Reflections

• When the going gets tough, the tough get…
– When something is difficult for you, do you tend to run away from it or run towards it? Explain.
– Do you like a challenge or a smooth road? Explain.
– Explain three times in your life you have encountered something that was very difficult. What did you do when you first encountered the situations? How did you react?
What did you do next? How was each situation resolved?
– How gritty are you? What do you do when faced with challenging material? Do you give up easily? Do you stick with it…generally? (25+)

• Do you believe that people are born with their intelligence fixed or do you believe that people can get smarter as they grow up?
• How smart do you think you are? Do you think you were born with this intelligence or do you think you developed it over time?
• Do you believe that intelligence predicts how successful you will be in life? The higher the IQ the higher the income?
• Do you believe you can make yourself smarter or “dumber” with the choices you make when faced with challenging material?
• What personality traits do you possess that you think will make you successful later in life?

• After learning about “grit” and growth mindset this week, answer the following questions:
– Identify one person you know who is NOT “gritty.” Describe how you know this person gives up on things easily. What is their life like?
– Identify someone you know who IS “gritty”. What is this person like? What things have they persevered through?
– Name one person you know who has a fixed mindset. How do you know this is true? Have you watched them avoid challenges in order not to appear “dumb”?
– Name one person you know who has a growth mindset and welcomes all challenges. Describe this person.

• Describe the concept of “home.” What does that word mean to you? Is it a location? A person? A talent?
• Describe the one thing you most love in your life. How do you plan to build a life around that “thing?” What can you do, in your future, to honor and grow that love? How is the thing you love the most going to affect your future?
• How are grit and growth mindset going to factor into your future plans? What might you fail at? How are you going to push through your failures in order to succeed?

• Answers the following questions with 100 words or more:
– Name one “limitation” you have had or know someone to have had that has become an advantage instead of an obstacle. How does this change in perception from disadvantage to advantage demonstrate “grit”?
– How would you take advantage of being able to change your height? When would you choose to be tall? When would you choose to be short? If you could design YOUR own legs, what would design and why?
– (After Ted) How does Aimee exemplify “grit”? What obstacles has she overcome? How does she show perseverance?

1. What is one item on your “bucket list” that you want to achieve before you die? How do you plan to make this happen?
2. Name your most extreme “dream” for your future.
The more outrageous the better. What is it? What would it take to achieve it?
3. Do you think you have what it takes to make this dream a reality? Why or why not?
4. What obstacle might you face on your way to achieving either your bucket list item or extreme dream that could derail it? Explain.
5. How does Diana exemplify grit?

• “To be is to do.” – Socrates
– What does this quote mean? Explain it. How does it differ from “You are what you think”?
• Describe a time when you faced a challenge that was very daunting and you wanted to give up or a time you tried something for the first time and weren’t very good at it.
– Describe how you felt. Did you want to quit?
– What made you try that same thing again? What happened on your second attempt?
– How did you show grit and determination?

1. How are you judged in your “career” as a student? How do others treat you differently based on your success or failure in school?
2. How would you describe a “snob”? Create a definition. Do you know any? Explain what they are like.
3. How would you describe a “loser”? Create a definition. Do you know any? Explain what they are like.
4. Do you think people create their own destinies? If someone is successful, they have earned it? If someone is unsuccessful, they have created this through their decisions?
5. How do you define “success”? Create a definition. How do you plan on being a “success” in life.

• What do your parents/guardians want for your future?
Does it match what you want for your future? Explain.
• Explain how situations that have occurred in your past, that made no sense at the time, make sense when you look back at them now?
• What does the advice “Don’t settle.” mean to you?
• How do you live your life now with no regrets?
• How do you make sure those you love know it?

• Define the word “dignity.” What does it mean to you? How would you expect someone to act if they were described as
“dignified?” Is this something you aspire to?
• Describe at least two ways in which you are “rich” in your life. Explain how having these things makes you “wealthy.”
• Describe at least two ways in your life that you are “poor.”
How does the lack of these things make you destitute?
• Explain the quote, “The best things in life aren’t things.”
What does that mean to you? How can you apply that to your life?
• Explain at least one way that you serve others in your life.
What do you do? How does that service help those around you?

• On the bottom of your “Three Sisters”/end-ofnovel questions, write three connections between the Ted talk and The House on
Mango Street.
• Identify what they have in common and explain with a 20+ word answer.

