Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Goodbye for now...
Your last day as seniors (minus David who was at golf districts)
I plan on posting the pictures from graduation, but I still have to load them on my computer at home. I just wanted to thank you all for a terrific year! Your enthusiasm, hard work, and willingness to go along with my general craziness was much appreciated!! We had some great times for meeting as early in the morning as we did! 
I wish you all the best of luck as your path leads you away from dear old BHS and into the next chapter - be it local community college or an out of state university. You will always be an AP warrior - never forget the things you have learned from each other. I won't soon forget our adventures together and all you have taught me!
Happy graduation! Happy summer! Happy life!
-MCC
Thursday, June 2, 2011
PLANKING: An Epidemic.
I'm not sure how many of you are still checking the blog, but I found this hilarious. It looks like Alex High has invaded the streets..just as she invaded the Conklin household.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Did you survive?
If you did survive, I hope you have checked your email for an important AP warrior announcement.
May the raptors have mercy on your soul.
-MCC
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day!!
I hope everyone gave their moms some extra love today! Also, happy mother's day to you, Mrs. Conklin. I think being pregnant on mother's day counts :D Hope everyone enjoyed the fabulous weather today because I know I did. Definitely looking forward to the 70 degree weather all week this week, finally. And I actually read a book outside today... A book for fun... *Gasp!
Nobody bring fruit to the breakfast, I have that covered with a very impressive fruit tray if I do say so myself...
See ya tomorrow!
Nobody bring fruit to the breakfast, I have that covered with a very impressive fruit tray if I do say so myself...
See ya tomorrow!
Everyone Loves a Parade
Hurrah!! The rain held (at least until after the parade was over) and it was a great day for parade participants and spectators. I got a chance to see Lisa on the Blossomtime float before the parade began. I especially liked the bee hovering above the flower on the back of the float. A nice nod to our BHS Blossomtime Queen!!
Not a great angle on the Baroda float, but it's hard to wave to people and take pictures at the same time. Adam and Anna looked fabulous, as did the 'Green Acres' themed Baroda float!
A great day for the annual Blossomtime Parade and a terrific showcase for some of the finest bands and community representatives in our area!
Don't forget about the post-exam breakfast tomorrow! There will be bagels, OJ, chocolate milk, and whatever other goodies YOU contribute. There are 15 students in our class (in case you do some baking today!)
-MCC
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Not School Related
As my titled suggests this isn't school related but please forgive me that for I won't be taking up much of your time.
I just wanted to make a request. Krysta has began her own blog (because we just can't get enough of her mouth in class) and she would really really really love it with cherries ontop if people would pity her and read it! It is school appropriate and i thought it was a little funny so maybe you people could stop by and relate. Thanks and once again, I apologize for taking up precious school space. Carry on!
I just wanted to make a request. Krysta has began her own blog (because we just can't get enough of her mouth in class) and she would really really really love it with cherries ontop if people would pity her and read it! It is school appropriate and i thought it was a little funny so maybe you people could stop by and relate. Thanks and once again, I apologize for taking up precious school space. Carry on!
AP ENGLISH LIT EXAM!!!
Was it better than you expected? Worse than you expected? Do you feel overwhelming relief or the desire to sleep for the next three days?
I hope you enjoyed the goodie bags. That is my favorite part of the AP exam day! Ms. Cuthbert dropped them off at Lakeshore for you this morning since I needed to be at school to supervise those trouble makers, Krysta and Sam ;)
Monday will be our post-exam breakfast/party. I will provide bagels and cream cheese, so if you have a special request, please let me know. I plan on getting a few plain, wheat, blueberry, sesame seed, and everything. If there is a bagel you MUST have, please let me know so I can add it to the order. Please bring something to add to the pot-luck style celebration: mini donuts, coffee cake, fresh fruit, muffins, etc. I will also be providing chocolate milk and orange juice. If you prefer a different beverage, please bring it. I have an electric kettle, so if you would like tea, bring a mug and we can make tea.
