Week of November 28, Other points of view

Today we are going to imagine how other characters in the story think and feel.

In Google Docs, please do the following:

1. Think of a time that you wanted to do something but couldn’t or didn’t. Describe the situation and how you felt.

2. Holden takes a cab to the club Ernie's in Chapter 12. He has many experiences there where he doesn't do or say what he is thinking and feeling. Pick one of the characters or objects below, and write what Holden wanted to do or say to this person, but didn’t. Describe the situation, how he felt, and why he didn't do what he wanted to do.

• Horowitz’ the cab driver (81-83)
• Ernie the piano player’s (83-84)
• The funny looking guy or girl (85)
• Lillian Simmons (86-87)
• The navy guy, Commander Blop (86-87)

3. Now pick one person from the list above, and write from his/her point of view. Describe what he/she thinks/feels about Holden or about his/her life. You will have to make an inference about this, because we only read from Holden's point of view.

4. When you are finished, post your answer to our blog.

5. Then read two other posts and write what you liked and what you learned from them.

Week of November 13, POV writing

Hi everyone,

Today we are going to use the blog to write from the point of view of Holden and Mr. Spencer.

In google docs, please do the following:

Imagine you are Mr. Spencer. Write a letter to Holden and tell him about what you think and feel about his visit to you. Your letter should be at least 3 paragraphs long.

Paragraph 1 - thank him for coming and tell him what it meant to you to see him

Paragraph 2 - tell him your feelings about the visit

Paragraph 3 - give him advice for his future

Then post your letter to our blog.

After, read another student's letter and write back to this letter, as if you are Holden.

Week of October 31, 2011, Catcher in the Rye webquest

Hi everyone,

Today we are going to do a webquest to help us get ready to read our new novel, The Catcher in the Rye.

Please copy and paste the document below into Google Docs, and use the internet to find answers to the questions. Then post your responses to the comments page of our blog:

1. Who wrote The Catcher in the Rye?

2. Find out three interesting facts about the author’s life. Write them in your own words here.

a.

b.

c.

3. What year was The Catcher in the Rye published?

4. Who was the president of the United States in this year?

5. List two things that were going on in the world politically at this time.

a.

b.

6. List two songs that were popular in this year. What musical style was popular at this time?

a.

b.

c. Musical style:

7. What kinds of clothes were in fashion for women during this decade? For men? How was fashion then different from the clothes we wear today?

a. Women:

b. Men:

c. Differences:

8. List three slang words that teenagers used during this decade and what they mean.

a.

b.

c.

9. What was the average income for a family in the United States in this year?

10. The main character of the novel, Holden Caulfield, studies in a different kind of school than Newcomers High School. What kind of school does he attend? How is it different from Newcomers High School?

a. kind of school --

b. differences from NCHS --

11. Can you find an advertisement or website online for the kind of school Holden attended? Write the name of the school and the website.

12. Some readers think that Holden Caulfield is mentally ill. Find a definition or explanation of the following mental illnesses or problems, and try to write them in your own words.

a. depression --

b. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder -

c. grieving and loss (5 stages) --

13. When The Catcher in the Rye was published, there was some controversy about it. Why were some people upset about this book? What did they do as a response? Why?

14. Can you find a book review online of The Catcher in the Rye from the year it was published? What does it say?

15. Can you find a more recent book review online of The Catcher in the Rye? What does it say?

Week of October 24, "Teenage Wasteland"

Hi everyone,

This week we will be writing dialogues between characters in "Teenage Wasteland".

Please work with your partner to create a dialogue between two characters below, based on the situation described:

1. You’re Donny, talking to your mother about what is happening to you.
2. You’re Amanda, telling your father how you feel about your own life.
3. Amanda talking to Donny about her situation.
4. Donny talking to Amanda about his situation.
5. Donny talking to Cal about his parents.
6. Donny talking to a friend at school about what is really going on at Cal's.
7. Argument between Daisy and Matt over whose fault it is that Donny is gone, and how to handle things.
8. Donny, 3 years later, contacting his mother. Where is he now?

Write the dialogue in Google Docs. Copy and paste it to our blog as a comment, and use the format below:

Names:______________________________________

Situation:_____________________________________________

Dialogue: (where it says "character", please insert your character's name)

Character 1: Ask a question (based on the situation)

Character 2: Give an angry response

Character 1: Apologize and explain

Character 2: continue...

Week of October 17, grade evaluations

Hi everyone,

Today we will reflect on the work we've done this marking period. Please answer the questions below in Google Docs, then post your responses in the comments section below.

1. What did you enjoy about class this marking period? Why? Please refer to specific activities, projects, workshops, etc
2. What didn't you enjoy and why? Please be specific.
3. Were there any activities/projects/topics that we didn't cover that you want us to cover? Which ones
4. What can I do to make the class better for you (aside from no homework J )? Please be specific.
5. Has your English improved since the class began? If yes, how? If no, why not? Please think carefully about this.
6. When and where do you usually do your homework?
7. Do you find it difficult to do your homework? Why?
8. How much time do you spend looking at your class notes each week?
9. What can you do to improve your class participation?
10. How do you study for tests and quizzes?
11. Do you feel that the grade you are getting right now is the best you can do? Why?
12. What strategies will you use to get a better grade next marking period?

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?