The inevitable sounds of second trimester.. the sound of work.

At this point, I am fairly confident that students understand that  there is really no avoiding the reality of challenging work that lies ahead.  It is in the second trimester where so much of the learning process takes flight.  This is the trimester that really tests the mettle, the intestinal fortitude, of students.  It is at this point in the year where those who are truly ready to embrace the arduous path of scholarship begin to ascent and those who were merely trying to fulfill its cliches seem to realize that more commitment is needed.  It is at this point where the maturation process begins to illuminate itself, almost like a self- awakening being of consciousness coming to life...

Or, maybe, it's just colder so that the will to resist is less...

In any event, the work is beginning to become evident and pile up in the lives of our students.  The only path beyond this beast is to be able to plan effectively in a long term setting.  The use of daily planners, online syllabi, and plotting out how work can be completed is the way out of this purgatory of work.  It is through this that some of the most effective habits of high school life will be present. Certainly, this is the case with this week in Social Studies:
Monday- Tuesday:  Howard Zinn Project and Add on Sheets should be near completion.
Tuesday- Students will be asked to either submit work or take an extension until Friday, at which time work can be submitted to me during 5th period lunch.
Wednesday- Discussion of Swami Vivekananda and giving voice to Progressivism.  Students will have homework based on three of Swami's quotations.
Thursday- Reading and Discussion of LeGuin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas."  There will be questions regarding the story's connection to Progressivism to be answered from it.
Friday- We will  be reading and discussing Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day."  Our discussion will surround the Progressivist themes in the story.

The work is maintaining its challenging edge, but it is delivering greater ferocity to our students, ones who hope to embrace the torch of scholarship.  It is my hope that they are ready to accept a challenge that defines the very essence of "challenge."

All best.
Mr. Kannan