Advice

This year in Junior English we have done a lot of work, but I feel like it has been manageable due to the structure of the class. I think the test format is great because it makes you become comfortable with writing essays in a short period of time which is great practice for the ACT. It also makes you compose your thoughts effectively and tests if you truly understand the material. The idea board for stories is another good concept because it get the class engaged in the themes and symbolism behind stories. I definitely think the idiosyncrasies of grammar review is important because it is another great way to prepare for the ACT. I think keeping the discussion / lecture feel of the class is important because it facilitates the comprehension of the ideas behind all of the stories. In general spice things up from time to time because English can get very boring. Also find a happy medium between letting the class go crazy to killing all the fun because either extreme hinders learning. I hope this is helpful, good luck new English teacher p.s. Eco Club needs a supervisor  

Gatsby Playlist

The first song I chose was "The Charleston" by Arthur Gibbs and His Gang. I think this song would fit as a song playing at one of Gatsby's parties because it is upbeat and sounds like what people would have a good time dancing to back in the day. "April Showers" by Al Jolson is a great song to go with the rainy weather motif in The Great Gatsby because it has a more depressing opera sound that fits sad mood. "High Society" by King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band has a luxurious sound to it that would fit an East Egg home like Tom and Daisy's when Nick is visiting them. The last song I chose was "Sweet Georgia Brown" by Ben Bernie and his Orchestra which is another upbeat Charleston, Swing song for any of the parties in the book. I think it will be interesting to see the music they pick for the upcoming movie about The Great Gatsby starring Leonardo DiCaprio.    

Twain Quote

"Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured."

-Mark Twain


I like this quote because I think it has a lot of truth in it. Anger is a perfectly natural thing from time to time, but When people stay angry it eats them up. Anger shouldn't be held in because it will start to burn a person up like an acid. I know that when I get angry I cannot stay that way because it is a miserable way to live. Twain was cynical in his later years and usually cynical people become very angry with the world. I think this quote may have reflected personal experience for Twain along with people he may have observed that were consumed by anger. I also like the quote because when a person allows anger to eat away at them it starts turning into self pity and violence towards innocent people. 

What's Good

For many years I have been a fan of Pharrell Williams, who is a hip hop icon that has changed the world of music. He has worked independently and within groups such as the Neptunes and NERD. He also has several clothing lines. Williams hails from Virginia and went to high school with Chad Hugo who is his partner in the production group the Neptunes. The Neptunes were one of the most successful production groups in the 90s and 00s turning out over 20 Billboard top 10 hits and estimated to be worth over 140 million dollars. The term "Neptunes Sound" has been coined to describe Williams's and Hugo's unique style that generally uses synth riffs, keyboard samples, and modules. Williams has been nominated for 10 Grammy's and won 3. I enjoy a lot of his independent work for the distinct sound of his records. I also like William's group NERD for their rap, funk, and rock blend that only a musical genius like Pharrell could pull off.       

Civil Rights Story

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/04/vanderbilt-digital-archive-recovers-lost-civil-rights-voices/

The Article I chose was about how Vanderbilt University has recovered an archive of digital interviews by Robert Penn Warren of key Civil Rights Movement figures such as Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The original interviews were stored at Kentucky and Yale, but neither institution knew of each others collection until Mona Frederick at Vanderbilt started making the collection of Warren's works. The interviews along with their transcripts are now available via a Vanderbilt website. One of the most interesting interviews is of Malcolm X shortly before he was assassinated, and in fact Warren may have been the last interview Mr X made before his untimely death. The interviews add a more personal touch the vast volumes of data about The Civil Rights Movement. They allow people to hear the inspirational figures of the time and connect with them. It is good to see that there are people out there working to preserve this fascinating history.        

Harlem

Harlem was and is one of the most historically rich areas in the world. It is no wonder that the Delany sisters felt right at home on 145th and 7th. They were just a few blacks East of where some of Harlem's elite such as WEB DuBois  and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood  Marshall. The girls hung out at some of the most popular nightclubs in Harlem from time to time which were within walking distance from their apartment. The Schomburg Center is another neat place the Delany sister's lived by because it houses over 5,000,000 documents on Black History while being in the heart of a historically black place itself. Another interesting area is 135th and Lenox which is nicknamed the "Crossroads of the Black World" where the Delany sisters could have seen historic figures like Marcus Garvey standing on a soap box voicing their opinions.