february 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Given what we've learned about the Bishop of Digne, Jean Valjean, and Fantine, it seems that Hugo believes that formative experiences are important influences on who we become in life.  So far, Cosette has had it kind of rough.  She was abandoned by her mother, she was treated poorly and differently from the other children in the house, and she is about to learn that her mother is dead.  What possible effects do you think this will have on Cosette?  Will she overcome a difficult beginning, in the way that Jean Valjean managed to become a decent person, or will she become bitter and resentful?  Explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis: reading
3. Choices: lit circles, blogs, reading

POST:
What are the ingredients for a happy adulthood?  How much does this depend on one's childhood?  (title: RECIPE FOR A HAPPY LIFE)

self-evaluation

As we head into the first progress reporting window of the Spring semester, it's a good time to reflect.  Since I only see you for a few hours each week, and you spend 24/7 with yourself (including that oh-so-valuable time with your subconscious while you sleep), please answer the following questions as we begin to assess your performance.  Please write your answers in complete sentences-- you do not need to copy the questions-- on a piece of paper and turn in ASAP.  Please remember to write your name in the upper right hand corner.  Mahalo.

1. What do you do best in this course?  Where are you strongest, most confident?  What can you say you have actually accomplished or learned so far this semester?
2. Where do you need improvement?  Support?  What can you or the teacher do to help you?
3. On a scale from 1-10, how much effort are you putting into this course?  (*You can separate this out into categories; for example, if you put in a huge effort on your blog, but not so much on the reading or the journals or the lit circles, explain)
4. What letter grade do you believe you have earned at this point in the course?

february 27

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today the focus is on collaboration.  Think about the direction your masterpiece is headed, and ask yourself how talking about your work can refine your thinking and help identify additional skills, talents, & resources to help you?  What skills/talents/resources do you have that might help someone else?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Self-evaluation
3. Big Question: it takes a village (*find the others)

february 26

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Why do you feel tired so often?  Since I assume most people know how to address being tired (sleep, rest, reduce stress, eat better, etc.), what is preventing you from living in a way that sustains your positive energy throughout the day?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis: meet Cosette
3. Lit circles meeting (discuss/document Jean Valjean's decision, Javert's reaction, Fantine's death, and first impressions of Cosette)

RESEARCH/POST:
As we read, sometimes we reflect on the historical context of France during the time described in the book.  Do you realize that the French Revolution happened more than 25 years before the scenes described in the book?  It seems that we need to understand more.  When Bishop Digne talks with the old man about royals and regular people, or when citizens take offense at Napoleon Bonaparte being described as an Emperor, what are they talking about?  What do you know about France during the years (1815 - 1832) described in the book?  Have a look around online (Wikipedia is a fine place to start) and find three websites that help you understand the French factions that supported monarchy, and Bonaparte, and a government that served the people.  At minimum, make sure you explain the June Rebellion/Paris Uprising (spoiler: this is the background for some of the key action in the book).  Post this on your blog and/or your lit circle's Google Doc (title: FRENCH HISTORY & LES MIS).

february 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe the worst villain you've ever experienced in a story.  What made this villain so... VILLAINOUS?  Use an example to explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis
3. Lit circles: have a conversation about whether or not you agree with Jean Valjean's decision.  If you were in his place, would you have done what he did?  Post your discussion notes to your Google Doc. 

february 22

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine that you've accomplished all you set out to do. What would it take for you to risk it all, lose it, and move on without complaint?  (*Take a moment and let this really sink in before you begin to write.)

AGENDA:
1.  Journal
2. Les Mis begin Book 8
3. Lit circles

POST:
What do you predict will happen between Javert, Fantine, and Jean Valjean?  (title: TRIAD OF GOOD, EVIL, & JUSTICE)

february 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes something funny?  To explain your answer, use an example from real life.  Describe a time something happened, or someone told a joke that made you laugh out loud.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis

POST:
Why do you think Victor Hugo doesn't use more humor in Les Mis?  (title: LES MIS ISN'T FUNNY)

(Pro Tip: this is an excellent place to talk about how an author's tone can influence our understanding of the theme/s)

les mis reading quiz to p.271

1. Why was the stable boy surprised that Jean Valjean hadn't crashed on his way to Arras?
2. At first, Jean Valjean thought he might just turn around and go home.  What prevented him from doing this?
3. Why is the journey to Arras longer than Jean Valjean originally thought?
4. Why did Sister Simplice decide NOT to tell Fantine the truth?
5. How did Jean Valjean manage to get a seat in the hall at Arras even after he was told it was full?
6. What was the sentence facing Champmathieu (the false Jean Valjean)?

february 20

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Sometimes ideas from class stick with us and sometimes they don't. Describe an idea that you learned in class that has stuck with you longer than you expected. Why does it stick out in your memory? Was it presented in a memorable way, or is it particularly meaningful or valuable?

