Shannon Hale, best-selling author, thought it might help if kids had a book friend who gets what they're going through, so she and her husband created a Princess in Black PSA to help them understand what's going on and give them some tips.
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Much of my daily writing lately has been a bit more on the technical side, and when doing writing in my personal time, I think the content has been a bit more adult in nature. Not everything is fit to be shared with students, but I think it's important to write what you want and even more so, practice what you preach. The great thing about using cliches and idioms with younger elementary students is you often get to be the first to use them. Anyway, I've been burning the midnight oil, playing with screencastify (the greatest thing since sliced bread), and at times bitten off more than I can chew. While I've continued my daily writing, I wanted to return today with something a little cleaner.
My seed today came from a fourth grade teacher at Joy. Her warmup asked students to write a story about anything they wanted using the following list of words: pencil, green, banana, sister, carpet, bird, candy, happy, fun. I tried to use some figurative language and challenged students to find the example. I took out a line about patina that I want to work back in during a revision lesson after a mini lesson about oxidation. Those mini-lessons will be the icing on the cake! Candy Crow At the top of a very special school named Joy is a green dome. Atop this dome rests a nest made of pencils. There are pink pencils, chewed pencils, and even pencils with banana scented erasers interlocked like a little log cabin. Inside this miniature home made of rubber and wood lives a crow named Candy. Candy, like most crows, is intelligent, and why wouldn’t she be, she lives on top of a school! Candy is used to waking up to the sound of happy children leaping out of cars and entering the building below. Lately, the front yard of the school has been as quiet as a cat walking across carpet. Gone are the, “Have a good days” and the “Help your sister out of her seatbelt”. Gone are the sounds of car doors shutting and kids rushing into the building below. But Candy’s smart, she picked up a copy of the paper that got blown away in the wind. She understands why the kids are home, why the school is quiet, and knows you’ll be back again. She even flew here today to ask me to pass along her message. She hopes you are staying safe, having fun but still trying to learn all you can, and wants you to know that if you ever need a pencil all you have to do is “Caw”! Spring Break has come to an end, and I am exciting to pick the seed writing back up. Today I came across a tweet from a teacher that shared a poem written by her student titled Things I Miss About School. It's been some time since I've written a poem and recently, one of my students shared a poem on our Google Classroom, so I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring. Without further ado...
What I Miss About Joy Boy, do I miss teacher call offs my favorite part—getting to fill in then it's a me versus fourth grade standoff Down to my office-- sharpened pencils, Shel Silverstein, and dry erase markers tossed into my case I enjoy not playing with a full deck —identify and shuffle the jokers look for the helpers, each class has an ace. I miss the Kaos. In oh so many ways. That's a little dude's name and he fist bumps me everyday. When we get back, if we get back, if he comes back we'll swap our germ infested salutation for eshaku it'll be our special way of saying, "how do you do" and bidding adieu I miss reading poems that rhyme and poems that don't and scaring my students by reading them ghost stories they won't picture books to third grade and The Book with No Pictures to pre-K passing out comics to middle schoolers, and talking about The Dog of Pompeii At Joy, I've spent days cutting up and bandaging cuts I've given graduation speeches and sat and listened to long board meetings Watched a kid get it and watched a kid get lost I've had kids make fun of my shoes and comforted a kid when someone made fun of his I take the good with the bad. I miss school, because it's the most Joy I've ever had. I'd like to tell you a story about how my life got flip turned upside down. I've been writing a lot today. And it all has to do a bit with seeds related to the coronavirus. Remember, get creative. The important part is that we are writing daily. I gave some feedback on an excellent poem by one of my students. Boy did it feel good to give feedback to a student on a poem, it's been a while. I gave some suggestions on how to deal with students that were sending inappropriate pictures to one another via Instagram. I won't go into that advice here, but just know the students were suspended for the rest of the year. That's right, don't even think of going to the school this school year. I also kind of submitted my outline for what I think "school" should look like over the next few months. That, I feel comfortable sharing with you. The formatting is a bit wonky, but don't focus on the wrong part of the story. Have to make some mistakes to learn from them.