I plan on previewing "A Thousand Acres" this weekend, but will have "The Princess Bride" as a back-up. If you would prefer one movie over another, let me know. Last year the AP class wanted to watch "The Importance of Being Earnest" again, so we did. I have no objection to that one either :)
Dress in comfortable clothes - AP T-shirts, sweats, etc. If you STILL have not paid for your AP T-shirt, Monday would be a great time to bring your $17 in to Chelsea so you can wear your AP tee with pride!
Congratulations on a job well done, warriors! Regardless of the scores, I am proud of each of you and appreciate how hard you have worked this year. Enjoy your day off tomorrow and I'll see you on Monday!
-MCC
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Poetry
First off, I don't like this guy. Let's get that straight right off the bat. Secondly, OF COURSE we need a month dedicated to some form of literature and personally I think poetry is the smartest choice. There's a poem out there for everyone, and different styles appear to different people. Obviously, this man has not found his poem yet. I can only hope he will in his long, sad, anti-poetry years to come. It pains me to think that he cannot enjoy the thought process that goes into poetry. Maybe he's not a rhyming kind of guy but what about haiku? or maybe he'd like James Joyce (they could have a nice long depressing chat)
All I'm saying is this guy needs to think before he writes. There are MILLIONS of poems out there. SONGS are essentially poems. Most literature could start off as a poem. And for someone who writes A LOT, shouldn't he be able to appreciate something so wonderfully simple yet complex as a poem?
In response to Mr. Bernstein...
OK dude, seriously? Chill...just chill.
Bernstein seems more preoccupied with bashing Poetry Month itself than if there is any poetry worth presenting. He talks about how most poems that "average people" are capable of understanding, are about nothing. Well, he is welcome to his opinions, even though they are wrong...Just because a poem doesn't have some sort of deep hidden philosophical interpretation of the author's view on life, death and where to have the best picnic lunch, doesn't mean that that particular poem is sentenced to the "mediocre" stack.
Whew...take a breath...OK.
Instead of just lumping poetry together into "good" and "bad" Bernstein should try to see the effects that poetry has on people. "In Flanders Field" is one such example that many people know and understand. "Taps" would definitely be an example, even though it is a song. Music is simply poetry that is put to notes and sound. Poetry is something that people hear and see everyday, even if they don't realize it.
Bernstein should take some time off and try to write his idea of "good poetry". If it takes off like a rocket and is an immediate bestseller that has people climbing over his garden wall to get his autograph...we will talk and renegotiate what good poetry is. Until then...Mr. Bernstein can shove it.
Bernstein seems more preoccupied with bashing Poetry Month itself than if there is any poetry worth presenting. He talks about how most poems that "average people" are capable of understanding, are about nothing. Well, he is welcome to his opinions, even though they are wrong...Just because a poem doesn't have some sort of deep hidden philosophical interpretation of the author's view on life, death and where to have the best picnic lunch, doesn't mean that that particular poem is sentenced to the "mediocre" stack.
Whew...take a breath...OK.
Instead of just lumping poetry together into "good" and "bad" Bernstein should try to see the effects that poetry has on people. "In Flanders Field" is one such example that many people know and understand. "Taps" would definitely be an example, even though it is a song. Music is simply poetry that is put to notes and sound. Poetry is something that people hear and see everyday, even if they don't realize it.
Bernstein should take some time off and try to write his idea of "good poetry". If it takes off like a rocket and is an immediate bestseller that has people climbing over his garden wall to get his autograph...we will talk and renegotiate what good poetry is. Until then...Mr. Bernstein can shove it.
Poetry
Wow, this man may be the most opinionated man I have ever seen. And for what? Arguing that poetry isn't worth our time? That's quite insulting to the poets who have made it their lives work to create these poems... While I do agree with him that poetry gets a little lost in main stream media today, it still deserves to be recognized as a form of art. Poetry is meant to be savored, like a good dessert, not consumed quickly like so many people want to do with other literary works. In order to promote this "savoring", I feel that we do need to make the poetry more accessible at first to draw people in, then challenge them with some of the more complicated (and yes, more depressing) poems. Most people have not had the advantage of an AP course like us, so they need those baby steps in order to appreciate poetry, not matter what this extremely opinionated man has to say... And really, how is this promotion of poetry any different than promoting a new book or movie or art museum? These works of art need to be put into main stream advertising in order for people to learn about them and in turn appreciate them.
