Outliers Reading Day

Hi, lovelies -

Thank so much for reading in class today and prepping for our class discussions next week.  In an effort to help you become even better students than you already are, take a look at some of the expectations/questions I have for our time together next week.

As a true reader, begin with the basics and context and journey into the critical thinking necessary for a strong consumer of rhetoric.

• Who is Malcolm Gladwell?
• When did he publish this book?
• Does he have a website?
• Has he written or produced other works?
• Consider the title and the subtitle.
• Look up geographic locations on a map so you have a mental visual about where things are taking place. 
• For each chapter, have you annotated the text with questions, thoughts, items that you challenge or are confused by?
• Have you looked up words and definitions as needed?
• After reading the book, have you done any research on critics' opinions of Gladwell's claims?  What else is out there in terms of Outliers?
• Most importantly, what do YOU THINK about the individual chapters and the book as a whole?
• What are you curious about in terms of how your classmates think?  Do you have any questions for them?
• Overall, what have you taken away from the text?
• And a PRO TIP for getting organized in discussions takes a lot of advanced prep work but it pays off in the end...Have a color coded system of Post-Its or even just really well-organized notes that give you clues as to what you want to say/discuss.  For example, red Post-Its can indicate items you disagreed with or had questions about, yellow Post-Its can represent quotable lines or items you feel are vital/good, and blue Post-Its can be outside research you did on vocabulary, maps, biographical info, etc.  The point is to BE PREPARED.  ("Achievement is talent plus preparation.  The problem with this view is that the closer psychologists look at the careers of the gifted, the smaller the role innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play. " page 38)

Also, here's the video I showed a snippet of today - #Ham4Bey.  Just wow. 

Love and Light,
Beltran

Daily Journal:  Agree, disagree or qualify the following statement - - > "No one is a self-made person."

The Art of Asking

TED Talk here.

Thanks for a good day.  Happy Anniversary!!  Tomorrow have your Outliers book and be ready to read or prep notes for the class discussions next week.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Daily Journal:  In what ways do you silence your own voice?

It's Almost Our Anniversary!

Oh my lovelies, tomorrow is our three month anniversary.  I'm so excited that we have made it this far with a few ups and downs along the way.  I missed you over break and am mostly glad to be back at "it" again.  Three weeks until Winter Break (I'm just sayin'...).  If you were absent (or just need a review), we went over important dates for the next few weeks and we also worked on a sheet documenting all the connections from the first week of school.  If you didn't turn it in to me at the end of class, please turn it in at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will be watching our TED Talk and then working on our charts so have them with you.

Wednesday is an Outliers reading day.  Bring your book.

Thursday is practice Multiple Choice and Friday is SAS.

Whew.

Love and Light,
Beltran

Daily Journal:  Complete the rest - "On my heart today..." GO!

Happy Break

So sorry I wasn't there today and didn't have the chance to give you a heads up.  Life sometimes happens but rest assured that all is well.  Thank you for the concerned emails and messages.

I wish each of you a peaceful and relaxing break and should you celebrate Thanksgiving, may you enjoy all that the tradition brings.

As for your "work" over break: NO JOURNALS.  You can feel free to write if you'd like but I will not be posting prompts as I, too, need a rest.  Be sure to read Outliers, though.  You are expected to have the book read in its entirety by Monday, December 5th.  And while we're at it, Create Something 1.0 is due on Friday, December 9th.

Be safe and be well.  I'll see you after break.

Love and light,
Beltran

P.S. A quotey quote for you as you (hopefully) check out of the school routine for a bit...

"My wish for you is that you continue.  

Continue to be who you are,

to astonish a mean world

with your acts of

KINDNESS."

~Maya Angelou

The Power of the Post-It

Thank you.

Just thank you for wholeheartedly participating today.

It's my favorite day of the year - always.

Love and light,
Beltran

Daily Journal:  How did today make you feel?  

 

Plato is My Homeboy

The prisoner returns to the cave to inform the other prisoner of his findings.  They do not believe him and threaten to kill him if he sets them free.  (The Allegory of the Cave by Plato)

"But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck."  (lyrics from "The Cave" by Mumford and Sons)

"When you open your hands to catch and wind up with only blisters and bruises; when you step out of the phone booth and try to fly and the very people you want to save are the ones standing on your cape; when your boots will fill with rain, and you'll be up to your knees in disappointment. And those are the very days you have all the more reason to say thank you." ("Point B" by Sarah Kay)

"What else can you ask someone else to do but try?"  (Ash Beckham)

"I sit here writing, for I know that time does not come fluid and whole into my trembling hands. All that is here comes piecemeal..." (Fault Lines by Meena Alexander)

"There Is A Crack In Everything, That's How the Light Gets In" (line from Leonard Cohen's song Anthem)

Just some legos for you...

Thanks for your work today.  Tomorrow, Post-It's.  xoxo

Daily Journal #56:  The concept of "sympathetic joy" rests firmly on the belief that we as human beings must learn to celebrate the success of others.  In this spirit, please think about your classmates (the ones in your specific class period, that is) and write about someone (or more than someONE) you admire.  Include why they are impressive.  This is just for me...

TED Talk Tuesday

Apologies to period 2 for the internet difficulties.  Here's the TED Talk.  Make sure you watch and take notes.  Make the connections - build your Lego towers!!!

Anyone who needed extra time on the name cards, please bring the completed versions to class tomorrow. 

Also, make sure you have the Meena Alexander questions and answers in class.  We will be using them to write a Rhetorical Precis.

See y'all then.

Daily Journal:  What kind of student are you this second six weeks?