Progress report grades

Hi Everyone, Yesterday after our Zoom meeting my home internet connection failed. During that time, the grading window for the progress report grades closed. I’m not sure whether your progress report will contain the grades I sent to school today, so if you have any questions about where you stand please email dpreston.learning@gmail.com. Best, Dr. Preston

april 30 w online meeting #29

for our MOM: [Ask yourself a simple question: "How did every single moment in my life so far bring me to this one?" Then close your eyes, give yourself a minute or two, and consider whatever comes up.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
This moment -- right now -- is the newest, most modern, up-to-date, cutting-edge moment of your life. How did everything else lead up to this?  Does it represent everything you want it to? If not, what will you do to improve the next moment?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting

A NOTE ABOUT OUR MEETINGS:
A few days ago, my Mom called in the middle of one of our meetings. I decided to answer the call and introduce her to everyone. Yesterday and today, we had grandparents join us. I LOVE THIS. Learning together is much more fun -- and effective -- so if anyone in your family wants to join in, please invite them.



POST:
Please make sure to post your Fahrenheit 451 essay by 5:00 P.M. tomorrow (Friday, May 1)

april 29 w online meeting #28

for our MOM: [Stare at your feet. Seriously. That's it. Let your mind wander. Choose to follow it, or let it go. It will probably come back.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Whatever you are dealing with today, remember this: today is not being done to you. It's your day. You have the power of free will. What choices are you making today, and how are they meeting your needs?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting

POST:
In today's meeting, we discussed approaches and guidelines for writing your Fahrenheit 451 essay. So go for it! (title: FAHRENHEIT 451 ESSAY)  Please complete your essay and post by Friday, May 1. If you would like line-by-line editing and comments, please copy your essay into a Google doc and share using my gmail address.

an opportunity for us

On one hand, I need another project right now like I need a hole in the head.

But sometimes life and circumstance bring us an idea too important to ignore. Something just came up for me. I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner, when I gave the journal option, but it's distracting me from everything else, so I'm posting it to see what you think.

The public doesn't usually get to hear from students. There are exceptions: Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, and Emma Gonzalez (and her fellow survivors from Parkland) have become well-known, respectively, for their advocacy of important causes. They have proven that the world listens to teenagers when those teenagers have something important to say.

Think of every dramatic character you've seen in movies or read in books. One of the things that makes them so interesting is the challenging circumstances they are forced to deal with.  Right now, that's you. I believe that you have something important to say, and readers around the world want to know how you survive because they need to as well. I will help you edit and refine what you write so that it says exactly what you want it to say in a way that you will be proud to share for years to come. If we get this together, I will self-publish a copy for each author. If I can find a publisher to actually buy the book, every author will be an equal partner -- except me. I'll contribute my share to you, or to nonprofit organizations that help first responders and families in need.

Topics might include:

• Grieving a loved one's illness or death
• Losing freedom
• Taking care of young/old family members
• Home with a difficult family situation
• Working in the fields without adequate protection
• Worrying about finances, college, or life in general
• Feelings of anxiety, depression, rage -- or happiness, relief, safety, or [however you're feeling]
• Perspectives on the government's response
• Visions for the future of education [what will HS look like in the fall and beyond?] 

You will undoubtedly have different ideas, those are just off the top of my head. Right now the internet is full of blogs, columns, and social media posts about everyone's experience during the pandemic.

I have been so impressed with every student who has connected with me since school closed. Some of you have grieved family members, or lost opportunities, or simply been bored out of your minds, but every conversation and email and blog comment has been kind, and graceful, and it's made me proud to be part of this community.

What do you think about this for a title?

SURVIVING WITH CLASS: HIGH SCHOOL LETTERS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE

Is that cheesy? You tell me. If you have a better idea, we'll use it!

The book will be a collection of student stories, essays, letters, rants, etc. I will help edit, but YOU will be the authors.