A risk we take by advertising poetry is the chance that once people read poems regularly, they start to over-analyze them. While many times there is a second meaning hidden in a poem, there are also cases in which you need to just take the poem for what it is. No, that poem isn't about the sacrifices that people have to make in society or about the grim death of a soldier in battle. It really is just about a toad getting it's leg cut off by a lawn mower. But Mr. Bernstein will obviously never experience this problem, because he believes he is far too superior than the lowly people who read poetry... Makes me wonder how intelligent this guy is, because he may as well not read books while he's at it...
A risk we take by advertising poetry is the chance that once people read poems regularly, they start to over-analyze them. While many times there is a second meaning hidden in a poem, there are also cases in which you need to just take the poem for what it is. No, that poem isn't about the sacrifices that people have to make in society or about the grim death of a soldier in battle. It really is just about a toad getting it's leg cut off by a lawn mower. But Mr. Bernstein will obviously never experience this problem, because he believes he is far too superior than the lowly people who read poetry... Makes me wonder how intelligent this guy is, because he may as well not read books while he's at it...
Poetry! Merit or No Merit?!
I believe poetry has incredible literary merit, but about 99% of the time, it's over-analyzed. I like to think that most poets use symbolism intentionally, but honestly, I really believe it usually happens accidentally. When people talk, write, draw, sing, or what-have-you, it usually reflects their past and present. I think poetry is a huge example of that. Even if you don't have a purpose when you sit down to write, I think one comes out subconsciously. We over-analyze poetry to the point of murder, and I think that's why I dislike poetry.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Heller!
It's the birthday of the man who asked, "What does a sane man do in an insane society?": American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright Joseph Heller, born in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn. He didn't begin any story until he had the first and last lines in his head, and the idea for Catch-22 came about after he thought of an opening: "It was love at first sight. The first time he saw the chaplain, 'Someone' fell madly in love with him." He didn't have the character's name — Yossarian — yet, but the story began to unspool from that first line. "It got me so excited," Heller wrote in the Paris Review, "that I did what the cliché says you're supposed to do: I jumped out of bed and paced the floor. That morning I went to my job at the advertising agency and wrote out the first chapter in longhand. ... One year later, after much planning, I began chapter two."
His agent started sending Catch-22 — called Catch-18 at the time — to publishers in 1953, when Heller was about a third of the way through with it. Simon and Schuster paid him $750 up front, with another $750 to be paid upon completion. Heller missed their deadline by four or five years, but eventually delivered it in 1961. They changed Catch-18 to Catch-22 to avoid confusion with Leon Uris's new book Mila 18, and the title has entered the lexicon as a description of an unsolvable logical dilemma, a vicious circle.
Heller published six other novels, three plays, a collection of short stories, and three screen adaptations. He died in 1999, shortly after finishing his last novel, Portrait of the Artist, as an Old Man.
His agent started sending Catch-22 — called Catch-18 at the time — to publishers in 1953, when Heller was about a third of the way through with it. Simon and Schuster paid him $750 up front, with another $750 to be paid upon completion. Heller missed their deadline by four or five years, but eventually delivered it in 1961. They changed Catch-18 to Catch-22 to avoid confusion with Leon Uris's new book Mila 18, and the title has entered the lexicon as a description of an unsolvable logical dilemma, a vicious circle.
Heller published six other novels, three plays, a collection of short stories, and three screen adaptations. He died in 1999, shortly after finishing his last novel, Portrait of the Artist, as an Old Man.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The week ahead...
AP warriors-
It's a big week this week with the "finish line" of the AP exam on Thursday, May 5. Here are a few reminders as we head into a short, but busy week.
TODAY
Saturday, April 30
You may recognize one of our very own AP warriors in the Herald-Palladium today. In fact there is a whole article complete with pictures dedicated to Miss Blossomtime 2011, Lisa Bowman! Great article, Lisa!! Grab a copy of today's paper and check it out. There is also a schedule for next Saturday's Blossomtime Parade line-up.
MONDAY
May 2
We'll be looking at poetry, but thankfully no dead animals or soldiers this time. Remember that I'll be checking off your list of "Top Ten Tough Terms" from the big pink literary terms packet. These can be in word/definition list or flash card form.
