Monday, November 30, 2009

Week of November 30 for 4th period

I had to switch things up a little due to a limited number of books for The Things They Carried. You guys are going to do the debate unit first, then do the Vietnam Lit unit at the end. I cannot believe we are this close to the end!!! I have enjoyed this semester and I am especially looking forward to hearing you all in your debates.

Monday, 11/30
Research debates

Tuesday, 12/1
Research debates

Wednesday, 12/2
Plan with team

Thursday, 12/3
Debates

Friday, 12/4
Debates
DUE: Journal

Week of November 30 for 3rd period

We are going to be reading excerpts from one of my very favorite books this week, The Things They Carried. I am excited about this, as well as hearing your oral presentations and seeing your visual projects. I can hardly believe that we only have 15 days of school left together. It has been a good semester thus far and I am really looking forward to the two units we have left!

Monday, 11/30
Define Unit 6
Lab to research Vietnam topics

Tuesday, 12/1
Lab to research

Wednesday, 12/2
Oral Presentations

Thursday, 12/3
Notes
The Things They Carried

Friday, 12/4
Vocab Quiz
The Things They Carried
DUE: Journals

Monday, November 16, 2009

Week of November 16

I have felt really good about your discussions in this unit. You all (both classes) did an outstanding job in the seminar. Both had depth and focus. I am proud of you. This week we will finish that unit, then head into poetry (which I love and I bet you hate!). :)

Monday, 11/16
"Life is Beautiful"

Tuesday, 11/17
Culminating Activity
DUE: Essay packets

Wednesday, 11/18
Poetry terms

Thursday, 11/19
Read and analyze

Friday, 11/20
Write poems


*** Don't forget to blog over the Holocaust by 11/18 and that your extra credit creative projects are due Wednesday as well.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Awesome Caesar Projects... Late, Late, Late!





















Here are a few of the amazing Caesar Projects. Sorry I am so late putting them up!

Thank You, American Heroes.



Thank You, American Heroes.... from CHS English II Honors, Fall 2009:

"Superheroes may not be real, but the closest to a superhero is you protecting us and fighting the bad guys."

"I think a true hero is someone who puts their life on the line for what they believe in."

"The thought of someone risking their life so I can sit here, free, today, is an incredible thing to me. Thank you. You are the reason why I can hold my own religion. You are the reason why I can dance. You are the reason I have free speech to writ this. You are the reason I am the girl I am today. I will probably never meet you, but despite this, in a sense, you have saved my life."

"I think we citizens take for granted our rights and freedoms and forget who is helping to protect these freedoms."

"In this life, there are always the people who take chances, who take what they have and try to make something out of it. There are also people who take all that they have for granted and just live until they die, leaving nothing behind. But in the end, it's all possible thanks to the people who are willing to serve before being served. People that sacrifice all they have so that their children have time to play and never worry about their lives and whether or not they are going to make it through. This great life we have is thanks to people like you."

"I know it takes a lot of courage to call yourself and be a soldier and people should realize that you fought for them and their future generations. Without you, brave soldier, I can honestly say that I might not be here to enjoy the wondrous joys of freedom that I have today."

Monday, November 9, 2009

Honor to Whom Honor is Due


You all might have noticed that I changed the song on the blog. I just thought that with Veteran's Day coming up this week, and the Holocaust unit, this would be a great time to reflect on the honor we owe our veterans and current armed forces personnel. You guys have seen as we have gone through this unit how blessed we are to live in America. The rights that we enjoy (the same rights which were taken from the Jews in Nazi Germany) are protected by our military personnel. Your political persuasions don't come into play, your personal opinions about our current war don't matter, and your like or dislike for the way our country is run has nothing to do with the fact that we are a blessed people. Today, you wrote a thank you letter to a veteran. I would like for you to spend some time between now and Wednesday and reflect on what it means to be American, and what kind of a debt of gratitude we owe to people like that.


*Note: Feel free to comment on this (I would love it if you did), HOWEVER, it does not count as your Holocaust unit comment.

