Summertime Rhythms

I need organization and structure to function well, which can make summers hard for me. I have to find my own rhythm.

We (my husband, Michael, our dog Olive, our cat Zoey, and I) are moving into a new house this weekend. We've spent the past week painting, packing, and moving carloads. Tomorrow, we move our furniture and will spend our first night in the new place. Things have been a little disorderly for my taste--bearing in mind that I'm a recovering control freak--and I am ready to get settled.

This summer's rhythms will include lots of long walks with Olive in our new neighborhood, running, yoga, early-morning yard work, napping, trying new recipes, and reading. I'm currently about halfway through with Amy Poehler's Yes Please. I'm aiming for more writing, cooking, and reading. I'm aiming for less time-wasting on the Internet (Pinterest, I'm looking at you). I want to live wild and free and soak up the summer. I want to write wild and free and not obsess over product or grammar (e.g., this post).

If you're reading this, I'd love to hear what your summertime rhythms are like, and what your plans and hopes are for the season.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 8

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Chyna's response [sic]:

After experiencing many new methods due to creative writing, I can say that I will continue to write regularly once this journey is over. All the writing tips and writing rules I learned in Creative Writing actually made me enjoy writing. Also in my writing class I had a great and understandable teacher, so I will keep writing to prove what was taught helped me a lot. Creative Writing was the perfect class to take during my freshman year, because now I will continue to write throughout highschool.

I personally believe writing is like a get-away free card. My reason for that is because sometimes writing about how you feel is way more easy and comfortable to do rather than talking about it. It seems as you let all your problems go or set them free by writing them down. And for that very exact reason, I love writing. That's the value writing has in my very own life.

On the other hand, the value of writing may vary for others. Some uses the value of writing as a lyrical. Which means they write down their own lyrics or other lyrics to a song. This could also express them in a specific or different way. By writing down song lyrics may make someone feel as if they were in their happy place. Which also may be their happy place.

Another value writing could have in someone's life could just be taking notes or writing down memories. So, that way if they ever hear or find out something important they can write it down as a reminder or keep-safe. Many people enjoy writing about fun or exciting adventures or events they were involved in. They could also write these things down and put it safe inside a scrapbook just as a reminder to fun times.

In conclusion, I would just like to make it clear that I would love and enjoy to write regularly. Writing has helped me through many hard times when I needed to let some important information out. I believe everyone should write rather it's through a letter, writing down grocery list, or even a "out of order" sign to stick on the bathroom door. And I believe that only because writing is indeed a "get-away free card!"

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 7

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Ryan's response [sic]:

As we approach the final hours of the 2014-2015 school year, we also approach the end of this creative writing class, a class which regrettably, will not be offered next year. This leaves many of the writers in this class without a home--that is to say, without a time and place devoted almost solely to creative writing. However, I am almost certain most of us in here will nevertheless continue to create--I know I will--because of all the incredibleness writing brings into my life.

There are, of course many reasons why I will continue to write; most of them are similar to why I took this class. First, I want to continue to grow as a writer. There is no way to do this other than to keep writing. Second (or really, first and foremost), I simply love to write. I love the creative outlet it provides, I love the way it allows me to express myself, I love how it allows me to create my own worlds and then get lost in them. Of course I will keep writing--I never want to stop.

Writing is an incredibly enriching activity outside of school, work, and everyday life because of what it can give to the person writing. Creative writing provides everything the writer wants it to, be that a place to which to escape, a way to deal with the pressures of day-to-day life, a way to release creative energy, or simply something to fill the slowly passing hours of a weary, dreary Sunday afternoon.

The reasons why writing means so much to me could ring true to anyone who picks up a pen, pencil or computer in order to write. The reverse is also true. Many of the reasons other people list regarding why they love writing apply to me as well.

So, yes, of course I will continue to write, for as long as I can, and I encourage others looking for an escape or place to create to give writing a shot too. Maybe they will learn to love it as I do.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 6

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Kiyara's response [sic]:

Once I'm no longer in creative writing class, I will continue to write regularly. Writing is really fun, and it's something you can do to express yourself. When you have thoughts, write it down because everyone's mind always has random things stuck in there, and they'll end forgetting important things. Does you ever get headaches? Well, that's because you have too many things to remember and you're stressing out your brain trying to remember the really important things. But, I bet if you write most of it down,  then it'll be easier and you'll be relieving the stress off your brain.

Why will I continue writing? Well, because my awesome teacher Mrs. Cobb helped me enjoy writing again, and that enjoyment for writing is something I don't ever want to let go again. When I write is like a magical feeling. It helps me relieve the stress off my mind. I also listen to music while writing, so the words I'm thinking just flow onto the paper. That actually makes really great stories.

