thank you

As often as I say it, I feel like I don't say it often enough:

Thank You.

Thank you for your effort, your insight, your willingness to risk and make mistakes and change your mind;

Thank you for your trust, for your sense of humor, for your curiosity;

Thank you for your time, for your attention, and

Most of all

Thank you for taking this learning trip with me this year.

It's been a feast of ideas.

I hope you feel like it was time well-spent.

Wishing you the best this summer and always,

Dr. Preston

no one said "have a good summer" like thoreau

finals week

The hour is upon is.  I look forward to seeing you all this week for our last conferences before we adjourn for the summer.

looking for a creative example

Check out Anthony's blog:

you don't have to go high-tech to tell a story

endgame

Here's what we still have on our agenda:

• DUE TODAY: Your blog post entitled, "My Learning Was Lit"
• DUE TODAY: Your journal
• DUE TODAY: Your sign-up for our finals week experience
• DUE TODAY: Your 360-degree assessment
• DUE SUNDAY NIGHT (by midnight PDT) Your super-amazing blog post in which you use color, visual imagery/ mixed media (pics, vids, animation, embedded slides, etc.) to design and present your learning journey in this course 

my learning was lit

your post will read:

"This year I learned the following terms and I applied them as I read some pretty great stuff:

allusion
plot
theme
diction
syntax
in/direct characterization
static/dynamic characters
symbolism
synecdoche

june 1

It's June, man.

June.

JUNE.
Dude.

JOURNAL TOPIC: (do this at the end of the period)

Reflect on the year.  What will you remember from this course?

AGENDA:
1. 360 Assessment
2. Sign-ups for final
3. Journal

because someone asked me about .gifs

via GIPHY

may 31

JOURNAL TOPIC: (do this at the end of the period)

How does online media give us the chance to communicate differently than writing on paper?  What media are you using to tell your story on your website?  Why?

AGENDA:
1. Turn in your paper
2. Digital design
3. Journal

may 30

JOURNAL TOPIC:

This past weekend I flew across the country.  Security lines were long, flights were delayed, and people seemed stressed out and frustrated.  When I was younger, I loved to fly-- it was something I got to do, and it was fun.  Now, especially when I fly for business, flying seems like something I have to do.  What's the difference between getting to do something and having to do something?  How would school be different if it was something people get to do instead of something they have to do?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Academy wrap-up
3. Paper prep

***

PLEASE REMEMBER: 

PAPERS ARE DUE TOMORROW 

AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.  

NO EXCEPTIONS. 

NO EXCUSES.

Mahalo.

***

final masterpiece page

To make it easier for you to find the Masterpiece Academy final paper prompt, I've added a Page HERE.

immigration forum

may 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What did you do this weekend to succeed in this course?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Academy: wrap-up
3. Final paper process: DUE THURSDAY

Period 2
Araceli Carmona (10 minutes)
Jennifer
Rosalva
Angie (8 minutes) 


Period 3
Selena (15) 

Period 6
Desttiny (10 minutes)
Axel (10 minutes)
Phillip (15 minutes)
Joel (8 minutes)
Orlando (8 minutes)
Andres (8 minutes)

please turn in the great gatsby

There's nothing I like better than being hassled by the librarian because some of you haven't returned books.  Please take care of it.

Kassandra
Ricardo
Araceli C
Adrian
Liv

Mahalo.

may 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
"Good luck."  What a bunch of crap.  We know better.  Since the 1600s we've had sayings like, "The harder I work, the better luck I have" and "Chance favors the prepared mind."  So why do so many of us ignore the obvious and just hope for the best without taking the right-minded action that will more likely create the results we desire?  Why leave your fate to... well, fate?  What can you do today to improve your luck?

--OR--

Choose your own topic.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Academy

Period 2
Adan (8 minutes)
Alejandro (8 minutes)
Jesus (8 minutes)
Marcial (10 minutes)
Marcos (8 minutes) 

Period 3
Erick (10 minutes)
Saul (7 minutes)
Joanha (7 minutes)
Giselle (8 minutes)

Period 6
Liv (25 minutes)
Jannet (15 minutes)
Pablo (10 minutes)
Caren (3-5 minutes)

may 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today's the day.  But... the day for what?  Explain your answer.

--or--

You find a scorpion in your shoe.  The hard way.  Describe in detail.

--or--

Choose your own topic.

1. Journal
2. Outline and begin the rough draft of your final paper (see prompt here)

*REMINDER: if you are presenting tomorrow (Thursday, May 24) please send your materials

may 22

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes something funny?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Academy

Period 2
Alex (8 minutes)
Pablo (9 minutes)
Oscar (25 minutes)
Esme (6 minutes)

Period 3
Gabriel (8 minutes)
Christian (8 minutes)
Fatima (8 minutes)
Thais (7 minutes)
Adrian (8 minutes)
Emmanuel (5 minutes)

Period 6
Carlota (10 minutes)
Yolanda (10 minutes)
Natalia (20 minutes)
Chris (5 minutes)
Analuisa (6-8 minutes)  

thanks for your concern

I appreciate those of you who asked if I was alright this morning.  I won't speak to the cause of the injury, but I will say this much (in language you're sure to understand):  You ain't never gonna have a teacher as hard-headed as me.  And by the way, I was still on time for class this morning.

may 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Are you looking back?  Are you looking ahead?  Are you focused on the present moment?  How do you know?  Please explain.  (I'm trying to get clearer on this myself.)

1. Journal
2. Masterpiece Academy

Period 2
Rafael (12 minutes)
Christian (8 minutes)
Juan & Antonio (20 minutes)

Period 3
Luis (10 minutes)
Jose L. (7 minutes)
Griselda (10 minutes)
Oscar (5 minutes)

Period 6
Karina (10 minutes)
Diana (10 minutes)
Gabriel (12.5 minutes)
Pablo (5 minutes)