TUESDAY
May 3
We'll be doing another timed multiple choice practice test, but this time you'll have the entire hour to work. On the actual AP exam, you'll have 60 minutes for 55 questions - the same as the AP exam. We'll spend Wednesday's class going over the practice test and you'll have a chance to score your results.
WEDNESDAY
May 4
Our last day of class review before the exam!! We'll touch base on a few last minute concerns as well as grade the practice test from Tuesday. If you have an "exam day" questions to ask, this would be a good time to ask them.
Wednesday evening 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
I have reserved the community room at the Bridgman Public Library for our evening review. I will be ordering pizza. Come for part of the time, come for the whole time, bring a beverage of your choosing, and we'll have an opportunity to go over previous exams, do more practice M/C tests, or just blow off some steam before the big day on Thursday.
THURSDAY
MAY 5
AP English Literature exam at Lakeshore High School. You are to report to Lakeshore HS by 7:30 AM. The test will take approximately 3 hours from the time the exam begins (around 8 AM). Following the exam, you are expected to report back to BHS or the Math-Science Center for your afternoon classes.
FRIDAY
May 6
NO SCHOOL - Professional Development day for teachers.
Sleep in, relax, make up your mind between the front seat or the backseat. IT'S FRIDAY, FRIDAY!!
SATURDAY
May 7
The Blossomtime Parade kicks off on Main Street in St. Joe. Come out to cheer on our queens, Kelsey and Lisa, and the Spirit of Bridgman Marching Band!
It's a big week this week with the "finish line" of the AP exam on Thursday, May 5. Here are a few reminders as we head into a short, but busy week.
TODAY
Saturday, April 30
You may recognize one of our very own AP warriors in the Herald-Palladium today. In fact there is a whole article complete with pictures dedicated to Miss Blossomtime 2011, Lisa Bowman! Great article, Lisa!! Grab a copy of today's paper and check it out. There is also a schedule for next Saturday's Blossomtime Parade line-up.
MONDAY
May 2
We'll be looking at poetry, but thankfully no dead animals or soldiers this time. Remember that I'll be checking off your list of "Top Ten Tough Terms" from the big pink literary terms packet. These can be in word/definition list or flash card form.
TUESDAY
May 3
We'll be doing another timed multiple choice practice test, but this time you'll have the entire hour to work. On the actual AP exam, you'll have 60 minutes for 55 questions - the same as the AP exam. We'll spend Wednesday's class going over the practice test and you'll have a chance to score your results.
WEDNESDAY
May 4
Our last day of class review before the exam!! We'll touch base on a few last minute concerns as well as grade the practice test from Tuesday. If you have an "exam day" questions to ask, this would be a good time to ask them.
Wednesday evening 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
I have reserved the community room at the Bridgman Public Library for our evening review. I will be ordering pizza. Come for part of the time, come for the whole time, bring a beverage of your choosing, and we'll have an opportunity to go over previous exams, do more practice M/C tests, or just blow off some steam before the big day on Thursday.
THURSDAY
MAY 5
AP English Literature exam at Lakeshore High School. You are to report to Lakeshore HS by 7:30 AM. The test will take approximately 3 hours from the time the exam begins (around 8 AM). Following the exam, you are expected to report back to BHS or the Math-Science Center for your afternoon classes.
FRIDAY
May 6
NO SCHOOL - Professional Development day for teachers.
Sleep in, relax, make up your mind between the front seat or the backseat. IT'S FRIDAY, FRIDAY!!
SATURDAY
May 7
The Blossomtime Parade kicks off on Main Street in St. Joe. Come out to cheer on our queens, Kelsey and Lisa, and the Spirit of Bridgman Marching Band!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Essay Contest...VOTE VOTE VOTE!
Hey guys I did that essay that MCC posted so pleeeaasseeee vote for it! All you have to do is go to the URL below and click vote! It's so easy and super quick! Thanks!
http://www.wyzant.com/scholarships/v1/essay9245_Bridgman-MI.aspx
http://www.wyzant.com/scholarships/v1/essay9245_Bridgman-MI.aspx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)