No More Teachers, No More Books........

I know that at this point all anyone can think about is SUMMER, but I'm going to attempt to start a conversation about the exact opposite: school. While looking for summer voulenteering opportunities, I stumbled across the Sunset Sudbury School. As I explored the website (http://sunsetsudbury.org/) I discovered that this was no ordinary program. At Sunset Sudbury there is no curriculum. I know it's unbelievable, but it's true. This school lets its students do whatever they like, and I do mean ANYTHING. If the students want to play video games all day, that's what they do. If they want to run around all day, that's what they do. Of course this means if they want to study rocket science or find the cure for cancer, they could do this too. The school's theory is that "students become inspired and passionate about learning. Because they have chosen their activities, they are genuinely interested and motivated to pursue an interest to its completion (as determined by them alone)." They say skills in reading, writing, math, etc. will "develop organically, not necessarily through a planned process." In addition, students are not separated into grade levels, they can come and go as they want as long as they're in school for five hours every day, there are no grades, standardized testing is not mandatory, and all rules "for day-to-day life" are voted on by the entire school, students included. According to the website, students can and do go to college. What do you think about this kind of education compared with how we are being taught? How do you think you would fair in this type of environment?

Lauren Goboff
Period 3

Judge a Book's Cover

During the course of my life, I have heard many times, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Thinking back on this common piece of advice, I wonder if this is really a wise saying. the more I think about it, the more I am convinced it is not. Your thoughts?

Francisco Rivera

(If anyone does not know my period number, I'm sure you can find it someplace else on the blog, but I shall reiterate, pd. 5)

New Scrabble Words? Say it ain't so! Or maybe this is a good thang...

By now most of you are well aware of my Scrabble obsession.  I'm not sure how I feel about the expansion to acceptable Scrabble words:  Scrabble adds 'thang,' 'grrl' and 'Facebook' as official words (click the link to read the entire article).  On the one hand, language is constantly evolving (thou certainly concurs), so shouldn't the game reflect these changes? However, are we becoming too lax in the rules if we allow every new slang term and seemingly random two-letter words enter the Scrabble lexicon?

Shakespearean Insults

Shakespeare is famous for writing the best insults without using foul language!  In A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 3, Scene 2 is full of insults the four lovers hurl at one another.

What are some of your favorite insults from this scene? Why?

Can you use Shakespearean language to write your own insults?

Voz

Okay, so every time I comment on this blog, I can’t help to notice the many different types of voices. By voice I mean each individual person’s writing style. Some people have a very casual way of writing, almost as if they were having a friendly chat with the reader. Others are more formal and reserved, writing only to inform and/or convince and nothing else. Some people write almost exactly like they speak; still others take on an entire different style from their usual way of communicating. Whatever the case, everyone has a different way of writing, a different voice. That being said, what do you think your voice sounds like? Do you think other people see your voice the same way you do? Are there any particular writing styles that you like? Any that rub you the wrong way? Is there such thing as too much voice?

Also, I thought it’d be fun if every time a person commented, they would describe how they “hear” the voice of someone who has commented before them.

Cat Golner
Period II

Why Read Shakespeare?

This maybe a good reason:  Your Brain on Shakespeare: How the Bard Makes You Smarter

What do you think?

What's Your Curriculum?

Awesome!

Let Kids Rule the School

If given a similar opportunity, what would you choose to learn? How would it be taught and assessed? Think of topics in each subject.  How do YOU want to spend each period of the day?