Writing Project

Students in English IA are starting my favorite part of the course. Over the next week or so, they will be writing their own short stories, and I will be doing one as well.  Similar in style to "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, these stories will focus on a social issue of the student's choosing. They'll imagine the worst-case scenario, exaggerate it to the point of ridiculous, and tell the story of characters living in that world.

Questionable Decisions

English II students are reading a short story titled "Through The Tunnel" by Doris Lessing. The main character, Jerry, is an eleven-year-old boy who attempts a dangerous stunt in order to be accepted by peers.  The need to "fit in" is strong, and it affects adults as well as kids. Sometimes, we make questionable decisions in order to be accepted by a particular group.

Technology Dependence

This topic has been up for discussion multiple times in my classes recently. On a scale of 1-10, how dependent are you on technology?  I'm probably a 7 or 8. If I had more money to buy tech gadgets and more free time to use them, I would be ranked even higher.

Thank You!

Big thanks to Tom S. for once again persuading my lawnmower to start. Not only did he do that, he also brought it back to my house and mowed my lawn while he was there. All of that, and I couldn't get him to accept any payment.

Some people in this world are truly generous and helpful. I appreciate all the kindness that Tom and his family have shown me and my family over the years. The world needs more people like that.

Yard Work

I can't say that I'm a fan. Some people spend a lot of time on grooming their lawns, but I am not in that group. I'm sure my neighbors love me for that view.

Midterm

I have 11 students with midterms this quarter. I'll be contacting parents via email, phone, or letter in the next couple of days.

Academic Integrity

I place a high value on academic integrity, but some students apparently do not value it as much as I do. I can understand how unintentional plagiarism can occur, and I see those instances as learning opportunities for students. Blatant "copy and paste" plagiarism, however, is another story entirely.