Want Your Opinion

One part of my 10-day unit is having the students create their own public service announcement based on a theme from the novel we are reading, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie. To introduce this project, I wanted to show the students a variety of examples from PSAs already on television. I chose topics such as breast cancer, smoking, drinking, and bullying. I am not able to show one of the PSAa, and I wanted some opinions from others.
Furthermore, my cooperating teacher viewed my first PSA while trying to play the DVD I created. Her response was to let me know that I couldn't play it in school because the students would tell all their friends, and the principal would not be happy if he found out. So, watch the PSA and tell me what you think......Save the Boobs!
I questioned the value of it before deciding to add it to my collection. I wanted the students to view a variety of tactics used to make get a point across to an audience. I believe that the PSA was very weel done and creative. I have heard more conversations recently about breast cancer than I've ever heard. And most of those conversations begin with this PSA or some of the other similar tactics used. Check out their site. It's not about sexy women, it's about breast cancer. They are simply trying to make younger women, and sometimes men, think about a subject they don't realize can happen at their age, or gender.
I don't understand the objection to using it with seniors.

Star Girl

I recently went to Borders on a shopping spree. I bought a few different books and this is my review:
Stargirl
This was a really great book. Even though it is for teens and young adults, I wanted to read the book from start to finish without any interruptions. I wanted to figure out who and what Stargirl was other than the enigma she seemed to be. I think it is a great book to use in high school. My first year coaching has shown me how teenagers band together based on who is who and who is wearing what and who is doing this or that. This one girl represents a part of being human that a lot of people lack today: kindness. I recommend this book to adults and teens!

I'm now working on reading Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Meyers. I have heard some of the students at my high school make positive comments on the book.

Modern Library Writer's Workshop

The idea that writing isn't going to be perfect as soon as the writer starts putting words on paper is inspiring. I look back at some of my own writing projects and become discouraged. If the piece that I am working on isn't exactly right, I put it aside; however, my 'aside' amounts to a very long period of time. This book recommends, "...you must sit down and write. It doesn't even really matter if you feel like writing" (5). I am known for the "I'm not in the mood to write; therefore, I can't" excuse more often than not. I also tend to be very critical of what I write and not like it very much.

Furthermore, I like how the process of writing isn't very machine-like. In a school setting, writing is a strict process with specific guidelines. The Writer's Workshop explains how the story and the characters are in control, not necessarily the writer. If the elements in the story are being shaped and created in the middle or end, that is okay! The thought of letting a character tell the story before the writer does is a new concept to me. I have always felt that I needed to be in control of everything instead of trying to become the character. The Writer's Workshop says, "To create a character is to play that character's part in your mind, and acting is a good metaphor for the process" (103).

I still want to make excuses and claim that the advice is unrealistic..lol. The book discusses time as though the writer can just make more of it whenever needed. Joyce Carol claims, "I have forced myself to begin writing when I've been utterly exhausted, when I've felt my soul as thin as a playing card, when nothing has seemed worth enduring for another five minutes...and somehow the activity of writing changes everything" (5). When my soul is that flimsy and I feel like crawling into a hole, I imagine a soft blanket around me while I'm curled up in bed, hopefully having a good dream that makes me realize I want to wake up again!!!

Hungry Minds

"In talking about the soup kitchen, Father Greenlaw generally does not mention Jesus. That's only natural, given the ecumenical nature of the enterprise." I know that personal and religious views are not acceptable in most public ventures, especially in schools; however, a church should be the one place where Jesus should always be mentioned. I know most people probably don't care about my views in religion, but I do believe in God and try to model that behavior for my children. On the other side, I don't like being preached to in a grocery store or hair salon for 30 minutes by someone who doesn't know me (which I've witnessed before). But in a church? That's where people go to be preached to. My personal beliefs make God responsible for the success of something like the soup kitchen.
Anyway, I think the writing workshop is a great way for some of the homeless to express their thoughts and feelings. It gives them a chance to be something other than homeless, and I don't mean becoming a classic writer and making millions of dollars. They can be writers during the workshop. They can use their creativity to take them anywhere in the world even if just in their minds. I used to write poetry to help me through some of my angry teenage years, so maybe, writing can help some of the homeless get through another tough day. And yes, the workshop has the potential to help some of those attain employment.
I wanted to read more about how the workshop itself functioned. Did they teach, what did they teach, and how? I guess I just wanted some more of those details.