Day 15

So, my frustration is that many of you are not taking this class or your role in this class seriously and it is going to begin to effect your grade more and more. When I give time to work on something that is what it is for not to sit and just have conversation. Many of you got bit today for not thinking that I could or would collect the questions from the story.

For today:

“It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities.”
Josiah Charles Stamp

Happy Halloween and have a safe weekend.

Day 14

Hopefully, you continue to have a better understanding of "Requiem" and the hardships these people went through. Like during "Fiddler," think about the hardships of these people being persecuted for having different beliefs or for speaking up against the government and then being sent to prison or death for these beliefs. Yes, this still happens all over the world.

Here is today's little ditty:

"Attitudes are contagious. Are yours worth catching?"
~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

Day 13

Please respond to the following quote:

"The greatest achievements were at first and for a time dreams. The oak sleeps in the acorn."
James Allen

Day 12

Tomorrow, we will begin doing a couple of readings from the textbook so make sure you have it with you.

Please respond to the following:

"No matter where you live, brothers are brothers and sisters are sisters. The bonds that keep family close are the same no matter where you are."
Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata

Week 3 Day 11

Hopefully you got most of your EDP completed. We will be going back down to the lab tomorrow to complete them. Since we are doing this, you can work on your research projects once the EDP is completed. Do not forget that you must turn in your outline and citation rough draft tomorrow by the end of the hour.

Part of the EDP process is thinking about our futures. Collge or not, what type of career, etc. I want you to think about the following and respond:

1. What do you think the value of the EDP is? If you say there is none then back up with why.
2. Do you think that this process helps you think about your future or do you think that forcing this issue now causes problems for you?
3. Do you think the process pigeon holes you into thinking if you do not follow this career path you will not be successful?
4. What is your post- high school plan?

Day 10

GO EAGLES!! Hopefully, this is true by time most of you even write the blog. Remember, you will have a bit of time to work on Monday after the EDP is completed. Outlines and rough draft of your MLA formatted citations are due on Tuesday. Also, you must have one book source so if you do not yet have one I would go to your local library and find one.

Here is today's words of inspiration:

"You can turn painful situations around through laughter. If you can find humor in anything - even poverty - you can survive it."
Bill Cosby

Have a great weekend.

Day 9

Sorry this is up later than I wanted but the site was down for a bit this afternoon.

Try this quote on for size:

"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Day 8

I hope that you are getting more comfortable with the research project. Remember to keep checking with your group members to see how you can be helping each other.

For tonight, respond to the following:

"To begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment."
James Allen

Day 7

So, I sit at conferences bored and blogging. I hope that your research projects are going well. Tomorrow, I will be giving you an outline form to use for your outline. I also will be meeting with each group set to make sure you understand the job you have in your group.

For today, respond to the following:

In our current political climate, how does culture impact the person we should be choosing for our next president? Make sure you talk about the importance of America in the world when answering this question.

Cardmarking 2 Day 6

I hope you found good groups for your research projects, picked a good country and a good social issue. We will discuss a variety of things each day before we head to the library or computer lab.

For today's thought, talk about the importance of looking at social issues from a cultural perspective. Is there an issue that is important to you personally or that you think the world needs to do a better job of adressing? Why?

Day 5

Remember to make sure the papers are completed. We will begin our group research papers this Monday. Start thinking about the best people for you to work with. Groups will be of 3-4.

Here is tonights thought:

To you, what profession is most honorable and why?

Day 4

So, it was nice to meet many of your parents at conferences. I am very tired and am feeling momentarily uninspired. Thus, enjoy not having to blog this evening.

Day 3

People are driving me crazy for a due date on the paper. I guess the due date, which may have been later had it not been for the pressure, will be Friday by the end of the hour. You will turn in your final copy, rough draft and peer evaluation that should be attached to the rough draft. Please take seriously the comments of your evaluator as I will be looking to see if you followed their advice. Also, make sure it is in MLA formatting. If you question this, please look it up online as you have used it the last 2 years on research papers. Make sure your paper has a unique title that fits the papers. "Fiddler on the Roof" or textbook Paper will not be acceptable. I will be looking closely for examples to support you statements and also a works cited page.

As for today's blog:

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
~ John Wooden ~

Day 2

It was great to get back today. Thanks to all who used their time wisely while I was out and got your work completed. Tomorrow, you will have time to finish the peer edits and then begin work on the final draft.

