february 27/28

[for your MOM: mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...]

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes/ these go out to Gatsby: "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles; "The Love I Lost" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes; "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band]

We've been reading about a character who will do just about anything to change the past and get what he wants.  What do you think of Gatsby's efforts?  If you could, what would you change about the past?  How would you go about it?  Do you think it could work?

AGENDA:
[MOM]
1. Journal
2. Gatsby: finish reading, debrief/discussion

POST:
1. Finish notes and thoughts on Chapter 8 (title: GATSBY CHAPTER 8 NOTES AND THOUGHTS)

2. Notes and thoughts on Chapter 9 (title: GATSBY CHAPTER 9 NOTES AND THOUGHTS)

3. Answer the following questions (title: WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT GATSBY)

(Suggested opening: "The great thing about The Great Gatsby is that the characters and their decisions also reflect life in America today.  For example...")

1. Is Gatsby great?  Is he even good?  Why/ why not?
2. Nick opens the book by complimenting himself for his honesty.  Is Nick honest with himself?  Why does he constantly hang out with dishonest people?  Why does he respect them and seek out relationships with them?

3. Fitzgerald describes Daisy and Tom this way: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”  What does this mean?  Do you agree?

4. Do you understand Daisy's behavior?  Do you agree with her choices?  Is she a person you would let your brother/son/friend date?

5. The last line of the book: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."  What does this mean?  How does it relate to the theme/s of the book?

february 26

[for your MOM: tell yourself something nice about yourself. repeat. tell yourself something nice about yourself. repeat. tell yourself something nice about yourself...]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What's the cutest animal you would eat?

-OR-

Which character in Gatsby would you be willing to trade lives with?  Why?  If no one, why?

AGENDA:
[MOM]
1. Journal
2. Gatsby: Q & A on Chapter 7
3. Gatsby: Chapter 8

POST:
Your notes & thoughts on Chapter 8 (title: GATSBY NOTES & THOUGHTS ON CHAPTER 8)

Guiding Questions:
1. What does Gatsby tell Nick about his night when Nick shows up early in the morning?  What does Gatsby say about what happened between Tom and Daisy?
2. What does Nick suggest that Gatsby do?  Why does Gatsby reject Nick's suggestion?
3. What does Gatsby say about the way he and Daisy left each other the first time, when he went to war?
4. The gardener interrupts to tell Gatsby he wants to drain the pool.  Why, in the middle of all of this drama, do you think the author interrupts the tense relationship dialogue with a secondary character and mention of the pool?  Why do you think it's important that Gatsby wants to swim at least once in his own pool?
5. Nick gets to work-- and the entire narrative shifts.  Now we're getting to the climax of the plot, and Fitzgerald goes nearly Shakespeare.  Describe the action and what it represents.

february 25

[for your MOM: When is it wise to seek counsel/advice from others, and when does it make sense to find the wisdom you need within yourself?]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe what you think it means to be wise.  Is it the same thing as well-informed, or knowledgeable, or educated, or is it different? (Look up the words to see what others think.)  Is your experience school helping you become any of these things?  How?

AGENDA:
[MOM]
1. Journal
2. Progress report self-assessment (questions below, please turn in paper during class)
3. Gatsby: Finish reading and posting notes for Chapter 7 (use the guiding questions HERE)
4. Discussion about Chapter 7 (time permitting)

POST:
Finish your notes for Chapter 7, including your answers to the guiding questions

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS:
1. At the end of last semester, during your exit interview, you set some goals for yourself.  Are you achieving them?  Rate yourself on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = not achieving, 10 = crushing it) and write 1-2 sentences that explain why.

2. Describe one thing that you have done really well in this course so far this semester.

3. Describe one thing you need to improve.

4. What letter grade have you earned to this point?  Please be specific (include "+" or "-" if appropriate) and write 1-2 sentences that explain your answer.

benefits of meditation

I understand how different our course feels compared to what many of you experience during the rest of your day.  This is why, sometimes, I think it is important for you to see research and the experiences other students have around the country.  A couple days ago, The Washington Post ran an article about different meditation practices in classrooms around the country and the resulting positive effects.  The article is behind a paywall, though, so I am including THIS ONE from a few years ago so you can get a sense of why we do one of the things we do, from a source other than me.  (In terms of ethos, you should know that both the Post and Forbes are high-quality publications produced big audiences of successful people who want the latest/best information-- they are not for an especially "touchy/feely" crowd.) Enjoy. -dp

february 24

[This morning, your MOM is thoughtless ... just breathe.]

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the last time you simply fell out laughing.  What set you off?  If this has never happened to you (poor you), what do you think it would take?

**If you finish before the rest of us: a) refine your journal entries for the week; b) look up "Trimalchio"; c) work on your blog.

AGENDA:
1.  Journal (please turn in)
2. Gatsby: Chapter VIII (8)
3. Agreements/ reading and blogs

POST:
1. Post your notes and thoughts on Gatsby Ch.8 (title: GATSBY CHAPTER 8 NOTES AND THOUGHTS)

2. What's the difference between agreeing to complete work for each other, being told what to do for homework, and exploring what you want to in your own way?  (title: HAVE TO VERSUS WANT TO VERSUS GET TO)

guiding questions: chapter 7

1. Why does Gatsby stop having parties?
2. Why does Gatsby fire his staff, and who replaces them?  How are these people different, and how do their personalities reflect what we know about Wolfsheim?
3. Describe the difference in Daisy's and Gatsby's reactions to Daisy's daughter.
4. Describe the "outing" to New York and the confrontation between Tom and Gatsby.  Who wins?
5. BAM! What happens on the way back to Long Island?  (You have to get this-- it's THE event of the book.)
6. What are Tom and Daisy doing at the end of the chapter?  What does this say to you about Daisy's character?

february 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Sometimes ideas from class stick with us and sometimes they don't. Describe an idea that you learned in class that has stuck with you longer than you expected. Why does it stick out in your memory? Was it presented in a memorable way, or is it particularly meaningful or valuable?

AGENDA:

1. Journal

2. Catch up and reflect: make sure your notes on Chapters 1-7 are up-to-date and posted on your blog

3. We will read Chapter 8 on Monday, you are free to read ahead if you like

POST:

1. What do you think is the central message-- the theme-- of the book so far?  (title: WHAT GATSBY SAYS TO ME) 

2. What ideas have we read about or discussed that you think are worth writing about?  Write a couple sentences about the ideas from the book that you consider most interesting, or important, or worth thinking about further.  Then, write 1-3 questions that we might be able to use as prompts for an essay next week. (title: GATSBY PROMPTS FURTHER THINKING)