If you have a story/thought/feeling you want to share, comment to this post or send an email.  If you know someone (like a senior who's missing out on prom/grad night/graduation) who isn't in our class but would like to contribute, send them my way.

*This is one of several options for your final project this semester.  I'll share the others in a separate post by Friday, May 1.

april 28 w online meeting #27

for our MOM: [Choose a word that feels important to you. Repeat it silently for 60 seconds.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If you were going to write a book about life during the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020, what would you title it?  Why?

(***I have a specific reason for asking this question. Stay tuned for a post on this later in the day...)

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting

HEADS UP:
In today's meeting we talked about the Fahrenheit 451 essay. Tomorrow we will be sharing screens as we create outlines, consider thesis statements, and write introductions.

fahrenheit 451 essay

If you've been joining our online meetings or watching the recordings on the course blog, you know that there are a few awesome diehards -- people that I will truly remember for the rest of my life -- who show up every day and contribute their thinking to the course.

Yesterday, I asked them what they thought would make a good essay prompt. They basically went all Guy Montag on me and said they don't want to write essays the way they've been told all their lives. Instead, they suggested that I give you a menu of themes from the book, and techniques that Ray Bradbury uses to convey those themes, and turn you loose.

In today's meeting (coming up in about 5 minutes), I will explain the menu, answer questions, and demonstrate an approach to writing the essay live.  Please join us!  If you can't, please watch the recording later. As always, if you have any questions, please comment to this post or send me an email.

Hope you're all doing well.  Here's the buffet:

THEMES
Self-determination
Materialism/ capitalism
Happiness/ peace of mind
Independence
Personal connection/ intimacy
Technology
Dystopian society

(*Note: censorship isn't on here. If you still think that's the main theme of the book, catch up with us!)

TECHNIQUES
Characterization
Figurative language
Dialogue
Extended metaphor (hands, for example)
Narrative voice
Plot development

april 27 w online meeting #26

for our MOM: [Close your eyes. Bring your hands together so that your fingers interlock. Notice which index finger is on top. Feel your hands give each other a hug. Now, take your hands apart. Wiggle your fingers, stretch them out into space, and try to make your hands forget that they ever met each other. After a few seconds -- your eyes should still be shut -- bring your hands back together, and interlock your fingers, but with the OPPOSITE index finger on top. Was this easy for you to do? Does it feel weird? Reflect on the idea that habits -- familiar ways of doing things -- is this easy, and this hard, to do.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Do you crack your knuckles? I started in the sixth grade. It's a weird habit. Why does anyone do this?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting

HEADS UP:
In today's meeting we talked about the Fahrenheit 451 essay. Tomorrow morning I'll post the prompt, and it will be due by noon next Monday (May 4).

april 24 w online meeting #25

for our MOM: [Think of a smell that makes you happy. Focus on it and see if you can actually smell it. Closing your eyes may help. Sitting next to dirty laundry will not.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Quick, think of a story you remember. It could be a book, movie, TV show, or even just something someone told you. What do you remember about it?  Why do you think it came to mind today?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post


POST: Today on Zoom we spent a few minutes reading and discussing the introduction of the essay I wrote about Fahrenheit 451. Please read the essay over the weekend, and post your first impression on your blog. (title: I KNOW THIS GUY!) Note: the title is a pun... you don't know Guy Montag, but you do know the guy who wrote the essay on Medium, and hopefully you will know Guy Montag a little better by the time you get to the end of the essay.

ALSO: On Monday's Zoom call we will be talking about your first impressions, the themes of the novel, and the techniques that Bradbury used to give us a sense of meaning. Our discussion will give us the foundation to write essays about the experience of reading Fahrenheit 451.

preston writes an essay

Hi,
Hope this finds you and yours well.

Whether or not you've been on the Zoom calls, it's time for us to plan our final weeks and finish our semester strong.

To start, please read the essay I wrote about Fahrenheit 451 on Medium and be ready to discuss and/or answer questions online by Monday.

