Hi Everyone,
SMHS administrators are making a big effort to
help every student connect with teachers. To support this, they are
asking each teacher to provide a list of every student we have been in
contact with since the school closure. As you can probably imagine,
going through online meetings, blog posts, emails, and my memory would
be a huge time-consuming job, so I am asking for your help.
If
you have a working device, and access to the internet, would you please
(please, PLEASE) comment to this post with your name and the word Here.
Example:
David Preston Here
That's
it. It doesn't matter if you've been to every online meeting or none,
written every journal and blog post or none. Just your name and the
word Here. Please. I need to get back to SMHS about this as soon as
possible.
Thank you,
Dr. Preston
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
march 31 w online meeting #8
for our MOM: What is the first book you remember reading? Enjoying?
JOURNAL TOPIC:
As we get deeper into Fahrenheit 451, it seems that Montag is exploring a side of himself that's been hidden for a long time. As you consider his character, and people in your life, and even yourself, ask yourself these questions: What makes a person "hard core" or gentle? Are such qualities innate or learned? Can they be changed? How?
-OR-
You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.
AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. If you haven't yet, please have a look at the Fahrenheit 451 questions in the March 24 post & see if you can answer on your blog. If an answer doesn't jump out at you as obvious, ask a friend for help (you too can create an online get-together! :) or ask me tomorrow when we meet.
3. Our online meeting
4. Post
POST:
What do people think about books and the new technology now? Do you agree with others on this, or do you have your own perspective? (title: BOOKS & NEW TECH)
(Thanks for the topic, Lyna!)
JOURNAL TOPIC:
As we get deeper into Fahrenheit 451, it seems that Montag is exploring a side of himself that's been hidden for a long time. As you consider his character, and people in your life, and even yourself, ask yourself these questions: What makes a person "hard core" or gentle? Are such qualities innate or learned? Can they be changed? How?
-OR-
You can use your journal simply to write about life and your experiences in these unusual, challenging times.
AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. If you haven't yet, please have a look at the Fahrenheit 451 questions in the March 24 post & see if you can answer on your blog. If an answer doesn't jump out at you as obvious, ask a friend for help (you too can create an online get-together! :) or ask me tomorrow when we meet.
3. Our online meeting
4. Post
POST:
What do people think about books and the new technology now? Do you agree with others on this, or do you have your own perspective? (title: BOOKS & NEW TECH)
(Thanks for the topic, Lyna!)
500 year-old journal of mexican life during pandemic
Almost 500 years ago, "European colonization (of the Americas) shattered the old indigenous order through war, settlement and, most notably, disease." An estimated 90% -- that is, nine out of every ten people -- lost their lives, which is why some refer to that time as "The Great Dying."
During this time in Mexico, amid a series of pandemics, a group of scholars sealed themselves off in a convent and wrote the indigenous history of their people. You can read The Los Angeles Times article about their work here.
Beginning today, I encourage you to journal about your experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. I will continue to offer journal topics that relate to our shared reading, and I will also include a note that reminds you of this opportunity.
Writing things down is important. As we talked about last semester, people even see their food and their time use differently when they record the facts in writing. Don't be lazy -- your memory is unreliable. When you think about it, what can you remember about what you did every day last week? What your little sister said to make you smile, or what your family ate for dinner, or how you felt about what's going on? In a few short (months? years?) the coronavirus pandemic will be a story -- a history -- just like 9/11 or World War II. Unlike those events, however, for you this is not just history. This will be YOUR history.
Get a pen, right now, find a notebook or a piece of paper, and capture this moment so that your grandchildren don't have to rely on someone else's version to understand what these days are like.
During this time in Mexico, amid a series of pandemics, a group of scholars sealed themselves off in a convent and wrote the indigenous history of their people. You can read The Los Angeles Times article about their work here.
Beginning today, I encourage you to journal about your experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. I will continue to offer journal topics that relate to our shared reading, and I will also include a note that reminds you of this opportunity.
