No matter what, please know I will always be there for you. I consider you my kids, and I love you all.
Love,
Ms. Sanford
Love,
Ms. Sanford
No matter what, please know I will always be there for you. I consider you my kids, and I love you all. Love, Ms. Sanford We have been discussing the strategies that people in society use to persuade others. In class, we have chosen stances on topics and will participate in debates on Monday. As I’ve been teaching you since I've met you, stating opinions is simply not enough in our world. You need to support your statements with solid reasoning. This is the difference between a fool and a wise person. Plato once said, “Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools speak because they have to say something.” Think about what this means. Let it marinate! I want you to pretend that a group of educated individuals are discussing the benefits of reading, and a person walking by blurts out “I don’t like reading” just to complain. That person is being foolish. His/her opinion contributes nothing whatsoever to an otherwise intelligent conversation. However, the wise person—even if he/she did not like reading—would think about the reasons behind why he/she does not like reading before interrupting and making an argument. Our society can only succeed when people accept differing opinions, but people must at least ground those opinions in reason. Unnecessary complaints and statements make me question the degree to which wisdom is still valued in our world. While we are on the topic of wisdom (and persuasion), I feel that it’s appropriate to share this video. Watch it. (The visuals start at 25 seconds into the clip.) I hope that you realize it's about more than just wearing sunscreen. Always consider the deeper meaning... -Ms. Sanford How often do we become our own roadblocks? More than is considered healthy, I'm sure! However, the beauty of life is that each day, no matter how difficult, is a fresh start. As I listened to the speech of Dave McGillivray in our auditorium, I was reminded of a story that I'd like to share with you at this time of year, as we near our last 13 days together. Once, a professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see and asked the students, "How much do you think this glass weighs?" "1 pound!" ..."2 pounds!" ..."3 pounds!" ... the students answered. "I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?" "Nothing," the students said. "OK, what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?" the professor asked. "Your arm would begin to ache," said one of the students. "You're right. Now what would happen if I held it for a day?" "Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis." "Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor. "No," replied the students. "Then what caused the arm ache and the muscle stress? Instead, what should I do?" The students were puzzled. "Put the glass down," said one of the students. "Exactly!" said the professor. "Life's problems are something like this. Hold them for a few minutes in your head, and they seem OK. Think of them for a long time, and they begin to ache. Hold them even longer, and they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything." It is important to think of the challenges in your life, but it's even more important to "put them down" at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, and you wake up refreshed and strong. You can handle any issue or any challenge that comes your way! Remember, friend: Put the glass down! --Ms. Sanford P.S. The winners of the Reading Challenge are Bella, Austin, Rouya, and Nate. We will be having our pizza party during lunch on Thursday, June 7th. Over the weekend, each of these people should e-mail me the names of two friends whom they would like to invite to our pizza party. Also, as we make our own infomercials next week, I figured you'd appreciate this video from my friend Ellen. Enjoy. :) |
Ms. SanfordGrade 7B ELA, Archives
August 2018
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