Okay, there is a lot going on right now. This document isn’t for getting into all of that. You should get yourself, your family, personal interests all in line before this. Like the flight attendants say, “secure your own mask first before helping others.” Once your mask is on, continue reading to get started with this whole online learning business. A quick note, I’ll be using “online learning”, “distance learning”, “virtual learning” interchangeably until the world settles on a favorite. This is not a completely finished document. Some things are not addressed, but I feel it is an adequate skeleton. Not all of what follows are my words. And I’ll try my best to cite my sources, but right now my focus is getting this information out to all of our stakeholders.
Today's seed writing comes from a post in Mr. Snyder's Google Classroom. What song makes you feel invincible, gives you a strength boost, and provides motivation? Give me a scenario(example) where you needed to listen to that ONE song to get you through a situation. I will be creating a playlist from your one track submissions. Look forward to reading them all. Thank You! I think I read as far as "what song makes you feel..." before Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" popped in my head. I connected my bluetooth speaker, turned up the volume, opened up my windows and watched as my neighbors shuttered theirs. Invincible? Strength boost? Motivation? Check, check and ...checks notes CHECK!
As a 34 year old, I've long since run my course on trying to pretend that a band's biggest single isn't their best song. I think I came to this realization at a Jay-Z concert. Before the show, I'm like "oh boy I hope he plays 'If I Should Die'" but then he opens his set with "Big Pimpin'" and I'm quickly like yeah, that was the better choice. I'm not even willing to admit that "Killing in the Name" is Rage's best song, but is definitely their most popular. And rightfully so, when you talk about "one" song that gets you through a situation it's this one. Are you kidding me? It's a tears streaming, fists flying-oppression and anger, with a well placed mother f****r, and an unmistakable Tom Morello riff, anti-conformity anthem wrapped up in five minutes that flies by like 90 seconds that will have you ready to swing on a cop, walk on glass, and burn the country to the ground only to rebuild it yourself. If that first "ugh" in "Killing in the Name" doesn't move you then nothing will. I know some of you may be asking yourself "how is this seed writing?" I truly want to express how loose I want this journaling to be. I've never seen Rage Against the Machine in concert and after more than a decade long hiatus just assumed I never would. I mean they haven't released an album in my students' lifetime. At 14, I was probably a bit too young, and a bit too sheltered, for my mom to ship me off to Woodstock '99. And what with all the fire, sexual assault, and lack of basic human needs such as water unable to be met, I'm almost able to wrap my head around the idea that missing out on RATM at their peak was worth it. Almost. Still, that was all going to change this summer. Rage Against the Machine announced a reunion tour this summer. And even though tickets sold out in less than fifteen minutes, I was able to snag a pair online while pretending to listen to the history of the Michigan Testing Conference. Don't tell my boss! But, I mean if we aren't raging against old white men patting each other on the back while the education gap between the haves and have nots gets wider and wider then what are we even doing here? But with the spread of coronavirus, well, spreading at breakneck pace, those summer concert plans appear to be on hold. And this is an important time in American history where we must ask ourselves if you really want to get 20,000 people together in a room with the soundtrack of revolution washing over the masses? I know I do. Hopefully President Trump gets his wish and we are out of the house by Easter, that way Rage can help get him out of the house by November. Prince Charles, Kevin Durant, Scarface. Coronavirus has proved to be an equal opportunity entity. I make it a habit to not get too hung up on celebrity culture. If the Karadashians do something for you, that's great, but they really aren't a part of my life. But Scarface, is definitely is a part of my life.