• Think about House on Mango Street and “Geraldo No Last
Name.” What makes a someone’s death irrelevant?
Unnoticed?
• How can people’s circumstances, not their choices, make their lives of less value than those around them? What types of situations cause people to have less “value”?
• Do you spend much time thinking of those people in the world less fortunate than yourself? Do you do anything to help those who are less fortunate?
• Describe how your life could be better than it is now? What would make it better? What are you willing to do to get the things/experiences that would make your life better than it is now?

• How do you make the environment around you a better, nicer place to live? (Your room? Your home? Your yard?)
• Describe your neighborhood. How do the people who live around you make your neighborhood nicer? (How do they make the place in which you live a nice place to be?)
Explain.
• How could the people who live on Mango Street make it a nicer place to live? What could they do to make their neighborhood nicer? Give at least two specific examples.

(Jim Fallon Exploring the Mind of a Killer)
• Describe a sociopathic type of person. What is this person like? What kinds of decisions are they capable of making? Do you know anyone you think might be a sociopath? Explain.
• How do you think witnessing violence as a child affects a person as they grow up? Do you think this makes any permanent changes in a person’s brain? Explain.
• Has a friend ever wronged you? Describe the situation.
– Have you dreamt of getting revenge? Explain why or why not.

• Describe your “perfect” life. What would it take for you to completely happy?
– Where would you live?
– What career would you have?
– What would your family be like?
– What things would you have?
– What types of experiences would be a part of your happiness?
– How do you know that having this life would bring you happiness? Explain.
– Is there any way you can believe that a paraplegic and a lottery winner can be equally happy at the end of a year?
Explain.

• 100+
• List ten small things that you have that make you feel grateful.
• What in your life are you most grateful for?
Explain.
• Explain how you define the relationship between gratitude and happiness.
– What is the connection?
– Do you understand this deeply or is this something you have to remind yourself of?

• Attitude: Describe whether you think you have, in general, a good or bad attitude about your life and explain why you feel that way.
• Awareness: Explain how aware you are of the amazing things that are around you every day. Do you notice
“awesome” things all of the time? Or do you focus on the bad things that happen or surround you.
• Authenticity: How comfortable are you with being yourself and following your heart, no matter what anyone else thinks?
• Talk: Neil Pashricha/1000 Awesome Things

• What makes you “not average.” What makes you unique and different from others?
• Rank your happiness on a scale from 1-100. Explain this score.
• How do you view “stress”? Do you view stressful situations as a challenge or something to be avoided at all cost?
• Which of the following things do you do:
– Keep a gratitude journal?
– Meditate?
– Purposefully do random acts of kindness?
– Journal about the positive things that happen in your life?
– Exercise?
Do you think those above things can make you happier? Explain.

• When the going gets tough, the tough get…
– Now that “grit” is not a new concept for you:
• Describe how you have shown grit in this class this semester. Looking at your chart for your grade when have you shown grit? Explain.
• Describe how you have shown grit it your hobbies/sports. How have you struggled? What did you do to overcome the obstacles presented.
• Describe how you have shown grit in your personal relationships.
With your family? With your friends? With people you know but wouldn’t describe as a friend?
• Then, knowing that we are almost done with the semester, how can you show grit to finish this class strong? What are the obstacles you face? How can you overcome them?
• How does showing grit require maturity? Explain.

• The semester is almost done! Please reflect on your progress so far in this class.
• What is your grade? Are you satisfied with that grade? Explain.
• Explain one thing that you will keep the same going into the second semester from this class so that you will be successful.
• Explain one thing you might change (study habit) going into the second semester.
• Explain one of your favorite things about the class so far. What is working for you?
• Explain one thing you would like me to change about the class for next semester and exactly how that change is possible.
• Have you been using our course calendar and online resources? Please explain if you have found these tools to be useful and anything I can change to make the online information more useful.
• We are changing seats next semester. Tell me where you would like to sit and why. Please note any medical/attention reasons.

• On your goal sheet that you created on Monday, respond to the following questions:
1. Is your grade higher, lower or the same from last week? If it is higher or lower, by how much? What contributed to this? Are you happy with that grade or do you want a higher grade? Explain.
2. Chart your new grade on your graph. Did the new point follow the same pattern? Explain what your grade is “doing” according to your graph.
3. After today, we only have 7 days in class before the final. What are you planning on doing during those 7 class days to either maintain or improve your grade? Are you planning to revise? Which assignments specifically? How are you planning on studying for the final? Be specific.

• On your goal sheet that you created on Monday, respond to the following questions:
1. Is your grade higher, lower or the same from last week? If it is higher or lower, by how much? What contributed to this?
2. Are you happy with that grade or do you want a higher grade? Explain.
3. Have you met the goal you set for yourself?
4. Develop an action plan for either maintaining or improving your grade by block day of next week. What are you going to do, specifically in order to achieve your goal?
5. Did you follow through on your action plan? Yes or no? Why?
6. Chart your new grade on your graph. Did the new point follow the same pattern?