Writing things down is important. As we talked about last semester, people even see their food and their time use differently when they record the facts in writing. Don't be lazy -- your memory is unreliable. When you think about it, what can you remember about what you did every day last week? What your little sister said to make you smile, or what your family ate for dinner, or how you felt about what's going on? In a few short (months? years?) the coronavirus pandemic will be a story -- a history -- just like 9/11 or World War II. Unlike those events, however, for you this is not just history. This will be YOUR history.
Get a pen, right now, find a notebook or a piece of paper, and capture this moment so that your grandchildren don't have to rely on someone else's version to understand what these days are like.
march 30 w online meeting #7
for our MOM:
JOURNAL TOPIC: Analyze the following passage from Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. How does Bradbury's use of syntax convey differences in narrative perspective? How does his use of figurative language convey meaning?
As he stood there the sky over the house screamed. There was a tremendous ripping sound as if two giant hands had torn ten thousand miles of black linen down the seam. Montag was cut in half. He felt his chest chopped down and split apart. The jet-bombs going over, going over, going over, one two, one two, one two, six of them, nine of them, twelve of them, one and one and one and another and another and another, did all the screaming for him. He opened his own mouth and let their shriek come down and out between his bared teeth. The house shook. The flare went out in his hand. The moonstones vanished. He felt his hand plunge toward the telephone. The jets were gone. He felt his lips move, brushing the mouthpiece of the phone. "Emergency hospital." A terrible whisper.
-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:
How much of our behavior is a matter of personality, and how much is influenced by the culture (including time, place, attitudes, beliefs, values, customs, etc.) in which we live? (title: IS IT ME?)
JOURNAL TOPIC: Analyze the following passage from Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. How does Bradbury's use of syntax convey differences in narrative perspective? How does his use of figurative language convey meaning?
As he stood there the sky over the house screamed. There was a tremendous ripping sound as if two giant hands had torn ten thousand miles of black linen down the seam. Montag was cut in half. He felt his chest chopped down and split apart. The jet-bombs going over, going over, going over, one two, one two, one two, six of them, nine of them, twelve of them, one and one and one and another and another and another, did all the screaming for him. He opened his own mouth and let their shriek come down and out between his bared teeth. The house shook. The flare went out in his hand. The moonstones vanished. He felt his hand plunge toward the telephone. The jets were gone. He felt his lips move, brushing the mouthpiece of the phone. "Emergency hospital." A terrible whisper.
-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:
How much of our behavior is a matter of personality, and how much is influenced by the culture (including time, place, attitudes, beliefs, values, customs, etc.) in which we live? (title: IS IT ME?)
Monday, March 30, 2020
march 27 w online meeting #6
(Apologies: somehow this post glitched out and got stuck in Drafts on Friday. Posting March 30.)
-----
For your MOM: "My body feels [...] today."
JOURNAL TOPIC:
Historians and journalists are describing the coronavirus pandemic as a once-in-a-century event. What is your life like during this moment in history?
AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Post
POST:
The last sentence we read today was, "He (Montag) knew that when she pulled her hand away from his face, it was wet."
We talked about why Ray Bradbury wrote this way (instead of being direct and writing something like, Montag was crying). Drawing the reader a mental picture and making us think, making us ask Why? also draws us closer. We feel more connected to something we work at-- not like a job, but like a jigsaw puzzle.
Work, care, commitment... these are all words that can be associated with obligation or hardship, but they can also be associated with meaning and connection. Love, even. Think of how much that woman cared for her books in the scene we read that made Montag cry -- she chose death over living without her books!
What do you care about enough to work for? A relationship? A project? A principle? (title: WHY I WORK)
-----
For your MOM: "My body feels [...] today."
JOURNAL TOPIC:
Historians and journalists are describing the coronavirus pandemic as a once-in-a-century event. What is your life like during this moment in history?
AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Post
POST:
The last sentence we read today was, "He (Montag) knew that when she pulled her hand away from his face, it was wet."
We talked about why Ray Bradbury wrote this way (instead of being direct and writing something like, Montag was crying). Drawing the reader a mental picture and making us think, making us ask Why? also draws us closer. We feel more connected to something we work at-- not like a job, but like a jigsaw puzzle.
