Getting Ready for Gatsby: Let's Travel Back in Time!

Before you read on, ask youself if you have posted your reading responses, "10 things About Me," your Poe reflections, and response to "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge."  Today in the lab you will have an opportunity to get caught up, read other posts, and then read  and comment below about Gatsby!

Together as a class we are beginning another novel.  I know I say this of many books, but The Great Gatsby really is one of my favorites.  The storyline may seem remote to you, however, if you don't know much about the setting.  Today you have a chance to share what you know about the 1920's, the decline of the American Dream, the morals and values of the upper class, and so on.

This is a picture of the Crick estate

This is a picture of the Gould estate

This is Westbury Gardens

This is Princeton Blair Hall



It is hard for some of us to imagine such wealth as the mansions above or what it might be like to be born into such money that finding a job would never be necessary.  This is a time in our history when the rich were getting richer, World War I had just ended, and business was corrupt.  Any of you watch HBO's Boardwalk Empire?  It provides an interesting view into rum running, crime gangs and police corruption, and very wealthy businessmen.  During this time period, class distinctions seem apparent.  "Old money" blue bloods snub the newly rich, and immigrants must struggle against prejudice and lack of opportunity.

Great Gatsby is not only beautifully written (F. Scott Fitzgerald), it exposes truths about morals and unveils hypocrisy in American classes.

Seen the video trailer?  Here's a link!

Reading Online....

Today we will read Ambrose Bierce online.  There is so much out there that is free to read.  We've been reading Poe in honor of October and mystery and macabre.  Today we will continue the short story unit with another story that takes us to the Civil War era and a popular author of the time who wrote historical fiction.  Here is a link to one of my favorites, "The Occurance at Owl Creek Bridge."

Bierce is clearly one of the prominent voices of the Civil War era.  What do you think  about the sequence of events in this story?  How does that perhaps make a statement about the Civil War?  You can include your thoughts about this piece in today's blog post about your book.

The Point of Blogging: READ EACH OTHER!

Have you taken time to browse through our classroom  sites to learn more about each other?  Today you will be challenged to first proofread your own site, your posts, your pictures.  Review your book responses and check for spelling (there is a spell check button) and sentence structure.  Explain why you posted the picture you did for your book.  Explain the quotation you chose, why you chose it and what it means to the story.  Does your title include the title of your book?  Do you briefly give your readers a summary that will clarify what's going on, who is in your story, and where and when it is taking place without retelling the whole story?  Why did you chose the book?

You are  earning credit for your "10 or more things about me" post and also your comment on the Rules of Safety post (mine), your posts and remarks about Poe and Owl Creek Bridge, and your blog post about your book you are currently reading.

When you are satisfied you have completed the assignments to the best of your ability, your job is to get to know each other by reading all the other blogs in our class.  Last class I included a scavenger hunt for your proof of reading!  However, many of you simply asked each other for answers.  That's NOT the point.  That's not how you were supposed to learn about each other.  Today in the library, you will silently converse with each other by posting appropriate and kind comments regarding the writing.  You have posted information on the blog, and your audience is made up of each other.  Please READ each other's posts and do not talk!

Interesting Facts Scavenger Hunt

How well have you read our classroom blogs?  Here are some facts; see how well you've read and can match up the facts!

l.  This person plays violin and sings bass  tenor!

2. This person has had 3 knee surgeries.

3.  This native of KC wants to be a sports agent or be in sports medicine.

4. This shoe lover is learning ASL.

5.  This basketball player also runs track.

6.  This sports fanatic is a dog person but would love to own a piranah.

7.  Who was born on Ground Hog's Day?

8.  This skaterboarder hates spelling.

9.  This football player throws track.

10. This person has a boss who sprays Gucci and Prada perfume on the cat.

11.  Who has seen all the Twilight movies and has owned 5 vehicles?

Reading, Blogging, and Commenting: Getting the Most Out of Community!

Fellow bloggers,

First, I want to congratulate you on learning a new genre/form of writing, one that I believe will serve you well in the future.  Posting to a blog enables our class to share thoughts while building an academic community.  This is a great place to reflect on your reading, ask questions of each other, and share points of view.  You will gather information about other books and this will help you decide on your next book choice.  You will get practice reading with the eye of a writer, analyzing power passages, storyline, character, and author's purpose.

