This is a spot to post your opinion. Tell us what you believe and why. BUT (and I really mean it), you must back your opinion with FACT. If you are writing here, that means you have access to the Internet. Use it. Find out the FACTS to support your opinion. Don’t just say, “I heard.” If you quote a source, tell me what the source is.
Time’s almost up! This Friday is the deadline. Let me know if you’ve read all three books; add a comment below. You will also need to vote on an official ballot. In addition, we want to plan something special for you. If you’d like to give your opinion of the best book, that’s fine too, although some of you already posted on Flashlight Readers.
Please write a reflection saying what you think about the song lyrics activity we just completed. You can answer some or all of the questions below, or come up with your own comments.
Things to deal with in your reflection include (but are not limited to):
Did you like analyzing songs you chose?
Were some songs too hard or didn’t have enough to analyze?
Was your group able to understand the song without having the teacher explain it to the whole class?
Were the questions you had to answer confusing? Did some of them seem to not apply to your song at all?
How did you like posting your answers on the blog? Did it help seeing what other people wrote, or do you feel people were just copying each other’s answers?
Was it useful how Mrs. Zana replied to your comments, or were her comments hard to understand (i.e., it would have been easier to just talk)? Did you ever feel that you wrote a question and Mrs. Zana wasn’t able to answer you back?
Finally, any suggestions for next year?
So much has happened since I last wrote about my adventures in Blogland.
In the SAS chat, the scrolling and flaming have gotten better. But, we had a case of someone pretending to be other students. I was able to figure out who fairly easily (I’m not going to reveal all my secrets, but I’ll say it had something to do with IP addresses. My big fear was that a stranger was trying to enter the conversation, which wasn’t the case, but easily could have been. Another indiction that we all need to educate ourselves about safety online.
The blog has turned me into a 24/7 teacher, if I choose. I can almost always find a student online. I get asked questions about what books to bring, what the schedule will be, etc. I get to hear instant reviews of my lessons; “props” for the Silk Road activity, apparently.
I went to a training on Thursday, and was pleased to get an update about the day from my students. I’m always concerned about how things go when I’m gone; it was great to know they went well.
I’ve started posted assignments on the blog rather than xeroxing them or writing things on the board. In this sense we are becoming more “paperless”. Still though, I’ve been collecting most written assignments, though I suppose many could be emailed to me if I didn’t want the kids to share answers.
In general, what’s been happening has been turning traditional teaching around. Everyone has as much of a voice as they want. Class time can be anytime. Writing is always for a purpose, since you always have an audience.
I post something that no one’s interested in, and no one replies. It’s of interesnt… I get a lot of comments. Democracy in action, or mob rule?
My period 3 posted poems, and 4 other kids not in the class added their poems, just because they wanted to express themselves. And each one gave a little picture of their soul.
I feel like my relationship with the students who post a lot is evolving. We have our blog world and our face to face world. And sometimes the interactions aren’t the same.
Another question: are some of us (me, them) spending too much time on this? Is there such a thing as too much communicating?
I feel like I’m on the C level this week; reading because I need to have a book to share with you. Until I get interested, and then it’s D level again.
I read two books that we got for free for the class library. Both were GREAT.
“Swear to Howdy” starts out as a funny story of two boys who get into all sorts of trouble. Then, it becomes more serious, and has an important message about friendship and secret keeping. It’s pretty short and not diffiuclt reading.
“Replay” is written by Sharon Creech, who won the Newbery award for “alk Two Moons”. Like “Walk Two Moons,” it is several stories intertwined. There’s the story of Leo, who’s a middle child in a big family, the story of the play Leo’s is acting in, Leo’s dad’s childhood story, and more. It’s poignant, which means happy, sad, and sweet all combined. While not the absolutely amazing book the “Walk Tw
o Moons” is, it’s a close runner up, and I’d definitely recommend it to either boys or girls who like to read and to think about what they read.
I also read and threw away a whole mess of newspapers and magazines. Now, I’m going back to the “Life of Pi”, which I keep abandoning for no good reason.
Meg And Dia Band, The - Masterpiece
Too bad you knew me. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready. Did I say come and get me? Too bad I held on…when you tried to tell me. This was wrong. This is wrong. I am no masterpiece where innocence is painted green. Isn’t it strange to think how you created all of me?
Done by the hands of a broken artist. You painted black where my naked heart is? Now I finally know what “wrong” is. Now I finally know that you bleed for nothing. Carved like a stone with your hands still shaking. Shown on display through a soul still breaking. Aren’t you proud you’re the one that made me? Aren’t you proud you’re the one that made me…….
