Academic dialogue-a discussion between two or more people (say, a classroom full of students) over a topic of intellectual value (say, a book talk). The key to a successful academic dialogue is a willingness to, well, dialogue. Without conversation, without people willing to share opinions, the dialogue will be flatter than an I-Hop pancake run over by a steamroller. Today's discussion in both classes was less than stellar. Not that there wasn't plenty to talk about. You had questions. You had passages you wrote down and responded to. I threw out some topics. Time to deliver as a class.
(Find the figurative language in the paragraph above and I'll sign your Archer card.)
Tomorrow we will get a chance at some very specific academic dialogue.
Period three, you should be typing up a paragraph on whether or not Elie passed the test that Rabbi Eliahu's son had set for him. You need to be sure you have cited evidence from the text to support your reasoning. You'll be using it tomorrow and handing in the paragraph.
Period four, you should be typing up a paragraph on whether or not we should look out for each other (the Polish kapo on page 41) or just ourselves (the blockalteste on page 110). You too should be sure you have cited evidence from the text to support your reasoning. You'll be using it tomorrow and handing in the paragraph.
After our discussion we will be looking at some poems, some themes, and start the first of assignments with Night. More to come on that tomorrow. See you then.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Enriched 1-14-2013
Good to see you all again today after the weekend. Brian Kelly is coming back. Peyton Manning is going home. Argo won a Golden Globe. Lance Armstrong lost his final hope. I started reading The Devil in the White City. You started writing a paper of the research type.
I'll sign the Archer card of anyone who tells me what literary term can be found in the first paragraph.
Now, about that paper. Start working on it. You should be selecting a topic this evening and starting some basic research on it tonight. Remember all those topics we mentioned today. Almost anything related to the Holocaust and World War II is on the table. Propaganda. Weapons. Camps. Paintings. Resistance. Ghettos. Experiments. Individuals. Poetry. These are just a few of the general ideas we threw out. Find that topic you care about, narrow it down, and start researching.
We won't discuss the paper much at all tomorrow, but you should, again, work on it tomorrow night. On Wednesday we'll spend the class time researching, discussing, writing, editing, sharing, listening, encouraging. We'll also decide our next step that day. Remember, Acuity testing is proceeding all week, so our computer access will be minimal. If you care to bring your electronic device to research during class, feel free to do so.
This paper is a research paper, but I want you to tell the story of that research. You are a "character" in your paper. I want to know what you are doing, thinking, and feeling as you write and learn. Here is a copy of the hand-out and rubric in case you need a reminder.
One final word on our discussion topic at the end of class today: Are people basically good? James Iapulucci said it best when he said he is an optimist. He likes to see the best in people. I love that philosophy and subscribe to it myself. Brett Shepard added a prescient comment as well by saying most people would not see the Holocaust as a positive event. We realize that what happened there, what happened in Newtown, what happened with Superstorm Sandy are tragedies. Sure some people will take advantage of these situations for their own advancement, but generally speaking, people will want to help, want to do what is best for others. Generally speaking, people are basically good. I still believe that if given the chance, people will do the right thing.
Ah...I feel better.
See you tomorrow.
I'll sign the Archer card of anyone who tells me what literary term can be found in the first paragraph.
Now, about that paper. Start working on it. You should be selecting a topic this evening and starting some basic research on it tonight. Remember all those topics we mentioned today. Almost anything related to the Holocaust and World War II is on the table. Propaganda. Weapons. Camps. Paintings. Resistance. Ghettos. Experiments. Individuals. Poetry. These are just a few of the general ideas we threw out. Find that topic you care about, narrow it down, and start researching.
We won't discuss the paper much at all tomorrow, but you should, again, work on it tomorrow night. On Wednesday we'll spend the class time researching, discussing, writing, editing, sharing, listening, encouraging. We'll also decide our next step that day. Remember, Acuity testing is proceeding all week, so our computer access will be minimal. If you care to bring your electronic device to research during class, feel free to do so.
This paper is a research paper, but I want you to tell the story of that research. You are a "character" in your paper. I want to know what you are doing, thinking, and feeling as you write and learn. Here is a copy of the hand-out and rubric in case you need a reminder.
One final word on our discussion topic at the end of class today: Are people basically good? James Iapulucci said it best when he said he is an optimist. He likes to see the best in people. I love that philosophy and subscribe to it myself. Brett Shepard added a prescient comment as well by saying most people would not see the Holocaust as a positive event. We realize that what happened there, what happened in Newtown, what happened with Superstorm Sandy are tragedies. Sure some people will take advantage of these situations for their own advancement, but generally speaking, people will want to help, want to do what is best for others. Generally speaking, people are basically good. I still believe that if given the chance, people will do the right thing.
