april 16

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[*Please Note: Today there is no choice on the topic.  I want to see how what you thought of the sections we read yesterday.  If you need to review, please grab a copy of the book.]

Why does Hugo focus on the symbolic significance of the convent?  What is his tone toward the subject of religion, morality, and society?

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Journal
3. Discussion
4. Les Mis pages
5. Lit circles

april 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Today is Tax Day.  Paying taxes means that we made money, and that we provide funding for services like fire departments, police departments, roads, schools, and other public works that we couldn't afford as individuals.  So why do so many people complain about paying taxes?  What is your opinion?  What do you think Jean Valjean would think of taxes?  Would his perspective as a prisoner be different than his perspective as a businessman/mayor?

-OR-

Choose your own.

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Journal
3. Les Mis
4. Big Question work

First: What a great bunch of questions!!


Now that you have an idea of your topic, it's time to learn more.  Here are three steps that will help you begin your research this week:

1. Go online and search the key words for your topic 
2. Identify at least 5 credible sources that have useful information
3. Create a post on your blog where you can copy and keep links to these sources

POST:
1. What did you find today?  How did you find it?  (title: MY BIG QUESTION RESEARCH; first sentences: "Some people think research is boring because they have to do it for a class, and it's usually about something that's not interesting.  But today I did research and it was awesome.  Here's how I did it.  _____")

2. Create a post on your blog where you can copy and keep links to these sources.
(title: MASTERPIECE RESOURCES)
You'll need to have this completed post on your blog by tomorrow, so that you easily reference and use the information to create your Masterpiece Academy lesson for us.  More on that tomorrow!

april 12

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine that you know Jean Valjean, Cosette, and Javert really, really well.  Choose one of these characters and describe exactly what they want out of life.

-OR-

Choose your own topic.

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness/journal
2. Les Mis plan
3. Big Questions --> Masterpiece plan

memes for blind people

This morning I talked with Tatiana about her Big Question topic: Memes.  Just a little while later, I ran across THIS ARTICLE.  I love the way Big Questions make me more aware of so many interesting things to think about!

april 11

JOURNAL TOPICS:
It's been really wonderful to hear about your Big Questions this week.  Curiosity and passion are two of the qualities that make us uniquely human-- in fact, for our thinkers who are wondering how Artificial Intelligence will change the world, have a look at THIS.  Then, give the question some thought: What can computers and robots do best, and which jobs/roles in society are best served by humanity?  What human qualities are impossible for a machine to program, imitate, replace, or learn?



-OR-

Choose your own topic.

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness/journal
2. Finish conferences
3. Finish self-assessments
4. Finish independent work for the week and post to your blogs & lit circle docs

april 10

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Who is Martin Verga?  Was Verga a real person or a character invented by Victor Hugo?  What does Verga have to do with the story?  Why does Hugo spend a couple of pages describing Verga's work?

-OR-

Choose your own topic.

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness/ and repetitive practice as a key to learning
2. Journal
3. Self-assessments
4. Conferences
5. Independent work

everything we do makes an impression