Week of November 9-- Is it starting to feel like a balancing act???

I am enjoying this unit with you all so very much. I am proud of your maturity and your insightful comments. There have been so many things stated this semester that feel much more in depth than what I have heard in previous semesters. Thank you for taking the topic seriously and for respecting me during this unit.

Monday, 11/9
Rescue/Resistance/Liberation Notes
Responsibility
Triangle
DUE: HEL Paper

Tuesday, 11/10
Night

Wednesday, 11/11
Night

Thursday, 11/12
Night
Seminar/Test

Friday, 11/13
"Life is Beautiful"
DUE: Journals
Essay Packet

Your Cause


In some of my previous classes, Sonja DuBois challenged them to pick one cause to devote their time, energy, and resources to. As you age, there will be lots of requests and demands of you for social causes and charities. One lesson of the Holocaust is that "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." (Edmund Burke) We are responsible, throughout our lives, as citizens of a democracy, of a society, for doing our best to correct injustices around us. Too often we do one of two things: we either ignore these problems or we try to give a little to everything to ease our guilty consciences. As Sonja so eloquently pointed out, imagine if each person chose ONE cause and devoted him or herself to it for life?

Obviously my passion is respect for your fellow man. I have devoted myself as an educator to a study of the Holocaust in the hope of educating those around me about making the world a safer place. I feel that every human being deserves respect. As far as my "cause", beyond being a Holocaust educator, I am committed to a ministry for abused and neglected children called Royal Family Ministries. My church does a camp every summer for nearly forty children in the foster care systems of Bradley, Hamilton, and McMinn counties. I have served as a counselor at that camp almost every year since its inception in 1999. This is our tenth year for Royal Family Kids Camp, and we have expanded that ministry to include a middle school retreat about five years ago. I serve on the Royal Family board at my church, Kraig and I are both counselors, and we have chosen to make this ministry the source of our financial support. You know that I try not to ask you to do anything I would not/am not doing, so I wanted to answer the question that follows before I asked you to.

My question to you is, what is your cause going to be? What are you passionate about? What do you see as something that merits your time, energy, and resources? Or are YOU going to stand by and do nothing?

Kristallnacht-- the November Pogram




If you are interested in learning more about Kristallnacht, check out the link above to the USHMM online exhibition. Again, feel free to leave any comments. For example, why were their places of worship attacked? Can you think of other examples in history where places of worship were attacked?

Father Patrick DesBois


I read this afternoon about a French priest who has taken on the mission of discovering every mass grave of Jews in the Ukraine. It is a pretty interesting story and the link to the NY TImes article is below. I am also linking a podcast (below that) from the USHMM about it.

NY Times article:


Podcast:


If you read the article or listen to the podcast, I would love to hear your thoughts on it. These would have been the victims of the mobile killing squads we talked about today.

What is the importance of knowing where someone is buried, of having an actual grave to visit? Why do people return to the scene of accidents and deaths? Why are these things so important to us as humans?

For Chuck :)


"A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself."
~Joseph Campbell

Campbell has done a lot of research on heroes, legends, and quests, the stuff that the Arthurian Legends are made of. We also have talked about rescuers in the Holocaust unit. What reactions do you have to this quote?

As a side note, I chose the picture at the top because it is a photograph of the Holocaust survivor who spoke to us last semester at Vanderbilt. This photo was taken the day she left on a ship for the United States to her new adoptive family (her aunt and uncle). Her name is Frances Cutler, and her parents put her in an orphanage in Paris to save her. Her mother was murdered in Auschwitz and her father died as a French resistance fighter. I don't think I need to make the connection for you between this quote and this picture. I will say that, though Frances is certainly a hero for telling her story to student groups around the country, I cannot imagine being in a situation where the best scenario for my child to live is for me to have to give her up and leave her with strangers.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Photo Activity


I did not book the computer lab in enough time, so I need you all to do something for me between now and Monday, the 10th.

First of all, jot down three words that you relate to every day life. These words might be eating, sleeping, shopping, playing outside, playing sports, reading, school, etc.

