Look Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx1SSlDaN5Q  Right now I am taking a class about adolescent literature and it has made me revisit many of the books that I once loved but have since forgotten.  A book that I read at least five times is by Julie Andrews Edwards and is titled, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles.  I first became familiar with this book in fifth grade and I give this book credit for really getting me interested in reading.  I plan to read it again over winter break when I am home and can dig it out of one of my many book cases.  I love the message that this passage from the book gives.  It is always important to look up, in every sense of the word.

Tony Soprano

I just started watching the show The Sopranos. Even with my very busy schedule I managed to finish the first season in under a week.  I began watching season 2 tonight while brainstorming what I have to say about writing.  I discovered that the writers of The Sopranos must have done something right because I'm thinking about the New Jersey mafia at almost every hour of the day.  I just sit in class and wonder what Tony is going to do when I finally get the chance to feast my eyes on his next move.  So how do these mob story tellers manage to completely captivate a girl born and raised in the very middle of Iowa where our local news is infested with stories of good deeds and high school sporting events?  The answer is fairly obvious;  The detailed characterization of a man who plays the role of both the hero and the villain drives the suspenseful plot of this series.  I would love to someday create a character as complex as Tony Soprano.  He is both loved and hated by his viewers. There are few television characters that carry this sort of power.  One other character that comes to mind is Dexter.  Anyway, Tony is a great model for creating a dynamic character that is able to carry a story through each twist and turn. This is a great clip to demonstrate Tony's good nature despite his harsh tone and position as a mob boss... Excuse the language please.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwNsNiuaakc&feature=related

My favorite writing teacher

Mr. Pries was my tenth grade English teacher.  Everyday when his students entered his classroom, he would have his ipod playing for everyone to listen to as they greeted their classmates and friends.  When the song ended there was silence and everyone began writing in their private journals.  They would respond to the question that would be posted on the whiteboard at the front of the classroom.  Sometimes the question would be philosophical about life, about our assigned reading, or it would be free writing.  These journals were never collected, but everyone did diligently write in them in the beginning of class.  Many students even wrote in them outside of school.  Once the journal writing portion of class was finished his students would stand on our chairs and do a "cheer."  Mr. Pries made up many cheers that he taught his students and they of course had favorites that were recited weekly.  They were always positive and upbeat, making his students ready for the class that was to come, and many students even felt prepared for the day.  It may seem that these practices were a waste of time considering that they dominated the first ten minutes of class everyday, but I do not think of any class more fondly than I do of the time I spent in Mr. Pries's room.  I'm sure I will mention his practices and the impact they had on me in many posts to come. But for now, I just wanted to give you a small example of my idea of a teacher who truly makes a difference.