On March 26, Scarface announced to the world that he had Coronavirus. There he is, sick and shirtless, in a Zoom video with fellow Geto Boys member Willie D. Zoom, the same app I used to sit in on a statewide mindfulness conference, was now being used by one of the faces of southern raps Mt. Rushmore to announce he had tested positive for something the entire country fears they someday will as well. This is going to start hitting closer and closer to home. Scarface survived a suicide attempt, the drug game, and being featured on the cash grabbing Duets: The Final Chapter album to become the president of Def Jam south, appear in the film Idiocracy, and recipient of the 2005 I Am Hip-Hop Award. And now, I hope he has another win in him. If you've ever listened to The Fix you know Scarface has an incredible record of 27-5 in fights. What did he have to say about those five losses, "And the 5 losses I got, I had to redeem 'em / So he had to fight me every time I seen him". No rematches in this one Face. I'm hoping you win in a first round K.O. As of this writing there are 215,081 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the United States. The New York Times reports that its possible "Between 160 million and 214 million people in the United States could be infected over the course of the epidemic, according to a projection that encompasses the range of the four scenarios." Of course not all those cases will prove fatal, and we could end up shy of those numbers if Americans continue to practice social distancing and take precautions laid out by the CDC and local agencies. There is a good chance someone you know personally, and someone you see on TV, and even your favorite rappers favorite rapper will test positive for coronavirus. It's important that we all do our part to curb the spread of the virus. Scarface has always been the oldest rapper I mess with. And I hope I can make that claim for years to come. Top Scarface Songs 1. Smile - Scarface feat. Tupac 2. Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta - Geto Boys 3. The Fix tracks 2-5: One of my favorite runs on any rap album (Safe, In Cold Blood, Guess Who's Back, On My Block) 4. WWIII - Snoop Dogg, Scarface, Jadakiss, Yung Wun 5. Lettin' Em Know - Scarface 6. Mind Playing Tricks on Me - Geto Boys 7. Growing Pains (Do it Again) Remix - Disturbing tha Peace feat. Scarface 8. No Tears - Scarface 9. Mind of a Lunatic - Geto Boys 10. Mind Playin' Tricks 94 - Scarface Some of you may know the name Lauren Tarshis, and some of you may know her work without recognizing her name. Tarshis is the author of the I Survived book series. Finding books that appeal to middle school students is probably the hardest part of my job. If you'll excuse me, I'd like to take a sentence to extend a thank you to Ms. Tharsis. The odds she'll ever see it are about as good as a sloth winning a foot race against Billy Hamilton, but anybody that makes the job of a middle school teacher easier deserves to have their name shouted from every corner of the Internet—even if those corners are dimly light and sparsely populated blogs. For those not in the know, Tarshis writes historical fiction about children who survive different disasters. In my school I've seen copies of I Survived Hurricane Katrina, I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, and I Survived The Great Chicago Fire tucked into student desks, on top of lockers, and glued to the hands of students that had previously shown zero interest in picking up a book let alone opening in up! Naturally, people have been asking Tarshis if she plans to write "I Survived Covid-19". This was her response. Though a bit vague, and that's too be expected, I don't even know what day of the week it is, this is incredibly exciting. Having students document and share their own experience during this time is exactly what I've asked my students to do. I think my favorite part of this pandemic (that sounds silly) is that the global education community has really banded together to share resources and ideas. This feels like a very important moment for education and I'm excited to see what direction it takes and to also play a role. To know that I'll get some help in the future as I help my students write their own stories has me finally ending my work day with a smile on my face. Tarshis take your time and kids get ready to write the next best seller!
Special shout out to DJW! She was the first person to join my Google Classroom. DJW was one of my most engaging students in the classroom and I've been truly blessed to watch her grow as a person as she gets ready to enter high school. I still have some of her posts from my old classroom blog and I won't share her writing here without her permission but in her post about living to 1000 she did inspire me to walk my dog more often and stop eating fast food. I'm so excited that she has joined my virtual classroom and can't wait to see what her writing inspires in me next. Today I read that Major League Baseball (MLB) and Fanatics, the company that manufactures all of the jerseys for big league ball clubs, are switching gears.