• Log in (same as school user name and password)
• Choose iReady test (white w/iR)
• Choose a “buddy” if you haven’t already
• Choose a “theme” if you haven’t already
• Select the “Reading” test
• **If you finish early, start typing your business letter on your Chromebook.

• When you are finished….
– SILENTLY make sure your vignette packet is thoroughly complete (Author Style Imitation worksheets, vignette, TBEAR paragraph, AP essay outline)
– SILENTLY work on your Roots #12 work

• Imagine that a group of students hacked into your social media account and called you horrible names for everyone in the high school to see.
– Describe what you think you would do in response to this.
– Would you ignore it?
– Confront the nameless bullies? How? Explain what you think your reaction would be.
– Describe your experiences with your online community. Do you think social media is positive or negative? Explain.

• Describe a significant event from you childhood that has shaped who you are now. Answer the following questions:
– How old were you?
– Who was with you?
– Where did the event take place?
– What happened?
– How did you feel inside the event? How do you feel now?
– How did the event shape you? How did it change your personality? World view?

Ted Deep Thought: Newton Aduaka/
• If you put yourself in Ishmael’s shoes, how do you think you would have handled the experiences he went through in chapter one?
– How would you feel if you were separated from your family suddenly? How would you cope?
– How do you think you would handle witnessing the violence he saw? Would you have closed your eyes? Do you think you would have nightmares?
– What would your plan be if you knew the enemy was headed your way and you had no way to defend yourself? Explain.
– How would just those experiences (in chapter one) alone affect you in the long run? Would your personality change as a result of those experiences? How would you cope with the experiences to lead a productive life?

• If you could have one wish for the world, what would it be? Something that would affect you and everyone else, as well? Why would you choose this?
• Do you think a world without war is possible? Could we ever live in a time when no one was fighting or killing each other? Explain why you think this is realistic or unrealistic.
• What do you think the consequence should be for child soldiers? Do you think they should stand trial like an adult? How should they be punished?
Explain your answer.

• Have you ever had your life change dramatically in a short amount of time?
Describe either what happened (moving, changing schools, etc.)
• Do you connect with Beah’s situation in any way? Explain why or why not.
• Do you have a brother/sister/aunt/cousin or friend that you have a similar relationship to like Ishmael and Junior?

• Why do you think war seems to always be a part of this world? What is the function of war in societies?
• Why do you think people fight with each other and cannot seem to live in peace with each other?
• In what areas in your life do you see people disagreeing the most? At school? At home? With your friends? Why do you think this is so?
• Do you think it is possible for people to ever stop fighting with each other? Explain.

• Describe your experiences reading Shakespeare. Have you enjoyed his plays/poems? Do you think anything he has written about is still relevant now?
• Why do you think Shakespeare is still so popular?
Explain.
• Do you think there is anyone alive now that will be remembered five hundred years from now in the same way Shakespeare is remembered? Name two people you think will be legendary and explain why you think they will be immortalized after their deaths.

• What are your experiences with liars so far in your life? Do you know people who lie all of the time?
• Are you good at spotting people who are lying or are you constantly surprised when you find out someone has lied to you?
• Do you lie a lot? Do you exaggerate? Say things that are not true? Is there anyone that you lie to more than others? Explain.

• Describe two people in your life you feel most connected to. Who are they? How did you meet each person?
• Explain why you feel connected to each person. How do you bond with each of them in a way that is different from the way you bond with other people?
• How does the feeling of shame, or “I am not good enough” keep you from connecting with people who surround you? Explain.
• How does the feeling of shame keep Ishmael from connecting with the people who surround him in the rehabilitation center?

• What is your current grade? Are you happy with that grade?
• How did your grade change from last week to this week?
Were those changes the result of your decisions or a natural result of having over a hundred percent? Explain.
• Set a goal for seven days from now. What would you like your grade to be next week?
– Lit Circle (Are you prepared for your fifth lit circle? Have you read chapter five of Lord of the Flies? Have you filled out your sheet?)
– Essay: Have you finished your outline and rough draft (both will be due with your typed draft for credit)? How do you plan on accomplishing these before next week? Explain.

• FIRST: finish iReady
• THEN: type business letter and email it to yourself so you can print, please make sure it is double spaced (due Tuesday with outline and rough draft)
• THEN: work on literature circle for LOTF ch.’s 6
& 7 (due Monday)