NaNo NaNo and other Nonsense...

Hello true believers!
October is laying it's tender russet and golden orange head to rest soon giving way to November, the second to the last and almost the best. November is always a juglling act for primarily due to one event, NaNo WriMo, the National Novel Writing Month. During this time, my Creative Writing students and I will undertake the gargantuan task of writing a novel in one month! Yeah, I said it...one novel (50,000 words) in one month. While I cannot claim the luxery of reaching my 50,000 word goal, several of my students last year did and achieved something that a relatively small portion of the population has done; become novelists. Prior to NaNo, November was always about Turkey and my birthday. Now it has become about late night and weekend writing. The level of frustration is, quite frankly, off of the charts but the payoff is equally satisfying. This year I am knocking down 50,000 words, no apologee's and no prisoners taken!

End of the First Quarter looms...

Hey all,
Just a note about the end of the first quarter. I would first like to congratulate all of you for surviving thus far. The first quarter is always the toughest in my opinnion. If things are panning out the way you planned, Great! Keep at it and don't let up until the Christmas break. If things are not going your way, Great! Now it's time to figure out what is "broken" and fix it! Don't blame your folks and don't blame yours truely. Man up. Most situations demand more time and attention than students sometimes want to give. If it doesn't come easy for you, don't feel badly, it doesn't come easy for most people. Here is my sure fire way to improve your grades, this isn't for everyone, only for those people who really do want to see a change...
1. Keep track of when all of your assignments are due in one notebook.
2. Have your parents hold you accountable for when your work is due.
3. Work smarter! Do you homework as soon as you get it.
4. Meet with your instructors once a week to chart your progress.
5. Do all of your work to the best of your ability. If you lack ability,check into the free tutor programs that our school offers.
6. Feed your body and mind healthier food. Fruits and Veggies for snacks!
7. Go to bed by 10:00. You won't miss anything...trust me on this one.
8. Make some friends who could help you study for quizzes and tests. It's a give and take on that one; you have to be open to the idea or it won't work.
9. If you have to do homework, block out time to work and time to space out. Doing it in intervals can really help. 3o min's on, 1o min's off.
10. If you can do it in advance,do it!

Once again, it's not an easy list but whoever said doing great things was easy? Make today the first day of doing it differently and in a way that is going to put you where you want to be. You determine your future, don't let others determine it for you. Let's Rock!
P.

Fear and Manipulation in Salem...a love story...

Sorry that it took so long to get this out to you kids. Here are the charts that we came up with for Act I and II! They should help in the construction of the Venn Diagram.
P.

Once upon a time...

Hey! It finally feels like we are under way with our first BIG writing assignment. The Children's Story always thrills and surprises me. I forget how much the books of our youth help impact and shape our ideas of who we become. Granted, much goes into the making of a "person" at any given stage of their life, but I find some great pleasure in knowing the things that I held as important as a child (teamwork is important Mr. Biddle and the Birds, you should try new food Green Eggs and Ham, It is always best to share what you love The Giving Tree), are still important to me today. The Children's Story will hopefully give you the opportunity to share some of these important ideas in a very unique format. I have posted the ground rules here, any adjustments will of course follow if necessary!

P.

It be Talk like a Pirate Day on Saturday! ARGHHH!...

Some several years ago I had the distinct good fortune to stumble a little known "holiday", Talk like a Pirate Day. A local radio program was sponsering the days give aways with Piratey Talkin's. Callers would call in and do their best Pirate talk in order to win prizes. It was hillarious! I assumed that it was also a bogus holiday, much like Ground Hog Day or Valentine's Day. You know the type of holiday that I am refering to, one that essentially is only marked on Hallmark calenders. I got to work, fliped on my computer to get the days events laid out, and Shiver me Timbers, if Talk like a Pirate Day wasn't in the news! Apparently two louts made the day some several years before after a raquetball accident where one of the whelps cried "Arrrr" upon being unkindly struck by an errant rubber ball. It caught on and has taken on a whole life of its own. Humor coulmunist and author Dave Barry has even picked up the lads quest to bring Pirate Talk to the world on Sept. 19th every year! This year, Talk like a Pirate Day falls on a Saturday so we won't be able to experience it as a class, though, true to Piratey form, we will break the Sept. 19th rules and carry out Talk like a Pirate Day on Sept 18th. You might be wondering..."what does this have to do with English Mr. Perez?", to that I say that ye may consider yerself a Privateer in the Queens Royal Navy if it do help ye sleep better at night...So, without further Aideu, ...AVAST THERE ME HEARTY'S! THIS FLOATING BUCKET HAS BUT ONE CAPN, RED CISCO DOUBLOON, AND IF YE RIDE WITH ME, WE FLY UNDER THE SKULL AND BONES AND KEEP TO THE CODE! NOW HOIST THE MAIN LINES AND PREPARE YERSELVES FOR DEEP WATER! YARGHHHHH!
Red Cisco (Mr. P!)

Plot and Structure...

Certainly up to this point, the curriculum has been very agreeable in my opinion. We about to turn a corner folks. This weeks focus in on Plot and Structure in Story Creation. We have all created out beginning/middle/and end, only to have them mixed up and handed back out (sorry!!!!hahahahaha). Use your accquired skills to make this story happen. Imagination will rule the day on this one. Share your story ideas with others and ask for insight if you feel you need to. You can do it!



P.

The Crucible

Honestly, who doesn't love a village idiot!...




P.