AGENDA:

1. Journal

2. Les Mis reading quiz

3. Discussion

4. Continue reading from p. 271

POST:

Do you think Jean Valjean managed to put his past behind him?  Explain your answer and support your points with evidence from the book  (title: WHEN THE PAST IS PRESENT)

february 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a practice that's good for you -- working out, eating vegan, sleeping 8 hours a night, flossing every day -- that you don't do.  Why don't you do something that you KNOW is good for you?  Logically, this seems absurd, but we all develop habits and life practices that need improvement.  What will it take for you to take better care of yourself?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis
3. Lit circles

study confirms that books at home are good for us

Don't take my word for it; read THIS.  And if you don't have books in your house, get some.

meet the five year-old who started a library

"The benefits of having access to books are clear: According to a 2018 study, people who grow up surrounded by books develop higher reading comprehension and better mathematical and digital communication skills. But not every kid has access to reading materials in their house or even their hometown. A 5-year-old resident of Alpha, Illinois recently solved this problem within his own community by opening..."

Please read the full story HERE and comment below.

thousands of uk students skipped class to protest climate change

Please read the full article HERE.  Then comment to this post with your thoughts on their actions.

weekend reading

You can find where we left off right HERE

february 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How far away from you (or how different a life from yours) does a person have to live in order for you to consider him/her a "foreigner"?  Are you inclined to welcome "foreigners" -- whether they be from a different country, city, or even just another social clique on campus-- or are you inclined to favor people whose experience is more similar to yours?

AGENDA:
1.  Journal (please turn in)
2. Les Mis
3. Lit Circles
4. Agreement: how much should we read this weekend?

POST:
What's the difference between agreeing to complete work for each other, and being told what to do for homework?  (title: HAVE TO VERSUS WANT TO)

february 14

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "My Funny Valentine" by Gerry Mulligan & Chet Baker; "California Love" by 2Pac]

How will the love you express today be remembered tomorrow?  Also, if you really love someone, why do you need a 'holiday' to express the way you feel?

(P.S. Help those poor people who paid 3x the price for roses this week by being a role model for love the other 364 days.)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis: multiple perspectives on the same scene
3. Lit circles and updating your docs

POST:
How can you show what you learn about what we read?  (title: HOW YOU KNOW WHAT I KNOW)

teen journalism

Sometimes the writing of teenagers causes me to reflect on the integrity and passion that adults so often lose to age and the compromise of "maturity."  This is one of those moments.  Have a look at SINCE PARKLAND and let us know what you think in a comment to this post.

(Thanks, BoingBoing!)

lit circle docs

Thanks to everyone who sent the links.  You can see them here:

https://drprestonsworldlitsmhs1819.blogspot.com/p/lit-circles-docs.html


For tomorrow (Wednesday), please have a look at the other groups' docs and think about what you can add to yours.  We will discuss in class.  Stay dry out there! 😆

february 13

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Yesterday we read in Les Mis about the character Sister Simplice: "Never to have lied, never to have spoken for any purpose whatever, even carelessly, a single word that was not the truth, the sacred truth, was the distinctive trait of Sister Simplice."

Why do you think Hugo emphasizes this?  He even writes, in the sentence just before the quote above, "Let us emphasize one circumstance." (all of this is on p. 213)  Why is this so important?  Immediately after this description of Sister Simplice, Hugo moves back to M. Madeleine/Jean Valjean, but it's obvious that we're going to see Sister Simplice again later-- do you think her honesty will be a factor?  Will she be forced to tell a lie?  What do you think?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis/ reading and discussion
3. Lit circles

COMMENT: to this post with a link to your lit circle's Google doc

POST:
Your notes from today (title: 2/13 NOTES ON LES MIS)

february 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
If your shoes could talk, what story would they tell about your weekend?  Use your imagination and have fun: "Wow, she took us to the [...]..." or, "She didn't even notice that we stepped in gum!" or, Oh, man, she left us under the bed and we didn't even see daylight..." 

-OR-

Choose your own topic.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Les Mis

february 8

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Make a prediction: what do you think will happen between Jean Valjean (Mayor Madeleine) and Javert?  Will Javert's appeal be successful?  Will Fantine remain free?  Will Madeleine and Javert make peace or become enemies?  Why?

AGENDA:
1. Journal (please remember to turn yours in)
2. Continue reading

AGREE: on what we will read this weekend and how we will post about it

february 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
To paraphrase poet Robert Burns, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Describe a time you planned something perfectly and it got all messed up anyway.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Reading quiz (to p. 200)
3. Les Mis pp. 200-211

POST:
Describe your first impression/s of Javert.  Is he a paragon of justice or a complete tool?  Or both?  Or neither?  How is he similar or different from the other characters we've read so far?  Explain your answer.  (title: JAVERT)

february 6

JOURNAL TOPIC:
The characters we've read in Les Mis have made important decisions that define their lives.  Bishop Digne opens his home and even gives Jean Valjean his silver.  Fantine hooks up, has Cosette, then leaves her with horrible people.

Think about THIS DECISION and ask yourself-- why do people do what they do? 

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discussion: decisions
3. Our reading this week
4. Continue

POST:
Your notes on today's discussion (title: DECISIONS, DECISIONS)

people can be SO stupid

Read the full article HERE

february 5

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write about whatever's on your mind.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Continue reading Les Mis to p. 199

POST:
Reading notes (title: LES MIS NOTES)

february 4

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Did it occur to you to read this weekend?  Why do you think this sort of idea comes naturally to some people, and not to others?  What will you have to do in order to support this habit?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Confirm reading schedule for the week
3. Les Mis p. 155 - 177

POST:
Finish the reading and post any questions, notes/observations (title: LES MIS 155-177)

february 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Predict Cosette's future.  What do you think will happen to her?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Reading quiz
3. Les Mis schedule