Then, please go to this website.


At this site, you will find a place to enter a search term into the field and hit search. Enter one of the words you jotted down. It will pull up a list of photos with thumbnails. Scroll through the photos until you find one that really speaks to you. (Please don't just pick the first one you come to!) You might want to search each of your three words. Pick TWO photos that you really like. You need to pick photos that were taken PRIOR TO the camps and ghettos, of everyday Jewish life. (There are descriptions on most of the photos that will let you know that information.)

Once you have selected two that fit the above requirements, please copy and paste them onto a sheet of paper and print them out (they will be black and white). I typically have some questions for you to answer, but since you are doing this at home, we will skip that part.

Bring these printed photos with you on Thursday. This is for a grade.

Monday, November 2, 2009

Week of November 2

So far I have been impressed with your interest and participation.  I am anxious for us to further delve into this topic together.


Monday, 11/2
Expert Groups
Propaganda

Tuesday, 11/3
Nazi Germany notes
Photo activity

Wednesday, 11/4
Children/Butterfly

Thursday, 11/5
Final Solution notes
Finish photo activity

Friday, 11/6
Responsibility
Rescue/Resistance/Liberation
Triangle

Friday, October 23, 2009

Week of October 26

HOW fast in October flying by???  Love it.  This week we are going to frantically start and finish the essay unit (except, of course, for all that work you will be doing at home on this unit!), then get to one of my own educational passions, Holocaust education.  Our unit will begin next Friday.  I am anxious.  And eager.  I am always nervous about your reactions, nervous that I will fail to do a unit this important justice.  And I am always eager to take part in discussions with you, to hear your response to Night, to hopefully do my part in making you a more thoughtful member of our society.  So that's me for those three weeks-- nervous and eager.  That sums it up!


Monday, 10/26
Essay notes
Read and analyze essays
Peer groups for creative essays
DUE:  Creative essays

Tuesday, 10/27
Satire
Work on packets

Wednesday, 10/28
Work on packets
DUE:  Creative essay final draft
DUE:  Satire

Thursday, 10/29
Essay test
Work on packets

Friday, 10/30
Intro to the Holocaust
Notes, Chronology
DUE:  Journals

Monday, October 19, 2009

Unit 5 Vocab (with assignments for 3rd period)

Your job is to define your word on a sheet of paper, then illustrate your definition.  You can either draw, use magazine cutouts, photoshop, or whatever.  We will hang the sheets up around the room and see if that helps us on the vocabulary quiz.
This is due tomorrow.

accomplice-Dylan, Fernando
annihilate-Rachel B., Victoria
arbitrary-Meghann B. ,Kylee
brazen- Amber, Chad
catalyst- Brandon
exodus- Cody
facilitate-Casey
incorrigible- Tyler
latent-Emma
militant-Megan D.
morose-Anne
opaque-Tara
paramount-Conor
prattle-Becky 
rebut-Stella
reprimand-Alex
servitude-Marissa
slapdash-Jake
stagnant-Drew
succumb-Robert

Friday, October 9, 2009

Week of October 19

Everything got pretty shifted with the unexpected days off (which we don't mind AT ALL), so here are the new and improved plans for the week!


Monday, 10/19
Recitations
Define Unit 5

Tuesday, 10/20
Research Library and Lab (HEL)
DUE:  Caesar projects

Wednesday, 10/21
Research (HEL)

Thursday, 10/22
Research (HEL)
SUB

Friday, 10/23
Vocab Quiz
Essay notes
Assign packet
Assign creative essay

Fall BREAK!!!