With MLB suspending the season, much like the National Basketball Association and other professional sports leagues around the world, opening day was put on hold. I hesitate to say this news saddened me, because people are literally dying from Covid-19, and to be sad there's no baseball would be incredibly selfish. However, I'd be lying if I didn't admit to being a little bummed. Make no mistake, I believe Rob Manfred and Adam Silver (commissioners of MLB and NBA respectively) made the right call in suspending the seasons for their sports. Baseball isn't my life, but it does hold a very special place in my heart. I'll freely admit Opening Day (the start of the MLB season) can feel a bit like amateur hour—there's no shortage of littered beer cans and public urination, but there is something magical about it as well. Opening Day signifies hope. When I was my students' age, to say the Tigers were not good would be the understatement of the century. But as an adult, oh baby, not only were they good, they were perennial contenders. Between 2008-2017 future hall of famer Justin Verlander toed the slab on opening day nine of ten seasons, and from first pitch until the Tigers were mathematically eliminated I believed we could win it all. Of course, they never did, but that didn't mean I wouldn't be back at the park to ride the rollercoaster all over again the next year. Sometimes the Tigers open their season on the road. I actually like these years best. When the Tigers open at home, college kids skip class, people play hooky from work, and even if they can't name the starting shortstop, everyone in the state is the biggest Tigers fan. There's a big party all over the city and everybody root-root-roots for the home team. When the Tigers open on the road there isn't a lot of fanfare. The home opener is the one circled on everyone's calendar. Baseball's a slow game, so I won't begrudge anyone who's just down to clown and do some day time cuttin' up. But for me, I'll take the Tigers opening up in the gray road uniforms at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Or Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Or even the Skydome in Toronto, Canada, but truth be told, if I had my druthers I'd prefer opening day to be played outside. When the Tigers open on the road I get to see my best friend in the world. I don't see him all too often, but I know that I can always count on seeing him when the calendar aligns just right. Those years, I find myself tucked away in an old stomping ground, a bucket of cold ones split between me and my best friend and that feeling of hope beaming right through the television—knowing I'll get to wear it all summer long. Mr. Pippin likes a good party as much as the next fella, so you won't hear me complaining when the season opens up at home. Alls I'm saying is if you set a vanilla ice cream cone and a chocolate sundae with hot fudge, whipped cream, and sprinkles in front of me, I'm the kind of guy who doesn't see anything wrong with enjoying both. For the home opener I get to return to the neighborhood I lived in when I was in college. My wife's cousin James (my cousin now too) drives down from Saginaw, leaving his house at 4:30 in the morning and sets up his grill in the parking lot of Nemo's to headline a big tailgate. Friends and family come by all throughout the early morning and afternoon. We eat bbq chicken and ribs, throw bags, and play our music way too loud! It's my favorite family holiday. So, please forgive me when I say that the cancelling of opening day bums me out. I won't get that time with my friend, and to tell you the truth, with the quarantine in place I don't know when I'll see him next. I don't get to see my cousin James' big smile. I won't get to relive the videos my wife secretly takes of me rapping along to Wu-Tang Clan that she sends to everybody on Snapchat. I won't get to see my brother-in-law and his dad sharing moments they'll cherish forever. Right now I don't feel all that hopeful, but reading this article inspired a bit of the hope I so desperately needed. With the season, and Opening Day, put on hold, Fantatics and baseball have ceased production on baseball jerseys and have pivoted to making masks and gowns for hospitals. With hospitals overwhelmed with an influx of patients brought on by the spread of Covid-19, and severely lacking in medical supplies, I'm finding comfort in reading that even though baseball isn't providing hope for me in a way that I've come to look forward to, it is providing hope to so many more. Well it has certainly been an eventful past few days! I've spent the last twelve days home from work, quarantined in my cozy home with my beautiful wife Rachel, three cats (Charlie, Alley, and Jack), and Elmer, the most ferocious Pit Bull the world has ever known. In that time I've been able to take my dog on a great deal of walks through my neighborhood. He's walked well for the most part. It's a nice time for my wife and I to step away from our makeshift work-from-home space, get some fresh air, and a chance for the three of us to get a bit of exercise. I've been able to exercise in other ways too! On Thursday, I put on my outdoor wheels and did a bit of rollerskating. Earlier this past