Looking forward to our 1:00 call today -- in just a few minutes!)

Best,
Dr. Preston

april 23 w online meeting #24

for our MOM: [Try to be as thoughtless as you can.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes you curious about the world? (Thanks, Lyna!)

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Please remember to read the essay I wrote


POST: Granger talks about digging a big hole and burying war. But first, he says, we're going to build a mirror factory. Why does he say this? What's important about reflection, and how does it help us improve ourselves and the world around us?  (Title: MIRROR MIRROR)

watch this and prepare to get happy

The title of this post is an absolute guarantee. Even if you hate children and laughter and everything good in this world, you won't be able to help it. No shame in it; this kid is hysterical and laughing is the best kind of contagious. Enjoy!

don't play with matches

I love that someone thought to take this much time and care to make a statement with art that self-destructs.

three things I want you to know

Hey. If you're human, you're probably suffering right now. You may know people who are sick. You may have lost someone close to you. You may be taking care of your family, whether they are young, old, out of work, or trying to cope with their own lives, some of which were pretty hard before the pandemic took us all out of our routines. You may just be frustrated, or bored out of your mind,  thinking about all the people and experiences that you're missing.

There is no lecture or pep talk that anyone can give you that will change our circumstances. This is hard, and it's going to be hard for a while, and none of us know exactly how long that will be, or what life will look like afterward. (Wait a sec: I actually can see a little bit of the future -- the part where I won't be shaking hands with anyone.)

I'm writing today to share three things:

1. I am here for you. That may not mean very much-- after all, "here" in that sentence means my house, and I'm not leaving. I just want you to know that I understand things are hard, and if you need someone to listen, I will. You can email for my phone number, or we can jump on a Zoom call.

2. This will pass. Part of what makes the pandemic so difficult is that we are getting conflicting information, the adults can't seem to agree, and we don't know when it will be over. We don't even know how we will know when it's over, or safe to live our lives in public again.  But we do know this: human beings have endured these events before, many times, and historians and medical professionals all indicate that a pandemic has a life cycle that includes a beginning, multiple phases, and -- thank goodness! -- eventually, an end. This gives me hope. It is also a powerful reminder that we will look back on these months and recall what we did with our time. Which leads me to #3...

3. Learning is alive and well. The school campus has been closed for health reasons, but we are continuing to learn -- also for health reasons. Learning is what humans do best. I'll spare you the lecture about neuronal development, dopamine, depression, stroke survivors, and how the learning I'm talking about here is not what you normally do in your classes (of course, if you're interested, I'll be happy to teach that stuff!). What I really want you to know is this: you are learning every day, and taking just a few minutes to post about your thinking is one way to strengthen yourself, just like exercising, getting 8 hours of sleep, or eating nutritious, balanced meals. This course -- this moment in your life -- is no longer about a grade or graduation. It's about being healthy and strong, and staying that way. So, if you just binge-watched a(nother) show, fine -- now do some jumping jacks, eat some broccoli, and post something to your blog. You'll feel better. I promise.

this six-year-old ROCKS

april 22 w online meeting #23

for our MOM: [If you can, go outside. If you can't go outside, go to a window where you can see the sky. If you're stuck in the basement, close your eyes and imagine it. The sun on your face. The breeze tickling your skin. Mmm. Happy Earth Day.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
At the beginning of today's reading, Granger talks about his Grandfather and what happens if we forget our place in nature. What does he say?  Do you agree with this?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Please remember to read the essay I wrote


POST: We talked about Montag's reaction to the city's destruction, how it turned everything upside down, but at the same time gave him a chance to reflect. He even seemed to find some compassion for Mildred. This is a trademark of modernism as a genre, and also of Montag as a dynamic character. Describe Montag's reaction, your reaction to Montag's reaction, and how it aligns (or doesn't) with your experience in dealing with emotionally complex situations (like, say, a breakup, or a socially crippling coronavirus pandemic).  (Title: IT'S COMPLICATED)

april 21 w online meeting #22

for our MOM: [Close your eyes. Touch the fingertips of your left hand to the fingertips of your right. Think of all the wonderful things those hands can do. When you're ready, open your eyes and then use your hands to answer the journal topic.]

