“Always do right. This will gratify some people & astonish the rest.” Happy 175^th Birthday Mark Twain

http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/activities.html

“…consider Mark Twain as “the enormous noticer” … about the humor he found in ordinary, everyday details.”

Teaching Huck Finn Without Regret
http://www.tolerance.org/activity/teaching-huck-finn-without-regret

What do you notice?

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”  Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The Lantern Song” and Ceremony Scene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_UH6v8ec1Y

Lessons learned from the creators/co-directors of Tangled (see previous blog) and my nephew's "Writing of the Week"

http://tangled.movie-trailer.com/

Speaking of follow-your-dreams-whatever-it-takes … check out my hubby’s blog today on education

http://www.organicgreendoctor.com/

Yipee for ME! Thanksgiving-thankful to my sis and family, I viewed Disney's 50th animated film Tangled complete with the co-directors' Q & A.  Loved the "Lantern" song (will snag the soundtrack for sure) and breathtakingly beautiful lantern ceremony! See last blog Awe Creates Ahhhhh....  This will be a fun coming-of-age film for class, but MOST importantly will be the collaboration, creation, and communication lessons I gleaned from the directors - more on those lessons later...

 “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough to those who have too little." FDR 2nd Inaugural Jan 20 1937

 

“Scientists say it pays to cultivate more awe in your life…In his 2009 book, Born To Be Good [Dacher Keltner] looks at the emotions beyond the ‘big six’ (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise) believing that more nuanced sensations-compassion, forgiveness, humility, and awe – are what push us beyond self-interest and ‘wire us for good.”’ (154) “The Wonder of it All” David Hochman O: The Oprah Magazine

 

“I Hope You Dance” Lee Ann Womack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw
Story Corps
http://www.npr.org/2010/11/18/131425207/one-man-s-tradition-thanksgiving-dinner-for-strangers

"If there is no wind, row."  Latin Proverb

“Prince William and Kate Middleton, once the world’s most talked about college sweethearts, ended years of speculation by announcing their engagement Tuesday.  The second in line to the British throne and his longtime girlfriend, both 28 intend to get married next year; exact date (sometime in the spring or summer), venue (big) and guest list (monstrous) all unknown.”  “Royal wedding a happy distraction…” Henry Chu LA Times

parenthtical (pairings) in parallel parody to leverage details
see handouts & Ms. Nash example

“Insist on yourself; never imitate... Every great man is unique.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Buddy lists the actions his friend has never done and the actions she has done. The things she has done stand out in revealing his best friend’s character and values. Why? How?

Students are to model this mentor text and create a unique character analysis. See handouts.

Continue “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote

“Daily life is always extraordinary when rendered precisely.” Bonnie Friedman

Writing to Change the World “Swimming Along – The Writing Process” by Mary Pipher

“Precision with details involves the selection and leveraging of images to create intensity and meaning.”(119)

“We are experience-seeking, story-seeking organisms.  Stories make people laugh or weep because they engage the sensory and emotional systems of our bodies.” (121)

Provided by one of my students: "By the end of the fight, George's left eye was swollen closed , his right eye puffed up, and there were cuts under both eyes."  Fearless by Richard Brignall

Continue “A Christmas Memory” by Truman Capote

"...there is the question of money.  Niether of us has any." Truman Capote

Author Study
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1223885593/

Short Story "A Christmas Memory"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135187/

Nonfiction Novel
In Cold Blood : a true account of a multiple murder and its consequences
"Capote reconstructs the murder and the investigation that led to the capture, trial, and execution of the killers, he generates both mesmerizing suspense and astonishing empathy." 
http://ibistro.roundrockisd.org/uhtbin/cgisirsi/3miKlNQYw4/RROC/249790417/88

My 7th period students noted that today was the anniversary of the In Cold Blood multiple murders. Creepy, huh?

“If we don’t change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going.” -Chinese proverb

The Rock movie trailer

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1743388953/

 “In my family the unpardonable sin is getting sent to the Rock – an alternative school for juvenile delinquents – for eating Ritz crackers topped with apricot-hash jelly right before AP music theory.” (3)

The Less-Dead by April Lurie

http://www.aprillurie.com/