Of we go into the wild

It's the holiday season and just when you thought you could relax now that those college essays are almost done I say gleefully: Who's ready to read? It seems totally apropos to read  Into the Wild because you are going on your own journey of sorts. You are asking the age old questions "Who am I? What do I stand for? and What do I want to accomplish with my life?" These are difficult questions to answer as an adult so when you're transitioning from teen to adult your head can swim with all the possibilities that life offers you. Good news is I'm not expecting answers that I will hold you to for forever---I'm merely asking you to think about them.

However, before we can 'officially' start looking into the journey of Christopher McCandless aka Alexander Supertramp we must look into ourselves because we all have a little Alexander Supertramp in us.  We need to explore three HUGE ideas or philosophies that reside in this chronicle of McCandless' life. As a class we will need to discuss and define what existentialism is, what a romantic hero looks like (not just in appearance) and the pull that leads many to search out a life of transcendentalism. 

First though, let's deal with one of the most complex topics: existentialism. Click on the Existentialism explained  link. This link will take your group to a quick three minute video explaining the idea in it's most simple form. After watching it as a group try to define it in your own words on your note card.  Be prepared to share your definition by the end of class.




The Myth of Sisyphus; an existentialist approach to life. It is your groups job to read and watch the myth and determine the best definition of existentialism based on the myth itself. Your group should be in close (not exact) agreement what it means to espouse the beliefs of existentialism. Write your definition of existentialism on the Myth of Sisyphus handout. Be prepared to share your definition by the end of class.

Secondly, we must explore the idea of Romanticism and the romantic hero. Does that mean that this 'book' is chick lit? Um, no. Wrong definition of Romantic. Check out this very brief video The Romantics. Look over your handout and tap that prior knowledge--that's the stuff you learned about last year.  After discussing what you've read and what you've watched come up with a working definition that you can share with the class. Be prepared to share your definition by the end of class.

Lastly, we'll deal with the idea of Transcendentalism. I promise you get to watch a video too. I wouldn't leave my Emerson people out of the loop, but seriously you're going to have to start relying on yourself soon <--this is funny joke--you'll see in just a minute.  Watch what Shmoop has to offer up about Transcendentalism then come up with a working definition as a group to share with the class. Be prepared to share your definition by the end of class.

After the class has explored in their home groups, and as a whole, let's think about what each set of ideals has in common and what type of person is attracted to each of these philosophies. In class I shared an Into the Wild ppt with you--it brings up society and what we think we need versus what we want. I encourage you to look at McCandless' life not through your own eyes, but someone who was searching for more than they ever thought they could be.

Designing the American Dream

Thomas Jefferson,
author of Declaration of  Independence

The American Dream--what is it, and is it still obtainable for us, the 'regular Joe's'? 

 The Declaration of Independence did not initially set up the idea that we think of as our stereotypical 'American Dream". I'm pretty sure that Thomas Jefferson never thought, "Hey, I hope everyone gets a house out  of this deal."  In fact, the Declaration of Independence uses words and phrases such as, "All men are created equal and there are certain unalienable rights that governments should never violate". However, we know that this dream was not applied equally to everyone--otherwise slavery would have never existed. So, who was he selling his dream to?


In class you were asked to answer questions about your beliefs and why you held these ideologies. Today in class we will look at your ideologies and I will ask you to compare your answers with those of your peers. In order to better understand what the American Dream we must appreciate that the dream for each person is, in fact, different. You and other students may have similar beliefs, or aspects of what the American Dream is, but at its core it will be different. We will play a little game of Give One/Get One, where you will share out your answers and write them down. You must follow all the rules of the game otherwise it won't be meaningful.

As I present information follow along with the Designing the American Dream Introduction PowerPoint with your partner. Please, do not wonder off--I know the web is interesting and you can find all sorts of wonderful things to pin on Pinterest, but were busy figuring what our dream is over here.

Time to build our dream,

Mrs. Ordway

End of the Year Survey English 11

It's time to see how you feel about English 11. I would like you to be honest, not mean, honest.


Click on the link for the End of the Year Survey .


It's been a good year, despite some of your shenanigans.






Mrs. Ordway

The Month Your Teacher Wished She Were a Robot

Dear Seniors,

Congratulations! You made it, and your mom finally gets to wear that outfit she's been planning for a special occasion--let's call this year a win. 

On a side note, it's around June that I often wish that I was a robot; not because Eve from Wall-E has awesome abilities, but because in the end the robots we deal with don't really emote.

However, you see, I emote. 

I try to hold it together because I've have been trying to figure out how to say good-bye to you since October--let's face we both thought the other was pretty sketchy throughout the month of September. However, once I got to know you (even my second semester transfers) I realized that I would one day have to say good-bye, and it made me melancholy.  It seems silly really this is the nature of high school,  I teach, you learn, then leave. 

But

There is always a but in life...you should get used to that. 

I will miss you. I will miss your silliness, creativity, kind hearts and even the frustration (perhaps caused by me) of this class, the craziness, the deadlines, the anxiety. I will miss you--even though some of you drove me to my outer limits (you know who you are).

Let me say this now, as I might tear up and speak in a voice that is only audible by dogs and the dead-I'm proud of you. You have grown and learned and thought about things that forced you to reconsider life and what you thought was always right. You argued, held true to who you are in order to share another perspective. 

