Thought for the day...

"I have an irrepressible desire to live till I can beassured that the world is a little better for my having lived init." -Abraham Lincoln.

Thought for the day...

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.


What matters to you? What do your peers do that you know is wrong that you tend to ignore? Sexist jokes? Racist comments? Its common, unfortunately. But when we let these things that we know are wrong happen in our presence, its the same as making the comment ourselves. How can we live by this advice? What stands in your way?

ENGLISH IV--Portfolios

Here are some links that will help with several different sections, including building your weapon replica. This information will definitely help you with your research paper as well.

http://www.conisbroughcastle.org.uk/education_links.htm

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/explore/medieval.htm

http://www21.brinkster.com/annascrafts/weapons.htm

http://www.reliks.com/aindex.ihtml

http://nicholasacademy.com/mar.html

Feel free to post any question that you may have. I'll try to get a response to you as soon as I can!

Recommended Reading

On the last recommended reading post, there were some great titles thrown out. Be sure you read through people's posts as you get ready to make your own. The best person to recommend a good book is someone who has something in common with you. Here are some of the titles that stuck out to me. Feel free to add you own.

Blood and Chocolate--I haven't read this one, but I've never met anyone who didn't like it.

Bleachers--I love this Grisham book. I thought it was amazing! If you enjoy sports at all, check this one out. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Harry Potter--I've read all the Harry Potter books, although I only actually own one. My goal is to slowly buy all of them, b/e they are awesome books. If reading isn't your thing, check this one out.

Drama Queen--Haven't read this one, but if it takes someone who hates reading and entertains them then it can't be all that bad. Check the Young Adult Book Award Nominees section in the library. You would be surprised at how contemporary these books can be.

It Happened to Nancy--I haven't read this one yet. I've been meaning to, just haven't gotten around to it. I hear great things about it so I'll recommend it. But its very serious and emotional. I mean, imagine being 14 and being diagnosed with AIDS. The thing about this story is, though, its true.

Shattering Glass--Gail Giles is probably my favorite young adult authors these days. You can find this book and Dead Girls Don't Write Letters in our library. They are very popular though. If you like R.L. Stine, you'll get into these two books. But Stine's books can often follow a formula...they all start to sound alike. These books are out there and will keep you reading for hours.

Awesome Site

You can visit www.polarexpressmovie.com and play with this really awesome site. My favorite part is on Ice Lake...You can make snowflakes!

The Polar Express

This was one of my favorite books growing up! My mom read it to us every Christmas and I always thought the story was absolutely magical. I wasn't disappointed with the movie. I've read the reviews that talked about the animation and how dead the characters were...I saw some of that, but for me, the story is so wonderful and touching, I'm able to get past that. I tend to get lost in movies, and this was no exception. They writers had to add alot to the original book material, but it was still just so good. I highly recommend it!

(And you can tell it left me in the Christmas mood! I'm listening to Etta James wail 'Merry Christmas, Baby!' right now!)

English 4--Coat of Arms

Here are two sites to help you with your coat of arms work:

www8.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/html/arms.html

http://digiserve.com/heraldry/symbols.html

English III Essay Assignment

After viewing the movie, "Glory," complete a 1 1/2 ro 2-page paper on one of the following topics. You may need to use some of your background knowledge from discussions we have had in class in order to fully answer the question.

1. Analyze the use of African American spirituals by the members of the 54th Massachusetts.
2. Analyze the treatment of the members of the 54th Massachusetts by other members of the Union army.
3. Choose one of the following four characters and analyze the gravity of being assigned to the 54th Massachusetts:

• A white man from a small farm village in Michigan who has volunteered.
• A white officer from Boston.
• A free African American from New York City.
• A former slave who has recently escaped from a plantation in South Carolina.

ATTENTION ENGLISH III STUDENTS!

I hope you actually watched the movie today in class. You will have to write a detailed movie analysis on a topic given to you. There are only so many copies of this movie to rent, so you may want to look into doing that quickly if you slept while I was home sick!

Censors are afraid of the truth. The best writing is fearless.
~ Judy Blume, one of the most-banned writers in America

Today's Thought

"We must overcome the notion that we must be regular. It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary." ~ Uta Hagen

ATTENTION ENGLISH IV STUDENTS!

