....Whoa!

The past weekend was jam-packed with things going on, and I never got to post last week's blog. I meant to do it last night, but I got sick and spent the night curled up on the couch dying.

We started out last week looking at Number 12 Looks Just Like You. It's an old Twilight Zone episode that is very similar to Uglies. We wrote down some of the quotes or scenes that really put us in mind of Uglies. In both the novel and the television episode, we have characters who are struggling with an identity crisis. So we wrote bio-poems using two different fixed forms of poetry.

On Wednesday, we finally got a chance to see Mike Wiley's performance, "Tired Souls". I thought the performance was wonderful. I had the opportunity to see him perform one of his plays before and thoroughly enjoyed that play as well. He is very talented and entertaining. He makes history come alive and uses a lot of audience participation to increase engagement.

The second class of the week involved a Fish Bowl Discussion. I took volunteers to enter the center of the fish bowl and begin our discussion. I had statements written out in a cup that they could pull from when one idea was exhausted or to keep the conversation going. Those on the outside had to take notes and observe the discussion on the inside. If they wanted to join the conversation, they tapped someone out and took that person's spot.

I found it interesting how each class handled the discussion differently. I didn't actually have time to set it up with Group "A", but I hope to do it with them soon. Some groups the "fish" changed regularly and nearly everyone "swam" into the conversation. In another group the fish bowl occasionally stagnated. Regardless, it was a good controlled way to discuss some of the ideas that we've seen in the novel and even the Twilight Zone episode.

Friday was our health fair. We got lots of nutritional tips as well as some exercise. The day went very smoothly and the kids did an excellent job of participating!

This Monday and Tuesday, I was supposed to be with the juniors, while Mrs. Grogan taught the freshmen. We switched Monday as planned, but today will have to wait for next Tuesday.

But that is for another blog!