Learning is Change

A moment from my student life…

 

I am sitting here in a professional development about inquiry in writing and I have been asked to write a small anecdote about my own school experience. Here it is:

My Cross pen is always, always by my side. Slipping it over the edge of my pocket feels grand. It is that extra insurance for everything I do. I will never be without an idea because the idea instrument exists. It is connected to me.

I will use it on mundane homework, the calculus equations that fit so perfectly on the page. But, its real work, the strokes it was meant to make are the ones in my titled notebooks.

I sit in the cubicles that look like a swastika, only because they are the quietest place I can find. I pen the prose that only my best friends will see. This pen is for me, just like the time. I own it, forgetting all other writing implements, all other worries.

I am a cross pen moving the page to meet my needs. I am the world of ideas, stroking ego and creating the colossal theories that outline my outlook, my personality.

09.04.07

Core 1-4:

  1. Discuss-on: Why do MAP results matter?
  2. Explore Lexile levels:
    1. Lexile Map
    2. Find a book database: put together a book bag and print it out.
  3. Today is the first day that AR tests are up and running. Here is the conversion to go from Lexile to AR level: reading-level-conversion-chart.doc

Core 1:

  1. What does it mean to write a post?
  2. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

Core 2:

  1. Share imponderables.
  2. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

Core 3:

  1. Go over Translations.
  2. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

Core 4:

  1. Discuss converting inauthentic prompts to authentic topics.
  2. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

08.31.07

Core 1:

  1. Write-on: Translate five of your authentic topics into inauthentic prompts.
    • What is the difference in the wording of an authentic topic vs. inauthentic prompt?
  2. Discover how we can go from inauthentic prompts to authentic topics
    • How can you attack an inauthentic prompt?
    • What do you owe an authentic topic?
  3. Extensions:
    • Take your worst prompt of all time and write out how you would attack it if you were given it again (your authentic way of writing it).

Core 2:

  1. Act-on and Write-on: Get with one other person who has their beginning sentence and switch predicates. Write your new sentence in your notebook.
  2. Continue reading “Thou Shalt Not Kill Thy Sentences.”
    • Take notes on types of sentences and clauses.
  3. Extension:
    • Find one compound-complex sentence in your AR book and bring it in.

Core 3:

  1. Write-on: How do you know when you have used too many sesquipedalian words in a conversation or a piece of writing?
  2. Attempt the translation on page 6.
    • How can you translate the exact meaning while still giving it your own writing style.
  3. Analyze the Analogies.
    • What kind of relationships are possible in an analogy?
  4. Extension:
    • Create your own analogy using two other words in list 31.

Core 4:

  1. Write-on: What was the worst writing prompt that you have ever encountered? Why?
  2. Hand back and Discuss Ocean Question papers.
  3. Brainstorm the differences between an authentic topic and an inauthentic prompt?
    • What were you able to accomplish with the authentic piece that you couldn’t do with the inauthentic piece?
    • What are the most authentic prompts that you can think of?
  4. Extensions:
    • Write down ten Authentic topics that you would like to explore this year (or that other people would want to explore)?

08.30.07

Core 1:

  1. Write-on: What was the worst writing prompt that you have ever encountered? Why?
  2. Collect and mildly discuss top-5 and book meme handouts.
    • [flash http://s3.amazonaws.com/slideshare/ssplayer.swf?id=98444&doc=top-5-question2830]
  3. Brainstorm the differences between an authentic topic and an inauthentic prompt?
    • What were you able to accomplish with the authentic piece that you couldn’t do with the inauthentic piece?
    • What are the most authentic prompts that you can think of?
  4. Extensions:
    • Write down ten Authentic topics that you would like to explore this year (or that other people would want to explore)?

Class Notes:

  • [flash http://s3.amazonaws.com/slideshare/ssplayer.swf?id=100805&doc=bad-prompts4549]
  • [flash http://s3.amazonaws.com/slideshare/ssplayer.swf?id=100806&doc=authentic-topics4876]

Core 2:

  1. Write-On: How could you kill a sentence?
    • Brainstorm on Smartboard after write-on.
  2. Read “Thou Shall Not Kill Thy Sentences.”
    • Take notes on the Anatomy of a Sentence.
    • Talk about Grammar as a way of thinking.
  3. Extensions:
    • Bring in an example of a great opening line to a book.