week I did a virtual workout with my friends Justin and Laura from our respective living rooms. And I kicked off Friday by pulling up some poorly edited kettlebell workouts on Youtube and working up quite the sweat in my living room as strangers strolled past my front window. For a moment, I felt like a carnival freak—"Step right up! Come see the Bearded Lady, Lobster Boy, and one time only, the world's sweatiest man! Just a nickel grants you admission to all the attractions—a roll of toilet paper gets you a date with the conjoined twin of your choosing." Today sweaty guy, tomorrow the strong man. But, my favorite quarantine exercise has to be dancing. Dancing is already something I love to do, but lock me up in a house, cancel my ability to attend weekend (and the occasional school night) concerts, ramp up the paranoia, and I'll put the crazy in crazy legs. On Day 1, my friend Justin sent me a great mix by The Magician. I liked it so much I spent the better part of three days bopping around my house, playing ribbon dancer with my cats, and forever finding new ways to treat my neighbors to side show acts. Then Saturday came. It was time to take the training wheels off. JayEl (Justin's DJ name) and DJ Slava were going to do back-2-back DJ sets on Instagram live. Slava went for three hours, JayEl for another two. Before it was over, Rachel downloaded an app and had picked up a new hobby (something we could all use right about now) and I had tripped the light fantastic for the better part of six hours. Thank goodness for social media. I've actually had to do a bit of reacquainting with social media. In the past few years I've stepped away from Twitter, Facebook, and the like. In the past, I believed Twitter was a fantastic news source. I mean, it's how I found out about the death of Osama bin Laden. It also took the innocence of my childhood, broke it, and reconstructed all that was once familiar into something strange and unrecognizable. But then I had a revelation. What if the best news source was...the news? I was spending more time reading people's reactions to the news than the actual breaking stories, and I was failing to think for myself. I took a step back, and honestly, I haven't missed it. Lately, I've felt the need to dip my toes back in the water. Responsibly of course—you don't go swimming in a cesspool without putting on your goggles first. This is all starting to sound a bit holier-than-thou, so I'll get to the part where I've found social media helpful in these ever-changing times. Aside from the aforementioned six hour dance party, I found quite a few uses for social media. Last Sunday I doubled down on the Instagram fun and watched some of my favorite artists host charity concerts from their couches. I was able to video chat with friends on the House Party app while playing virtual versions of my favorite board games. Some friends and I all hit play at the same time and used Google Meet to watch game one of the 2004 NBA Finals (Pistons vs Lakers for you nephews). Fun fact, the Pistons averaged 75 points a game in the Eastern Conference Finals! Before the 2019-2020 NBA season was suspended in response to the Coronavirus pandemic, no team in the league was averaging less than 102 points per game. Independent of the poor video quality, it was almost like watching an entirely different game. I used Snapchat to send funny videos to my me-maw, kept in touch with friends, and made sure to check in on family using a combination of gizmos. I even got incepted! And when Justin was waiting curbside for fish sandwiches delivered via crucible tongs and a man in a hazmat suit only to have his car battery die, it was I who was watching live! My wife, ever the hero, was off, and I watched two of my favorite people in the world jump a car battery from the comfort of my living room. It hasn't been all fun and games. While I have a stockpile of food, a person at home to keep me in high spirits, and the ability to work from home while continuing to collect my paycheck, it would be naive of me to think that my reality is one shared by everyone. My mom, me-maw, and one of my sisters live alone. My youngest sister still goes to work everyday, and I'd imagine the decision of losing her job or heading in to work and risk getting sick isn't one she is able to wrestle too easily. I also live in a nice neighborhood, so while kids are out riding bikes, neighbors are doffing hats, and some freaks are rollerskating in the street listening to Miami bass like summer vacation started four months early, my mind also wonders what I would be doing if I was twelve, and my school was forced to close because of the Coronavirus pandemic. When I was twelve, I had a lot in common with the amazing kids at Joy Preparatory Academy. I lived in Detroit—and like a lot of my students sometimes with my grandpa, sometimes at my uncle's house, but eventually it was the six of us (me, my three sisters, mom, and dad) in our own home. My dad cut lawns for a living and before my mom went back to school to be a teacher she sold eyeglasses at Northland mall. It's safe to say that if today's crisis happened when I was my students' age, my family would have probably been consumed with how to feed four kids and not