It's SUCH a vicious cycle...

Does this look familiar to any of you?? ;)

Vocabulary Words #4 (Honors Option)

Although small in stature, and fairly weak-looking, David, the mechanical "enginerd," actually presented a formidable challenge to the champion...

Here is the list you have all been waiting so patiently for...

1. intrepid - adj.
2. trepidation - n.
3. despondent - adj.
4. decorum - n.
5. aspire - v.
6. vacillate - v.
7. desultory - adj.
8. fallacy - n.
9. formidable - adj.
10. heritage - n.
11. guru - n.

Wait, you said there were ten?! There are. The eleventh is a chance at extra credit…for now (and don't you ever even think you can ask for it again) ;). It has been a while since our last vocabulary set, so just remember, it’s your job to give it your own twist. Use whatever image you think will help you remember the definitions. However, don't just stop with images (with their corresponding sentences/explanations) and definitions of terms - you want to practice these words as often as possible...otherwise, you will forget them!! You’ve got to make the word your own, with your own particular understanding of it. Adopt it into your vernacular as your own peculiar stepchild. You’ll never use the word in quite the same manner that I would, so it’s best you carve out a unique niche for it in the microcosm of your mind. :)

Have fun!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Period 3/5:

Congrats!! You have completed your first COP!!! Mexico is very grateful for your attendance and hopefully there have been some resolutions accepted! ;)

As you wind down today, I want you to watch a cute clip that will hopefully make you think a bit about what are doing to this world. Feel free to have a discussion regarding this clip after you are finished waching.

Once you watch it, please go to the “project reflection” link and fill it out before the end of class! I would like you to not have laptops out while watching the clips so you can focus and then discuss. Only grab laptops (and sign-out/in) once you are finished with all of that.
____________________________________

Story of Stuff The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. This will be a great transition from looking at climate change and how it impacts various societies...to how we, as people and governments, misuse many types of resources!


COP16 -

Period 1

On Friday, as you prepare for the COP16 in Mexico, I want you to listen to this NPR clip regarding the challenges ahead for climate negotiators now that the top United Nations climate negotiator resigned following his failure to secure a comprehensive treaty at the Copenhagen climate summit in December.

Then, take twenty (20) minutes to watch this fun little clip...

While you are listening to this clip and watching the video clip, take time to prepare for your presentations. You will only have three minutes to state your declaration and give a few quick reasons why it needs to happen. Then, after every country states their declarations, you will get into your country's groupings to discuss what you will accept/deny/tweak from the various resolutions. After this, you will have a chance to "debate"/argue to convince what you think is best. Let's see if we come up with any new accords!!!

You guys will all be great! You've done your research, and you know more than you realize about your country!

Proud of how hard you've been working!

elika :)

Info for Climate Change Project

Everything is on my DP!

Good luck!







Here's also a link to an interesting Ted Talk by Bill Gates!

We could ALL use this reminder...

Keep this in mind the next time you are about to repeat a rumor:

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.

One day an acquaintance ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you
know what I just heard about Diogenes?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied, "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass
a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."
'Triple filter?" asked the acquaintance.

"That's right," Socrates continued, "Before you talk to me about Diogenes
let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is
Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is
true?"

"No," the man said, "Actually I just heard about it."

"All right," said Socrates, "So you don't really know if it's true or not..
Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are
about to tell me about Diogenes something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something about Diogenes that
may be bad, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued, "You may still
pass the test though, because there is a third filter, the filter of
Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about Diogenes going to be useful to
me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "If what you want to tell me is neither True nor
Good nor even useful, why tell it to me or anyone at all?"
The man was bewildered and ashamed. This is an example of why Socrates was a
great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

It also explains why Socrates never found out that Diogenes was shagging his
wife

Vocabulary Words #3 (Honors Option)

Back to another round of fresh vocabulary words this week. The set has several closely related words, so pay attention to the connections.

This set of photovocabulary words is due next Wednesday (February 24). :)

I’d like you to choose FIVE words to respond to, with explanations AND PICTURES. Bonus if you take any of the pictures yourself. All words need a sentence and picture, though...

About the picture above (by Rene Gagon) I might say the following: There is clearly a blatant parallel to the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo, pictured below.

But there’s something more subtle happening here too; almost a power hand-off between the traditional ‘arts’ (indicated by the paint brush), to the more modern, often marginalized forms of art such as tagging (indicated by the aerosol spray paint).

Your words for the week below:

subtle -

vehement -

zealous -

adverse -

averse -

blatant -

alleged -

aggravate -

discreet -

factoid -

flout -

forte -

disinterested -

Climate change complexities...

Here is our global warming video from this morning...

Teen Age: You Just Don't Understand

Here is an interesting opportunity to submit your creativity!!!

Good luck!

Elika :)

Vocabulary Words #2 (Honors Option)

The above picture was chosen to illustrate the idea of “accord,” one of our vocabulary words this week. A simple definition of accord would be agreement, but what I love about the word is the sense of harmony that comes with it. Indeed, the resolutions of peace following periods of violence and conflict are often called accords (Paris Peace Accords of the Vietnam War, for instance), so the word carries with it that sense of history also. Which is why I chose this picture to illustrate my idea of the word:

In this photo the grenade, at once a symbol of war and conflict, is gutted
and repurposed into something harmless and beautiful. A vase for roses. Someone
sits on either side of the flowers too, suggesting at least a degree of
copacetic negotiation or harmony.

By Tuesday (February 16), please have a suitably well chosen photo-response to at least five of this week’s vocabulary words. You’ll be posting each picture with the vocabulary word it represents and an explanation of why you chose the illustration, as I did above (and using it in a sentence). I’m only requiring five because I want you to take your time, be creative, and find meaningful connections.

If you’re feeling artistic you could, of course, draw any number of the pictures yourself!

Either way, be mindful of the meaning and do your best to capture it.

Without further adieu, here are your words for the week - sans definitions, as always.

1. accord
2. bias
3. incognito
4. deduct
5. paradigm
6. plagiarize
7. objectivity
8. precipitous
9. recapitulate
10. reciprocate
11. empathy

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”
~Albert Einstein

Course Evaluation - Week 4

Please fill out this evaluation form in order to give me a better idea of how you are all feeling...

Thank you!

Spontaneous Monologue - Creative Writing #3

Introduction To The Spontaneous Monologue

For the next 15 minutes, write down everything that comes into your head, as fast as you can. Use the first words that come to mind, and do not worry about form, spelling, grammar, or correctness for now. Just try to get down as much of what goes through your head as possible.

There is no right or wrong way to do this. If you block, or if your mind goes blank, write about that until something else comes to mind. The purpose of the exercise is to tap your own mental stream and write down as much of it as you can. Go as fast as you can, and still keep it legible.

Reread the directions, and then immediately begin writing, doing the assignment as fast and as naturally as you can.