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Changes" by David Bowie]
Describe something wonderful you can do with your hands.  What can you build/cook/write/play/or [?] that can be seen and appreciated by others?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Please remember to read the essay I wrote


POST: In today's reading, Granger talks about his grandfather. What about his description made an impression on you?  How did Granger's grandfather use his hands, and why does this matter -- to Granger, to Montag, and to us? (title: GIVE US A HAND)

april 20 w online meeting #21

for our MOM: [Inhale deeply. When you exhale, say "hmmmm..." like you're being really thoughtful.]

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Changes" by David Bowie]
Is your personality today the same as when you were a little kid? (Hint: I hope not!) Can you think of a moment in your life when you learned or experienced something that led you to change?  What happened? How did it change you? Can you relate this to what you see in Montag's character as we read Fahrenheit 451?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Please remember to read the essay I wrote (the link is in yesterday's post)


POST: (title: AS WE GROW, WE CHANGE) In the novel Fahrenheit 451, some of the characters are static and some are dynamic.  What makes a character dynamic?  Choose a dynamic character from Fahrenheit 451.  Explain at least three ways this character changes throughout the book and be prepared to support your points with textual evidence (such as a quote or an event in the plot).  Why does this character change?  How does this character's evolution reflect the overall theme and tone of the book?  *NOTE: Please remember to include at least five lit terms in your analysis of the text.

reconnecting for the home stretch of spring semester

Hi!

I hope this finds you and your family doing well. By popular demand, we continued to meet last week over Spring Break (as one student put it, "Break from what?") and I've been glad to see many of you continue to update your blogs.

If you haven't joined/watched our meetings, or you need to catch up, here is where we are:

• In Fahrenheit 451 we are on p. 132 (in my printed copy), about 20 pp. from the end, at the point where Montag escapes into the country and approaches men sitting around a fire
• We will finish reading this week, at which point we will analyze the essay I posted, and you will write your own
• Then we will create an endgame for the semester that includes your Big Questions, my ideas/offerings, and a final essay that we will create together
• In collaboration with students, I created a grading policy for our course that aligns with the school district's policy and addresses questions and concerns that students raised
• I have worked with individual students to edit and guide their practice writing samples

I hope you will join us for the 1:00 Zoom meeting today (which you can access by clicking HERE).

As always, please feel free to email me or comment to this post if you need anything.

Onward!
Dr. Preston

april 17 w online meeting #20

for our MOM: [Inhale deeply. Imagine being chased and running for your life. Then imagine getting away. How relaxing does that feel?]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Montag kills Beatty, and the mechanical hound, and then runs for his life.  This is both fight and flight. When is it wise to escape danger by fleeing, and when is it important to turn and defend yourself? How do you make this decision? What would you teach a younger child to think about in this kind of moment?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Please remember to read the essay I wrote (the link is in yesterday's post)

april 16 w online meeting #19

for our MOM: [Inhale deeply. When you exhale, say "hmmmm..." like you're being really thoughtful.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In the spirit of Montag's trying to escape the mechanical hound today, it's free play. Run for it! Choose your own topic.

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Please remember to read the essay I wrote (the link is in yesterday's post)

april 15 w online meeting #18

For our MOM: [Close your eyes and picture a scene that makes you truly happy.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:

George Bernard Shaw was a famous author who wrote more than sixty plays and won a Nobel Peace Prize for his writing.  He was known for having a pretty sharp wit, and at some point he decided to take teachers down a peg by saying, "Those who can't do, teach."

