Archive for March, 2006
Friday, March 31st, 2006
Here’s the list of voices we wrote about that might connect to this article. Which voices do you hear? Where do you stand on the issues in this article?
We still know things. It’s not like we’re stupid.
This is all New Orleans’ fault.
Our homes are dust. Our homes are gone.
We’re helping these kids out.
We want to be educated.
Such surprising test scores.
54%
48%
We’ve lived through Katrina.
These schools are harder.
Don’t do this.
We should have been given better.
I would like to learn to read.
Please teach my son to read.
I’m glad I passed.
I’m so mad I didn’t pass.
It’s going to be a challenge for them to catch up.
It’s not our fault.
These kids need more schooling.
It’s not our fault.
They need more schooling NOW.
Our lives were destroyed?
Do you expect us to pass with flying colors?
Hold them back. They need to learn.
Don’t hold them back. It costs too much money.
How do I feel? It’s not my fault.
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Monday, March 27th, 2006
- 3/30/06: Thursday.
- If you handed in the following two assignments, you have no homework tonight:
- Write a response to the poem about the two women in the elevator. We took notes on this in class. Include a quick summary, and your ideas about the images, feelings, purposes of the poem. DUE THURSDAY! Six to Eight sentences, on nice paper, with a proper heading. Please don’t tear out something from your writer’s notebook. Thanks!!!!
- About 1/3 of our classes did not have their Where I’m From poems today. Please turn these in tomorrow. It will be the last day. 3 stanzas, 4 lines each.
- Check blog! (I guess you’re doing that right now!)
Thursday’s News and Notes: It was great hearing about anger management in Lifeskills Class. Do you remember your Lifeskills Homework? Hint: It involves using an anger management strategy during the week.
Wednesday’s News and Notes: I enjoyed your thoughts about the William Carlos Williams poem. I also enjoyed the poetry recitals. All the poems are so different.
Tuesday’s News and Notes: We had a great discussion about the news article about the kids in Texas. The Where I’m From poems are coming together. Yay!
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Friday, March 24th, 2006
I am from jars for change collections,
cards from Grandma,
and chocolate milk.
…I’m from Will and Sharon’s long branch,
chunky Peanut-Butter and jelly,
from the house we lost to fire,
and surgeries we all have had.
…I am from the old scrapbooks,
where pictures,
remind me of days that live only in the minds
of those of us who were there.
I am from the people who paved a way for me,
I am from the best that could be,
and I am the best I could be.
—Excerpts from a poem by Debby Gordon (From Christensen, L. 2000, p. 22)
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Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006
Friday, March 24
- Where I’m From Poem Final Draft due MONDAY
- Power Point Rough Draft due Monday
- Power Point Final Draft due Thursday.
Friday News and Notes: Happy Weekend, Everyone! The power points are really coming together. I really enjoyed hearing your perspectives on Kingsolver’s poem. No plans for me this weekend. How ’bout you??? 
Thursday: News and notes from today: I am still amazed at all the great poems you wrote today. KUDOS to you Sixers!
Wednesday News…We’re in the computer lab today analyzing poems and finishing up our power point poet presentations. (Do you love alliteration? I do!)
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Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006
Margaret Randall thinks Barbara Kingsolver is an excellent poet because she brings politics “to life” in her poems. She writes that poems about power and justice used to have a more receptive audience.
Political poets write about events in the news, or about working with others to change society. People who work for social justice read political poems and feel “energized” to do their hard work.
Randall reminds poets that a poem comes together through our own internal thoughts and emotions, and the individual poet should not approach poetry the way a politician approaches politics.
From your response cards, I took the following meanings:
- Poetry is IMPORTANT and that poems can be beautiful and powerful at the same time.
- Poets inspire readers to do the things they always dream of doing.
- A poem may be small, but its meaning can be huge.
- During times of desperation, poems are important.
Here’s a poem from Barbara Kingsolver’s book:
WHAT THE JANITOR HEARD IN THE ELEVATOR
The woman in gold bracelets tells her friend:
I had to fire another one.
Can you believe it?
She broke the vase
Jack gave me for Christmas.
It was one of those,
you know? That worked
with everything. all my colors.
I asked him if he’d mind
if i bought one again just like it.
It was the only one that just always worked.
Her friend says:
Find another one that speaks English.
That’s a plus.
The woman in gold agrees
that is a plus.
What do you think this poem is about? Why do you think this?
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Sunday, March 12th, 2006
I’ve read one book and I’ve seen two movies. This rainy spring break is relaxing, but I want to get outside! I do enjoy storms, though, but I’m hoping we get a little bit of warm weather this week. I’ve also done several sudoku. Happy Spring Break, Sixers!
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Tuesday, March 7th, 2006
* Thursday: March 9
Thursday’s News and Notes
Lit. circles went well today. It was interesting to analyze the characters in the books we’re reading. And I thought your sketches were amazing. Way to go, sixers! ONE MORE DAY UNTIL FABULOUS SPRING BREAK!!!
Wednesday’s News and Notes
We had a great talk today about gender stereotypes in books. Do you think the characters in your literature book are stereotyped in any way? Do you plan to be at school tomorrow???? We’ll have lit. circles in the computer lab.
Tuesday’s News and Notes:
Congratulations to the HMS Pinafore Players! The show was great!
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