It is now November. Some of you slacked off while I have been home battling tonsilitis this week. Well, I am back and in rare form! You need to have started your project! Tell me--what have you done? What are you waiting for? And don't give me that "I have another month" line. What are you going to be saying in 4 weeks? Please give me an extension? Not going to happen! Tell me what you have done so far. Ask me questions. Let's go!

English IV--Have you started yet?

You have two days off next week. Its a perfect time to start researching for your paper. Choose a topic that you will enjoy looking up. Post any questions that you have and I'll try to get back to you soon.

Quote of the Day

The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. ~ Joe Paterno

How does this apply towards you and your life? Not just English or school, but all aspects?

English IV--Movie Analysis

Here are some questions that you may want to examine when analyzing Much Ado About Nothing:

• How does the music portray the mood of the play and the actions in the scene?
• How do the producers use cliches to portray different emotions (i.e. when Benedick dances in the fountain after learning of Beatrice's love)?
• Analyze one of the main characters and his/her role in the movie.
• What is the theme of the movie?

If you can find anything else that you may want to study, share it here to help others get started.

Quote of the Day

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. ~ William Shakespeare

Recommended Reading

Its been a slow month for posts...things have really been busy. I want to know what you have been reading this month. I have just started We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates. Its good...slow to start, but very good. What do you recommend? What are you reading right now?

English IV--Macbeth Sites

We are going to start reading Shakespeare's Macbeth next week in class. I've compiled a list of sites to help you with your studies. This by no means will take the place of reading the play! But they will help, so check them out!

The Globe Theater

Shakespeare and the Internet

Shakespeare Online

Elizabethan England

Shakespeare Resource Center

Macbeth

Looking for a good ghost story?

Stories are available online for you to enjoy. Visit some of these sites to enjoy ghost stories--

The Moonlit Road

Halloween Ghost Stories

The Shadowlands

Can you find the story from Newberry County?

Modern Language Association (MLA) Documentation

All classes are essays right now that require documentation of sources. The following sites will aid you in creating your works cited page. Click on the title to visit the site!

A Guide for Writing Research Papers

Purdue University's Guide for MLA

Modern Language Association

Great website for you...

I found this site last week while I was doing some research. Its got great essay writing tips for you to follow. It also takes you step by step through the writing process. Check it out and let me know if it helps you.

Guide to Writing a Basic Essay

ATTENTION SENIORS!

Don't forget that we are using laptops in class Monday and Wednesday. You will need your own disk. Either bring it from home or buy one in the library!

ENGLISH IV--Sonnet Lesson Plans

I have to say that I am glad you all taught the lessons this week and not me. While it didn't give me a break or anything, it was nice to hear your input. I enjoyed seeing the activities and assessments that you came up with.

So here are my questions--what was the hardest part of this assignment? What frustrations did you run into? What would you have liked to do differently? Did you get any great ideas from other groups?

Quote of the Day

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us.

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

ENGLISH III--Henry David Thoreau

I went to the wood because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I died, learned that I had not lived.

DISCUS Instructions

All classes are currently using research for projects. DISCUS is a great resource for you to use and some of the information can even be counted as a print source!

To use DISCUS--

• Go the the district website at www.newberry.k12.sc.us.
• Click on DISCUS at the bottom center of the webpage. This will take you to a page entitled "South Carolina's Virtual Library."
• From here you have several choices. There are encyclopedias as well as newspapers and periodicals.
• I RECOMMEND the Gale-Infotrac section. This will take you to a new page with more choices. Click on the "General Reference Center" and type your topic in the box. The information you get back will usually be more than you can use!

Use DISCUS at home or at school with these instructions.

Question of the Day

Inquiring minds want to know---

Favorite children's book and why? (And give me good whys, not some lam-o answer b/c you are too lazy to type!)

I am hard-pressed to pick one. My father raised me on Greek mythology, so I heard different bedtime stories than most little girls. But I have been exposed to a lot of children's literature throughout college and my few years teaching. I am a huge fan of Graeme Base's books. The artwork is amazingly beautiful. I could sit and stare at that for hours. But my all time favorite would have to be The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Silverstein is easy to read and this book has a great message. Definitely an awesomely fabulous book!

"Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexacious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

ENGLISH III--Give me liberty or give me death!

The Statue of Liberty was a sign of freedom for those immigrants entering Ellis Island to come to America. How would you use this in your Breaking Free project? What piece of literature does it represent?

Today's Lesson

So I finished Tuesdays with Morrie last week, but I still want to share from it. It was a great book. I think I'll go back next week and read it again.

Anyway---here is today's lesson from Tuesdays with Morrie...

We must love one another or die. W. H. Aulden

One of Morrie's favorite sayings was "Love each other or perish" taken from Aulden's poem. What different kinds of love are there? The passionate kind is the easiest to see, but how can you love your fellow classmates? What about your teachers? How can we as human beings show love towards one another? What do you think Aulden means by love one another or die?

Busy Week

You all have a busy week coming up. Here's rundown of events for my classes:

Monday--Canterbury Tales projects due. Reading journals and logs due.
Tuesday--Quiz on Declaration of Independence and Phillis Wheatley's poem. Journals and logs due.
Wednesday--Unit One major test.
Thursday--Breaking Free Projects due and stems test.
Friday--Stems test.

Study your stuff! Send me any questions!

Breaking Free Project

Many of you have expressed concern over this project. I am looking for pictures that show your interpretation of the work--not pictures of the actual authors or characters. In this picture, Ashley Judd stands up for what she believes in. You could use this in relation to one of the works that deals with standing up for your beliefs.

Tuesdays with Morrie

I just finished Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. My eyes hurt b/c the end is so moving and emotional. I'll continue to share parts of this book with you throughout the year. I think it has some wonderful lessons to teach.

What book has moved you? What book has changed your life or the way that you think? Are you still looking for that book? I've read some powerful works of literature--A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft; The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran; The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff; The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath...I'll add Mitch Albom's book to the list of books that have influenced me. Tell me about your list.

Today's Lesson

I am currently reading Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. If you haven't read anything by Mitch, you need to...he's awesome. Here's a lesson from him book that hit me close to home.

"Have I told you about the tension of opposites?" he says.
The tension of opposites?
"Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts yuo, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted.
"A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle."
Sounds like a wrestling match, I say.
"A wrestling match." He laughs. "Yes, you could describe it that way."
So which side wins, I ask?
"Which side wins?"
He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth.
"Love wins. Love always wins."

English III--Breaking Free

The section that we are reading right now is entitled "Breaking Free." The works all deal with this theme--breaking free from Britain, breaking free from slavery, etc. You will create a booklet to show how the characters represent the theme of the unit.

• Choose several character presented in the selections. You can even choose ones that we don't cover in class. Create a ten-page booklet that shows how the characters represent the theme of breaking free.
• Use a series of hand-drawn illustrations, collages, phots, or computer graphics to depict particular moments of change. You don't have to search for a picture of Thomas Jefferson--you may find a picture of someone who was recently fighting for freedom and you feel that this portrays what Jefferson was arguing for.
• Write a brief paragraph to help explain each visual. How does your picture go with what we read?

Booklets are due September 16 (the same day as your stems test)! E-mail me or post comments with any questions you have.

POST WARNING

I have just finished checking your posts. Some of you are doing great...some, not so good. Here's your only warning--don't post comments on August threads. When I check for September posts, I will only check September threads. If there is something that you want to bring back up, shoot me an e-mail and I'll post a new thread.

Peace out!

The Last Juror by John Grisham

Many of you have read this book--you chose it for your summer reading. First and foremost, thanks for not giving away the end. Secondly, thanks for talking about it so much on this message board. Due to your comments, and the coincidence that it was on my parents' bookshelf, I picked up the book this week and tore through it. And I was very satisfied last night when I finished.

I really enjoy reading about the time period that this book covers. The '60s and '70s fascinate me and I sometimes wish I could have had a part in the massive changes that took place. I think Grisham accurately portrays how integration was for many small towns. It was controversial and scary, but it wasn't met with the violence that the world witnessed in places like Little Rock and Birmingham. However, it saddens me to come in contact with such closed minds as the ones in this book and as the ones that actually existed and still exist in the world.

