may 29

JOURNAL TOPIC: Take notes that help you connect the dots and prepare to write about the masterpiece presentations for your final.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece presentations

4
Melissa & Victoria
Mellany & Daniel


5
Haley
Edgar (?)


6

may 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:  Please take notes that help you connect the dots and prepare for the final.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Presentations

4
Eric wrap-up
Omar
Lilly

5
Connor (25)
Yun Soo (25)

6
Val Richardson

may 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Take notes on the masterpiece presentations that will help you connect the dots and write on the final.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece presentations

4
Alec (?)
Eric (35)
Jordan (15)


5
Val (50)


6
Jayce (20-30)
Lilly

may 26

For presentations: please use the classroom computer and projector, and please take notes according to the questions we've discussed. Presenters, please email Dr. Preston your presentation file or a link to your Prezi, etc.

May 26
 
4
Hannah, Judith & Sierra (50)

5
Tyler (20-30)
Jeff

6
Gianni

masterpiece academy day 3

Thanks Laike for bringing us into the world of the visual story.  Check out her Instagram here.

Thanks Imanie for stepping in at the last minute and delivering a brilliant presentation on High School Ethics-- good luck with the book!

masterpiece academy day 2

Thanks to Taylor for her presentation on marine biology and her internship at the Central Coast Aquarium.

Thanks to Noah & Alec for their presentations on teenagers' having a voice, entrepreneurship, reducing world suck, and the amazingly rich perspective of Little League umpires. 

Thanks to Joey for his entertaining introduction to ($$$) Photoshop and its free counterpart, paint.net.

Check out his video:




Maybe he'll make a flattering portrait of you too:

may 21

Period 4: Alec is out sick.  If anyone wants today's time it's yours.  Otherwise we'll have a working period.

Period 5: Laike

Period 6: MGOTM

masterpiece academy question

When the last presentation has been given, this is the question I'll ask you to write on for your final reflection.  Please feel free to start a post or notes that will help you remember what's important.
______________________________________________________________________________

For the last two weeks the Masterpiece Academy has been your showcase.  As you reflect on this experience, and your overall experience in this course throughout the year, please address the following questions in a traditional MLA-style essay.  Then post about it to your blog in any medium (music, pictures, video, animation, [?]) that brings your thesis to life.  (You may embed the original paper if you can't think of a better way to communicate.)

Please Note: Everything on the traditional paper assignment counts.  Please proofread and/or ask a friend or relative to help with organization, flow, and mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, MLA style, e.g.)


Masterpiece Academy Question

Montaigne ended his essay "Of The Education of Children" this way:

To return to my subject, there is nothing like alluring the appetite and affections; otherwise you make nothing but so many asses laden with books; by dint of the lash, you give them their pocketful of learning to keep; whereas, to do well you should not only lodge it with them, but make them espouse it. (1580)

The word espouse originally meant "to marry" and took on connotations like "embrace," "love," and "advocate."  Have you espoused learning?  Explain your growth in this course via a narrative that portrays you as the dynamic protagonist in your own bildungsroman.  Please include the following elements.

ELEMENT 1: You have been treated as colleagues and you have been given a great deal of choice in this course; this represents a high level of trust.  Did you and the others deserve it?  Earn it?  Honor it? 

ELEMENT 2: Fiction has been called "the lie that tells the truth."  Which works, authors, or characters rang true enough to make you feel like they described parts of you and/or your journey? (Please mention at least three.  It makes them sad when we forget them.)

ELEMENT 3: Have you re/connected with a passion that drives you?  If so, how will you continue your learning?  If not, how will you proceed?

ELEMENT 4: [Something about literature or this course that made you laugh out loud.]

ELEMENT 5: [A unifying theme that runs through a minimum of five (5) presentations; a quality of the content, or the speakers, or their communication techniques that strikes you as something important that we have in common.]  Please illustrate/support your point with specific examples from the presentations.

ELEMENT 6: Evaluate whether you completed the hero's journey.  Are you a hero?  To what extent did you respond to the call of adventure?  Did you find a mentor, conquer a challenge, and return enlightened?

ELEMENT 7: For old time's sake, sneak in a literary technique.  Don't make a big deal out of it.  I'll know it's there.

may 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:  After you see today's presentations, identify a meaningful connection between the three and write about it.  (Period 6, talk to at least three of your classmates and see if you can find a common thread).

AGENDA:

4
Alec & Noah
Joey

5
Taylor

6
MGOTM

masterpiece academy day 1

Thank you Elizabeth!  Ephraim and others, please feel free to upload your video of Elizabeth's presentation to this post.

may 19

"A man's got to know his limitations." -Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry in Magnum Force

I'm following doctor's orders and I hope to be back tomorrow.  (Yes, right now I AM thinking that every single day.)  Please root Elizabeth on during period 4 and take video of her presentation.  I look forward to seeing it (and her new haircut!) -- please feel free to help her with the classroom computer and projector, and email me if anything comes up that you can't solve.  Looking forward to Taylor's Alec's, Noah's & Joey's ideas tomorrow!
   
