A Little Practice with Q2

Thanks for working with the Q2 from today.  If you didn't have the chance to finish the things I asked of you in class, please just turn it in tomorrow.

We have SAS to look forward to (Be ready all of you ) and then Monday is some practice M/C and Tuesday we get to begin discussing Outliers.  I will be posting some discussion questions for the week on Monday night to help guide the class talks but you are also more than welcome to discuss items that aren't on my list.

Please DO NOT SHOW UP unprepared for the class discussions.  Silence, in that case, will be seen as a telltale sign that you didn't read. 

Wish me good sleep!

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: BTS "Mic Drop"

Writing Day One

The writing tips began today with a focus on embedding quotes and syntax improvement tomorrow.  I implore you all to just read.  It's the best way to become a better writer.  I PROMISE.

Tomorrow we will be working with a Q2 from last year's test.  I will make copies for you so just come to class with a pen and a willing to work attitude.

Thanks for all the effort.  It is noted and appreciated.  Let's turn some Civics into Teslas over the course of the year.

Love and Light,
Beltran

P.S. - Create Something sign up lists were posted at advisory today

Today's Song: Michael Jackson's "Beat It"

Counselor Meeting Day

Thank you for meeting with your counselors today. I hope it was helpful...

I look forward to actually teaching tomorrow and helping you with some tips for improving your writing.  In order to prepare for class, please read and print THIS document.  We will be using it in class.

Thursday we will be doing a little bit of practice writing and of course, Friday is SAS.

Don't forget to finish Outliers!

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: Cyndi Lauper "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

Welcome Back

Ahh, the best thing about returning to school after Thanksgiving Break (aside from you lovelies) is the fact that we have 3 weeks before another glorious vacation.

Thanks for literally showing up even though it's tough to do. 

Today we poured over some MC and noticed patterns or areas of weakness in our tests.  Thanks for creating that chart and giving some info to inform my teaching.

Tomorrow you will be meeting with your counselors (but come to class first and we will go from there).  Additionally, I reminded you of a few things:  SAS Friday, Outliers read by class on Monday 12/4 (though we won't discuss until the next day), Create Something sign ups will be posted THIS Wednesday but all projects are due for submission on Monday 12/11. 

And think about MWF...want to do it? 

Have a great rest of your day (and bring some work for after your meeting...read a book, work on ISJ, look up SAS topics, etc.)

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: Tom Petty "The Waiting"

Gratitude

To Remember:

- Surprise lunch visitors (including two who own my heart)
- Thoughtful gifts in the forms of letters and food
- Authentic laughter and knowing glances
- Quality conversations
- Safely arriving home

I wish you all a beautiful and happy vacation.  May all good things flow your way. See y'all after break!

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Broken Halos" Chris Stapleton

My Favorite Day of The Year

I think it is crucial to our happiness and our humanity to be the light and not the darkness in this divided, hot mess of a world.  I think most people are good and when we "err in the direction of kindness", we open our hands to "think[ing] higher" and "feel[ing] deeper" as Elie Wiesel would say. 

My life has been full of what people would call obstacles.  I should not be where I am today considering the odds stacked against a little brown girl from a small town in Texas.  But all the experiences have led me here to this school, on this day, and I am so grateful that I get to see you all write notes to one another. 

Watching you read them brought a lot of joy to this old heart of mine.

Thank you for that.

I hope today was a favorite one for you too.

Love and Light (and long live Post-Its),
Beltran

Today's Song: "Luxury" Jon Bellion

P.S. - HUGE SHOUT OUT to Ms. Meier for stopping by!!
P.P.S. - SAS tomorrow

Interesting Stuff Journals

Today we learned about ISJ's and while I could blather on and on about why it is so crucial, I won't.  See me with questions and I CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROW!!!

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Make Me Like You" Gwen Stefani

Lollipops

Drew Dudley's TED Talk is magnificent.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Go do as he says and say thank you to the giants in your life.  I'm sure there are plenty...after all, you are pretty magnificent kiddos.

Tomorrow have a blank journal/notebook.  So important.

Thursday is DRESS NICELY DAY. I cannot wait.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song:  "Lollipop" The Chordettes

Happy MCM

Happy Multiple Choice Monday, lovelies.  I hope today's practice helped you in some way.  If you have any questions after reviewing the annotated sheet I gave you, please stop by during lunch or Advisory tomorrow.

This week proves to be fabulous.  Tomorrow we get to enjoy a beautiful TED Talk, Wednesday you need a blank spiral/notebook and Thursday is THE day.  Ahhhhhhhhhh!  Make sure you "dress nicely".  Open your hands, people. 

Today's school based gratitudes (made public) - Thor and his voice, Sean and the door, all the Post-Its.  Thank you for making this room a beautiful place. 

I'll see y'all tomorrow. 

Love and Light,
Beltran

"Life is not a fist.  Life is an open hand waiting for some other hand to enter it." ~Elie Wiesel

Today's Song: "Gone Country" Alan Jackson

Veterans Day Post

Hi, Lovelies -

I hope your Friday is going well.  I am grading essays and realizing that I need to do some specific instruction regarding Q2.  As such, I will be handing back your papers after Thanksgiving Break and using that week before Outliers to address some common "errors" I am seeing in your writing.  I think the great news is that so many of you are so close to breaking through in terms of your writing.  We just need to get a bit "old school" and do more than just look at our essays and say "Oh, Beltran wrote this," and then move on. 