Here is what you need to think about and remember any less than 7 sentences and you receive no credit for the blog:

How can people be so beautiful on the outside, and yet ugly on the inside? Why do we as American's value outer beauty more than inner beauty?

Cardmarking 2, Day 1

Welcome to the second cardmarking. Now that you have lived through the first cardmarking I hope that you have gotten a grasp on my expectations and how to succeed in the classroom. You will continue to work hard but each and everyone of you is capable of achieving success if you want to work for it. I continue to be willing to do my part to help you if you ask for it.

So today, I went to a funeral of someone who was very close to me; you could say like a second grandfather. It got me thinking about friendship and if we truly value it when we are supposed to. So with that said, please respond to the following quote:

"True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost."
- Charles Caleb Colton

When responding, feel free to talk about your friendships both positive and negative and how they impact you.

Day 29

Hope you had a good day today and have good plans for the weekend. Remember that your rough draft is due on Tuesday. Your best bet, by the way, is to type it as I may have you email me a copy next week.

So, the end of the first cardmarking has arrived. Tell me, what are your goals for the second cardmarking? Where you pleased with your first cardmarking performance? Why or why not? How is the class going overall? Changes? (Less work is not an option for changes)

Day 28

Hope all went well with the beginning of your paper. If you have any questions or concerns with the paper, please email me at kaym@huronvalley.k12.mi.us

On to today's thought:

We are so lucky to live in a country where we are not worried about being forced out of our cities or states. Imagine for a moment being persecuted because of your beliefs or values and having someone tell you that you have to move away from all your friends and family because of this. How would this make you feel? How do we create a world where this is not a reality?

Day 27

Thank you for indulging me in the watching of "Fiddler on the Roof." I truly hope that there was a clear understanding of the cultural aspects of the movie and how it fit in with the cultural unit.

So, Tevye allowed his two older daughters to choose their husbands. Why did he not allow his third daughter do the same when she wanted to marry the non-Jewish young man? What does this say about the difference between cultural shift vs. cultural change? Within your culture, do you have beliefs or traditions that cannot change for it may harm the culture as a whole?

Day 26

Another day of Fiddler. Today we really saw the idea of what happens when cultures change in regards to the whole matchmaking process. Not only did Tevye allow his daughters some choice but then we saw the whole idea of inter-dancing as well. Yet, at the same time, there were so many traditions at the wedding as well. The bride walking around the groom 7 times, the breaking of the glass at the end of the ceremony, the dancing, the toasts and the gifts. It is amazing how this culture was able to keep traditions while allowing some new ideas in as well. Juxtapose that with the reality that outside forces were beginning to come in and disrupt their way of life after them living there for so long. Why? Just because they were different than those in charge. The police chief seemed to really have a problem with what was being done to the Jews and seemed sympathetic to them yet, still followed through on the orders to raid them. Thus our questions for the evening:

Why do you think the Russian leadership was so against the Jewish people and their way of life? If you were the policeman what would've you done after being given the orders to raid? Why do you think he did it even though he did not want to? What do you think his relationship with Tevye and the Jews will be after this experience?

Day 25

Another day of "Fiddler on the Roof." I hope you are clearly understanding the purpose of the cultural aspects of the movie and the themes which have been discussing for the entire semester. We will have specific questions based on this later as we come to completion of the movie.

Today, please respond to the following:

If I were stranded on a deserted island the 3 things I would bring would be and why?

Day 24

Today we began watching "Fiddler on the Roof." I am sure that you agree that while it is cheesy there is value in the understanding of culture. I want you to think about the whole idea of matchmaking. Could you even imagine being told who you are going to marry and when? Yet, in many societies this was the system for centuries and in a few it still is. What do you think may be the advantages of this system and why do you think culture has shifted away from such a practice?

Day 23

Hopefully, you understood why we did these presentations. Each country is unique in what it does for it's people and the history that it shares with them as well. People are inclined to feel a connection to the country they grow up in and to create some of their values and cultural expectations based on their country of origin. Some countries are stronger in making that connection yet, as can be seen through the presentations, there is not a country out there that does not have pride.

Please respond to the following quote:

“The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.”
Annonymous

Day 22

We have spent the last two days listening to people do presentations about several countries (and will finish up tomorrow). Why is this cultural so important to the aspects of not only World Literature but of world citizenry?