thank you

As often as I say it, I feel like I don't say it often enough:

Thank You.

Thank you for your effort, your insight, your willingness to risk and make mistakes and change your mind;

Thank you for your trust, for your sense of humor, for your curiosity;

Thank you for your time, for your attention, and

Most of all

Thank you for taking this learning trip with me this year.

It's been a feast of ideas.

I hope you feel like it was time well-spent.

Wishing you the best this summer and always,

Dr. Preston

no one said "have a good summer" like thoreau

finals week

The hour is upon is.  I look forward to seeing you all this week for our last conferences before we adjourn for the summer.

my learning was lit

your post will read:

"This year I learned the following terms and I applied them as I read some pretty great stuff:

allusion
plot
theme
diction
syntax
in/direct characterization
static/dynamic characters
symbolism
synecdoche
metaphor
simile

you don't have to go high-tech to tell a story

endgame

Here's what we still have on our agenda:

• DUE TODAY: Your blog post entitled, "My Learning Was Lit"
• DUE TODAY: Your journal
• DUE TODAY: Your sign-up for our finals week experience
• DUE TODAY: Your 360-degree assessment
• DUE SUNDAY NIGHT (by midnight PDT) Your super-amazing blog post in which you use color, visual imagery/ mixed media (pics, vids, animation, embedded slides, etc.) to design and present your learning journey in this course

june 1

It's June, man.

June.

JUNE.
Dude.

JOURNAL TOPIC: (do this at the end of the period)

Reflect on the year.  What will you remember from this course?

AGENDA:
1. 360 Assessment
2. Sign-ups for final
3. Journal

may 31

JOURNAL TOPIC: (do this at the end of the period)

How does online media give us the chance to communicate differently than writing on paper?  What media did you choose to tell your story on your website?  Why?

AGENDA:
1. Turn in your paper
2. Digital design
3. Journal
*READ 180 (if you have time)

may 30

JOURNAL TOPIC:

This past weekend I flew across the country.  Security lines were long, flights were delayed, and people seemed stressed out and frustrated.  When I was younger, I loved to fly-- it was something I got to do, and it was fun.  Now, especially when I fly for business, flying seems like something I have to do.  What's the difference between getting to do something and having to do something?  How would school be different if it was something people get to do instead of something they have to do?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Academy wrap-up
3. Paper prep
*READ 180*

***

PLEASE REMEMBER: 

PAPERS ARE DUE TOMORROW 

AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.  

NO EXCEPTIONS. 

NO EXCUSES.

Mahalo.

***

immigration forum

may 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What did you do this weekend to succeed in this course? 

-OR-
Write a short story with the following ingredients: an alligator, a cafeteria worker, and an umbrella.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
*READ/READ 180
2. Masterpiece Academy: wrap-up
3. Final paper process: DUE THURSDAY

may 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
"Good luck."  What a bunch of crap.  We know better.  Since the 1600s we've had sayings like, "The harder I work, the better luck I have" and "Chance favors the prepared mind."  So why do so many of us ignore the obvious and just hope for the best without taking the right-minded action that will more likely create the results we desire?  Why leave your fate to... well, fate?  What can you do today to improve your luck?

--OR--

Choose your own topic.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
*READ 180*
2. Masterpiece Academy
3. Tips for writing the paper

Alisson (15 minutes)
Mari (15 minutes)
Judith (15 minutes)
Sandra (16 minutes)
Erika (5 minutes)

may 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today's the day.  But... the day for what?  Explain your answer.

--or--

You find a scorpion in your shoe.  The hard way.  Describe in detail.

--or--

Choose your own topic.

1. Journal
*READ 180/ READ*
2. Outline and begin the rough draft of your final paper (see prompt here); please give your paper to the substitute teacher at the end of period 5

*REMINDER: If you are presenting tomorrow (Thursday, May 24) please send me your materials

may 22

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes something funny?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
*READ 180/ READ
2. Masterpiece Academy

Yesenia (6 minutes)
Jose (8 minutes)
Maria (10 minutes)

may 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time you or someone you know got hurt.  What happened?  How did you react?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
*READ/ READ 180*
2. Masterpiece Academy

thanks for your concern

I appreciate those of you who asked if I was alright this morning.  I won't speak to the cause of the injury, but I will say this much (in language you're sure to understand):  You ain't never gonna have a teacher as hard-headed as me.  And by the way, I was still on time for class this morning.

masterpiece academy day 2

Bruno brought us onto the field to learn about football:

Lessly taught us about her goal of becoming a doctor.  You can see her presentation HERE.

laurel or yanni?

I'm stumped.  Read about it HERE.

may 18

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the most interesting Masterpiece you've seen so far.  What made it compelling?  The topic?  The speaker?  The materials?  Explain.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
*READ 180/ READ*
2. Masterpiece Academy

Bruno (10 minutes)

masterpiece academy day 1

Thanks to Jesus for a great presentation on becoming an auto mechanic!  It's great to see how a person can get interested in something because he wants to help people and he's good with his hands, and turn that interest into a career path.  Great start to our Masterpiece Academy!