making sure I practiced my times tables. That isn't to say that education during this time isn't important. I only want to point out that if priorities lie elsewhere I won't be the one to cast blame. How would my teachers get me school work anyway? Sometime around the release of Windows 95 we got a computer, but when the hours on the free AOL disks ran out that was the end of communicating with the world outside of my neighborhood. Many of the kids I see everyday don't have reliable Internet access. When excluding Internet access via their cell phones that number is reduced even greater. Obviously, cell phones weren't common place when I was a twelve year old, and at my school a middle school student having a cell phone isn't necessarily a given. So while I read horror stories of distracted students on cell phones in class in more affluent districts, it's typically not a concern for me on a normal workday. But today, we are working with a new normal. With limited access, how can I communicate with my students? I'm able to have virtual meetings with my team of teachers, set aside time for meetings with the principal and fellow curriculum coaches, and join discussions with the corporate team about what education will look like in the weeks to come. What I'm not able to do is know. And the not knowing isn't sitting too good with me. I don't know if my kids have any way to get to the school and pick up a meal. I don't know if one of my single parent households is having to work insane hours at a hospital with the crippling fear that they could potentially be brining the Coronavirus home to their asthmatic child. Do my families know that "African American fourth-graders in Michigan are reading proficient at the lowest rate in the country"? There are a thousand fingers to point and a laundry list of reasons why my state has failed black students, but it's not something I'm going to get into in a blog post that links a Barry Beans meme. Some schools have a full staff of amazing veteran teachers well trained to use Flipgrid, Canvas, and make using the entirety of G suite look as easy as Jeezy riding a Shawty Redd beat, while some of the teachers in my building are hearing about many of these apps for the first time. Having hangout happy hours and practicing mindfulness definitely have their place, but when this is all over, will Michigan education inevitably return to the status quo? When all the pieces get put back together, what does the final picture look like for my students? I don't know. I do know how poorly this country prepared for our current situation. I do know how our country has historically treated minorities and those that live below the poverty line. And I do know that I've been accused of being a cynic in the past, all the while I've stood firm that in actuality I've had one foot planted in reality while keeping my head in the clouds. I can pretend that I don't know what this looks like for my kids when this is all over, but the reality is I think I know exactly how this shakes out for black kids in Detroit and that scares the shit out of me. While I think I should leave it there, I don't think I will. My kids are resilient you think I can leave it there? What are we going to do about it? I've been reading everyday. You should be too. Yes, you. Students that read 30 minutes a day saw the largest gains in reading scores and engagement. Any parents, aunties, or me-maws out there feeling stressed? "A 2009 study from researchers at University of Sussex showed that six minutes of reading reduces stress by 68% (more relaxing than either music or a cup of tea), thus clearing the mind and readying the body for sleep." The bedtime story is tried and true folks. If you do nothing else during this time away from school I encourage you to read for thirty minutes. You can check this website for resources. You can email me directly for so many more. You can access NewsELA with your @joyprep email. You can read the comic books I linked in the previous blog post. You can learn about the difference between artist and celebrity. Heck, sounds like this Tiger King thing is the only thing people are talking about more than the Coronavirus so get your parents permission to watch and turn on the subtitles. Pull the Jiffy mix out of the cupboard read the recipe so you've got something to snack on as you finally crack open that Diary of a Wimpy Kid book you "forgot" to give back to me. If you'll forgive me, I'm going to borrow this next bit from Kelly Gallagher. He's been teaching since before I was born. He and I share the belief that education doesn't fall into a one-size-fits-all category, so I'm not going to attempt to reinvent his wheel, I'm just going to fix the alignment so you can have a smooth ride. Besides, if you don't know Jay-Z is my favorite rapper and I've gone to one of his lyrics often over these twelve days, "I get my 'by any means' on whenever there's a drought / Get your umbrellas out because that's when I brainstorm”. I don't know if the world will be ready for you when we all get back, but I want you to be ready for the world. Gallagher's plan adapted by me. First, if you want to get down you'll need to join my Google classroom by going to classroom.google.com and