You should be proud because you are taking the first step in this adventure we call life whether that is a UC, CSU, community college, military or trade school. You are going to experience life and the ability of choice and while that is a wonderfully awesome thing, choice can also be scary and unsettling. There will be moments you will question your decisions going back and forth between what your gut and mind tell you. My suggestion--follow your gut--it's usually "on point" as you say.  Do your best not follow the path of your 'friends' as the old adage 'misery loves company' is more truthful than you think. Talk to people, work out your confusion about school and life through conversation, but ultimately make up your own mind. 

One last thing, be kind to your parents, especially your mom. When she looks into your eyes she is seeing the preschooler wearing that little cap and gown that is too big and the wide-eyed baby toothed grin smiling up at her asking only for a kind word and a hug.  This will be hard on your mom because as much as I will miss you--she has suddenly been thrust into a moment where your adulthood cannot be held off any longer. Your mom is thinking that she merely blinked and now she has to let go so you can make this world a better place. So, take the extra picture, hug a little tighter and say I love you a little louder. Show your thankfulness because they've helped shape you into this wonderful person you are.

Congratulations seniors. It is your turn to go out into the world and be awesome--don't forget to report back.

I will leave you with a quote from one of my favorite books, The Help by Katherine Sockett

                                           " You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

                                                     

Love, 

Mrs. Ordway

There was only one man, Gatsby

It's that time of year, when we retreat from the modern world only to willingly walk into the cool night air that is the jazz age. That's right kiddos, it's time for The Great Gatsby. This novel was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in April of 1925; he's the mastermind that coined the phrase the jazz age. I'm assuming the phrase caught on because saying: young girls with short hair and skirts dancining wildly  to music was quite a mouthful!

Before we actually start reading we will go over background information. As a class we need to understand this idea of "old" money and "new" money, because it really does play a large importance for the main character, Gatsby.

 Imagine being invited to a party only to be told that you had to stand in the corner only allowed to observe what was going on? How would you feel espeically if you felt like an equal to all of those present?

 If you were absent or just need a refresher here is the power point that I shared with you in class: Old Money vs. New Money ppt. If you were absent and need to finish your cloze notes note slides I gave you in class you may want to write down the four major principles that old money followed...hint it starts with dedication.

You will read this novel with the focus of noticing colors and how they play a part in Fitzgerald's novel. Remember, colors can also be used to symbolize a greater meaning--just think if a bride wore a blood red dress instead of an iradescent white one people would talk.


As we read, I will add more study guides, information regarding characters and articles that deal with the American dream.

Gender, Langauge and Culture {Humanity in a nutshell}

As we enter into the ERWC module: Gender, Language and Culture we must keep in mind a few ground rules. 1. It is okay to have an opinion and even play 'devil's advocate' to push conversations forward. 2. It's okay to disagree (really, we don't all have to agree about everything) 3.You shouldn't take another person's opinion personally
4. Name calling out loud or under your breath is not necessary; in fact, it's mean.



What will people infer when they see this ad?
Does it perpetuate stereotypes or help equalize gender roles?

With the ground rules set in place lets begin.

 We will start with gender stereotyping. You will start off by sharing advertisements that play a part in promoting stereotypes of a gender. For instance, take a look at this advertisement for a cleaning product. What do you see? What emotion is being conveyed here? Read the tag line. Who is the targeted audience? How do you know this? How is this ad promoting gender stereotypes?

Some ads may seem insensitive at best while others are blatantly using sexuality as a way to sale anything from cleaning products to suits. Our role, as a member of society, is to determine what if any reaction is necessary; or even decide if society has become to sensitive to such provocative ads.

We will tackle quite a few readings with this module the first being an article written by Deborah Tannen "The Power of Talk" in this article Tannen will explore the different ways both men and women communicate. While she does not come out and say one way is better than the other she does force the reader to recognize that there are differences in the ways men and women communicate. In addition to the "The Power of Talk" we will read another article by Tannen "His Politness is Her Powerlessness". What if using your manners made others see you as less confident? This article explores Tannen's earlier premise a little more in-depth. We will also read David Brooks' article: "Honor Code" ,Vershawn Ashanti Young's "Prelude: The Barbershop" (this link will take you to a word document rather than a site),and if time allows Audre Lorde's "Transformation of Silence into Language and Action". I think it's really important to address how many people coming to this country felt the need to shed their "old selves". It is sad to see how others feel that the only way to fit in is to be different than who they thought they should be which is why I'm including the reading, "How to Tame A Wild Tongue" by Gloria Anzaldua.

We will also watch one or two Ted Talks that deal with culture and gender. One is from Khalida Brohi's talk "How I work to Protect Women from Honor Killings" and the other  Cameron Russell's "Looks aren't Everything...Believe Me I'm a Model". Here we have two women describing two very different cultures; with the common denominator being gender. In addition to the TED Talks I am including Ernestine Johnson's Your Average Black Girl YouTube clip. These talks will hopefully create the conversation regarding how we look at women, how their beauty is a currency to buy privilege and how society must learn new ways to equalize the genders. In addition, to the two Ted Talks we will watch a YouTube video "Phylosophe" by Judith Butler where she addresses gender norms.

The readings and viewings are only ONE part of class. I need you to participate and to participate fully. If you censor yourself and your thoughts are you growing as a person? Are you walking in your own truth or just merely existing?



Catching Holden