To understand anything - people, places, events, experiences, anything at all - we must take time to look, to connect, to reflect. Only then can we fully embrace the richness that life has to offer. Let's spend this semester, looking closely...

 

 

 

 

***What does this mean for you?  DEAR = Drop Everything and Read time = 15 minutes at the end of every class, where you read a novel that you find both engaging and challenging, of your choice.  You will be creating a multigenre project on an independent novel (stay tuned for details), so my recommendation is that you select a book(s) you connect with.  I'll share some suggestions that may spark ideas for you.  Bottom line:  reading is important!  Our DEAR time is to be honoured and respected; time for us to expand our dendrites in ever so many ways....

 

 

The outstanding writer from The New York Times, and author of bestsellers - Blink, Tipping Point, Outliers, and What the Dog Saw - and possessor of a "most buoyant spirit and unflagging curiosity" makes the most insightful observation that: "Good writing does not succeed or fail on the strength of its ability to persuade. It succeeds or fails on the strength of its ability to engage you, to make you think, to give you a glimpse into someone else's head." Now, where you hear this repeated over, and over, and over??  (Hint...our classroom.)

 

 

***What does this mean for you?  Plenty of writing/speaking/representing opportunities for you - with voice and choice being of #1 importance!!  We'll work on learning ways to marry CONTENT + CRAFT so that whatever you produce - poems, narratives, personal responses, critical/analytical responses, scripts, tweets, mind maps, diary/journal entries, the list is limitless - does exactly what "good" communication ought to do:  engage you to create "something" that is perceptive, inspired (and inspiring!), and sophisticated so that, in turn, your audience comes away impressed and delighted by what you have shared with them.  Variety is, after all, the spice of life...