First Blog Post Assignment: The Box

We have spent the past week and a half discussing questions surrounding identity. As part of those discussions, we have read stories, listened to music, written in journals, and created identity collages to express your own unique cultural identifiers. We have also discussed various examples of "the box," which is a metaphor for any obstacles or barriers that might isolate, frustrate, enclose, or sometimes protect someone from a larger world.

Think back over everything we have read so far for this unit ("Theme for English B," "American History," "Alone And All Together," the song "Little Boxes,""Sylvia's Story" from National Public Radio, and "Crickets"). Your task now is to write and post a comment in this forum in which you describe a connection between TWO of these works, focusing on the role of "the box." Think about how different characters face similar or different challenges. Think about similarities or differences in the kinds of disguises characters wear. Do you think these characters will escape from their boxes?

Once you have made a connection between two works, post a comment describing that connection. Make sure to mention specific characters/narrators, and to be clear about how the "boxes" they experience are similar. Your post does not have to be long; four or five sentences is plenty. You should feel free to respond to your classmates' posts, as well as to ask your classmates questions.

*** Remember to use your first name, "Nekrosius," and your class period number when you sign your post (do NOT put your last name). Use the "anonymous" identity, and remember that after you click the "Publish your comment" button your comment will not appear until after I have approved it as the moderator. Also, if you choose to respond to what another classmate wrote, please do so in a respectful manner.

Welcome Back!

The 2012-13 school year officially begins on Monday. I'm excited to get back into the classroom and to meet all of my new students. I have had a wonderful summer--I got to do a lot of traveling, reading, and resting. I tried out some new recipes, and I attended a wonderful Gilder Lerhman Institute seminar about America's founding era. I'm excited to bring what I learned there and from all of my experiences to my students in the year ahead.

We will start off with the identity unit, one of my favorite units to teach, and there's a lot to look forward to. For students and parents who have found their way here, you can look forward to periodic posts and occasional assignments for my advisees and Humanities students. For now, if you have any questions or comments about 7th grade Humanities, me, or anything at all, feel free to post them as comments. Below, I have posted just a few pictures from my summer--see you soon!

This is a picture of a Metro station in Washington, D.C., but as a big science fiction fan, I can't help but think that it could double as the launching tube for an X-Wing.

Here you see one of the more devilish machines ever devised--the Zipper. I saw this particular example at the Wisconsin State Fair, a favorite summer event I try to fit in every year.

Last but not least, here's a picture of me in front of James Madison's Montpelier home.