Musical Composition

What if we could write words, like composers write music?

Inspired...

From my English class website, a quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: 


"If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."


Wow. Truly inspiring. Pair that with the related quotes by Plato: 


"The unexamined life isn't worth living" 


Or my own: 


"The examined life is worth dying for"


I was blown away by King this past weekend. I began reading his autobiography and was amazed at his strength, courage, and sense of calling. He seemed like a genuine, driven person who knew what his role in the world was and wasn't afraid to live it out. 


I hope I can always live for that which is worth dying for. 

Cool New Poetry Youtube videos

Check out this YouTube videos an organization named "Four Season" have put together...their work on Rumi and Pablo Neruda are amazing.

Click here for their YouTube link.

Democratic Pedagogy?

Today I look a leap of faith and decided to allow students to be in charge of their future learning. From a large list of books, groups researched the different books using the Internet and the tangible features in the book to create a sales pitch to the rest of the class...I had no idea how motivated they could get until they knew their reputation was on the line...I've got some future sales reps, that's for sure. Here's what they decided:

English IV A: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood


English IV B: The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie



I'm very excited to have the opportunity to teach these texts for the first time. The Handmaid's Tale I've read twice before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course, I love any dystopian novel that has strong moral/political implications...wow. It blows me away every time.

The Mousetrap I've never read before but I am stoked about reading it. Agatha Christie is one of the greats--it's one of those I probably won't be able to put down...actually, I've got to go right now to read...bye!