Now, I love a good saying as much as anyone, and heaven knows some teachers earn more respect than others, but it just so happens that Shaw was dead wrong.  Before I prove it to you, however, two questions:

1. If you could pick one teacher to do the work s/he assigns, who would it be?  Why?

2. What do you think is easier-- doing something well or teaching someone else to do it?  Why?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Read this Fahrenheit 451 essay by an author we know really well (please plan to finish reading this by Tuesday, April 21 so we can discuss and get you ready to write as we finish the book)
4. Online meeting

april 14 w online meeting #17

GAH! I just noticed that this didn't publish when I thought it did, so it's going up now (just before our 1:00 call on the next day, April 15). I'll publish today's post after our call, feel free to pick whichever journal entries and post topics you like... 
______

for our MOM: [Inhale deeply. When you exhale, say "hmmmm..." like you're being really thoughtful.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today we read a passage about curiosity. This is an interesting topic to me, because our Western/American culture gives us mixed messages about it. On one hand, we are told to ask questions in school and express enthusiasm for learning new things. On the other, we grow up with lots of sayings and stories ("Curiosity killed the cat," "Don't fly too close to the sun," "Don't disobey orders or eat from the tree of knowledge," for example) that teach us to NOT be curious.

What makes you curious?




-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post

POST:
(Thanks for the idea, Deanna!)
Today Montag killed Beatty with a flamethrower. This does not seem to be consistent with his growing personality-- Montag was open to Clarisse's ideas, he is curious about poetry, and he even cared for Mildred-- but when Beatty said he would arrest Faber, that seemed to be the last straw. Still: a flamethrower? Brutal. Is there anything in real life that you think can motivate an otherwise peaceful, kind person to murder? Is murder ever justified? (title: MURDER JUST BECAUSE)

april 13 w online meeting #16

For our MOM: [See how quiet you can get inside your own mind -- no matter how much noise you hear around you.]

 JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Vacation" by the Go-Go's]

Since it's harder to tell the days apart without the structure of school and work, what makes your day meaningful?  Is it a conversation, an observation, something you learn?  How can you include something in your day that will make you feel more satisfied when it's over?

 -OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post

POST:
Today we read about how Montag, with Faber in his ear, gets to the firehouse, where Beatty harasses him until the alarm bell rings. The firemen gear up and tear into the night streets-- and when they arrive at their destination, Montag realizes that they've pulled up in front of his house. Do you think Montag's decision to read books was worth the risk (title: NO GUTS NO GLORY)

today we make history

***TODAY WE MAKE HISTORY***

When has a group of high school students 

ever 

asked to continue learning together over Spring Break?

You Rock.

See you at 1.

new spring semester grading policy: please read to the end

It's Saturday.  It's Spring Break. So: Why am I thinking about your grades today and posting to the course blog?

Because I'm in this for the learning.  Every single one of us has something to learn. I could say that about the whole country, the whole world -- so many people everywhere, looking at the pandemic response, the economy, and our politics, are wondering: "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO LEARN?!?"

This morning I went for a trail run. I thought about what is different these days and what hasn't changed.

I'm actually smiling in that picture. You can't tell. That expression could be a squint, or I could be experiencing stomach cramps. If I want you to understand me, especially in this "new normal" where we have to do things differently in order to care for ourselves and each other, I have to explain myself.

So do you.

It's a sad thing that so many people associate learning with grades. It's even sadder to watch people stop learning because they don't see a reward or punishment coming.

There was no external reason for me to go for a run this morning. It's not going to make me more money. My wife isn't going to love me any more (maybe less, if I don't wash that stinky shirt). There was no crowd to applaud wildly when I finished sprinting up the last hill, put my hands on my knees, and watched the drops of sweat hit the dirt.

If you haven't figured it out yet, the title to this post has a double meaning. I want you to read to the end of this post -- you're almost there -- and I want us to finish the year strong. That means finishing the novel we're reading, and reflecting on our thoughts about it in writing.

I understand that not everyone has the same circumstances right now. I also understand that not everyone has the same internal motivation. I am concerned that some people might read the school district's credit/grading policy as an invitation to stop reading and writing and let their brains atrophy for the next four months, and that will make your senior year all the more difficult.

