The title of today’s "Weekly Update" is a palindrome. We discover Sadge Merrall’s fascination with rats “the size of houses” as he goes to explore the Unknown Regions, so I thought this was a fitting example. A palindrome, as we discussed in class, is a word, phrase, or sentence that reads the same backwards and forwards (once you eliminate the spaces).
We started our week watching what could be considered a palindrome poem, called “Lost Generation.” The first time I saw this clip, I was blown away. I continue to be amazed by it to this day, and thus, I wanted to share this so that you would also hopefully have the same experience I had. As I gazed around the room during the first 49 seconds of playing this during class on Monday, I saw your faces turn serious and confused—and with good reason!
The poem begins:
I am part of a lost generation…
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
Is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy…”
How hopeless! The speaker then assures us that "all of this will come true...unless we choose to reverse it." At this point, the poem does reverse, and instead of being filled with negativity, “Lost Generation” becomes a powerful poem of optimism. Read backwards, a new meaning takes shape before our very eyes:
“Money will make me happy…”
Is a lie, and
“Happiness comes from within.”
I realize this may be a shock but
I can change the world.
And I refuse to believe that
I am part of a lost generation…
Watching your reactions once the poem reversed was perhaps the highlight of the week. Looking at your faces, I could see that you “got it.” When we read, there is usually more than meets the eye at first glance. In the same way that you experienced a sense of awe as the words of “Lost Generation” scrolled across the screen, you will likely experience that same awe as you continue The City of Ember. Although it is important for you to read certain chapters on our own since you must learn to become independent readers, I also look forward to reading other chapters with you because I enjoy those moments when the pieces of the puzzle seem to come together and fit. The predictions that you are making are important, because even if they are totally off-base, you are thinking about what you’re reading. We become not only readers but also detectives. Doon’s father, after getting hit in the head with a shoe heel, tells Doon, “Pay close attention to everything. Notice what no one else notices. Then you’ll notice what no one else knows, and that’s always useful” (51). This is true for you, too.
Mitch Albom once wrote, “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” When Clary gives Lina the bean seed in our book, this is symbolic. In doing so, Lina receives the message that something even as small as a bean seed is alive. That bean seed has a purpose. So do you! You’re not “apathetic and lethargic,” so never walk through life—or the hallways—“half-asleep.” If you do, you just might miss out on what’s most important.
-Ms. Sanford
Parent Outreach: The palindrome poem that I showed to students highlighted how important words--and the arrangement of those words--can be. We will continuously discuss the significance of vocabulary words throughout this year, and students will receive vocabulary lists containing 12 words at the start of the week. I make Quizlets online so that students can practice their lists, using automatically generated flashcards and other games. Later in the year, I will teach students Latin and Greek prefixes/roots/suffixes, which is a strategy mentioned in the following document: http://www.cedu.niu.edu/ltcy/literacyclinic/raisingReaders/ReadingVocabulary.pdf. Students should view the acquisition of new words as a necessary part of life. They are what make up the books we read! Interestingly, the document also mentions using games such as Boggle to teach new words. After all, learning new vocabulary should be fun!
We started our week watching what could be considered a palindrome poem, called “Lost Generation.” The first time I saw this clip, I was blown away. I continue to be amazed by it to this day, and thus, I wanted to share this so that you would also hopefully have the same experience I had. As I gazed around the room during the first 49 seconds of playing this during class on Monday, I saw your faces turn serious and confused—and with good reason!
The poem begins:
I am part of a lost generation…
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world.
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
Is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy…”
How hopeless! The speaker then assures us that "all of this will come true...unless we choose to reverse it." At this point, the poem does reverse, and instead of being filled with negativity, “Lost Generation” becomes a powerful poem of optimism. Read backwards, a new meaning takes shape before our very eyes:
“Money will make me happy…”
Is a lie, and
“Happiness comes from within.”
I realize this may be a shock but
I can change the world.
And I refuse to believe that
I am part of a lost generation…
Watching your reactions once the poem reversed was perhaps the highlight of the week. Looking at your faces, I could see that you “got it.” When we read, there is usually more than meets the eye at first glance. In the same way that you experienced a sense of awe as the words of “Lost Generation” scrolled across the screen, you will likely experience that same awe as you continue The City of Ember. Although it is important for you to read certain chapters on our own since you must learn to become independent readers, I also look forward to reading other chapters with you because I enjoy those moments when the pieces of the puzzle seem to come together and fit. The predictions that you are making are important, because even if they are totally off-base, you are thinking about what you’re reading. We become not only readers but also detectives. Doon’s father, after getting hit in the head with a shoe heel, tells Doon, “Pay close attention to everything. Notice what no one else notices. Then you’ll notice what no one else knows, and that’s always useful” (51). This is true for you, too.
Mitch Albom once wrote, “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” When Clary gives Lina the bean seed in our book, this is symbolic. In doing so, Lina receives the message that something even as small as a bean seed is alive. That bean seed has a purpose. So do you! You’re not “apathetic and lethargic,” so never walk through life—or the hallways—“half-asleep.” If you do, you just might miss out on what’s most important.
-Ms. Sanford
Parent Outreach: The palindrome poem that I showed to students highlighted how important words--and the arrangement of those words--can be. We will continuously discuss the significance of vocabulary words throughout this year, and students will receive vocabulary lists containing 12 words at the start of the week. I make Quizlets online so that students can practice their lists, using automatically generated flashcards and other games. Later in the year, I will teach students Latin and Greek prefixes/roots/suffixes, which is a strategy mentioned in the following document: http://www.cedu.niu.edu/ltcy/literacyclinic/raisingReaders/ReadingVocabulary.pdf. Students should view the acquisition of new words as a necessary part of life. They are what make up the books we read! Interestingly, the document also mentions using games such as Boggle to teach new words. After all, learning new vocabulary should be fun!