Friday SAS

Celebration in order - periods 2, 3, and 4 have rocked it.  Super shout out to period 2 volunteers and to EM and JH and NT whose brain stuff had my mind reeling.

Over the weekend, enjoy yourself but please read something!  And have your "Examining Assumptions" worksheet for a class discussion.

Happy Weekend!
xoxo

Guess What I'm Doing...

...Reading.

I have a pile of laundry to fold, lunches to make and the season finale of "Parenthood" (cry) to watch, but I am reading because it feeds my soul.

I wish for each of you a kind of "soul food" in your life...

Thanks for being present in the PAC.  That was a very interesting experience as I attempted to wrap my head around how high stakes high school is these days.  A sweet student of mine (and an awesome classmate of yours) asked me a question about one of those pesky standardized tests I took way back when.  My answer reminded me of simpler times when a test did not determine your fate, when boys (in my case) still called to ask you out over the phone (one that was not mobile or cellular or in my pocket), when college was for some and not for all.  I'm rooting for you, lovelies.  I really, really am.

Back to my book.  Last line I just read?  "We do not need an idea of how the world was created in order to take care of one another." page 66

xoxo

Articulation

I'm currently sitting in our classroom (Hi, Ilene!!!!!) and I want to remind y'all about SAS #1 (new format) tomorrow.  Get those signatures and maybe have a conversation with your parents about your topic...Whaaaat??!!!  Tomorrow we will present on a volunteer basis so "dare greatly" to enter the "arena".

Some lovelies have been leaving comments with book suggestions so check them out.  Also, below is a grainy poor quality picture of our first semester TED Talks.  It's never too late to fix our mistakes.

Sending you all love...you are beautiful people.

xoxo

Examining Our Assumptions

Linked you will find a PDF document titled "Examining Our Assumptions" created by my AP mentor Valerie Stevenson.  (Note that there are some grammatical errors in her document.  I just finished my work so ignore the errors.  The work will still make sense.) Please print it out (if you can - handwrite if no ink/printer) and complete it by next Monday, February 2nd.  Place it in the "Class Notes" section of your binder.  The work will help you with the Argument Debate

Introductions were started today in class. (Find that document HERE.)Next Monday we will review the assumptions and have a class discussion and next Wednesday, February 4th, we will hear "opening arguments" should your team be drawn.

Thank you to the many of you who read yesterday's blog post and sent me your email address.  Those of you who did not complete that assignment, remember that this semester, while still about learning, now includes grades. So...send me an email!  :)

xoxo

p.s. - period 2, so nice to meet you.  CC, great chat at advisory.

p.p.s. - Below is a photo of the book list recommendations I'm creating...Any suggestions?

Brene Brown TED Talk

***I need your email address please.  Email me at yrbeltran@gmail.com or ybeltran@sandi.net ***

All classes watched Brene Brown's "Listening to Shame" TED Talk today.  Please rewatch the talk and take notes for your binder.  A reflection/journal was also given so please make sure that is completed as well.  (The prompt is below.)

Thank you to AO and JH and CC in period 2 today for opening up with their comments and statements.  Also shout out to ME, JS, DA, and several others who made statements about what we can do.  I look forward to class tomorrow, period 2.  A new day...

Dare greatly, people.  It's all that matters.

xoxo

Reflection/Journal #1:
"We love seeing raw truth and openness in other people, but we're afraid to let them see it in us." - Brene Brown

Thoughtfully consider Brene Brown's quote.  In a minimum 1-page written reflection, write about what this quote means and how it relates to you.

Hi Again

The times they are a changin'...

Lots of new for the semester.  If you were absent, see me or a classmate.  Templates for reading is HERE.  Stuff about Stuff is HERE.

Make sure you have a binder with all the dividers by this Friday.  We will be using this week to get adjusted to the new expectations.

Also be sure to check the blog daily and frequently. (I will be creating a recommended reading list as well but I need your help.  If you have read a good book lately and would like to recommend it, send me the title/author and I will add it to the list.)

xoxo

"Children are naturally resourceful and only require our guidance, not our manipulation.  In this way, they become self-regulatory." Shefali Tsabary

You

The iced tea.
Your hug.
Love, love, love.

7th period vulnerability,
3rd and 6th intelligence,
Love, love, love.

Jose and Eric,
Blasts from the past,
Love, love, love.

Prosperity.
Xoxo

Wednesday Charity

One of the things that bothers me most is laziness.  Probably because I can be lazy too, and it annoys me.  There is something to be said for motivation, resilience, grit.  Grit, in fact, is one of the greatest predictors of "success"  For those of you interested enough to click, HERE'S a link to some really excellent reading on grit and resilience.  My favorite is the Maya Angelou interview but I think she was one of the most intelligent people ever.

Be prepared for the debate tomorrow.  For those of you not in the know, it's the 2005 Singer Solution to world poverty prompt that can be found at College Board.  Or you can just look below.

And don't forget about the Twitter conversation due Friday for SAS.  (Two characters in literature, conversation between them, at least 10 total tweets/texts.)

And you should be reading for your final exams.  (1/2 WED 21st, 3/4 TH 22nd, 6/7 FRI 23rd)

In “The Singer Solution to World Poverty,” an article that appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Peter Singer, a professor of bioethics, calls attention to the urgent need for food and medicine in many parts of the world. Singer argues that prosperous people should donate to overseas aid organizations such as UNICEF or Oxfam America all money not needed for the basic requirements of life. The formula is simple: whatever money you’re spending on luxuries, not necessities, should be given away.

Evaluate the pros and cons of Singer’s argument. Use appropriate evidence as you examine each side, and indicate which position you find more persuasive.

Happy New Year

Hi all -

This post is a day late considering we came back to school yesterday.  Sigh.  I was sleepy last night so bed at 8pm for me.  :)

We watched "Brain Magic" by Keith Barry so youtube it if you want to watch again.  Tomorrow I'll be sharing our new debate/argument topic as well as some Argument basics for the AP test.

See y'all then.

p.s. - READ.