Yay!!!  I know that you all are as ready as I am (but I guarantee you that you aren't more so...) for some days of rest and relaxation!  I know that the upcoming nine days will be awesome for all of us to recharge.  I hope that you have a great break and are careful and safe.  I also want you to use this break to reflect.  When we come back, the nine weeks ends.  Some of you are probably happy with your grade but many of you probably would like to see improvement.  (I am of the opinion that there is always room for improvement unless you have a 100 average...)  Think back on the past nine weeks... think about your study habits... your class participation... your vocab scores... your organization... your attitude... your writing... your test-taking... Decide what you have done really well and capitalize on that.  Keep it up!  Decide where you can stand to improve and make some plans to do just that.  Come back refreshed and invigorated and ready to really make your grade whatever you want it to be.  If it's your attitude, make some changes in your thought processes.  If it's study skills/organization, get an organizer and use those time management skills you learned in Connections in September!  If it's ability (writing, vocab, tests), vow to yourself to try a little harder and put a little more into it after break.  You usually get out of something what you put into it.  I plan to do the same for you.  Enjoy Fall Break!!!  :)

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Week of October 5

We are running toward the finish of Caesar. I am going to be sad to see it end, but how happy are we all going to be to see FALL BREAK!?!?!? Yay!!! I have been very impressed by how much you all seem to be understanding on your own with Caesar. You all clearly have a strong background from your Shakespearean study last year.


Monday, 10/5
Character activity

Tuesday, 10/6
Act IV

Wednesday, 10/7
Act V

Thursday, 10/8
9 Week Test

Friday, 10/9
Character analysis

Politics...

In America, we think and discuss leadership, politics, and government very often. Without discussing anything specific from our own political parties and without making any points by name, please think for a few minutes and comment on the following questions that this play raises. What makes a good leader? Is it okay to sacrifice the rights of an individual for the good of many, the way that Brutus and the conspirators sacrificed Caesar for Rome? What would the perfect government look like? Brutus, one could argue, is in favor of a democratic leadership. He fears the total power Caesar wanted to assume. With that being said, is it ironic at all that Brutus chose a VERY undemocratic method of finding a solution to the problem? Are there any contemporary world events-- or any in recent history-- which parallel Brutus' taking of Caesar's life? Do such comparisons help you understand Brutus' position or the world in the play?

Reaction

Hey guys, I hope you all are enjoying Caesar as much as I am. Below is a posting for you to comment on...

Literary critic T.S. Dorsch said that Caesar makes "such extravagant expressions of arrogance that all sympathy for him is alienated, and the action of the assassins is for the moment almost accepted as justifiable."

What do you think?

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Tragedy

What is your definition of a tragedy? A tragic hero? Cite a work of literature that you have not studied in school that you think would qualify as a tragedy. Please elaborate on how it is a tragedy and which character you feel is the tragic hero of that work. (This can certainly be modern or contemporary literature...)

Friday, September 25, 2009

Week of September 28

Yay!  It's my second favorite unit of the semester!!!  It's time for Julius Caesar.  I cannot wait to read this with you.  It is a play of high intrigue, betrayal, murder, and personal conflict.  The characters are well-developed and the discussion is usually interesting.  You will love it.  (And if you don't, don't tell me.)  :)


Monday, September 28
Notes
Extra credit activity

Tuesday, 9/29
Act I

Wednesday, 9/30
Act II

Thursday, 10/1
Sub-- Shakespeare video, questions

Friday, 10/2
Act III
DUE:  Journals

Week of Setember 21

Finishing The Iliad this week, starting Julius Caesar (sort of).  Busy week.  Late getting this up.  Sorry.


Monday, 9/21
Define Unit 4
Books 16-20, notes

Tuesday, 9/22
Go over questions
Books 21-24, notes

Wednesday, 9/23
Watch "Troy"

Thursday, 9/24
"Troy"

Friday, 9/25
Vocab Quiz

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Opening of "Troy"

Odysseus: [voiceover] Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across the centuries? Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved? These are powerful first lines. The opening lines, opening scenes, in movies really set the tone for the movie. What reactions do you have to these lines, knowing the epic characteristics and the text of The Iliad as you do?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Iliad


We took notes over the characteristics of an epic. What examples can you point out from The Iliad that fit the criterion?

Try Your Hand...