We have talked in class about the difference between ignorance and hate. We have discussed over and over how ignorance is oftentimes not knowing any better. So, my question to you is this--how do we cure ignorance? What do we do to make the change in the world?

In the words of one of the world's greatest change-makers..."Be the change that you want to see in the world." ~ Mohandas Ghandi

Happy Labor Day weekend!

I hope you are all going to enjoy this weekend, with its extra day of vacation. We all need one. But we have a busy week next week! Here's a rundown of events:

Tuesday--quiz for American Lit.
Wednesday--Lit. Circles Project Due for Brit. Lit.
Thursday night and Friday morning--Parent Conferences

I am off to see the 'Dogs take on Broome. Have a great weekend and stay safe!

ENGLISH III--Give me liberty or give me death!

We read works by Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine today. The common theme running through both works was defense--defense of their homes against the British. What stuck out to you? What thought or phrase relates to you now and how?

ENGLISH IV--Canterbury Tales Project

You have a variety of choices for your Canterbury Tales assessment. Here's a rundown of what you can do and where you can find your information:

1. Ye Olde Advert--Advertise for a trip to Canterbury from Tabard Inn. Follow this link for cool information!

2. A Distant Mirror--Create parallel time lines, one listing important national events and one listing important personal events during Chaucer's life. Your book may be of help with this, and you may also check out this website.

3. The Life of Becket--Reseach Becket and write an essay about his life, accomplishments, and the importance of his place as a pilgrimage. Read his story here and here and here!

4. The Chivalrous Code--Research chivalry and its influence on literature of the Middle Ages. Check out the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Norton Anthology, and Medieval Live.net.

5. Take a Pilgrimage to Canterbury--Create your own character and their story! You will need to research jobs and societal roles.

6. Celebrate Chaucer's Death with a Medieval Feast--There are several websites for you to check out for great recipes. Check out the Boke of Gode Cookery, Medieval Cookery, and this list of links.

7. Explore the Life--Research music, entertainment, jobs, health, architecture, and fashion.

PRESENTATIONS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 13TH!

Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.

In 1821, Heinrich Heine used this line in his play Almansor. As recently as 2001, members of a town in Pennsylvania sang songs as they burned books, videos, and CDs that they judged as offensive to their God. Other groups cut up copies of Harry Potter books because they were deemed to be offensive.

As an American, you have to right to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. This is your right. However, there are certain groups who believe and promote censorship. Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons find objectionable or dangerous. But when did it become their right to keep others from that knowledge?

You have to right to explore the multi-facted world of literature. You may not agree with everything that you read, but you have the RIGHT to pick up a book and put it back down again.

Celebrate your freedom to read during the week of September 25, Banned Book Week. You can also learn more at the American Library Assocation homepage. Spend some time reading about banned books and book burnings and tell me what you think about this freedom that you probably take for granted.

“If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.”—Noam Chomsky

ENGLISH IV--Literature Circles Project

MAKE YOUR BOOK INTO A MOVIE!

I gave out the literature circles assessment today in class. If you missed class, you will need to get with your group to figure out what you need to do. Here's a list of the parts of the project:

Movie Poster Design: Sketch out your poster design on a normal sized sheet of white paper. Be sure to give me something that will entice me to coming to see your movie!

Soundtrack Design: Design a list of songs that would fit the action sequences in your book. List the songs, the artists, and the order that they would be used in the movie. Type this.

Script Writing Sample: Choose one scene from your book to translate into a script. Be sure to use the proper format and include stage directions. Type this.

Set Design: Take the scene that you wrote a script for and design a set to be used. You may either sketch this out or make a three-dimensional model.

Book Review: Type a one page reaction to your book. THIS IS NOT A SUMMARY. Tell me if you liked it or dislike it and why. Point out parts that you could relate to or parts that seemed too far-fetched.

Presentation: On September 8th, you will present one part of your project to the class. Everything should be done on this date.

DEADLINES: All books should be finished no later than Tuesday, August 24th. You will have a team meeting Thursday, August 26th. Projects are due September 8th.

