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Questions when Writing and Rewriting Poetry

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Image via Wikipedia These notes were from the summer I spent at Governor's Honors in 1986. I've been looking for a sonnet I wrote that was published in the Camilla Enterprise and haven't been able to find it, but have found this, maybe it will help. These are from a teacher named Ms. Coleman. Questions to ask as you begin writing? Am I writing down everything? (without stopping to select or worry about little things?) What else could be possible? (Or impossible in an impossible world?) How is what I'm thinking of like something else (to make comparisons, either metaphors or similes) Am I, hopefully, using picture words, like an oak tree, a witch, a frog, not feeling words like faith, despair, love Am I remembering that I can show feeling instead of telling it if I create a picture with enough detail or images? Questions to Ask when rewriting poems: Can my verbs or adjectives be made more interesting - closer to what I mean? Have I used the clearest words? I...

Teenage loneliness: a paradox we cannot understand

Going through the papers I wrote at Georgia Governor's Honors 1986, I came across something I wrote about Westwood (my alma mater and present employer) that has parts that feel like I wrote it this afternoon. Keep in mind, I was going into my senior year and was President of Student Government and National Honor Society and just as type A then as now.  However, I think after reading this, that many of you feel the same way.   It is unedited and may sound more prideful than I would want to sound now, but still, it is how a teenager felt who had a lot of things on her plate. Don't think for one minute that the students you know don't stress out!  They do! Penned in July 1986 "Do I want to return              to a school where                         I am one of the few leaders? I love tha...

Daily Spotlight on Education 05/07/2009

Online University Reviews : 100 Most Inspiring and Innovative Blogs for Educators 100 Blogs for educators -- found some new ones here! Just remember that EVERY edublog is a valuable addition -- a list is only a list and if you're not on it, you're still a winner if you blog to share and help others! tags : education , learning , technology Posted from Diigo . The rest of my favorite links are here.

He who laughs - lasts.

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No, I didn't write this quote, "He who laughs - lasts." Anonymous (6717 Draper's Quotations for the Christian World)  but boy it fits! This morning I jumped into the shower half awake after being at a sports banquet last night very late.  Then, when I hopped out, ready to make a run for the hair dryer, the ONLY thing I had in the bathroom to dry myself was one, yes, I said it, one single small, frayed blue washcloth!   It wouldn't have even dried me off in my teensy weensy 125 pound days! So, I grabbed a robe and dried my hair with the washcloth and laughed.  Yes, I laughed. It was 5:45 am in the morning and I was in the bathroom laughing my head off.  Kip groaned (he is not a morning person) but I just thought to myself, "you know what, it is May." I grew up in a family of teachers and Mom's solution to May was not to feel guilty -- if they ran out of underwear, she'd just go buy more!  The mountains of May are HUGE -- grading, laun...

Daily Spotlight on Education 05/04/2009

westwood - Hope efolio Great efolio wiki from my ninth grader -- summarizes the year and accomplishments. (Videos will be added this week.) tags : education , learning , efolio , technology , bestpractices The Educational Technology Site: ICT in Education: --> Ask Miller! One of my students, Miller, answers questions on Terry Freedman's blog - her writing is excellent and it almost killed me NOT to edit or critique her work, but we really wanted her to share. She is an excellent writer and has well formed views about the use of technology in high schools, middle school, and elementary. You can ask her questions and she'll respond over the next few weeks. (Then she's taking summer break!) tags : education , learning , teaching , technology My Reflection - grownupdigital Another very nice reflection giving an overview of netgened. This student created an award winning video for Semantic Aware apps. tags : education , netgened netgened - 6B Fun and Cloud Computing Anothe...

Potential in their Pockets: Should cell phones be allowed student planners?

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Kaycie, one of my 10th graders makes a powerful case for why cell phones should be used as planners.  Once we realize the potential in their pockets, I think more schools will move in this direction. Find more videos like this on grownupdigital What do you think?  Do your students carry planners after you stop requiring them? Do you let them get their cell phone or itouch out at the end of class to put their assignments and tests in it?  Why not? Related articles by Zemanta Making the Case for Cell Phones in Schools (coolcatteacher.blogspot.com) Flat Classroom Workshop at Boston College, Cell phone workshop at NECC and more (coolcatteacher.blogspot.com)

A Student Take on ITouch and Cell Phones

Find more videos like this on grownupdigital I don't think I've shared this one before, but I really love how Joy, a student from netgened highlighted some of the uses of the itouch in schools. The only part I don't like is that I had to act the part of the Mean teacher at the beginning and it upsets me to see myself act mean - even if I know I'm acting it seems kind of convincing like someone will think I really act that way!