Day 5

Macbeth allowed outside forces to have some control over his life. So far, these include the witches and Lady Macbeth. Often in our lives, we allow outside forces to have more control than we think they should. What outside forces do you feel control your life? Why do you allow this to happen? Does this make you a weak person? When can it be positive to allow outside forces to be an effective part of our lives?

Day 4

Today we discussed several different themes. Please choose one of the themes (hope you took notes), and discuss how it has progressed in Act 1. Then, talk about how that theme has been part of your own life.

Day 3

Today we lfinished Act 1, Scenes 5-7. As always, reread. As part of Act 1, we saw Macbeth making decisions with his life about his future. These choices include the potential death of King Duncan at his own hands. With that in mind:

Most people who rise to high positions had to step on someone else’s toes to get there. Do you agree or disagree with this statement. Why? Can you give examples of this happening in our society? Is there always something wrong with doing what it takes to move ahead?

Day 2

Sorry I am late. You can do this one through Wednesday night. As we did vocab today it will be no shock that we will do some current event this evening. Last chance to pick something good. NO CITE, NO POINTS

Cardmarking 5, Day 1

So here we are in your last week of having to blog. I will be posting from time to time to get a feel for where people are and what they are thinking so feel free,beginning next week, to respond.

Today we listened to scenes 4 & the beginning of 5(we are going to begin moving a bit faster than one or two scenes a day). Make sure you re-read these scenes for clear understanding.

For this evening, please discuss the following:

Describe your first impression of Macbeth. What do we know about him and how do we initially perceive him? Does this impression change after he hears the witches predictions or the fact that he became Thane of Cawdor? What about his comments at the end whe he learns that Malcolm will be the next king? How does all of this tie into the idea of ambition?

REMEMBER AT LEAST 7 SENTENCES!!

Day 22

EXTRA CREDIT ALERT!! I have been informed that I can only give 5 points of extra credit per submission to scribes and then 10 points for any that is placed in the book. Also, I am giving at least 10 points for going to see Wizard of Oz next weekend so buy your tickets.

OK, not everyone loves Shakespeare for honestly I did not until I began teaching it. Yet, his stories actually are interesting once you get past the attitude. With that said, check the attitude at the door from now on and just deal with what you have to do.

We began our listening/reading of Macbeth. Please reread the first three scenes for clear understanding making sure that you follow the guidelines of the unit long assignments.

For this evening, look at the idea of Natural v. Supernatural as we have seen this already. Give an example of this in the first 3 scenes and then predict what may happen next. Also, talk about why we continue to read Shakespeare after all of these years even though it is difficult to understand.

Day 21

Today we continued our discussion on fate, ambition, guilt and integrity. While you all may not know that I have not led the most honest life, at time, at least I have learned from my experiences. As someone stated today, ambition can dove tail with guilt and integrity.

As a person, describe yourself within the framework of integrity. What does it mean to you? Do you choose to live a life of integrity? Why or why not? How? How important is integrity to you within your friends and/or family? Lastly, give me an example of a time you think you have shown great integrity and a time you have not.

Day 20

Missed seeing you today. Hope you got your discussion done within the group. We will finish the discussion tomorrow.

For this evening, you shall current event. By now, you know the drill and do not forget NO CITE, NO POINTS.

Day 19

Today we began looking at the concepts of fate, guilt and ambition as prevailing areas of life. We all have encountered thoughts of these one way or another. For this evening, comment on one of the following quotes:

“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”
Bill Bradley

“There are no little events in life, those we think of no consequence may be full of fate, and it is at our own risk if we neglect the acquaintances and opportunities that seem to be casually offered, and of small importance."
Amelia E. Barr

or

“Guilt is anger directed at ourselves.”
Peter McWilliams

Day 18

Today we began discussing ambition. Look at the following quote and respond. Include the idea of how this quote can or has related to you in some manner.

“Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.”

Bill Bradley

Day 17

Please give me your own personal definition of ambition. Based on the discussion today discuss whether you see yourself as willing to do anything to meet your ambition or ambitious but cautious. Explain the one you choose. Lastly, give an example in your life where your ambition caused a positive or negative outcome.