South Carolina Books

One of my all time FAVORITE writers has a new book out! Dottie Frank--author of Plantation, Sullivan's Island, and Isle of Palms--has written a new SC book, Shem Creek. These books all take place in the low country of South Carolina--a fascinating place to live, visit, and read about. The setting and the actions are interlaced with Gullah culture and the characters can be a little crazy, but what Southern folk can't be? They are realistic and fun and I've loved everyone of them. Get a sneak preview of all four of Dot's books at www.dotfrank.com. You won't be disappointed!

Something to think about...

Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life.

~ Jackie Robinson

CALLING ALL 18-YEAR-OLDS!

Election day is coming up! If you are 18 and haven't registered yet, what are you waiting for? In the 2000 election, 18 million people aged 18-29 turned out at the polls. That's a huge block of votes! Think you can't make a difference? You definitely can't make one if you don't vote. Get registered and get involved.

Visit Rock the Vote and Chicks Rock Chicks Vote for more election information!

ENGLISH III--Favorite American Time Period

We talked in class this week about how intertwined history and literature are in America. What is your favorite American time period? What do you want to read about the most?

I enjoy the writings that came out of the Revolutionary period. They were so powerful and moving. The American people had a lot of fight in them and its reflected in the writings. Check out some of Paine's writings--maybe you'll get fired up about being an American.

English IV--Literature Circles

Your first literature circles meeting is tomorrow morning and I right now I am hoping that you all have done the reading. How are the books so far? The meetings? What would make it better? Tell me all about it!

ENGLISH IV--Book Pass

We did the book pass today in class. It gave you a chance to be exposed to many books in a short amount of time.

Did you like the book pass? Did you see any books that you would want to start reading soon? Do you want to do the book pass again?

John Grisham's novels

Many of you have commented on John Grisham's books and how you have enjoyed them. You can't really go wrong with Grisham. His novels are suspenseful and pretty easy to read. So what's your favorite? Which ones have you read?

I've read all but The Painted House. My favorite has got to be Bleachers. In this novel, a hometown football hero returns home to bury his coach--whom he has mixed feelings about. This story flashbacks into the most exciting football season ever for this small town. Its filled with exciting game scenes as well as off the field sagas. Its definitely worth checking out!

Read any good books recently?

I read some awesome books this summer, but I am always looking for new ones. Let me know if you have any good books that you recomend. But also tell me why you recommend them! :)

Here's some that I read and liked:
The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc--This one was REALLY good! Takes place in Louisiana and is about a bored housewife and her high school flame. Not too gushy on the romance and even has some suspense in it.

Just Like You Only Prettier--This is a collection of columns from a Myrtle Beach journalist. They deal with Southern life and are really funny.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven--This one by Mitch Albom (who some of you may have seen on ESPN) deals with life after death. Its a pretty good guess at what could happen. I read this one in a bout a day, its not too long.

Savannah from Savannah--This book deals with life after college for a girl who wants to get out from under her mother, but then realizes that her mother may just be great. Its got a little intrigue to it, too.

Tax-Free Weekend!

The annual South Carolina back-to-school tax-free weekend will be August 6-8. You can purchase all your school supplies without sales tax and save some money. For my class, you'll need a binder, a composition notebook, loose-leaf paper, and pens and pencils. Take advantage of this weekend to get ready for school!

SUMMER READING REMINDER

That's right, kids.  Summer is nearly over and you have just enough time to sneak in a novel before you come to my classroom.  Don't forget to read one that is on your list--either for English III or EnglishIV--and do ten journal entries of at least 100 words.  Don't turn in a summary.  Give me good journal entries--why was the book good?,  why didn't you like that character?,  how did the book effect you?, etc.  If you aren't sure what book to read, there are lists at the library, on the school website, and on my website.  Check them out!  And read a book!

Good Summer Reading

Looking for a good book?  Look no further!  I just finished The Wedding, by Nicholas Sparks.  Once again, he didn't disappoint.  This one includes parts of the story of Noah and Allie Calhoun, the main characters from The Notebook.  Its an easy read and has a great ending.  Check it out!