So, I'm announcing a new grading policy for our course. This is designed to build on the school district policy (which still applies, of course) in a way that will give all of you an opportunity to earn at least a B in the course.

Beginning Monday, April 14:

• You will receive at least a B for this course on your report card for the Spring 2020 Semester, if you:
• post at least three journals per week
• post one writing assignment per week
• attend at least one online meeting per week (or watch the recording, or -- if your internet connection is too slow -- connect with a friend to see what you missed)
• post notes on one online meeting per week
• and complete the final essay (I will post the prompt on May 26 and the essay will be due on your blog 6/2)
• You will receive an A for this course on your report card for the Spring 2020 Semester, if you:
• do the work above with demonstrated integrity (that is, you try hard instead of just checking the boxes) 
• and the work itself is of superior quality, OR you ask for a writer's conference and revise it to make it better

This means EVERYONE has an opportunity to earn an A or a B in this course. Even if you were failing before March 13, this is your chance to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.

Please comment or email if you have any questions. We will be online Monday at 1:00. Onward!

district grading policy

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District has released a grading policy (see below).

Please communicate with each of your teachers, because they may have different standards and practices. Ask if you have an A in their course. If you do, ask what (if anything) you need to do in order to maintain it. If you don't, ask if there is anything you can do to improve your grade at this point for the semester report card.

We don't yet know exactly how different colleges and universities will interpret transcripts from this period of time, and you still want/need to be competitive, so the ideal is still straight As.

Hope that helps. If you need more info let me know. We can also discuss this online in a little while.

concern about grades

Hi All,
This week I received an email indicating that administrators are discussing how to handle grades.  As I have told you, I can't pretend to understand what it's like for you to be at home during the campus closure, and I am not looking to penalize or punish people for not posting work on their blogs.

These days I'm hearing the word accountability a lot. The actual definition of accountability is, "The state of being accountable or answerable."  It describes a personal quality that we develop within ourselves.  Accountability is also a practice. A person who is accountable takes responsibility for their choices and actions.

In school, however, when this word comes up, it is not seen as a character trait, but as something people do to each other, as in, "We've got to hold those students accountable."

So, today I am making a request. Please post something on your blog. If you haven't kept up with the meetings or the reading, then publish a post on your personal journal about your life during the closure. Something. I want to be able to tell faculty and administrators that our students are accountable as a matter of their personal sense of discipline and honor -- their character.

If you need any help or have any questions, please comment to this post or email dpreston.learning@gmail.com.

Thanks and be well. -dp

april 9 w online meeting #15

for our MOM: [What about today makes it a great day?]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In the passage we read today in Fahrenheit 451, Mildred's friends were really resistant to poetry -- and then, when Montag read it, they had an intense emotional reaction. Why do you think this happened?  And what is it about poetry that creates a different reaction than prose?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post

POST:
In terms of his plan with Faber, Montag made a big mistake in reading the poem to Mildred and her friends. But Faber wasn't angry with Montag -- he tells Montag that it's good for Montag to make mistakes. Why?  How can we use mistakes as opportunities, not just to learn, but also to reinforce our courage and build the capacity to take smart risks as we grow? (title: THE GLORY OF THE MISTAKE)

april 8 w online meeting #14

for our MOM: [Today, just take a breath -- then exhale and repeat. Continue for 60 seconds.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
In the background of Fahrenheit 451, there is a war looming -- eventually (spoiler) there will be a bombing.  The first time I wrote this journal topic, I was teaching class on December 7, the anniversary of Pearl Harbor.  Before 9/11, Pearl Harbor was the biggest attack on the United States; unfortunately there are many examples of this sort of destruction throughout history. Unlike the coronavirus pandemic, national crises like 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were created on purpose -- they were intentional attacks designed to kill many people.

