I BELIEVE IN COMPLIMENTS

Compliment: noun:a polite expression of praise or admiration : she paid me an enormous compliment.
Verb:politely congratulate or praise (someone) for something : he complimented Erica on her appearance.
com+pli+ment fromL. complere "to complete," via notion of "complete the obligations of politeness from the Latin root:plere:to fill (Harper,D 2003)

When was the last time you received a compliment? How did it make you feel? When was the last time you complimented someone? How did it make that person feel?

I found this article The Compliment Guy over the weekend and thought many of you would enjoy reading it. I really like the way these students are making a difference to people's days. I like the idea of small steps that we can all take to make the world a better place and I do believe this can have a ripple effect.We all have the power to connect and effect each other so it might as well be for the good! With so much in the news of disasters and wars it's refreshing to read of positive actions, of goodness and kindness. I believe that a smile towards a stranger, a compliment to someone can create connections and warm the world. I believe we can all connect positively to everyone and in doing so make the world a little better.





After reading the article and watching the you-tube clip, write a reaction-your thoughts about this, any connections you might have.

I chose the image above as the illustrated quote seems to complement(!) the you-tube clip and article.'The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.' Frank Lloyd Wright US architect (1869 - 1959) I also wanted to introduce you to the work of Teesha Moore an inspiring collage artist. Visit her site, look at how she combines text and images together. I love her quirky painting/images, the colours and textures she uses. For those of you who may be interested in keeping a graphic journal read about how she creates her pages and the materials she uses here in How I Journal.

References:
Moore,T.My Journal Pages,retrieved from
http://www.teeshamoore.com/teeshasjournalpgs.html
Harper,D. 2003, On Line Etymology Dictionary

CONNECTIONS

Are we more similar than different?

Read Matt Harding's Connecting to a Global Tribe after watching the video clip below. Read and be inspired by Matt's essay and at the same time note how he starts, the personal experiences he describes, his conclusion that connects to a deeper idea. Identify what he values.
Respond in your blog to his writing and the video.

The painting is by Marc Chagall, The Juggler. I chose it partly because of the whimsical figure who to me appears to be dancing on a swirling world. The colours seems soft and muted but the feeling joyous.

Both Matt Harding and the Compliment Guys make me smile and restore a belief in the basic goodness of people. Read the article outlining the medical benefits of smiling.

And for a little more inspiration... read the poem below:

Stream of Life

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth
and of death, in ebb and in flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet and in fact won Asia's first Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913. He first started writing poetry at the age of eight!! It is this poem that becomes the inspiration and lyrics for the music in Matt Harding's video!

What Do You Believe?

“Brie” by Henri Cartier-Bresson, June 1968, Brie, France
Woman and Dog on Beach, Far Rockaway, New York, ca. 1920
Unknown Artist, American School
Gelatin silver print


What do you believe in? This is as Allison ( 2006) notes, is a simple if difficult invitation: Write a few hundred words expressing the core principles that guide your life- your personal credo.'

When you visit the NPRsite you can read hundreds of essays from people expressing what the believe in. Look at the links to the previous essays and note how many of the writers have made their essays personal. They have taken us into the experience that underlies the belief: they show us the moment and then tell us what they learned. Read :

• twelve year old Macklin Levine's : The Power of the Beatles
• Jake Hovenden's: Inner strength From Desperate Times
• Muhammed Ali's: I Am Still the Greatest
• Lisa Sandin: I Am Not My Body
• Terry Awal: Finding the Strength To Fight On
• Elvia Bautista: Remembering All the Boys
• Tarick McClain (kindergarten student): Thirty Things I Believe
  

You can use the This I Believe database to search by theme or by age of writer. Read as many as you can to become immersed in the style. How do they start their essay? How do they conclude? What example do they use to give life to their belief?

Look in your pack to find Tips for Writing
Use this as guide. Also check the page Lesson 6: How Do I Support My Personal Essay?This gives some suggestions. Then read more essays noting these devices when they occur.

I chose Henri Cartier-Bresson's image 'Brie' for this particular post to indicate the journey involved in reaching personal beliefs. As we have discussed these writings focus on small pieces of your life that have shaped a belief, 'moments that teach us who we are'(This I Believe). Cartier-Bresson's photo for me symbolizes the road, the experiences or the journey we make in life.

I also included another photo I found while browsing in the Metropolitan Museum of Art( great gallery to visit on-line and if you are ever in New York!). When you read Macklin Levine's essay above the connection will be obvious. I loved this photo however with the woman trying to restrain the dog and the lunging curiosity of the dog as he makes for the anonymous photographer. It appears almost as if the dog is reaching out through time to us, the viewer!



Reference:
http://kentbeatty.com/2008/10/12/great-photographers-henri-cartier-bresson/

PROCRASTINATION

Procrastination from the Latin root crastinus: belonging to tomorrow, from L. cras : tomorrow, therefore putting off an action until tomorrow or delaying an action. Sadly, this involves many of you when it involves humanities deadlines!! Nevertheless although this may in fact be aiding your procrastination skills, watch this stop motion animation-consider how you could use this technique sometime:

Blast into Blogging!

As you know Middle School students are “rewired” , that is have the ability to multitask. You are the ‘digital natives’ while many of your teachers ( and yes even the witty Mrs Whiting !) are ‘digital immigrants’. Many of you do your homework with music blasting, videos playing and msn chat popping up on your computer screens. A large amount of your time is spent on the computer. It’s taken us a while but finally the light is dawning-we’re beginning/trying to understand the attraction of the screen, internet and the ability to communicate with all the new forms. Today in class, each one of you will be revamping your 6th grade blog or if new to the world of blogging , you will start one. To learn more about the purpose of blogs, Lee Lefevere from a company called Common Craft has created a video. For those of you who are new to the concept of blogging watch the video below.

Finish writing your “About Me” profile and include your image there. Next, complete your first blog about your quote and don’t forget to add details about why you chose the words that you did. This means:explain your connection to the quote. Don’t forget that you need to include the author.

Start thinking about an image or photo that you could take that represents who you are. Have this picture on your thumb drive or through the BBS. Write about your object. What memories does it trigger? Explain your connections.