Work, care, commitment... these are all words that can be associated with obligation or hardship, but they can also be associated with meaning and connection. Love, even. Think of how much that woman cared for her books in the scene we read that made Montag cry -- she chose death over living without her books!
What do you care about enough to work for? A relationship? A project? A principle? (title: WHY I WORK)
physical & mental health
Hi Everyone,
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, it's easy to fall out of routines that support our health. I hope you continue to practice at least a minute of mindfulness here and there. I hope you're getting enough sleep. I hope you're eating nutritious food. And I hope you're getting exercise.
On one hand, each of those topics falls outside the traditional English curriculum. On the other, if your mind, body, and immune system (!) aren't functioning properly, language skills are probably the least of your problems.
With that in mind, I'm sharing a "No Gear" workout plan that Bobby Maximus sent me. Bobby, you may remember, is the former MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion who I trained with in Utah over winter break. I will (finally) post about that this week, and invite Bobby to join us on a zoom call, but I didn't want to procrastinate on sharing these workouts-- move your body today, it will help get your mind right.
Oh, and in case you're saying to yourself, "That's all good and fine, Dr. Preston, but what about you? Are you working out in the middle of all this madness?"
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, it's easy to fall out of routines that support our health. I hope you continue to practice at least a minute of mindfulness here and there. I hope you're getting enough sleep. I hope you're eating nutritious food. And I hope you're getting exercise.
On one hand, each of those topics falls outside the traditional English curriculum. On the other, if your mind, body, and immune system (!) aren't functioning properly, language skills are probably the least of your problems.
With that in mind, I'm sharing a "No Gear" workout plan that Bobby Maximus sent me. Bobby, you may remember, is the former MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion who I trained with in Utah over winter break. I will (finally) post about that this week, and invite Bobby to join us on a zoom call, but I didn't want to procrastinate on sharing these workouts-- move your body today, it will help get your mind right.
Oh, and in case you're saying to yourself, "That's all good and fine, Dr. Preston, but what about you? Are you working out in the middle of all this madness?"
Thursday, March 26, 2020
march 26 w online meeting #5
[for your MOM: Breathe in and out as slowly as you can...]
JOURNAL TOPIC: (featuring the return of Today's Tunes! "Apricot Brandy" by Rhinoceros & "Paper Sun" by Traffic)
Every day, lots of things come up that demand our attention. How can you tell the difference between what's important and what's urgent?
AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Review today's recording (below) if you couldn't join us
4. Post
POST TOPIC:
First, thanks to everyone for your insights and suggestions today. The book obviously hit a nerve with all of us. The way that Clarisse experiences high school and the way that Bradbury envisions our society operating are fairly (and alarmingly!) close to the way we experience real life. So, based on your comments, today's topic is:
When young people don't read it makes it easier for adults to oppress and control them. In the book, Clarisse describes school as blocks of hours on video lessons, and there's a parallel to what we're doing now that we're all online. What are we learning from this, and where will this lead our society? (Title: WHAT ARE WE LEARNING NOW?) *Note: You can use this topic as a launchpad to discuss whatever is on your mind as you consider the book, our discussion, and current events.
JOURNAL TOPIC: (featuring the return of Today's Tunes! "Apricot Brandy" by Rhinoceros & "Paper Sun" by Traffic)
Every day, lots of things come up that demand our attention. How can you tell the difference between what's important and what's urgent?
AGENDA:
1. MOM
2. Journal
3. Review today's recording (below) if you couldn't join us
4. Post
POST TOPIC:
First, thanks to everyone for your insights and suggestions today. The book obviously hit a nerve with all of us. The way that Clarisse experiences high school and the way that Bradbury envisions our society operating are fairly (and alarmingly!) close to the way we experience real life. So, based on your comments, today's topic is:
When young people don't read it makes it easier for adults to oppress and control them. In the book, Clarisse describes school as blocks of hours on video lessons, and there's a parallel to what we're doing now that we're all online. What are we learning from this, and where will this lead our society? (Title: WHAT ARE WE LEARNING NOW?) *Note: You can use this topic as a launchpad to discuss whatever is on your mind as you consider the book, our discussion, and current events.
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