You can’t erase these lines you can’t save me. You can’t display me. You know what “dismay” means. Can’t even try to remember what I knew. Before I became your model to claim no.
I am no masterpiece…so strange that you made all of me.
I grew tired. You expired. You finished me. Now that I’m all that you planned. What do you think?
Lies Lyrics
Artist(Band):Evanescence
Ohhh oohh ahh oohh ahh ohh (x6)
: Deep Heavy Speaking :
Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears
Lost from within and persuing the end
I fight for the chance to be lied to again
You will never be strong enough
You will never be good enough
You were never conceived in love
You will not rise above
They’ll never see
I’ll never be
I struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
: Deep Heavy Speaking :
But through my tears breaks a blinding light
Birthing a dawn to this endless night
Arms outstretched, awaiting me
An open embrace upon a bleeding tree
Rest in me and I’ll comfort you
I have lived and I died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you
They’ll never see
I’ll never be
I struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
They’ll never see
I’ll never be
I struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
Ohhh oohh ahh oohh ahh ohh (x4)
:Heavy Scream:
Rest in me and I’ll comfort you
I have lived yet died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you
They’ll never see
I’ll never be
I struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
Ohhh oohh ahh oohh ahh ohh (x5)
fade out
She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn’t pay attention
She was going way to fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn’t even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can’t do this all on my own
I’m letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I’m on
Jesus take the wheel
It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I’m sorry for the way
I’ve been living my life
I know I’ve got to change
So from now on tonight
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can’t do this all my own
I’m letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I’m on
Oh, Jesus take the wheel
Oh, I’m letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I’m on
From this road I’m on
Jesus take the wheel
Oh, take it, take it from me
Oh, why, oh
Song: Empty Chairs Lyrics
Words & Music by Don McLean
I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless night
Creep through my fingers and the moon is bright
Beams of blue come flickering through my window pane
Like gypsy moths that dance around a candle flame
And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you’d go
Until you did I never thought you would
Moonlight used to bathe the contours of your face
While chestnut hair fell all around the pillow case
And the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my head
A sympathy bouquet left with the love that’s dead
And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you’d go
Until you did I never thought you would
Never thought the words you said were true
Never thought you said just what you meant
Never knew how much I needed you
Never thought you’d leave, until you went
Morning comes and morning goes with no regret
And evening brings the memories I can’t forget
Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs
And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs
And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you’d go
Until you did I never thought you would
I Can Lyrics
By: Nas
[Kids]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I want a be (be what I want a be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I’ll be where I want a be (I’ll be where I want a be)
[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen up
You can be anything in the world, in God we trust
An architect, doctor, maybe an actress
But nothing comes easy it takes much practice
Like, I met a woman who’s becoming a star
She was very beautiful, leaving people in awe
Singing songs, Lena Horn, but the younger version
Hung with the wrong person
got her strung on that heroin
cocaine sniffing up drugs all in her nose…
Coulda died, so young, now looks ugly and old
No fun cause now when she reaches for hugs people hold they breath
Cause she smells of corrosion and death
Watch the company you keep and the crowd you bring
Cause they came to do drugs and you came to sing
So if you gonna be the best, I’m a tell you how,
Put your hands in the air, and take a vow
[Chorus - 2x (Nas and Kids)]
I know I can (I know I can)
Be what I want a be (be what I want a be)
If I work hard at it (If I work hard at it)
I’ll be where I want a be (I’ll be where I want a be)
[Nas]
Be, B-Boys and girls, listen again
This is for grown looking girls who’s only ten
The ones who watch videos and do what they see
As cute as can be, up in the club with fake ID
Careful, ‘fore you meet a man with HIV
You can host the TV like Oprah Winfrey
Whatever you decide, be careful, some men be
Rapists, so act your age, don’t pretend to be
Older than you are, give yourself time to grow
You thinking he can give you wealth, but so
Young boys, you can use a lot of help, you know
You thinking life’s all about smoking weed and ice
You don’t want a be my age and can’t read and write
Begging different women for a place to sleep at night
Smart boys turn to men and do whatever they wish
If you believe you can achieve, then say it like this
[Chorus]
[Nas]
Be, be, ‘fore we came to this country
We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
It was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian, Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings, and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot off they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
Then learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you’re a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying “She’s my queen”
[Chorus]
ow owww owww 6x more
Save the music y’all, save the music y’all
Save the music y’all, save the music y’all
Save the music