Iliad Game Here is an Iliad Game on the Internet. It's pretty fun. Give it a try and post any comments you have about it.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Week of September 14


The Inferno unit was an interesting one for us.  I enjoyed reading your comments on the work and your opinions on it.  I also enjoyed seminaring with 3rd period over it.  This week, we are going to tackle another work that we are reading for exposure.  Remember when I explained the difference in reading for exposure and doing a close reading?  This is another classic that is pretty difficult.  It is, however, a different kind of difficult than The Inferno.  


Monday, 9/14
Finish "First Knight"
Arthurian Legends test

Tuesday, 9/15
Iliad intro
Notes
Books 1-5 for homework

Wednesday, 9/16
Notes over 1-5
6-10 for homework

Thursday, 9/17
Notes over 6-10
11-15 for homework

Friday, 9/18
Notes over 11-15
16-20 for homework
DUE:  Journals

September 11

If you wish, I would like to hear some of your memories of that day. I was teaching (my fourth week of my teaching career, in fact) an English II Honors class of 12 people. We were in a little closet of a room during 2nd period when Mr. Rockholt came on the intercom and announced that our country had been attacked. He told us that two planes had hit the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. He said that we don't have a lot of information at the time, but that we needed to remember the victims. I had first lunch, so at lunch we found out that a plane had hit the Pentagon as well. At some point someone heard that a fourth and fifth plane were inbound. (We later learned about the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania.) There was just a lot of chaos and nerves. We did not have TV's at the time and I was a floating teacher so I didn't even have my own computer. My junior English class was fourth period and we went on and worked on our lesson, though no one's minds were on it, including mine. During 4th period (my planning period), I went to an empty room with my fellow teachers and watched the coverage. At that point, some stations were still showing the gruesome images of people jumping from the buildings. It was horrific to watch and there was some element of disbelief about it all. I remember waking up the next morning, how it took a minute for it to sink in that the world was a different place than it had been the previous morning. I was not a mom yet at that time, and I can imagine even now how much more terrifying the whole thing would have been if I had already had children. For some reason, nothing in this world is so scary when it is just you and your spouse. It's when little people depend on you that the fear reaches a whole new level. My daughters were born into a post-9/11 world. They don't remember what it was like to get to airports 30 minutes before your flight, to not have to take off your shoes when you go through security, and to live without the knowledge that our security is a precarious thing. September 11 changed a lot of things for the United States, but the freedom we all share remains the same and we should be forever grateful for that.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Week of September 8

Finished with the Inferno, almost!  Your presentations have been pretty good, overall.  And hooray for FOUR DAY WEEKS!!!!


Tuesday, 9/8
Vocab unit 3
Finish presentations
Watch "What Dreams May Come" clips

Wednesday, 9/9
3rd: Test, Seminar 
4th: Finish Presentations, Test

Thursday, 9/10
Arthurian Legend notes, codes
Legends

Friday, 9/11
Vocab Quiz
"First Knight"

"What Dreams May Come"-- 3rd period ONLY

Even though we only watched three five minute excerpts, I am curious about your opinions about the movie compared to the book. Was seeing the visual image more horrific than reading it, or is your imagination more graphic than the movie-creators? Do some of you think you will plan to watch the entire movie?

Thursday, September 3, 2009

IrfanView HTML-Thumbnails

IrfanView HTML-Thumbnails

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Power of Writing

We talked about this a little bit in class, but you have now read some pieces of The Inferno. What do you think about the power Dante had as a writer to create this fictional hell and place people in it from his contemporary culture? Do you think it was ethically correct for him to do this? Would you enjoy a chance to have this sort of power in writing? What are your thoughts on this text?

Dante's World

http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu/utopia/index2.html For further reference on your cantos, check out this link from the university of Texas. This is not intended as a replacement for your reading, however.

Week of August 31


INFERNOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are moving right along!  This is usually a really different, interesting work for sophomores.  It's a little difficult, but people usually enjoy it.  


