Monday, September 12, 2012

Since "All Quiet On the Western Front" is required for your outside reading, we went to IMC today to check it out for those who wanted to do it now. 

Thane Game. Finished this game. The Lucky Penny was the mead-hall that won. Its Queen was Brecca (Tenley) and Queen Brecca's two great warriors were Lady Sigemund (Abby) and Lady Swerting (Mayra). Long will their deeds be remembered!

Beowulf: p 25 -38. We read all about Beowulf's encounters with Grendel and Grendel's mother. 

P 180 Like Lily Like Wilson: I assigned the poem by Taylor Mali. Your job for tomorrow is to Summarize your literal understanding of the main events of this poem. Don't include details, just the main ideas. Less than half a page should work. 

Like Lilly Like Wilson

 by Taylor Mali 

I'm writing the poem that will change the world,

and it's Lilly Wilson at my office door.

Lilly Wilson, the recovering like addict,

the worst I've ever seen.

So, like, bad the whole eighth grade

started calling her Like Lilly Like Wilson Like.

Until I declared my classroom a Like-Free Zone,

and she could not speak for days.

But when she finally did, it was to say,

Mr. Mali, this is . . . so hard.

Now I have to think before I . . . say anything.

Imagine that, Lilly.

It's for your own good.

Even if you don't like . . . 

it.

I'm writing the poem that will change the world,

and it's Lilly Wilson at my office door.

Lilly is writing a research paper for me 

about how homosexuals shouldn't be allowed 

to adopt children. 

I'm writing the poem that will change the world,

and it's Like Lilly Like Wilson at my office door.

She's having trouble finding sources,

which is to say, ones that back her up.

They all argue in favor of what I thought I was against.

And it took four years of college, 

three years of graduate school,

and every incidental teaching experience I have ever had 

to let out only, 

Well, that's a real interesting problem, Lilly.

But what do you propose to do about it?

That's what I want to know.

And the eighth-grade mind is a beautiful thing;

Like a new-born baby's face, you can often see it

change before your very eyes.

I can't believe I'm saying this, Mr. Mali,

but I think I'd like to switch sides.

And I want to tell her to do more than just believe it,

but to enjoy it! 

That changing your mind is one of the best ways

of finding out whether or not you still have one.

Or even that minds are like parachutes,

that it doesn't matter what you pack 

them with so long as they open

at the right time.

O God, Lilly, I want to say 

you make me feel like a teacher,

and who could ask to feel more than that?

I want to say all this but manage only,

Lilly, I am like so impressed with you!

So I finally taught somebody something,

namely, how to change her mind.

And learned in the process that if I ever change the world

it's going to be one student at a time.

If you would like to see Taylor Mali perform this, go to the following site

http://youtu.be/tshNfYWPlDg

Reflective essay will be assigned tomorrow.

Reminders:

Monday 9-12 Pick up All Quiet on the Western Front  for some of you.

Tuesday,9-13  Expectation quiz

Wednesday, 9-14 Parent signature due