What is your "Letter"? extra credit

I made my letter this morning. I had a terribly difficult time choosing. I figured I could relate any letter to the nebulous "something" I wished to be connected to in a positive manner. I really liked the "Q"...but I was struck by an older idea- inexplicably random, yet always in the forefront of my mind.
I thought about how being a teacher is an opportunity to see other's points of view. I included in this thought process not only the authors who write the books and plays that we read, but the important people on the receiving end- students.
Being a teacher grants me the opportunity to learn every single day. I have the chance to take ideas , toss them out into the ocean of the classroom and see who bites and then I get to encounter what I "reel in".
What I receive from students is often incandescent and beautiful. I get to "SEE" the way in which students interpret, process, and often put a fresh spin on the "things" we learn about in the classroom environment.
So...for my letter, I choose the "V". It stands for "vision"; the vision I am blessed with through communication and interaction with all of my students.
Miss Ramirez

"The Scarlet Letter" Due: Monday 12/13

The Scarlet Letter takes place during the Puritan Age. This setting is far removed from our time. Consider the following questions. Compose a description of what you think living during the Puritan Age would have been like. Remember, many of the things that you take for granted were not available or even conceived during the era. Also, and maybe most importantly, consider how living in the Puritan Age would affect your inner self. Use the following questions as guides to a fully formed and descriptive response.
Please prepare your work on a word document and then copy it to the blog. Your response must be free of grammatical errors and 250 words (include word count).

1. What would it be like to live during the Puritan age?
2. How would you entertain yourself?
3. What hardship would you face?
4. What would you not have to rely on?
5. What would your attitude be like?
6. Would you be the same person you are today? Why or why not?

Reading Projects

Reading Projects are well under way.
Please construct an interesting blog post that will entice other readers to your selected book.
Please include author and title.

Tradition

Thanksgiving is usually a time of tradition for families. I make Italian Wedding Soup and it must be cooked in a particular way and not deviate from the recipe by one iota or Grandma Bette will let me hear about it until next Thanksgiving. Grandma Perez expects all girls to wear dresses on Thanksgiving(!). Papa Tom will tell stories about hunting his own turkeys as a child with his trusty bird dog , Gus. Heather and Olivia will be in charge of clean up duty as they are the oldest of the youngest nonmarried girls in the family this year. My sister,Betty will put up her Christmas tree after dinner.
What are your traditions? If you do not know- ask an elder or parent during Thanksgiving dinner.

Self Reliance and Junior Retreat

Self-Reliance is an essay written by American Transcendentalist philosopher and essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's repeating themes, the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his or her own instincts and ideas. It is the source of one of Emerson's most famous quotes, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

You spent part of this week immersed in spirituality and nature with your entire class and other inspirational members of your school community: teachers and senior class members. Think about how your experience will enable you to become a self-reliant individual. How was the retreat beneficial to your burgeoning sense of self? How will you keep the "retreat high" going?

Being "Abigail Williams"

Winona Ryder found playing Abigail Williams engrossing and disturbing. "I've heard Abigail called the villain of the piece, but I am not so sure," she says. "She's never given any power...Abigail understands that she can get power and attention so she goes with it. There's always a part of her that knows she is fooling, but I think she is convinced spirits are attacking her. I see her as insane in a way, but so is the whole town. It is like a disease."
Do you agree with Ryder's assessment of Abigail? Why or why not? Be specific and clear.

Scaredy Cat

Do cuddly black kittens send shivers up your spine? Do you scream, "Circle circle, dot, dot. Give yourself a cooties shot!", everytime someone sneezes near you? Are you afraid of turning into "The Crypt Keeper" by the time you reach the ancient age of fifty? Fears and phobias come in all shapes and sizes. I actually have a huge fear of being eaten by bears. I also have a really difficult time reaching dreamland if my dogs waterbowls are not full of fresh water... EEK!
Write about your biggest fear and/or phobia. Please be as desriptive as possible and keep it at 100 words.
Happy Halloween,
Miss R.

I "like" books Due Monday 09/13

Write two paragraghs about a book that opened new doors for you. If the book had a profound impact on you, explain why. If the book was pleasurable for you explain in detail the pleasure you experienced.
I have enjoyed many books in my long life. I remember reading "Great Expectations" in ninth grade. I was mortified by the size of it. I never thought I would finish it. I challenged myself to complete it and I was able to. It took me an entire year. I did not finish it in time to pass any tests in English class though. After I was done with it I kept it on my nightstand for two years. I read "Siddhartha" in seventh grade. I was so moved by the self sufficiency and beauty of the characters that I ran away from home. I took the book, an apple, and my dog. I was going to hitchhike across the country to locate my destiny. I was gone for one hour; my parents did not even know I had left.

Blogging and the first week of school ( DUE TUESDAY)

Please use the following prompt as a starting point.
You are not required to answer every part of every question.
The prompt is simply a jumping off point for your thoughts.

Please complete your blog profile. Remember to only post appropriate photos and information. If you have any questions see your Class Expectations packet and review the 'approriate blogging' section.


Will you blog differently this year? What do you expect from the experience? Do you believe it will assist you in class? Think about how we now have the ability to read and comment on others thoughts and ideas. Often the classroom becomes an overwhelming place- so many voices , so little time. You may want to speak up or maybe you do not. Will the blog help you get your thought across to a wider audience?

Describe your experience this first full week of school. What do you expect to gain from Literature class? What do you expect to learn and gain from your other classes and the collective community of Trinity? Where and when is your internship this year?

Anything else you feel like expressing? Please do so.

Have a great weekend, Miss Ramirez