Monday, 8/31
Inferno intro, notes, activity

Tuesday, 9/1
Work in pairs on Cantos

Wednesday, 9/2
Work in pairs on Cantos

Thursday, 9/3
Present cantos

Friday, 9/4
Present Cantos
DUE:  Journals

Sunday, August 30, 2009

"Memphis Belle"

We would have talked in class about comparisons and contrasts between "Memphis Belle" and All Quiet. One line from the movie was "Those that I fight I do not hate, those I guard I do not love." (It was from the poem he read.) What are your feelings about that quote? Are there other things you want to say or point out about the movie? INFERNO MONDAY!!! This picture is of the historical people who flew this mission, not from the movie.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Week of August 24


And then you stopped to breath and we were finished with All Quiet! :)  This week will involve the evaluations of the book and the culmination of the unit.  I hope you liked it.  Your discussions were pretty good.  We'll get better as we go!


Monday, 8/24
Define Unit 2
10-12 Quiz
10-12 Discussion
History quiz
Symbolism in groups

Tuesday, 8/25
Compare/contrast in class essay

Wednesday, 8/26
All Quiet Seminar

Thursday, 8/27
"Memphis Belle"

Friday, 8/28
Vocab Quiz 2
Finish "Memphis Belle"

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

The Man He Killed

Below is the text for another of my favorite poems. This one speaks to the theme of people being enemies because of a word of command, instead of personal conflicts. Respond to this poem and relate it to both the book as well as any other war literature or movies. The Man He Killed ~Thomas Hardy "Had he and I but met By some old ancient inn, We should have sat us down to wet Right many a nipperkin! "But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him and he at me, And killed him in his place. "I shot him dead because – Because he was my foe, Just so – my foe of course he was; That's clear enough; although "He thought he'd 'list perhaps, Off-hand like – just as I – Was out of work – had sold his traps – No other reason why. "Yes; quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down You'd treat if met where any bar is, Or help to half-a-crown."

Poetry Response

Read the poem below by Wilfred Owen. Respond to it in some way and then make a connection between this poem and All Quiet. DULCE ET DECORUM EST by Wilfred Owen Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind. Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori. 8 October 1917 - March, 1918 If you liked this poem, search out other WWI poetry. Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brook are all good places to start. Poetry from this era is very interesting and realistic.

The War We Forgot

Newsweek article

Click on the link above to read an article from the February 18, 2008, edition of Newsweek.  What are your thoughts?

Monday, August 17, 2009

Week of August 17


I hope you guys are ready to go with some literature and writing!  :)  This is one of my favorite books to teach and I hope you all like it as much as I do.


Monday, 8/17
Define Unit 1
Intro to All Quiet notes
Preparing to Read Questions
Read Chapters 1-3
DUE:  Parent Letter

Tuesday, 8/18
1-3 Quiz
Discuss 1-3
Characterization Activity
Read chapters 1-4

Wednesday, 8/19
4-6 Quiz
Discuss 4-6
Read chapters 7-9

Thursday, 8/20
7-9 Quiz
Discuss 7-9
Read chapters 10-12

Friday, 8/21
Vocab Unit 1 Quiz
10-12 Quiz
Discuss 10-12

Friday, August 14, 2009

Welcome to My Whole NEW BATCHES!!!!

Time has a way of passing very quickly and I again find myself in a sea of new faces, frantically trying to memorize almost one hundred names, back to trying to figure out personalities and what makes my students tick!  It can be frustrating at times to have to do all of this again twice every year, but there is just something exciting about change and something refreshing about a blank slate!  What other job in the WORLD do you get to have a fresh start two times every year?  None, I tell you.  I am very excited about my two sections of English II Honors this fall.  I hope you all will use this blog, enjoy this blog, and maybe even keep following this blog once you are out of my clutches gone on to bigger and better things!  :)  Anyway, welcome to the class.  I know we are going to have a great semester and I am excited!  Take deep breaths this weekend, get some sleep, because starting on Monday we are hitting the ground running.  

Friday, April 24, 2009

Week of April 27

I am excited about moving forward with the Holocaust Unit this week.  I hope you can really get a lot out of Night.


