Student Blogging Challenge

February 21, 2016February 22, 2016 1professor Don't Miss This, What to Expect 1S1W, global connection, Student Blogging Challenge

Due to the hectic schedule the eighth graders have during the third marking period with 20-Time Projects, online reading, and our ongoing study of legal justice, I have decided not to enter our individual student blogs in the Student Blogging Challenge. Instead this class blog, “WORDSWORK: The Right Words in the Right Order” will be the hub for interactions with schools from around the world. I will ask students if they wish to serve as “Guest Bloggers” on this page, adding their posts here. Hopefully some of your children will get to respond and connect globally.

Monday is a twitter effort launched by Pernille Ripp called “One School, One World.” I will be photographing our class and sharing it on twitter, devoid of specific location information or names of the children. I hope to share screenshots of other schools with our Brielle studentsstudents. If you are interested in following the conversation on twitter: #1S1W.

I will keep you posted.

Mindfulness for International Peace Day

September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 1professor Don't Miss This mindfulness, special event, stress-relief

On Monday, September 21, we will be observing International Peace Day. As a part of our involvement, we have been considering the importance of mindfulness for creating inner peace. A mindfulness trainer will visit and speak to the eighth graders about this practice and lead them in guided meditation and conscious breathing. Any method that creates more personal peace—less stress—seems like a path to explore.

What about the Next Steps?

July 9, 2015July 19, 2015 1professor Don't Miss This high school success, mindshift, next steps

After reading this article today in Mindshift, I realized that I wanted to share it even though I am not quite ready to comment on the particulars. Check this out, all of you who are on your way to high school. Be sure to watch the video!

Helen Keller Day

June 28, 2015June 28, 2015 1professor Don't Miss This biography, history, humanity, poetry, villanelle

So buried am I in the work of online classes that I have been late in opening my “Daily Poem” emails. (Reminder to Self: Do not let the work obscure the beauty!) Yesterday’s poem, a wonderful villanelle by J. Patrick Lewis, honors the extraordinary Helen Keller. Kelly Fineman includes the poem, one of Keller’s profound quotes (Reminder to Self: PUT THIS ON THE CLASSROOM WALL! It is truly wall-worthy!), and a bit of background about the history of this day and this extraordinary human.

Follow the link. You won’t regret it!

Summer Reading: Don’t Miss ECHO!

June 24, 2015August 15, 2015 1professor Don't Miss This Echo, response, summer reading

Image provided by the publisher.

Your soon-to-be eighth grader will be reading at least three books of his or her choice over the summer. One title is required, so we can have a lively conversation among the entire class when September arrives. This book, Echo, by Pam Munoz Ryan, is a gem. I hope you will enjoy it, too. (Then you can join our conversation!)

I have included a copy of the chart your child is to complete. One main character per “section” of the novel is fine. As your child will discover, these “sections” provide story threads that are beautifully interwoven as the novel resolves.

During our first days, as your children know for I have spoken to each seventh grade class, having specific text to speak from gives everyone something to say. In that spirit, look at this as a conversation-starter!

This link should take you to the Google document. HAPPY READING!