Ah...I feel better.
See you tomorrow.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Standard 01-10-2013
Tomorrow is Acuity 3rd quarter pretest day. All classes will be taking the test--on the Discovery mobile lab I understand. We'll take our time, answer the best we can, and get a feel for what we ned to be focusing on during the third quarter.
The substitute gave you a great report yesterday. Thanks for dedicating yourself to the assignment I left behind. So far, I've been pretty impressed with what you produced from the four prompt questions. The effort there and your reading last night, helped to generate some decent discussion over the text today. During our fishbowl activity both classes were slow to get started but eventually the discussion became more engaging. Still some work to do on how to consistently engage in a discussion and not just share a thought with no rebuttal or comment to what was previously said.
If time permits after our Acuity testing, we will take a close look at a short story called "The Harmonica". The topic will be familiar and I'll be asking you to make some comparisons.
Be sure to finish actively reading Night (highlighting and annotating) (pages 104-116) for Monday. While our reading will then be completed, we will still have some activities to complete before moving onto a fiction friendly third quarter. Third quarter starts Wednesday. See you tomorrow.
The substitute gave you a great report yesterday. Thanks for dedicating yourself to the assignment I left behind. So far, I've been pretty impressed with what you produced from the four prompt questions. The effort there and your reading last night, helped to generate some decent discussion over the text today. During our fishbowl activity both classes were slow to get started but eventually the discussion became more engaging. Still some work to do on how to consistently engage in a discussion and not just share a thought with no rebuttal or comment to what was previously said.
If time permits after our Acuity testing, we will take a close look at a short story called "The Harmonica". The topic will be familiar and I'll be asking you to make some comparisons.
Be sure to finish actively reading Night (highlighting and annotating) (pages 104-116) for Monday. While our reading will then be completed, we will still have some activities to complete before moving onto a fiction friendly third quarter. Third quarter starts Wednesday. See you tomorrow.
Enriched 01-10-2013
Tomorrow is Acuity 3rd quarter pretest day. All classes will be taking the test--on the Discovery mobile lab I understand. We'll take our time, answer the best we can, and get a feel for what we ned to be focusing on during the third quarter.
Nice job coming prepared with the Nuremberg defense analysis pieces. You also "posterized" them pretty quickly and effectively. That allowed us to complete our Gallery Walk and have some discussion too. Obviously, it is an idea that is not just relegated to World War II and the Nazis. Instead, it is a defense that was utilized well before the war up to and through today. And it's not just used by those involved in the armed services. Several of Lance Armstrong's teammates tried to use the same excuse to explain away their use of performance enhancing drugs. Should they be excused? Several of you say yes. Some of you aren't sure. A majority of you say no. It goes to show how difficult it is to come to any consensus.
Should time permit after our Acuity tests, we might look at some poems, and I might give you the final thing we'll be doing with out Night study before heading in a new direction. Third quarter starts Wednesday. See you tomorrow.
Nice job coming prepared with the Nuremberg defense analysis pieces. You also "posterized" them pretty quickly and effectively. That allowed us to complete our Gallery Walk and have some discussion too. Obviously, it is an idea that is not just relegated to World War II and the Nazis. Instead, it is a defense that was utilized well before the war up to and through today. And it's not just used by those involved in the armed services. Several of Lance Armstrong's teammates tried to use the same excuse to explain away their use of performance enhancing drugs. Should they be excused? Several of you say yes. Some of you aren't sure. A majority of you say no. It goes to show how difficult it is to come to any consensus.
Should time permit after our Acuity tests, we might look at some poems, and I might give you the final thing we'll be doing with out Night study before heading in a new direction. Third quarter starts Wednesday. See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Standard 1-09-2013
Sorry about not telling you about my absence today. I did forget yesterday since we were so engaged in our discussion.
Hope you answered those four questions well today in class. I'll be looking for top notch responses and assessing them for twenty points. If you read the book well, you should have generated some solid answers.
I know the substitute told you to actively read 98-103 for tomorrow. Here's a little tip. I'll be checking everyone's book tomorrow for quality active reading which means highlighting and annotating. I'll be giving 5/5 points for a strong job on both highlighting and annotating. If you only highlight with minimal or cursory annotating, you'll receive 3/5. Poor or no highlighting and no annotating will earn you a 1/5 or a 0/5. Be prepared. There's a lot packed into those six little pages.
We are going to finish the book real soon, but we will be interrupted this Friday. We will be taking our 3rd quarter Acuity pretest on Friday. We have the mobile lab so we will be taking the test in our classroom. Looking forward to that.
See you tomorrow.