I really want you all to become better writers in terms of where you are now. 

Just wanted to update you so no one gets bummed that the essays will be returned later than originally announced.  (Though I hope you are so busy enjoying life that these essays are the least of your concerns.)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...I have some more reading to do.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Happy 3 Day

I hope you were able to use the time given today to read the glorious piece from Brain Pickings (it's linked in the previous post for anyone absent).

If you didn't finish your "reflection" you can turn it in on Monday or just email me.

Some announcements/reminders:

• On Monday, have some Post-Its
• Next Wednesday, you need a blank notebook/spiral
• Next Thursday is "Dress Up Nicely" Day...we will be taking a class photo and...
• Next Friday we do have SAS so please be prepared

I think that's it.  I hope you all enjoy the day off tomorrow and are looking forward to a peaceful holiday break.  I am a big fan of gratitude and I am forever grateful that I get to do what I love at a school that gifts me such beautiful students.

P.S. - MAD RESPECT for Sawyer whose body rolls are beyond description.  Wow.  

Love and Light,

Beltran

Today's Song: "I Would Do Anything For You" Foster the People

Brain Pickings

Today in class you are expected to read this piece from Brain Pickings.  After reading, please write a reflection piece that includes your thoughts on the past 2 days.  Leave it in the tray at the end of class.

Love and Light,
Beltran

All We Did Was Read

The power of words. Enough said.

Tomorrow we will write a bit and read some.

Enjoy the moment.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today’s Song: “Stuck Like Glue” Sugarland

TED Talk #10

Oliver Sacks is definitely the man.  Though his TED Talk (accessible HERE) might not have been everyone's cup of tea, there is no doubt the man was amazing.  What's not as amazing is that many of you showed up to class not having researched Dr. Sacks.  Keep in mind the value of context with new rhetors. 

Live and learn, I suppose.

Tonight, peruse Brain Pickings and read the pieces on Dr. Sacks.  He is worth your time.  I promise.

Tomorrow we will be reading some of his work.  That, too, is worth your time.

And a HUGE thank you to those who donated Post-Its. 

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: The Emotions "Best of My Love" (a repeat because it's so fun)

Multiple Choice #4 & Empty Your Cup

Happy Monday, Lovelies.  Thank you for your effort today and for putting up with my nuttiness (particularly periods 3 & 4).

Today you learned about yet another MC strategy.  Feel free to use it if you find yourself in a time crunch.  Always work smarter.  (The strategy is copied below.)

This week we will be entering the land of Dr. Oliver Sacks.  I'm moderately excited...he's a pretty amazing human being.  Tomorrow we will watch his TED Talk, and the next two days of our short week will be spent with his words and words written about him.  PREPARE YOUR HEARTS.

No SAS this week but be ready on the 17th.

Oh, I still need lots and lots of Post-Its.  Pretty please.

Have a great Monday.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: Pat Benatar "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"

 Exam Strategy 2

 * MC is always a combination of easy, medium, and hard questions for each passage.

 * Questions generally follow the chronology of the passage rather than transition from easiest to hardest or vice versa.

 * CHOOSE which questions to answer and which ones to skip and THEN GO BACK.

 * DO a quick check of the number of the question and the number on the Scantron every time you see a zero (10, 20, 30, and so on). 

Essay #1

Happy Friday, Lovelies.  I wish you a beautiful and peaceful weekend...I just gathered up the essays from the trays and need to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to two class periods because y'all followed directions.  You either wrote in pen or you typed your essay.  So thank you.

Thank you, periods 2 and 3 for writing your essays in pen or for typing them.  I appreciate it (as do my 41 year old eyes...20 years of reading essays, y'all.)

Also, BRAVO to you all for the two-stepping today.  IT.  WAS.  EPIC.

Look forward to a glorious short week and to some seriously delicious food for your brains in the form of dear Oliver Sacks.

See y'all on Monday...

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: George Strait "Amarillo By Morning"

Paper Due Tomorrow

Hi, Lovelies -

Just a quick reminder about tomorrow and a few announcements for the next 2 weeks (in case any of you are planners). 

Tomorrow, please have the Q2 Chavez Essay in final draft format (neat handwriting and pen - blue would be ideal).  You will be turning the work into your class tray at the beginning of class.  I will be returning the essays with feedback on Monday 11/13.  Please give me some time to go through each with the respect they deserve.  I don't want your work to be a waste of time.

After papers have been turned in, we will launch into SAS.  Some classes still have first round presenters and others don't.  Either way, BE READY.

As for upcoming doopy do's...On Monday, 11/13 (the day I return essays and we attack MC #5) you will need a pad of Post-It notes.  Any of you able to donate any?  Bring extra to class.  On Wednesday, 11/15, you will need an empty spiral or notebook for class...no binders.  If you need help with this request, email me.   

I think that's it for now...

Love and Light,
Beltran

Today's Song: George Strait "All My Exes Live in Texas" 

Game 7

Shorter post than usual.

Thanks for your work today starting the Rhetorical Analysis essay.  Bring all notes, work, texts to class tomorrow as I am giving you class time to write and collaborate.

Much love and light,
Beltran

Today's Song: "Friends in Low Places" Garth Brooks