Readers are Leaders

This year, I decided to try to motivate students to read by displaying WHOLE CLASS progress.  In our class, when students finish reading an independent reading book, they share with the class:

1.  What they read
2. a summary of the book (no spoilers!)
3. a rating of the book (scale 1-10)
4.  what type of reader they think would enjoy this book.

They earn a ribbon to add to our board, and we add to our whole class tally.  So far, I think it has been working--more and more students share their reading, and as a result, I think more students are willing to share their accomplishments.

Here is our current board:

A Homecoming Fit for a Prince...or Princess

Confession:  there is a part of me that hates Homecoming Week.  The glitter.  The feathers.  The cyberbullying.

But most of me loves Homecoming and all that it entails.  I attend the events to see my students in action.  I love their school spirit.  I love their smiles.  I love how, in spite of some of the aforementioned bullying, Homecoming has the ability to bring us all together in a way that doesn't happen at any other part of the year.

I give you Homecoming 2016, as experienced through the lens of my iPhone:


TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK: The Broncos clinch the MSL West Title.  I love this photo the most because it shows how they work together even when the clock isn't ticking.



Cheerleaders brave the cold and rain--after walking in the parade to boot!



These Bronco Super Fans are at every soccer game it seems...



That volleyball float was rather impressive!








Go Broncos!





I love the smile on CK in this one!


Varsity Soccer opened up a Whole New World for us at the Pep Assembly.




Broncos Get LOUD!



Back in the classroom:  Film Students work in groups to compete in Reverse Charades.  The WHOLE team gets up to act out while ONE student guesses the film being acted out.

This is a pretty good Forrest Gump.





Dumb and Dumber



The bear attack from The Revenant:

The Hobbit:



Word Games with the Juniors:
Period 1 selected Apples to Apples, Scrabble, and Word-A-Round
Period 6 selected whole class Balderdash

Aren't Students Amazing?

One of the many reasons I love teaching is because students amaze me every day.  I love how they can be so thoughtful, curious, and hilarious (sometimes all at once!).  Our film class ventured out to take photos to demonstrate particular angles/concepts used in film.  Check out these awesome photos students shared!  Can you name the angles/techniques?

What's on your bookshelf?

Junior Honors students are currently reading a book that supports our goals for the Transcendentalism Unit.  Throughout their reading, students are tracking whether or not the main character exhibits the main tenets of Transcendentalism that we studied:

1.  Non-conformity
2.  Self-reliance (solitude)
3.  Importance of Nature
4.  Free Thought
5.  Confidence

They are reading ONE of the following books:




Throughout their reading, in addition to focusing on answering whether or not the main character is a Transcendentalist, students are analyzing particular aspects of the writing to help make their determination.  These include, but are not limited to:

1.  characterization of main character
2.  setting
3.  characterization of minor characters and thereby, comparing them to the main character
4.  structure and syntax
5.  quote selection
6.  theme

Types of Shots in Film

When analyzing film, it is important for students to have a good handle on the language of film.  So, we spend a good amount of time reviewing types of shots--through film, film clips, and still photos.  In today's exercise, students ventured out into the high school, armed with their iPhones or device of choice to take photos of the following types of shots:

Oblique angle 

extreme long shot                   

extreme close-up                    

medium shot  

high angle       

establishing shot                                

bird’s eye view                                  

low angle      

close-up                                 

juxtaposition   

For example, in each class, I took one type of shot--seen here:

  

   

Can you identify which one it is?

Scroll for the answer.....

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

keep scrolling

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Answer: OBLIQUE ANGLE!  (affectionately called the Danny Boyle angle by Jack M)

Did you get it correct?  Hopefully, you did, and hopefully the Schmitt's Scholars took some creative photos to address the different types of shots.  Looking forward to sharing those soon!

Family First. Broncos Second.

It looks like it is going to be a beautiful weekend, so I hope all of my students get the opportunity to spend some well-earned time with their families.  While our weekends can be filled with many obligations, we must remember the Transcendentalists:  enjoy some solitude and being in tune with nature.  Take a moment to feel the (still!) warm breeze and listen to the gentle swaying of trees and their whispering leaves.

And, of course, if you've got time--show some Bronco love.  A little school spirit won't hurt ya.  Take a look at these two sporting their favorite colors:





Ninja Nagel, Assistant Principal & Tessa Rife, English Teacher at Back to School Night


And sometimes, you can roll Family First; Broncos Second all into one!



Have a great weekend!  Looking forward to seeing you Monday!

Transcendental Poetry--Written by YOU!

Check out these poems written by your classmates/your students:

Remember, our goals were:
1. To express a Transcendental Mindset
2.  To emulate a poet's style (repetition, syntactical choices, metaphor, rhyme)

1. A Smog exists over civilization

            Growing larger by the hour

            As man asserts his power

            Over his domain

           

            A beauty lies in nature

            That cannot be replicated

            Yet can go unnoticed by some

            While others seek to live forever within it

            The Smog is covering the forests

            That soon will be no more

            As civilization seeks to feed its never ending appetite

            For land, wood, food, and ore

            Man is shortsighted creature

            Seeking gains only for himself

            He doesn’t care what he destroys

            If it is able to fund all his new toys

2.  Billions of inhabitants

Not one the same

But all with one common desire

Happiness is their aim

Along the way,

It is sometimes lost

Time will not stop,

Each decision has it’s cost

The pursuit of happiness is not one single thing

It has no true beginning nor end...

It is the pursuit itself that brings content

Where people no longer have to pretend

Happiness is attainable

Though one can be easily derailed

The basic values are explainable

Do not rely on others,

For you will only have yourself in the end

Originality is key

A copycat will never be seen

Those who get a taste of what it’s like to be free

Understand that individuality

Is blocked by the norms of society

This strong desire that we all share

Is so simple yet complex,

It’s hard not to care

Happiness brings good to each and every person

It is the base to unity among the world

But first,we need to learn to break free

And be the unique people we were destined to be

3.  There is a part of me that’s introverted

And a part that wants to be known

One side wants to be alone

And the other wants to be noticed

I try to fight the side

That wants to be alone

Because how can I do anything

If I don’t affect anyone

There is no reason to be alone

When I can change people’s lives.

4.  When the world is dead,

Blame yourself.

Black, scorched, and without life

Blame yourself

When our children die young

We sicken each other for “life”

Blame yourself

For our life with paper

With coal, with phones,

With slow roasting a planet

Blame yourself

Without cars, only legs

Without coal, only sun

Blame yourself

Blame yourself, unless you help save it

Our world

then and only then

Can you

Praise yourself.

5.  Stand up to your fears,

make them tremble at the sight of your face

Stand against those who belittle you,

they cannot tear you down as long as you believe that they cannot

Stand up for yourself,

even when your own mind betrays you

Stand with your sisters,

your brothers,

your friends,

build them up just as you have been built up before them

Stand up for your beliefs,

your truth,

your mind,

and your heart, never leave them behind,

they are your greatest tools

they are too precious to be carelessly tossed aside