Hope you answered those four questions well today in class. I'll be looking for top notch responses and assessing them for twenty points. If you read the book well, you should have generated some solid answers.
I know the substitute told you to actively read 98-103 for tomorrow. Here's a little tip. I'll be checking everyone's book tomorrow for quality active reading which means highlighting and annotating. I'll be giving 5/5 points for a strong job on both highlighting and annotating. If you only highlight with minimal or cursory annotating, you'll receive 3/5. Poor or no highlighting and no annotating will earn you a 1/5 or a 0/5. Be prepared. There's a lot packed into those six little pages.
We are going to finish the book real soon, but we will be interrupted this Friday. We will be taking our 3rd quarter Acuity pretest on Friday. We have the mobile lab so we will be taking the test in our classroom. Looking forward to that.
See you tomorrow.
Enriched 01-09-2013
Hope you all were well prepared for today's in-class writing assessment...wait...what am I saying...of course you all were. You are all diligent, industrious students who care about your learning. Anyway, I can't wait to read what you were thinking. Are people basically good? Does the past matter? Are we individuals first or parts of society first? What IS really important in life? Good reading ahead, no doubt.
Remember to complete your Nuremberg Defense analysis tonight. Have the completed writings printed off and in class tomorrow. We'll spend a bit of time organizing the info, do a gallery walk, and then discuss the conclusions we came to.
There will then be one final thing we will be doing with the book. I'll give you more info on that tomorrow.
By the way, our 3rd quarter Acuity pretest will be Friday. Word on the street is that we have the mobile lab, so we will be taking care of our pretest in the classroom. I know 2nd quarter doesn't officially end until next Tuesday, but you guys have always been ahead of the curve.
Had a good meeting today. We completed our two performance tasks for the third and fourth quarters. Sorry, but you'll have to wait to find out what they are all about.
See you tomorrow.
Remember to complete your Nuremberg Defense analysis tonight. Have the completed writings printed off and in class tomorrow. We'll spend a bit of time organizing the info, do a gallery walk, and then discuss the conclusions we came to.
There will then be one final thing we will be doing with the book. I'll give you more info on that tomorrow.
By the way, our 3rd quarter Acuity pretest will be Friday. Word on the street is that we have the mobile lab, so we will be taking care of our pretest in the classroom. I know 2nd quarter doesn't officially end until next Tuesday, but you guys have always been ahead of the curve.
Had a good meeting today. We completed our two performance tasks for the third and fourth quarters. Sorry, but you'll have to wait to find out what they are all about.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Standard 01-08-2013
Good job working on the prompts in class today and a nice job developing a strong discussion once we moved into our groups. I want to celebrate the key contributors: Nolan Metcalf, Savannah Scott, Ben Rose, Jordan Vargo, Sam Nicholas, John Graham, Kelsey Johnson, Jacob Shreve, and a few others. I also want to stress the importance of everyone getting involved. Too many people (one is too many!) sat quietly instead of contributing to the conversation. If you want to be successful in life, you need to participate.
If you were absent today, you'll need to respond to these prompts in your LA notebooks and show me the answers to earn your points for the Socratic seminar. Here they are.
Tonight you should be actively reading Night pages 85-97. There is a lot going on. It's hard to believe Elie and so many others survived. Read it well. There are a few things we will be doing with it tomorrow. See you then.
If you were absent today, you'll need to respond to these prompts in your LA notebooks and show me the answers to earn your points for the Socratic seminar. Here they are.
1) Find an example of dehumanization in pages 69-84. Write the quote down in your book. Write the page number. Write an explanation why it is dehumanization.
2) Find an example of loss in pages 69-84. Write the quote down in your book. Write the page number. Write an explanation why it is loss.
3) Find an example of indifference in pages 69-84. Write the quote down in your book. Write the page number. Write an explanation why it is indifference.
4) Why is it so important that Elie take the knife and spoon from his father on page 75?
5) What is ironic about what Elie says about Akiba Drumer on page 77?
6) What does the prisoner mean on page 81 when he says, “I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else”?
7) Elie and his father on page 82...should they have left the camp or stayed in the infirmary? What would you have done?
Tonight you should be actively reading Night pages 85-97. There is a lot going on. It's hard to believe Elie and so many others survived. Read it well. There are a few things we will be doing with it tomorrow. See you then.
Enriched 01-08-2013
We made some great progress on the Nuremberg Defense analysis today. You should finish up any uncompleted work over the next two nights and bring final copies of the two arguments and the conclusion to class on Thursday. On that day we will put the information together and study your findings. Be sure you have evidence to support both the legitimacy of the Nuremberg Defense and the reasons it is faulty. Remember to have a dissenting opinion typed up as well if your group can't all agree on the validity of the defense.
