Summer Reading Continued:
This has been a great reading summer!  I have explored a variety of genres.  I am in the last of THE TEA ROSE trilogy and have loved the characters, strong women.  My second major recommendation coming your way, however, is THE BOOK THIEF.  It is a book showing perspective of the Holocaust from a young, German girl.  The novel spans into her adult life.  This is a must read--you will never guess who the narrator is.

If I could, I would make this a required school reading!  Thanks to my friend Tracy for giving me this book!

It is not even August yet.  I hope you all have found or will find a favorite to read...share it with me.

Summer is a great time for reading.  Make a list of recommended reads.  Find a bit of shade, a comfy chair, and an hour to lose yourself in a new culture or imaginary world.  I just finished my first selection, A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS.  It was fantastic.  This novel really made me ponder the ways of the world, specifically Afghanistan.  Characters of this novel had the ability to make me so mad, yet others reminded me that for every bad out there, there are a million more good!  High recommendations coming from me...next THE TEA ROSE (historical fiction/trilogy).

WORDS FOR TEENAGERS

The following was a posting on FACEBOOK not too long ago.  I thought it to be very thought provoking.  Read it carefully.  Ponder what it means to you and to the world around you.  Actually, I think it can apply to all age groups.

WORDS FOR TEENAGERS

Northland College principal John Tapene has offered the following words from a judge who regularly deals with youth. 

“Always we hear the cry from teenagers, ‘What can we do, where can we go?’

“My answer is this:  Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons and after you’ve finished, read a book.  Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun.

The world does not owe you a living, you owe the world something.  You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in sickness and lonely again.  In other words grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone not a wishbone.  Start behaving like a responsible person.  You are important and you are needed.  It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday.  Someday is now and that somebody is you!”

End of the Year

We return to the back stairwell, hearts filled with excitement and sadness.  We have survived AP English Language and Comp.  At times we were frustrated.  At times we laughed.  At times we thought the end would never get here.  Suddenly, the test was over, and we were walking out of our classroom for the last time.

AP is hard.  No one will say otherwise.  It is, however, what you make of it.  If all you do is complain, then you will receive none of the benefits.  If you talk, ponder, respond and learn to appreciate the opportunities ALL COURSES, AP or not,  can offer, no matter the grade, you will have gained what education should be all about in the end.

Congrats on your 2012-2013 accomplishments.  Enjoy your summer.  Best of luck in your future adventures!

End of the Year AP Exploration

The AP test is done. We have discussed rhetorical strategies until we were blue in the face. We practiced Multiple Choice questions. We wrote synthesis samples and free response samples. We laughed, expressed annoyance, complained, and even cried sometimes. We now are going to breathe, enjoy, relax and explore! Over the next few days, I will be adding several AP projects. Here is the first one: 6 Word Memoirs! Make the last 2 weeks the best they can be everyone! Learn something new every day!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auYK1OveeAE


Update  (5/28):   Loop Poetry

Summer by Caitlin

The lockers are cleaned out

Out go the students

Students leave for the summer

Summer to be spent.

Spent sleeping in

In cool houses

Houses filled

Filled with dirty laundry mountains

Mountains in the distance

Distance from home

Home in the open

Open to roam

Roam far

Far away from the city

City to beaches

Beaches so pretty

Pretty tired are all

All ready to see

See the school again

Again students to be

Misleading Eyes by Kiersten

Misleading eyes

Eyes that show things

Things that are not real

Real are the things not seen

Eyes that show sparkles

Sparkles that show happiness

Happiness and no problems

Problems that don’t exist

Eyes that hide problems

Problems that really do exist

Exist to haunt and sadden you

You when no one else is around

No one can see through the sparkles

Sparkles that hide sadness

Sadness that can deeply affect you

You and your misleading eyes




Summer
By: McKenzie, Bridget and Carly

Summer is so hot

Hot as the desert

Desert your worries and fears

Fears are no more

More time with friends

Friends are everything

Everything is beautiful

Beautiful as those sunsets

Sunsets are where everything happens

Happens to everyone

Everyone loves summer

Summer loves everyone

Everyone is happy

Happy is the greatest quality

Quality of summer is in your hands

Hands hold the key to happiness

Happiness is summer

ABC Poetry

Cats

All beautiful cats dabble elaborately finding games, hopping into jars, knotting loops, meeting new opponents periodically. Quickly rapidly stepping, they unite vigorously when x-aminig your zest!


    A boy can't defy everything for gravity holds ill-fates. Just keep love more near or  pass  quietly  remembering someone too unforgettable. Vacant winters xceed youthful zeal.

LAST WEEKS OF SCHOOL

All bitter children distance

Eventually from goals, hoping its

Journey keeps lively moving,

Neglecting one project, quietly

Resisting stress, tolerating

Underclassmen, voraciously

Wandering, x-cepting

Your zap

What do we really know? Today's computer challenge.

Have you ever heard of HAIKU DECK? It is a fun, easy computer application that helps to create presentations. I played with it a little bit last night. It is free, making it even better. Look at mine and those in the gallery. Try one of your own. There are tons of pre-made backgrounds, but you can use photos and such of your own, too!

Movies vs. Books

THE GREAT GATSBY came out on film this last weekend. I have not seen it as of yet, but I hope to very soon. For those of you who like to read the books before seeing the movies and you have seen THE GREAT GATSBY, share your thoughts. Did the film translate well from the book? Did you feel the same way about the characters in the two mediums? Was there a portion of the book you felt got left out or enhanced better? These are things I thought about myself when I watched (after reading) THE HELP, MY SISTER'S KEEPER and THE DAVINCI CODE (just three samples). Share your thoughts and "reviews."