My Mom said. . . .

It really is inspiring to read your students responses. Too often the only information about young people is about their failings and like anything else, perception becomes reality for adults. I know that the majority of children are good and have aspirations and dreams that will, if allowed to come to fruition, benefit not only themselves, but this big blue marble!

Good Luck!

Mom

No need to respond, I just though t you should know what people are saying about you, my wonderful awe inspiring students!

Carpe Diem

I discovered this week that many of you were intrigued by the concept of Carpe Diem. I decided to give you an opportunity to reflect on a famous poem that illustrates the idea of "seizing the day"

Please find below the poem, "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time", by Robert Herrick. I have also included a brief clip from the movie Dead Poets Society. Please respond with a metacognitive response, as well as how you think the concept of Carpe Diem could be applied to your life right now.

Remember, you are graded on the quality of your response as well as spelling and grammar, so watch the capitalization. I suggest you type your response in Word and cut
and paste it into the response box to avoid any mistakes.
As always, I am proud of the work you are doing and look forward to our classes this week.

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time
by Robert Herrick

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.

That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may, go marry;
For having lost but once your prime,
You may forever tarry.

Vocabulary. . . what?!

Last week we learned that memorizing a word doesn't necessarily mean you've learned it. In a brief response, please describe your experience with the vocabulary words this week. Were than any words you struggled with? Or any words you thought you knew but discovered you needed a deeper understanding of them?
Also, please provide an example of a new word you learned last week and how you think you might use it in your own writing.

As always, your comment is due by Friday (Sept. 25th) at 5pm.

The President

Following is a link to the President's speech on the first day of school. Please read (or re-read!) the speech. Please respond to the speech and choose two pieces of text that struck you. Provide a thoughtful explanation as to why these particular lines meant something to you and how the speech affected you.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-in-a-National-Address-to-Americas-Schoolchildren/

Please remember to post your response by Friday September 18th at 5pm.

Welcome Juniors!

Dear AP Literature Students,

I hope you all had a productive and exciting summer. This year you will be required to check this blog for additional resources and assignments.

Your summer assignment was to read Beloved, by Toni Morrison and Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. Please briefly describe (in the comments section) your emotional reaction to the books. Examine your meta cognitive process (meta cognitive means thinking about thinking). Did you find either book challenging? Specifically, what was difficult?
Did you enjoy the readings? Why or why not.

Thanks. I am looking forward to a great year!

Oh and P.S.- Mark your calendars!
English Literature AP Test Thursday, May 6th, 2010 at 8AM!