2/16/2017

Found poem from a slide in the lesson:

Pre-Yourself
Where would you like to be (?)
A serious individual

I really love found poetry because I like being limited in my choices of words, since there are unlimited options and I get overwhelmed with choices easily. So, found poetry is perfect because it is a way that we as readers and writers can shape and mold other pieces of writing (even mundane things like syllabi or menus) to fit our purposes or tell a completely different story.

2/23/2017

So this is a biographical video I made for my Senior Seminar. For the project, I focused on the origins of my name. It is passed down from family, making my name that much more personal to me.

2/9/2017

Take an image surrounding social justice; think about how this particular image compares to any number of the situations found in the classroom that can either foster injustice or create allies. Bring real world connection to the classroom

What does the image convey? How can it connect to the classroom? What can we learn about this image in the classroom?

Think of a text that you would be passionate about teaching around the issue of injustice? How would you go about teaching it?

examples: pictures from protests, marches, etc

This image stuck out to me it implies a universality of the women's march, and American politics in general. What really strikes me is that the entire world cares about America's politics. That alone is somewhat of an injustice considering American children don't go to school and learn anything about French policy, or Chinese human rights, etc. And yet, people all around the world literally gathered and marched to protest and stand for the rights of a completely different country. One element of a larger movement is recognizing the privilege and importance of living in a country that is supported and scrutinized by the entire rest of the world. 

In terms of texts I would be passionate about teaching, I have been thinking about The Help recently and would love to teach that. It offers a commentary on the injustices within the lives of black domestic workers during the Civil Rights Movement, while also depicting the character of the white ally in the form of Skeeter, the woman devoted to writing the stories of these women. While I find it unfortunate that this type of character is necessary and that the women do not have voices of their own in that way, I think it demonstrates an important calling of those fortunate enough to have this voice. The essence of being an ally is using your voice to advocate for those who cannot. That is what I would teach, using The Help as a jumping off point. 

2/2/2017

Writing:

On your blog, tell us about your favorite short story.  Why do you like this story so much?  Are there links to the story online?  If so, link to the story so that we can read it.

Imagine you are teaching this story.  End your blog post by writing an essay prompt for this story.

My favorite short story has been The Veldt by Ray Bradbury since I first read it in the seventh grade. We did a unit on short stories and science fiction, with Bradbury's fantastical and slightly (extremely) creepy story as a good example. As a young reader, I was always drawn to scary stories or horror films, even though they tend to stick with me forever and haunt my dreams. I still like to immerse myself into something completely out of this world, like Bradbury's fictional nursery that turns into a veldt full of lions. The imaginative and bizarre always captured my attention. Similarly, I was and am fascinated by stories of ghost history in SC (believe it or not there is a ton to read on this subject) because it combines state history with elements of fear and other-worldliness that I am so fascinated by. 

link to the story: http://mrjost.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/8/8/12884680/the_veldt.pdf

Potential Essay Prompts: 

If you were Wendy and Peter Hadley, what do you think your nursery would turn into? Think about what you are most interested in or things you like to read about, like the Hadley children liked reading and thinking about Africa. 

Of the various new-age machines described in the Hadley house, which one would you be most excited to have in your own home? What helpful machine of the future would you want to create? 

Do you think the machines and futuristic house were to blame for the Hadley children's behavior? Or do you think their parents were at fault? Explain your opinion.