Core 3:

  1. Discuss-On:
  2. Introduce the Nerd Herd Big Word Book.
    • Format and Activities.
  3. Try an activity in your writer’s notebook.
  4. Extensions:

Core 4:

  1. Finish MAP testing in the Library.
  2. Discuss and turn in Top-5 and Book Meme page.
    • Have have these things affected your identity?
  3. Extensions:
    • Make sure you have tested your theme to make sure it works.

08.29.07

Core 1+4:

  1. Sign the Discovery Online Code.
  2. Create Blog Account
    • Set-up your blog and your user account for your blog.
    • If you missed any steps in how to do this, here is the tutorial.
  3. Figure out which theme you want for your blog.
    • Write Down the theme name you want on your notecard.
    • If you missed any steps in how to do this, here is the tutorial.

Cores 2+3:

  1. Sign the Discovery Online Code.
  2. Export your old blog posts.
  3. Create Blog Account
    • Set-up your blog and your user account for your blog.
    • If you missed any steps in how to do this, here is the tutorial.
  4. Figure out which theme you want for your blog.
    • Write Down the theme name you want on your notecard.
    • If you missed any steps in how to do this, here is the tutorial.

08.28.07

Core 1:

  1. Go directly to Room 107 with an AR book.
    • Finish MAP testing
  2. Discuss grading of Ocean Question essays.
  3. If time permits
    • What does your top-5 paper say about you as a person?
  4. Extensions:
    • Read your AR Book.

Core 2:

  1. Go Directly to room 107 with an AR Book.
    • Finish MAP testing.
  2. If time permits:
    • Self-assess and turn in your Identity Documents.
  3. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

Core 3+4:

  1.  Go Directly to the Library with an AR Book.
  2. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

08.27.07

Cores 1+2:

  1. Map Reading Test in Room 107. Please bring your AR book.
  2. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.

Core 3:

  1. Write-on: What’s in a username?
  2. Answer any questions that the sub left unattended.
  3. Self-assess your Identity Document and turn it in.
  4. Write down on your notecard the following:
    • Your name
    • Your desired username
    • One thing you hope to do with blogging this year that you didn’t do last year.
  5. Collaborate on The Discovery Online Code.
  6. Extensions:
    • Look up the word sequipedalian and explain why the concept that this word suggests is important/valuable to this class.
    • Read your AR book.

Core 4:

  1. Group Write-on: What do you think that your Top-5 questionnaire says about you as a person?
    • [flash http://s3.amazonaws.com/slideshare/ssplayer.swf?id=98444&doc=top-5-question2830]
  2. Collaborate/collect our Top-5’s using Google Documents.
    • Academyofdiscovery account.
  3. Revise/Refine the Discovery Online Code using Google Documents.
  4. Reflect on what you think Google Documents and other collaborative document tools could help you to do better or more efficiently at school or at home.
  5. If time permits: turn in your Book Memes for archival purposes.
  6. Extensions:
    • Read your AR book.
    • Make any additional revisions you would like on either the Top-5 list or the Discovery Online Code.

The few thoughts of a halfway-mobile blogger.

 

So, I just got a new palm treo because I’m not quite ready to jump into the iPhone just yet (waiting for 2.0). I have been typing up ideas every once in a while on it and then revise them on the computer after transferring them via bluetooth. I’d like to share a few of them that I typed up right before I presented The Academy of Discovery to our School Board:

I believe that everything we do should be in the purpose of creation. We need to create the environment, create the products, create the expectations and create  the hope of a generation.

But, what is that hope? What can you possibly expect out of yourself to ensure that you are are a part of it?

I know that these are just words. I know that we actually have to do it. There is no way to get around the work that comes from creating.

So, when is it appropriate to look back? when is appropriate to take stock?

Every creation is worthy of reflection.

Just a few thoughts to get you thinking, I guess.