Day 16

Remember that rough drafts will be do on Friday. Some of you never even gave me the work and argument which is a problem.

For this evening, we shall do a current event. Remember that the connection to you, the community and the world is more important than the brief summary. NO CITE, NO POINTS.

Day 15

So, first let me rant a little bit. It amazes me that a group of juniors in high school can behave in immature ways and then never take responsibility for their own actions. While this truly does not apply to everyone, each person in a setting has some level of responsibility to that setting. We, as teachers, waste time telling people to go to the correct seat, be quiet during a test, ask for your make up work after absences or arrange to take a missed test or quiz in a reasonable amount of time.

This comes down to the conversation we had at the beginning of the semester about taking responsibility for your education. This is both the work that needs to be done and the attitude behind it. The sooner you learn this the easier it will be and the less jerky we will seem. Do not blame us for getting aggrivated when we respond to the behaviors exhibited or the lack of support we get from others.

Now for fun, you can respond to the following and indicate the responsibility to the students and the teachers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bvT-DGcWw

Day 14

Today you will watch the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glny4jSciVI

This is a video remake from 25 years ago which can be found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne7fPpxAnuM

What is the purpose of these type of videos from our friends in Hollywood? Is it appropriate that these people get involved in political statements? Why or why not? Also, why did it take 25 years to remake this video as we have had many shattering events in the last 25 years? What is it about the earthquake in Haiti or famine in Africa that gets to us? Lastly, does this type of video get you to want to be more invested in these causes? Why or why not?

Day 13

Today's topic is friendship. Personally, I think that nothing is more important that friendship. Please look at this quote and then listen to the cheesy song and tell me what they have in common, what you look for in a friend and the importance of friendship to you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq0llrCYtCQ

"Never refuse any advance of friendship, for if nine out of ten bring you nothing, one alone may repay you."
Madame de Tencin

Day 12

For this evening, listen to this song and tell me what you think they are saying and how the topic effects you or your community. May also be a bit cheesy so if there is a song you would like people to reflect on that is appropriate then write it on a piece of paper and maybe it will end up here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZtiJN6yiik

Day 11

Please watch and listen to the following video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcSDli-Byn8

Once you have, discuss how you measure a year in your life. What do you base this measurement on? What do you think the message of this song is?

Day 10

Today we shall do a current event. You know the rules so do not forget to summarize and give your reaction/response and do not forget to cite.

Day 9

Please respond to the following quote:

"Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up."
Pearl Buck

Make sure you have some kind of personal connection to your response.

Day 8

THIS BLOG IS A MUST!!

Overall, I thought that today went really well. The U of M staff were very impressed with how well you listened and worked during your time in the library. It seemed that some of you truly used your time wisely. Do not worry if you did not find as much information as you had hoped as we will discuss this tomorrow.

As for the ride home, you must truly begin to think about how your behaviors not only effect you but the people you are around. It is embarrasing for Mr. Pouliot and I to have to be talked to by the bus driver because you cannot sit in a seat for 45 minutes. Yes, they did not give me accurate information on the busses but that is life and if you could adapt on the way to Ann Arbor you could adapt on the way home. For people to be yelling at each other is absolutely rediculous and sad. Also, the fact that people could not wait to get off the bus by the appropriate door but open the emergency door is also disrespectful to the bus driver and to us. I should not have to hear from my bosses as to why our students cannot behave at an age appropriate level on a bus and then put into question whether or not we can go on future field trips. Writing things on windows in words and pictures is just not acceptable behavior nor is it funny in the wrong context. I expect more from each and everyone of you.

Some of you will say, "It was not me." That is the same thing the Germans and others said during World War 2when they looked the other way at the murder of 13 million innocent people. Those of you who sit by as people put things on windows that you know is not right at that time but do nothing are also responsible even if it is passive responsibility. It is time to begin thinking about who you are as an individual and how you want to be perceived not only by your peers but by others as well.

For this evening, contemplate the above with the following quote:

"How often I have found that we grow to maturity not by doing what we like, but by doing what we should. How true it is that not every 'should' is a compulsion, and not every 'like' is a high morality and true freedom."
Karl Rahner