Monday, April 27
Read Night

Tuesday, April 28
Read Night

Wednesday, April 29
Test over Holocaust notes
Seminar over Night
DUE:  Character Analysis for Independent Reading

Thursday, April 30
Watch "Life is Beautiful"

Friday, May 1
Finish "Life is Beautiful"

Thursday, April 23, 2009

To What Cause will You Commit?


In your class, Sonja DuBois challenged you to pick one cause to devote their time, energy, and resources to. As you age, there will be lots of requests and demands of you for social causes and charities. One lesson of the Holocaust is that "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to stand by and do nothing." (Edmund Burke) We are responsible, throughout our lives, as citizens of a democracy, of a society, for doing our best to correct injustices around us. Too often we do one of two things: we either ignore these problems or we try to give a little to everything to ease our guilty consciences. As Sonja so eloquently pointed out, imagine if each person chose ONE cause and devoted him or herself to it for life?

Obviously my passion is respect for your fellow man. I have devoted myself as an educator to a study of the Holocaust in the hope of educating those around me about making the world a safer place. I feel that every human being deserves respect. As far as my "cause", beyond being a Holocaust educator, I am committed to a ministry for abused and neglected children called Royal Family Ministries. My church does a camp every summer for nearly forty children in the foster care systems of Bradley, Hamilton, and McMinn counties. I have served as a counselor at that camp almost every year since its inception in 1999. This is our tenth year for Royal Family Kids Camp, and we have expanded that ministry to include a middle school retreat about five years ago. I serve on the Royal Family board at my church, Kraig and I are both counselors, and we have chosen to make this ministry the source of our financial support. You know that I try not to ask you to do anything I would not/am not doing, so I wanted to answer the question that follows before I asked you to.

My question to you is, what is your cause going to be? What are you passionate about? What do you see as something that merits your time, energy, and resources? Or are YOU going to stand by and do nothing?

What Did You Think?

Pictures to Come!
You all had an opportunity on Thursday to do something that very few people in your generation have gotten to do, and fewer and fewer people in the future will do. You (Holocaust Lit and English II) got to hear the story of Sonja DuBois, a survivor of the Holocaust. I really don't want to post a bunch of questions on here or put words in your mouths. I mainly want to hear your response to her story.

I will tell you that I was so interested in what she said about the moment that she decided to start sharing her story with others was when she saw the Bible study about Esther and realized that she, too, lived a double life. And just like Esther, there were lots of people involved in saving Sonja. I, as a parent, cannot imagine what her parents must have felt when they left her at the station, her mother who put the necklace around her neck, and then walked away. Even if I KNEW, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Emma and Kelsey would be safer left behind (and her parents didn't KNOW), I cannot fathom what it would feel like to put them in the arms of a stranger to them and walk away, not knowing what would become of them. The pain they must have suffered at that moment probably hurt so much more than the death they encountered later. I also was staggered by how much we take for granted with our own lives, in that we all have people who can tell our life stories, who we look like, act like, and so on. She has no one in her life who can do that for her.

I said I wasn't going to put words in your mouths and I guess I did. I could probably write forever about my response to her story and the feelings it stirred in me. She was so arresting, such a powerful speaker, yet so approachable. But now, the responsibility lies with you and me. We are among the few people who have heard first hand the story of a Holocaust survivor. What, now, will we do with it? Sonja's story lives on with us. Her parents live on in us, because we know the sacrifice they made so that she could live to tell. It is your duty, your obligation, to bear witness when the time comes that no one is alive to say, "I was there. It happened to my family. I saw the camps. I lived it." YOU will have to stand up and say, "I heard the story of a survivor. I saw the necklace her mother left her, saw the one surviving photograph of her parents." It did happen, and we have to make sure that the lessons learned are applied to our daily lives.

I guess that's my sermon for the day.

LATE LATE Great Caesar Projects!







Sorry I am so late in posting this projects. There were so many great ones, but I only posted those that a picture would do justice for. I was so impressed with them! Please remember, you are not going to get credit for a comment on this post but you are more than welcome to comment anyway!