Now open Google Docs and answer the questions below:

1. Why was Linda depressed? Was she isolated at that time?
2. Who helped her?
3. What did she do to help herself?

Now listen to 11 minutes of this podcast (click on the word podcast to go to the link) about the value of solitude (alone time):

Then open Google Docs again and answer the questions below:

1. What does Robert Kull say are the benefits of solitude (alone time)?
2. Do you agree with him and why?
3. Would you like to spend a year alone in Nature? Why?

Please post your answers to our blog. Then read two other classmates posts and tell them:

1. What do you like about their post and why?
2. What is interesting about their post and why?

Week of September 19, Isolation or Alone Time?

Hi everyone,

This week we are thinking about whether or not it's good to be alone, or just how much alone time a person should have.

Please read the lyrics and watch this video of a song called Up On the Roof below:

Up on the Roof
by Gerry Goffin & Carole King

Untitled from Julie Mann on Vimeo.

When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right in to space

On the roof it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me

Let me tell you now
When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet
I get away from the hustling crowds
And all that rat race noise down in the street

On the roof's the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Oh, let's go
up on the roof

At night the stars put on a show for free
And darling, you can share it all with me

I keep a-telling you
Right smack down in the middle of town
I found a paradise that's trouble proof
So if this world starts getting you down
there's room enough for two up on the roof

Up on the roof
Everyhting's all right
Up on the roof
Oh, come on baby
Up on the roof
Up on the roof

Now please read the lyrics and watch a video of You've Got a Friend below:

You’ve Got a Friend

By Carole King, performed by James Taylor

Untitled from Julie Mann on Vimeo.

When you're down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

When you finish reading the lyrics and listening to both songs, please answer the questions below in Google Docs:

1. Is it important to have time alone? Why?
2. Carole King goes up to her roof to be alone. Where do you go for time alone?
3. Is it important to have friends? Why?
4. What are the reasons James Taylor feels friends are important? Do you agree?
5. Describe your best friend.

When you finish answering these questions in Google Docs, please copy and paste them into a comment for our blog. Then read two classmates posts and write a response as another blog comment them telling them:

1. What was interesting about their post and why?
2. What you liked about their post and why?
   

Welcome to our class blog!

Hi everyone,

This week we are going to become familiar with using a class blog.

Each week we will be using our blog to share our ideas about the literature we read and the themes we discuss in class.

Requirements:

• Headphones
• Gmail account (click here to get a gmail account) (make sure you choose a user name and password that you will remember because you will have to sign in often)
• Google docs account (comes with gmail and is free)
• Internet at home

I will expect you to finish the assignments on this blog each week. If you do not, you will have to finish them for homework.

This week, please use google docs to answer the questions below:

1. How do you feel about using technology (computers, internet, smart boards, etc.) in the classroom and why?
2. What experience do you have using blogs as part of your classes?
3. Why is it important to learn to use a blog for our class?
4. How will using this blog help you in the future as a college student and when you are a professional adult?

Once you have answered the questions below, please paste your answer into a comment to our blog. Be sure to put your first and last name on your post so we know who you are. Please do not use a nickname because this can be confusing.

Then, read two classmate's comments and write a comment to them answering the questions below:

1. What do you like about their blog post and why?


2. What did you find interesting and why?