JOURNAL TOPIC:
Go all Harry Potter and invent a magic spell.  Explain what it does, why you wrote it, and how it makes the world a better place.  

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. MGOTM/Masterpiece Academy
3. Elizabeth's Masterpiece (period 4)

may 18

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "When You Wish Upon A Star" by Jiminy Cricket (Cliff Edwards)]

Wave your mental magic wand and imagine the next three weeks as valuable, unforgettable learning.  What do you expect from the Masterpiece Academy and how can you contribute to making it the experience you envision?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Hope everyone did well on Friday's AP exam.  I reinjured my shoulder and I'm aiming to be back in class tomorrow (Tuesday).  Please use the short period to consider the journal topic and-- most importantly-- sign up for a presentation slot if you haven't already.  Fourth period is especially crunched for time.  Thanks.

HW:

Applied Self-determination Theory, as expressed through your masterpiece work and/or literary exploration.

may 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Authors from Shakespeare to Ray Bradbury are often inspired by real life events.  We recognize Shakespeare's characters from the headlines of history: Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth.  Fahrenheit 451 started as a short story called "The Pedestrian" that Bradbury wrote after being stopped by police for taking a walk.

Write about your favorite book, play, short story, poem, or song that was inspired by or based on real people or events.  What effect/s did the fictional account create?  How did it influence your knowledge or understanding?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. MGOTM

HW: projectprojectprojectproject

If you haven't already, please sign up for a date for your Masterpiece presentation by emailing or commenting to the Masterpiece Academy Lineup.  Mahalo.

literature seminar discussion topic #1

Some of you have expressed the desire to dig deeper into literature in our last few weeks in order to better understand how it reflects and illuminates elements of our cultures and ourselves. So, for your consideration (& the first in a series): "The Myth of Human Progress and the Collapse of Complex Societies" by Chris Hedges.  Please read the piece and list your observations and questions so that we can discuss them.

In a well-reasoned comment to this post, please also take a position on Hedges' thesis:

The most prescient portrait of the American character and our ultimate fate as a species is found in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.”

may 14

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Talk to your inner 8th grader.  If you knew then what you know now, what would you have done differently in high school?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. MGOTM

HW: projectprojectprojectproject

may 13

(***Period 4: Matthew has the floor.  Please check out the video & respond when you have a chance today or this evening.)

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Please watch the following and write a response.  Thanks to Allyson (RHS '14) for sharing this!




AGENDA:
1. Journal/discussion
2. MGOTM & complete individual interviews

HW:
Please read the post on Masterpiece Academy Presentations and get yours ready.  The Academy begins next Monday, May 18.

masterpiece academy presentations

Beginning on May 13, the inmates will take over the asylum as students show how they've become the masters.  Each of you will teach the rest of us:

• How you decided what you're passionate about;
• The value your topic/field/skill has for us;
• How you learned more about the topic/field/skill by:
• Finding resources
• Becoming fluent in the language of the practitioner
• Seeking out a mentor 
• Collaborating and getting feedback from peers/blog followers
• How this has enriched your life and your experience in this course.

Per our conversations in class, your presentation should include:

• Visuals and/or hands-on experiences that bring the audience into your world
• Enough craft so as to convince us you didn't just throw something together for a grade
• Handouts or main points you think we should remember.

Please note that there will be a final essay exam based on the curriculum you create, so be sure-- as both presenter and audience member-- that you are getting the maximum understanding and value from everyone's presentations. 

masterpiece academy lineup

Thanks to everyone who requested dates via comments.  Below is the first draft schedule (with presenters' time estimates in parentheses).  If you haven't yet requested a date, please do so by Friday (May 15).  Apart from Matthew's period 4 presentation tomorrow (May 13) I have this scheduled as a working week, but don't let that stop you-- if you're ready please let me know.  I look forward to taking your micro-courses!