In addition, it helps release your emotions. For example, if you want to say something back to someone in an argument per say, but you know it's going to get you in some serious; don't say it, write it. Maybe, one day it'll become a best-selling book or best #1 movie. Writing can take you so far in life. It's literally just amazing.

The value that writing has on a person's life is magnificent. When you start writing trust me you won't be able to stop until all of your ideas are on paper. It could be one page long or a series chapter book long. Writing may not be for everyone, but that doesn't make it have any less meaning in someone's life. Everyone writes for their own reasons.

So, technically that's how I feel about writing. It was great to have a creative writing class. It was also great to have an awesome teacher to get me back into writing. I had a lot of fun coming up with random ideas, and putting it on paper.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 5

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Megan's response [sic]:

Next year, for my senior year, I will no longer be taking a creative writing class. But as much time I spent writing in this class every other day, I will not stop writing. My writing may not be regularly but I will make sure that I will write at least once a week.

Being in a creative writing class has showed me a lot. Writing in general, but especially the short stories or essays were the most tedious things ever. I would complain once in a while about writing so much but this creative writing class has helped me so much.

When learning so much from this class, I've realized that in my future I will have to be writing essays on something and who knows what it may be. But from taking this creative writing class, it has prepared me for the most out of the world prompts I will ever write.

I honestly believe that writing can get you so far in life such as having to write a 500-1000 paper on why I need this scholarship or maybe even writing a simple essay to boost my grade up in a class. Writing should be important to everyone.

I know for me before I even knew about this class I barely wrote anything, but from being in this class for a whole year it has got me so far. From being able to write so much by starting off from not too much has really opened my eyes and that is why I do not plan on quitting from my writing habits. Thank you Mrs. Cobb.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 4

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Happiness's response [sic]:

When I was choosing classes for my schedule last year for the eleventh grade, I was stuck on choosing one more class. I felt the pressure of my counselor's eyes beaming down on me as I tried to rummage through the list of available classes. Eventually, my eyes made contact with one of the electives that read "Creative Writing." I knew three things at that moment: I needed one more class, I like to write, this class will probably help me become better at writing (since I was taking AP Language), and I needed a "cushioned" class to be in that will not be difficult since I was already taking on three AP classes.

Being in Creative Writing really made me think outside the box. I have always written short stories, essays, and poems before on my free time, but actually having a class where I can express my true abilities, I could not let that opportunity slide. It's inevitable that I will only continue writing after being in this class.

This class makes me want to continue writing because I felt free writing anything I wanted under any genre and I want to continue to experience that freedom. I never got judged for what I wrote about and definitely did not receive carping remarks from grammar-happy, rhetoric-happy language teachers. It was just me, my imagination, and my pencil. The thrill of writing fiction or poems without any restrictions really motivated me to keep writing beyond this class as well as school.

The value of writing impacts people with ambivalence, but positively. Writing is not everybody's strength, but when one is allowed to write how they feel, the value becomes priceless. Whether one is writing a journal, poem, short story, or an essay, the value of writing beholds speciality in everybody's life. People will always have something to put down on paper.

To conclude this essay and this class, every ounce of information that I was taught in here, I will use it for life. The freedom of expressing myself through writing really helped me to ensure that I continue to be the best writer that I can be through school, life, and beyond.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 3

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Heather's response [sic]:

When I leave this class I will continue to write. Writing is the way I get out my emotions, in a positive way. It lets me write what I want, how I want it said. Yes you can type up things, but erasing or scratching out things can make your thoughts clear. Without writing things other than essays, you could lose your imagination. That would be the worst thing I could think of.

Creative Writing is what helped me out a lot this year. It helps clear my head, and when I need to vent, I just write it down. Why not keep writing? I'm not used to having someone there to write to, so paper is all I have. It can give you strength to your writing, and always make you imagine things that only your brain can think of. It's a beautiful thing to do that. If you keep it all in, without others reading it, how do you plan to let it all out.

Outside of school during the summer is probably busy for a lot of people, but even when you are on the road you can type. When ideas come to your head and you type it up, you can go back later and continue on that idea. Then when you want to show someone, you can. Writing is the spread of ideas. Without it, where would we be? Stuck without innovation.

When I leave this class, I plan on using all I have learned to write the greatest papers known to man. I won't have all the problems that others might have because I'll have all I need for next year. All of my classes have thrived because I got all my creativity out in this class. With that, I've been able to focus better in other classes. All because of this class. So yes, I will continue to write outside of this class.