Tomorrow you will be completing an in-class timed writing. You will have 45 minutes to complete the writing. In order to be prepared you should spend some time tonight identifying the evidence you will use from Night to support your response to one of the four prompts. Here they are listed again for your convenience.
Are people basically good?
What is really important in life?
Does the past matter?
Are we individuals first or part of a society?
You will be able to have the book right next to you as you write tomorrow in class. You should also have any evidence you plan on using with you. While you can do a draft or a practice writing tonight, that will not be able to be with you in class. All writing must be done in the classroom tomorrow. You'll be given a rubric and instruction sheet tomorrow. Do yourself a favor and prepare well. I won't be there, so I will see you on Thursday.
Tomorrow you will be completing an in-class timed writing. You will have 45 minutes to complete the writing. In order to be prepared you should spend some time tonight identifying the evidence you will use from Night to support your response to one of the four prompts. Here they are listed again for your convenience.
Are people basically good?
What is really important in life?
Does the past matter?
Are we individuals first or part of a society?
You will be able to have the book right next to you as you write tomorrow in class. You should also have any evidence you plan on using with you. While you can do a draft or a practice writing tonight, that will not be able to be with you in class. All writing must be done in the classroom tomorrow. You'll be given a rubric and instruction sheet tomorrow. Do yourself a favor and prepare well. I won't be there, so I will see you on Thursday.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Standard 01-07-2012
Wow! What a great day! I start it off by seeing all of you for the first time in 17 days and I end it watching the Irish battle Alabama for the National Championship after a 40 day wait. If you are like me (and I found out today that a lot of you aren't), you've completed a lot of books since the last time Notre Dame played. Three I've completed most recently are Dust Lands by Moira Young, The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens and Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden. The first two were good, but you are all well aware of how much I enjoyed Black Hawk Down. Without a doubt, one of the best books I've read in the last 365 days, and I've read a lot. If you like war books--and have a strong stomach--you might want to check this one out.
Today you received your papers back and typed up some reflections. If you want to rewrite your paper, you can, BUT you need to bring that typed reflection in and see me so that I can make sure you are going to be improving the right things. I wouldn't want you to spend a bunch of time fixing things that don't need fixing and ignoring things that need to be repaired. Set up a time to see me this week.
You should be actively reading 69-84 tonight in your Night books. Kickoff to the Notre Dame game is about an hour away so be sure to get the reading finished now. I'm going to reread that section myself as soon as I post this entry.
Have a good night. Go Irish. See you tomorrow.
Today you received your papers back and typed up some reflections. If you want to rewrite your paper, you can, BUT you need to bring that typed reflection in and see me so that I can make sure you are going to be improving the right things. I wouldn't want you to spend a bunch of time fixing things that don't need fixing and ignoring things that need to be repaired. Set up a time to see me this week.
You should be actively reading 69-84 tonight in your Night books. Kickoff to the Notre Dame game is about an hour away so be sure to get the reading finished now. I'm going to reread that section myself as soon as I post this entry.
Have a good night. Go Irish. See you tomorrow.
Enriched 1-07-2012
Wasn't it great to be back in school again today? It sure was great to see all of you and hear about all of your exciting experiences over the break. I was able to read three books over break including Dust Lands by Moira Young, The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens, and Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden. You all know about Black Hawk Down since I raved about it in class today. I'll say it one more time. What an amazing book, all the more powerful since it is a true account of a one day battle in Mogadishu, Somalia. It is, without a doubt, the most intense and, to borrow a word from The Wall Street Journal, "riveting" book I've ever read.
Today you began an analysis of the Nuremberg Defense. You'll be continuing along that path tomorrow, researching and writing about the reasons why it is and is not a legitimate defense, coming to your own conclusions about it and presenting your results in an aesthetically pleasing manner. I want you to be able to staunchly defend both sides. That will require solid research and a strong knowledge of all the components of the argument.
I'm going to be out of the building on Wednesday. I've got something special planned for you. Hint: you'll need your Night book. More on that tomorrow.
Tonight? Enjoy the game. Don't stay up too late. Go Irish. See you tomorrow.
Today you began an analysis of the Nuremberg Defense. You'll be continuing along that path tomorrow, researching and writing about the reasons why it is and is not a legitimate defense, coming to your own conclusions about it and presenting your results in an aesthetically pleasing manner. I want you to be able to staunchly defend both sides. That will require solid research and a strong knowledge of all the components of the argument.
I'm going to be out of the building on Wednesday. I've got something special planned for you. Hint: you'll need your Night book. More on that tomorrow.
Tonight? Enjoy the game. Don't stay up too late. Go Irish. See you tomorrow.
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