Tuesdays+with+Morrie+Period+3

September 17, 2009

Follow these steps so that together we create and document a set of our best questions for Martin and Cara:
 * Take responsibility for one, two or three questions, which you will ask of Martin and Cara.
 * Click on the "Discussion" tab for this page.
 * Type your questions in the message window.
 * Proof read your typing.
 * Click on "Post".

September 18, 2009

You all are doing great work using the Wiki to select, collect and document the questions from both Tuesdays with Morrie classes.

I want to make sure you present yourself as the intelligent being that you are. People can be judgmental, even when they think they have open minds and hearts. Make sure receivers of your message don't dismiss what you have to say because of overlooked mistakes in grammar and spelling.

Be sure to proofread and correct questions so that they are clear and so that they are grammatically accurate. Part of proofreading is having a supportive classmate or teacher take a look at what you've written before you post your message.

September 24, 2009

Our visit with Martin, Cara and Deb yesterday was amazing. I found Cara and Martin's courage and persistence inspiring. Cara and Martin answered our questions so thoroughly and honestly and you were all very attentive and respectful.

Your wikispace job today is to capture your response to Martin and Cara's visit in words. You have already given it some thought with the pre-write in the classroom. Revise your pre-write into a wiki entry that is at least one four-sentence paragraph long.

After you've written, proof-read and had another person proof-read your entry, hit "Post" and then read and respond to one of your fellow student's entries.

October 15, 2009

Hello there -

Your assignment today is to share the latest response in your Read and Respond Journal regarding Morrie's criticism of our culture. As a reminder of the thinking and writing you've done on that topic, read the summary of that part of the book below along with the prompt questions. Then write your response. You can expand on what you wrote in your journal. Before posting it, proofread and edit your response so that it complies with the same criteria required for you journal entries.

Our reading of Tuesdays with Morrie has included a thought-provoking passage on page 35. Mitch has just spent a couple of pages contrasting his current very busy, "successful" lifestyle with the vision he had for his life when he was in college. He lets the reader in on his thoughts saying, "My days were full, yet I remained much of the time, unsatisfied. What happened to me?" Morrie, seeming to read his mind says, "So many of the people who come to visit me are unhappy." When Mitch asks why Morrie responds, "Well for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it."

Prompt questions: What's being taught in this culture, American society, that causes people to feel badly about themselves? What is your definition of success?

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful postings. Jody

November 10, 2009

Hi -

This is very exciting! Most of you have connected with your adult mentor or are in the process of doing so. Your responses and replies have been very thoughtful.

One of our mentors, Assistant Superintendent Steve Zadravec, posed a question on the Period 3 wiki which builds on our thinking about success. I believe it is an excellent question for all of us to ponder. Here is your next wiki prompt, from Steve:

"Challenges I'm struck by the theme of "facing challenges" in Morrie's example and Martin's. We all face challenges I suppose. Some I might think are big for me, some you might think are big for you. I assume helping others and teaching others are some of the ways Morrie and Martin help face their personal challenges. If we are to find success we also must overcome challenges. What helps you overcome challenges?"

You should already have a rough draft of your response written in your Reading Response Journal. Before you write a wiki post you must write a draft using OpenOffice Writer. Proofread and edit your Writer document and then copy and paste it into the wiki for your class. Remember that the grading criteria for the Reading Response Journal apply to your wiki responses. All postings should be at least one four-sentence paragraph; polished and free of grammar and spelling errors.

Enjoy writing, reading and replying to this new prompt! Jody

November 23, 2009

Dear Wiki-writers and Mitch Albom readers,

Below is a copy-and-pasted version of the Read and Response Journal Requirements document used to grade the work in your composition books. You should be familiar with it by now but I'm posting it here for the purpose of reminding you of these criteria and to make sure you know how you're being graded on your wiki postings. Since your postings here begin in your Read and Response Journal, these grading criteria also apply to your wiki writing. Be sure to keep the requirements in mind as you write. Remember that you are actually publishing (making public) your work when you post to the wiki.

For many of you, I'm seeing good effort: thoughtful responses that are proof-read and polished. Well done. Overall, I want everyone to work more on using specific examples to show your readers what you mean. Drew's posting in response to the challenges prompt where he illustrates his point by describing how boxing helps him is a good example of using examples. Check it out. But first, review the material below and then respond to the prompt at the end. I know it's lot of reading but you can do it!

Reading Response Journal Requirements The purpose of your Reading Response Journal is to provide you with a place to record the ways you are connecting (or not connecting) with the book we're all reading together. It also provides me with a way to assess your progress with the development of your reading and thinking skills.

The three areas I will focus on when grading the quality of your responses to prompts and questions are Connections, Effort, and Grammar. Each category has everything to do with practicing using our language effectively and responsibly. Remember the root words of the word “respond”: What is the promise and how will you keep it? I will rate each category according to the scale below:

4= Requirement met above and beyond expectations 3= Requirement completely met 2= Requirement partially met 1= Requirement not met

Connections: I expect you to thoughtfully make connections between the book and your own experiences (text-to-life); and/or other literature including songs, TV and movies and books (text-to-text); and/or what you know about history and current events (text-to-world). If you are unable to notice a connection you can respectfully and reasonably critique the book. Connections and critiques need to reflect an accurate understanding of the book. Use examples to show your reader what you mean.

Effort: I expect you to take this opportunity to think through and communicate your responses to the book seriously. Your descriptions and explanations of your connections, predictions or critiques must be at least one four-sentence paragraph long.

Grammar: I expect you to follow correct capitalization rules, write in complete sentences and to use accurate punctuation. Make sure you capitalize the first word of each sentence along with proper nouns. Make sure each sentence has a noun and a verb (avoid run-on sentences) and has a period, question mark or exclamation point (which ever is appropriate) to end the sentence.

Prompt: Which one of these requirements is easiest for your to meet? Why? Which one is most challenging? Why? What kind of help and support do you need/have you been getting in order to fully meet these criteria?

Looking forward to your responses! Jody