What can possibly account for this? Yesterday Faber described unflattering ways that the U.S. is seen by people in other countries.  Do you think this could motivate people to do that sort of damage? Why do you think people resort to this type of violence? (NOTE: This is a loaded question -- please forgive the pun -- so you can also use it for today's post. Suggested title: A CASE FOR WAR?)

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post

POST:
(Please see JOURNAL TOPIC above.)

april 7 w online meeting #13

for our MOM: [Today, just take a breath -- then exhale and repeat. Continue for 60 seconds.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Most of the recent journal topics that I've suggested have related to Fahrenheit 451.  Today, I'm curious about the most frustrating, embarrassing, difficult, weird thing you've had to do since school closed due to the coronavirus.  Why, you ask, did I think of this?  Because yesterday I had to hold a screaming dog while my wife clipped his toenails.

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post

POST:
What plans do Montag and Faber make?  Where do you see this leading?  (title: FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL)

april 6 w online meeting #12

for our MOM: [Feel how healthy and strong you can feel. Imagine sharing that feeling around the world in such a powerful way that it heals everyone who's sick and destroys the coronavirus. I know, I know, but I can dream, can't I?  At least use the first part to feel good for 60 seconds today.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time you read something, didn't quite understand it, and another person helped you.  What was it about the way they explained that made the meaning clear?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. We need a plan
3. Fahrenheit 451

POST:
1. Why does Montag want to get in touch with Faber?  (Consult the book if you need to refresh your memory.) [title: SOMETIMES YOU NEED A PROFESSOR]

april 3 w online meeting #11

for our MOM: What makes you curious?

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Montag appears to be heavily influences by his relationships with other people.  What influences you more, your relationship with yourself or your relationship with others?  Why?

-OR-

You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.

AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post

POST:
In today's meeting we talked about curiosity, and I realized I had two potential topics for posts: here are both. :)

1. Do you think our curiosity is determined by our personality, or by our culture, or both?  Think about it: we have all these ways of controlling people, and one of them is warning them against curiosity ("curiosity killed the cat" and eating from the tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden are two well-known examples).  What do you think? How does the cat get curious enough to take the risk? (title: THIS CAT IS CURIOUS)

2. In the book, Montag gets "sick" and doesn't want to go to work.  Now that he is reflecting on what firemen do and why, it's more difficult for him to justify doing this for a living.  What do you think about what Montag does?  How would you feel having to do something that hurts other people?  Are there more important values that should guide what we do in our working lives, or is it just about the paycheck?  (title: IS IT JUST ABOUT THE JOB?)

april 2 w online meeting #10

For our MOM: [Today, try NOT thinking. Just breathe.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write a commercial for Fahrenheit 451.  What images would you show?  What music would you play?  What 3-5 ideas would you share to get people interested enough to buy and read the book?


AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post


POST:
What makes us happy? In Fahrenheit 451, Beatty says it's external things like entertainment, sports, or food.  Do you agree?  When those things are taken away -- like now -- are there internal sources of happiness on which we can draw to sustain ourselves?  (title: MY INNER HAPPY)

april 1 w online meeting #9

For our MOM: For those times when it's just me, and I can't connect with anyone else, how can I keep myself better company?

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write a commercial for Fahrenheit 451.  What images would you show?  What music would you play?  What 3-5 ideas would you share to get people interested enough to buy and read the book?


AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Our meeting
4. Post


POST:
1. When is independence important, and when is interdependence important? (title: UNITED WE STAND?)
2. Today we read a passage in which Captain Beatty said that the government didn't need to ban books, because people didn't want to read anymore.  He said that slowing down and thinking made people sad and brought them into conflict.  Is that true?

And: Why don't more people in our culture think of intelligence as a superpower? Why doesn't the media and even our own school champion academic accomplishments the way we celebrate football games and rallies?  Why do so many people fear, criticize, and insult smart people in class or the workplace? Have we become the society Ray Bradbury feared? (title: ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM IN AMERICA)