First thing to remember:  post to your own blog, not this one.  I will reserve this space for posting about what we are doing in class.  If you have questions of me, you can always leave a comment in the comment box below the post.  Next, I hope you'll take time to read everyone's posts and leave thoughtful comments, connections you have with other bloggers,  their posts, or the books they are reading.  There is nothing better than knowing someone has taken the time to think about and respond to your writing.  So finally, always be aware of your audience when you post.  The blog is public AND it is academic, so remember to be respectful and careful in your writing.

Happy reading, blogging, and commenting!

Great Books, Celebrations, and Starting a New Leaf

Here we are in the beginning of a new quarter, and it looks like our reading competition with 6th block is fairly close.  Look at the fall leaves; they are close to the same number.  You can thank some of the avid readers in our class.  From this point, you have an opportunity to blog about those titles you have claimed, and you may start today.

Title today's post by including the title of your current book.  Give us a short summary of what you've read so far.  You can include page numbers if you'd like.  Find and post a picture that somehow connects with the storyline, a character, or something the book reminds you of...If you include a picture of the cover, you still need to find another picture or work of art to post for your visualization.

Next, include a short passage that stood out to you.  Be sure to discuss how the quote fits in, who said it and to whom, and what it all means to you.

Last, you can discuss your reading so far this year, titles of books, book discussions and so forth.  From now on, to claim a new leaf, you must have posted about that book to this blog!

Happy reading, blogging, and TGIF!

Poe on the Web...

As we get the rest of the class linked to our home page, it will be interesting to see the "10 (or more) interesting things about me" posts.  Out of courtesy and community, please read the class posts and leave appropriate comments.  Remember, site is an extension of our classroom and as such should reflect careful and thoughtful reading, writing, and commenting.

Our reading of Poe continues today, and our next activity is a visit to a site called Knowing Poe.  Please visit each of the three areas: the person, the writer, and the Poe library.  You will also find many little known -and interesting- facts about Poe by simply finding the links on the main page.  Enjoy!  Post several (at least three) "little known" facts you learn from this site and explain them.  Please make a note of what you learn and choose a poem or short story to read and reflect on in your own blog post. 

Halloween...Time for Poe

Why is it that so many of us like to read and watch the macabre?  In studying American literature, there are so many beloved authors...from Stephen King to Edgar Allen Poe.  Last week we read The Black Cat, and this week we will read The Masque of the Red Death in our anthology; however, here's a link to an online copy.  Read and compare to last week's story.  As I reread this short story, I'm left wondering why someone would host a party while the rest of the world is desperately trying to escape the plague. 

Think about this as you read the story, and our free writing for today is an answer to that question about Prospero (no accident about the name) and write your answer on the comment box below.

10 Curious Things About My Mistress

Katie's Blog

10 Curious Things About My Owner

by Katie the Blog Dog

*While my mistress was convalescing in a wheel chair with a broken wrist and ankle, I was recovering from knee surgery.

*My mistress and my Aunt Margie love to dress up their dogs in beautiful costumes...stay tuned!

*My mistress's childhood nickname was Barbie and her first boyfriend was Ken.

*We live in a menagerie with our other best friends Riley (the border collie) and our cats Savannah and Simon. Right now we also have the joy of our new grand baby in the house with her mom and dad while they prepare to build a new house. Life is rich! They have two cats as well!

*My mistress is a better driver today than she used to be. She once sideswiped her sister's garage while trying to park her car, but when she backed up to get a better aim, she ran over the water meter!

*My mistress doesn't like heights or snakes.

*She and I both wish that it was stylish to be chubby.

*She has lived in our current home for almost 21 years, the longest she's lived anywhere.

*She doesn't travel much anymore, but if she could, she'd spend the summers wandering the globe. (She'd have to travel like Liz Taylor used to with all of her pets loaded onto a beautiful ship!)

*She enjoys a cup of tea with a good book and the company of family and friends.

Welcome to our online classroom, a place where we can safely discuss our reading, share opinions, ask questions, and make connections with each other, the texts we read, and the world out there. But first, we need to create some expectations of this place and each other so that everyone feels welcome and safe to share. After all, "On the Internet, no one knows you're a dog."

Please take some time to read Shea's article on netiquette (online manners) and post your thoughts in the comment box below. It may seem silly to you who already spend a lot of time online, but there is a huge difference in a social network and an educational website, and this site is part of our classroom!

We'll be embarking (ha!) soon on our yearlong look at how our dreams and desires and the "rags to riches" theme ties into the American dream. We'll be posting next about our favorite characters/ heroes...Mine is Underdog! Who is yours?

Stay tuned!