My personal value for writing comes in to play when I get upset. I tended to do stupid things when I got upset. Now, instead of doing those things, I write. It has saved my life many times, and it probably will in the future as well. You can't put a numerical value on someone's life, but they try. You cannot put a numerical value on writing either.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 2

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Holly's response [sic]:

Writer. That's what I consider myself to be. A writer, in my opinion, is someone who let's out feeling and stories on paper that they couldn't/can't let out in their human form. This allows people to deal with anxiety.

Writing. A form of escape. writing allows you to create a person and become that person. This is a very amazing thing but can also be quite dangerous. For when you become attached to this character it can become quite difficult to accept flaws. Just like it's hard to accept them in yourself.

Characters. The single most important thing to a story. What is a story without characters? Well it's a story without characters of course. But it will more then likely be a fairly boring story. For the story wouldn't have much of a purpose. It wouldn't have any conflict, any love, any plot really.

Creative Writing. The class that encouraged me to think outside the box. The class that taught me that writing doesn't have to make since all the time. But a little weird is okay. The class that gave me the most amazing group of friends. The friends that I wouldn't give up for anything in the world.

As it's sad that my freshman year is coming to an end. I do plan to further my writing skills. And never give up on my passion. Mrs. Cobb this might be the last piece of writing you grade of mine. But it wont be the last writing of mine.

In Defense of Creative Writing: Part 1

This is a series of student essays in response to the year-end prompt, "Once you are no longer in a creative writing class, will you continue to write regularly? Why or why not? What value does writing have in a person's life outside of school or work?"

Here is Madison's response [sic]:

I think that once I am out of creative writing, I will continue to write. I don't think that I will be writing as much.

Creative writing has really opened my mind up. I have wrote about things that I would of never thought about. It isn't just the basic, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" or "Persuade the city as to why they should open a mall." No that gets boring after a while, and soon it feels like your just re-writing the same thing.

This class has helped me a lot, and will continue to help me in the future. I will take the things I learned about and talked about, and put them on paper. This class has been a big help with opening my mind and dig deep, to get all of my good thoughts out. It also helps a lot to write about real world problems, and to put your thoughts on a piece of paper.

In this class, they actually let you write how you feel. You don't have to be uncomfortable with writing what they want to hear. Instead you get to express how you see things and how you really feel. And that taking this class has actually been more useful than any language arts classes I have taken. Since being in this class, I have started to write creative things instead of boring ideas. It has shown me that you don't have to write what you think they want to hear. But write how you actually feel.

After this class, I will still continue to write. Maybe not everyday, but maybe once a week. And I won't have to write about boring topics, but write about how I truly feel. And knowing all of the stuff you have taught us is actually working and it's helping me in the future is great.

Response to "The Monkey's Paw"

Read "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs and respond to the following questions:

1. What is the most unsettling part of the story to you? Why?
2. How does Jacobs reveal character in the story?
3. What is the role of women in the text? How are mothers represented?

Interest-Driven Research

Each year, I ask my students to do a MLA-formatted research paper, and each year I've taught it differently. I did something this year that I think I'll stick with for a while. I allowed students to choose their own topics. The only parameter was that they had to address the question, "Can progress occur without conflict?" somewhere within their paper.

AP Prep and Gifted students had to write a 5-7 page paper, while Regular students' papers had to be 3-5 pages. All students had to present their research to the class using digital media as an aid.

I gave students an instructional packet that walked them through the research process step-by-step, and set them free to work, helping as needed. Here's a link to the packet I used: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13BA9821q89ndLaIlLrNFMKZymnQY1yVf1cesUi5cviI/edit?usp=sharing.

Research subjects spanned a large variety of topics. They were interesting to grade (in years past, I've found myself grading similar projects over and over), and I had more students complete the assignment than I've had in years past. I credit the high participation rate to the self-guided structure with support (research packet), and to increased student interest.

Here are some examples of students' presentations. You can see just from this small sample the variety and high quality of student work.

• Women in Construction: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Lt5vgWxRGfWHl5UDFBbzlSRFU/view?usp=sharing
• The Collapse of an Empire: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Lt5vgWxRGfbTFjWDB4U1RPbXM/view?usp=sharing
• Mental Health in the U.S. Corrections System: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Lt5vgWxRGfVndxa3EtWWhWLU0/view?usp=sharing
• Pablo Escobar: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Lt5vgWxRGfVDNRYmxZaF9OSWM/view?usp=sharing
• The Role of the Internet in Political Activism: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-Lt5vgWxRGfTEZRRFhqSDE3WWM/view?usp=sharing

End-of-the-Year Letters

I'm doing something this year that I've always thought about, but have never done before. I'm hand-writing each of my students a short letter that I will give to them on the last day of school.