May 13
4
Matthew (50)

5

6

May 18
4

5

6

May 19
4
Elizabeth

5

6

May 20
4
Alec & Noah
Joey

5
Taylor

6

May 21
4
Alec McFarland (50)

5
Laike

6


May 26
4
Hannah, Judith & Sierra (50)

5
Tyler (20-30)
Jeff

6
Gianni


May 27
4
Eric (35)
Jordan (15)


5
Val (50)


6
Jayce (20-30)
Lilly

May 28
4
Lilly (50)

5
Connor (25)
Yun Soo (25)

6



May 29

4
Omar
Melissa & Victoria
Mellany & Daniel


5
Haley (20-25)
Edgar (25)


6


June 1

4
Courtney
Aaron

5
Millie (20)
Yesenia (20)
Sofia (10-15)

6
Dani & Erica & Anaya (50)


June 2
4
Stevie
Shailynn
Ephraim & Michael (20)

5
Chrystal & Tia (20)
Jhaicelle (30)

6
Shenaya

June 3
4
Jisu & Naiomi (50)
 

5
Jisu & Naiomi (30-35)
Eric & Lukas

6
Jared & Hikaru (15-20)
Laflin (15)

June 4
4
Brenissa (15)
Ashlyn (15)
Alyssa (20)

5
Lupita (20-30)
Megan (25)

6
Marcel (30)
Jacob (20)

June 5
4

Imanie (20)

5
Terry (20-30)
Chase (20)

6
Cameron (15-30)
Bailey

DURING 2-HOUR FINAL PERIOD
4
Antonia & Susel (30)

5
Hayley & Stephanie
Bridgit
Sean


6
Kurt

may 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do people make spelling errors on words they already know?  It's been famously observed that, "To err is human."  Why?  What is the connection between imperfection and humanity?  Is imperfection a flaw, or a glorious, romantic state of being, well... us?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. MGOTM/Interviews

HW:
Masterpiece work and/or finding literature you'd like to study with us.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will create the Masterpiece Academy calendar including a lit seminar menu.

may 11

JOURNAL TOPIC: [Today's tunes: "Mother" by Pink Floyd]

Yesterday many of us celebrated Mother's Day, which was made a U.S. National Holiday by Woodrow Wilson 100 years ago.  Did you observe the occasion?  How do you show gratitude or affection to your Mom the other 364 days?  (If you want to de-personalize the topic: Why do so many public figures thank their Moms on camera so much more often than their Dads?)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Independent work: please use the time to work on your Masterpiece/presentation or review for your remaining AP exams

HW:
1. If you're attending class Tuesday please plan to bring everything you'll need to work on your Masterpiece
2. Please comment to this post with any literature (prose or poetry) suggestions for discussion circles.  I will augment the menu and we'll make some choices on Wednesday.

re final transcript requests

This just in from Mrs. Dirkes:

may 8

AGENDA:
1. How was it?
2. Masterpiece Academy calendar
3. MGOTM

period 6 masterpiece calendar

As we discussed during class today, it's time to sign up for the Masterpiece Academy.  In order to give everyone the opportunity to be at their best, please sign up in a comment to this blog post for the date you'd like to present your Masterpiece.

Please include:

• the date
• how much time you'll need
• presentation materials

If you have any questions about the work itself or how to curate, please email or schedule a chat offline.

Looking forward!

period 5 masterpiece academy calendar

As we discussed during class today, it's time to sign up for the Masterpiece Academy.  In order to give everyone the opportunity to be at their best, please sign up in a comment to this blog post for the date you'd like to present your Masterpiece.

Please include:

• the date
• how much time you'll need
• presentation materials

If you have any questions about the work itself or how to curate, please email or schedule a chat offline.

Looking forward!

period 4 masterpiece academy calendar

As we discussed during class today, it's time to sign up for the Masterpiece Academy.  In order to give everyone the opportunity to be at their best, please sign up in a comment to this blog post for the date you'd like to present your Masterpiece.

Please include:

• the date
• how much time you'll need
• presentation materials

If you have any questions about the work itself or how to curate, please email or schedule a chat offline.

Looking forward!

may 5

As Promised:

• Last-minute AP exam questions
• Masterpiece work
• Individually enriching conversations

who do you want to be wednesday?

Be this guy.

Not this guy.

may 4

(There is no journal today.)

AGENDA:
1. AP Exam Q & A
2. Writers' conferences by request

GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK!

ap exam materials

may 1

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Richard Cory" by Simon & Garfunkel; "Clampdown" by The Clash; "Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford]

I'm proud to work with young people who believe in improving society by being good to people.  Today is May Day, a.k.a. by many as International Workers' Day.  Right around this time last year, Erica Marquez was raising awareness on Campesinos and human rights/social justice. This year, Dani & Erica are raising the bar for everyone:

Is the following poem appropriate to the occasion?  Complete an abbreviated TPCASTT (title, paraphrase, connotation, diction, attitude, tone, shift/s, title revisited & theme) analysis to support your answer.  (For more on "working class poetry" click here.)

RICHARD CORY

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

-Edwin Arlington Robinson

AGENDA:

1. Journal/analysis

2. Discuss TPCASST model one last time

3. Review yesterday's questions as needed
4. Q & A

HW: 

Finish Poetry Boot Camp work and use AP resource materials as needed