using this code: gil5w7g. If you are having any trouble at all using your @joyprep login credentials you can email me at [email protected]. Once there you'll see a link to my Flipgrid class code. We will be using Flipgrid to create videos and interact with each other. My first video will outline much of what I discuss below so head there and come back to this post if necessary. Right now this only benefits students with access to technology. If you are reading this and don't always have Internet access, or know a classmate that doesn't have access you can tell them to call the school and I can figure out a way to make sure you can participate as well. From Gallagher: "You are living through an unprecedented moment in history—right now! Today, tomorrow, and the days that follow will be captured in history books. Someday, you will share stories with your children and grandchildren about living through this time. Because these days are historical, it is critical that we not let these events pass without capturing how they affect you, your family, your school, and your community. Since you will be “schooling” from home, I will describe here the daily assigned work to be done outside the classroom. Here are your daily writing and reading requirements:" You will be asked to write one page or more in your writer's notebook, capturing your thoughts, questions, comments, and concerns about the events that are unfolding. I want you to capture this history—your history—any way you'd like. Below are some suggestions for your daily writing, but you do not need to follow them. Fee free to generate your own thinking. Eighth graders hoping to get into King, Cass, or Renaissance, during your entrance interview when they inevitably ask how you spent your time away from school how will you respond? Some possibilities for daily writing:
Here is another site that shows ways of keeping interesting notebooks: http://www.sharingournotebooks.amylv.com/ If you need a notebook or composition book, I have plenty at the school. Reach out to me by email or call the school and they can get in touch with me. I can make sure to include one in your next meal pickup. You might also want to look at how other people in history captured historical events. Here, for example, is a look at the notebooks of Anne Frank, which have been read by millions of people: https://www.annefrank.org/en/anne-frank/diary/complete-works-anne-frank/ Again, be creative as you decide how best to chronicle your thinking. What is the best way to capture this historical moment? You decide. Be creative! Your daily writing will not be graded. It will not even be read unless you grant permission. You will be given points on a credit/no credit basis. So take risks Be honest. Try to create writing that you will be interested in re-reading years from now. Chronicle your thinking as we navigate these uncertain days/weeks. If you do not have your notebook at home, you may write on paper or create a Google doc. That said, if this quarantine is extended, we will create a digital space where we can eventually begin sharing our writing. You will not be asked to share everything you write, but occasionally you will be asked to join the written "conversation." Each day, I will be writing alongside you. Once we begin, I will be posting my daily drafts here. Daily Reading Find a book to read. Any book that interest you. Your choice. You are asked to read this book for 30 or more minutes every school day. You are asked to time your reading every day, and to track the time you spend reading on a self-made chart. The chart you create can be hand-written or created digitally, and it might look like this example: The goal here is 30 minutes a day of sustained, uninterrupted reading. I know that may be difficult for some of you, as you may face interruptions at home, but it is critical that you do your best to find uninterrupted reading time as a means to building your stamina.
If you do not have a book, you can download one for free from the public library system. If you need a temporary library card start here: https://detroitpubliclibrary.org/news/dpl-closure-faq-what-you-need-to-know If you already have a library card you can go here https://www.hoopladigital.com/browse/audiobook/popular?page=1 So that is Kelly Gallagher's plan adjusted to work for our students at Joy. I look forward to connecting through the various avenues I have linked in my Google Classroom. If you have questions, comments, or concerns you can comment here, email me, or reach out on Google Classroom. I will respond daily. Best, Joshua Pippin If you know me, you know that I love comics. I won't spend too much time here blabbing about my love for Black Science, The Superior Foes of Spider-Man, or Transmetropolitan, but rather link some free comic book resources I've come across that I think my students may be interested in. Click on a title below to read!
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AuthorMy name is Joshua Pippin. I'm the literacy coach at Joy Preparatory Academy in Detroit, MI. I'll be using this space to write alongside my students while we're all hunkered down doing our part to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. ArchivesCategories |