It is time-consuming (honestly, I'm a little surprised at how long it's taking), but is hopefully something my students will appreciate. It's also been a good exercise for me. I have to meditate on each student for a few minutes, recognizing their strengths, what I like about them, and then wishing them well.

I labeled this post "the main thing" because one of my favorite pieces of advice about education is to keep the main thing--relationships--the main thing, rather than getting bogged down in what ultimately is small stuff (testing, paperwork, stress, etc.).

I received a personal challenge last Easter to be mindful of my legacy, and I hope this step is a positive one toward leaving a legacy of love and compassion.

While it is a labor of love, I highly recommend this activity to colleagues. I believe that it will beneficial to you, as well as your students.

Response to "The Price of Nice Nails"

Read Sarah Maslin Nir's article "The Price of Nice Nails" and write a response.

What is your reaction to this article? What is the government's role in addressing this problem? The consumer? The general public?

"What's the Point of a Professor?" response

Read Mark Bauerlein's article "What's the Point of a Professor?" and write a response that answers his question.

Helpful article about blogging in the classroom

I'm mostly posting this as a way to not lose the idea.

Here's the article: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blogging-in-21st-century-classroom-michelle-lampinen

And here's a comment from the comments section that I found intriguing:

I have blogged with great success with my hs English classes. I achieve this by flipping the classroom -- students read an independent book of substantial literary merit during the class period and then they blog about their reading experience at home. When I survey students at the end of the year, repeatedly, blogging is their favorite unit in the course.

As far as topics go, I encourage them to use their writing as a means of learning. By this I mean that the blog is their chance to think through the key literary concepts and developments of their novels. Students have freedom to write what they want and they have the ability to do it in their own voice. While they find this flexibility scary at first -- because they have always been told what to write about -- eventually they grow to love the absolute freedom it entails. They begin to realize that their thoughts -- not a prescribed topic's narrow confines -- are what matter. I can't begin to tell you what their does for a student's voice and intellectual confidence!

Favorites for Drowning Out Neighboring Classrooms

It's happened to every teacher: you get your students quiet and settled into an independent assignment, and the class next door bursts into song or starts playing a rowdy game. Even productive noise can distract from activities like reading or writing, especially for students with disabilities and sensitive students (or teachers, like me!).

Here are a couple of my favorite ways to create ambient noise in my classroom while students are working independently.

• http://www.rainymood.com/
• I've had students ask me to turn this on before while they were testing. Some students complain that it makes them sleepy, but I've had mostly positive feedback.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPni755-Krg
• I'm not sure what the real title is to this YouTube video, but a colleague shared it with me yesterday and I'm already using it frequently. It's three hours long and helps me to stay focused while working.

What are your favorite strategies for drowning out excess noise while students work independently?

Helping Students Survive and Thrive During the Last Month of School

The last month of school can be incredibly stressful for students and teachers. To try to bolster my students' emotional wellness, we spent roughly an hour in each of my classes at the beginning of the last month of school focusing on stress reduction.

In the prep stage for this lesson, I cleared off my bulletin board with the exception of the sign in the center, which reads, "Got stress/sophomore-it is/testing fatigue? Can't study for one more minute? Tips and Tricks for Surviving the Last Month of School."



 

(On the left side, you'll see information about final exams with a folder containing extra study guides.)

 

We started each lesson with a six-minute session in guided mindfulness meditation. I used the "Relax, Ground, and Clear" meditation on http://stopbreathethink.org/. I prefaced the meditation sequence by asking students to get comfortable, and that what we were about to do would be weird, but that I think they'd like it. And they did! They asked that we do it more often, and I noticed that students were calmer and more focused during class on the days that followed that we opened with meditation.

After we meditated, I gave each group two index cards and a Sharpie, and asked them to write down two tips or tricks for surviving the last month of school. I gave students about five minutes in their groups, and then had each group share with the class. I posted their tips to the board.

Most student advice fell into one of these categories:

• physical wellness (ex: "Drink more water and eat healthier than you normally do.")
• emotional wellness (ex: "Listen to music to de-stress.")
• study tips (ex: "Take frequent breaks while studying.")
• motivation (ex: "Remember your priorities.")

My personal favorite: "Check yourself before you wreck yourself."


What strategies do you personally use to reduce stress?

How do you promote emotional wellness in your classroom?