First, let me welcome all of my new readers. I hope that you enjoy this foray into the blogging world. Second, let me welcome back all of my "old" readers - I hope I don't bore you too much this year.
So...
I will ease you in with a relatively easy post (to be honest I am really easing myself back in to the blogging groove).
I am big on reflection. I feel that through reflection one can achieve greater understanding of self. As I reflect on my summer vacation I realize that the one goal I originally had for the summer - to drown myself in relaxation - was only half achieved. I did relax but somewhere in the midst of my relaxation time I was thrown in to big projects, travel opportunities, and crazy outings. I am not complaining though - I loved it all - but it seems that indeed the "best laid schemes o' mice and men..."
Over the summer I found myself re-doing closets, hanging doors, deep cleaning my house, and tending to my container garden. Next thing I knew I was in the middle of the Montreal Jazz Festival listening to both wildly popular and obscenely obscure bands in a matter of hours. Then, on what seemed like the very next day, I was in Charleston, SC, reveling in the beauty of the deep South (and sweating out every ounce of water I had in my body). Finally, I had my summer dose of becoming the student instead of the teacher during a week long workshop. Of course, in the midst of all of this, I read many books (loved Atlas Shrugged!), saw many movies (District 9 is a must!), tried new recipes (Low Country Gumbo, mmmm), talked to old friends, had numerous BBQ's, and did not step foot on the beach one time (for shame, I know).
Although my plan for relaxation was thwarted (somewhat) I feel ready to tackle the new school year. I am super-duper excited about the return of my Visual Literacy class. I feel like there is so much I want to cover that this course could easily last the entire year. As always, I cherish my English classes - this is where I get to witness true growth with reading, writing, and overall life skills. Plus, I never mind drowning myself in literature for a class or two :)
I hope that all of you can find some time for summer reflection. I also hope that you can focus on the positives of returning to school - there are many!
Have a wonderful year!
4 comments:
I'm butting in because I must - not surprisingly.
Montreal Jazz and Atlas Shrugged. One of them was part of my summer and given that I was taking classes it is deductible that Montreal doesn't merely crystalize a part of it.
I love Ayn Rand. The Fountainhead, Anthem, and Atlas Shrugged are amongst my favorite novels. I also read two (and a half - I'm not done yet) books a little pale woman gave me as presents for graduation, I'm almost done with "The saddest story I've ever heard..." The Good Soldier, and it is becoming one of my favorites.
My summer, I missed you, Stoklosa. And I tried e-mailing you but your e-mail doesn't work. So try mine, simonv90@live.com.
To the kids in Visual Literacy, the more you work, the more you learn. I'm taking a class called Cinematic Expressions and a class called Foundations of Story for the BFA program at UCF and they attempt to barbarically mince into your head everything from color psychology to the heroes journey to symbolism. Visual Literacy was one of the richest classes I took in High School, enjoy.
For the English students, I didn't have Stoklosa for English, but when I skipped class (yes, I skipped class) I would sneak into Stoklosa's room and on one occasion, I sat through a reading and lesson on "The Things they Carried" by Tim O'Brien. I had read it twice and on this occasion, I remember abstracting vivid new meaning and made me feel light... of conscience and of pressure. Enjoy that too.
Sounds like u had a busy summer. Mine was mostly filled with school work and school and more work. and sound really motivated with class of 09-10 and Stoklosa I wish you the best this year you’re a phenomenal teacher and I know no kid will leave your class brain dead when it comes to English. I still have the vocabulary words from last year I used most of them to write my essay for college it was really great. Thank you very much for everything.
Mrs. Stoklosa! I love reading your blog! I always feel so intelligent afterwards. Well, I don't really have much to say, I just wanted to say something. And I'm am SO excited to take English III Honors next semester! I LOVE doing journals everyday! I've been looking forward to the class all summer; no lie! 2nd semester cannot come soon enough! I can't wait! (:
I found this blog and man this is an old one! Reading this blog really makes me realize that this school year really did fly by. I cannot believe that I am not going to be a junior anymore and that I am going to college in the very near future. One of my favorite summer memories is the time I went away with my family to Key Biscayne and I was swimming in the water and saw something catch my eye. I asked my mother to reach it, because it was near her. She picked it up, and it was a persons dentures! It was so gross and completely unexpected! I totally thought it was a shell. After that strange occurrence, we ran out of the water as fast as we could!
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