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Weeks Thirteen & Fourteen
23 November- 4 December 2009
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young." Henry Ford
Thanksgiving sneaked up on me again.
Inundated with responsibilities, grading, and preparations for class, I just realized that Thursday is Thanksgiving. Oh, I knew it was coming. I have assignment calendars that identify this week as a short one, with Thanksgiving identified as the reason that the week is "short" . The date is clear. The overwhelmingly grateful feeling that Thanksgiving engenders...? Perhaps not so much.
It's not that I'm anything less than deeply appreciative for the stacks of blessings with which I have been showered. Oh, no! I'm all about thanking God, on an almost minutely basis, for His goodness to me and my family.
It's just that, as I find myself pressing on the accelerator of my life in order to accomplish my goals, I just don't think to stop and be grateful in a thoroughly focused and aware manner. If I must be truthfully honest, I am thankful in the same way I say, "God bless you!" when someone sneezes. It's a reflex - a good one! - but a reflex nevertheless.
Sitting down here at the computer to write this blog, I am acutely aware of how perfunctory (yep, that's a real word! Look it up!) my thanksgiving has become. I am grateful, but in a distracted sort of way. Given the level of blessings that God has thrown in my path, I know that He deserves more of my attention. I want to give Him more attention and thanks.
The United States government has set aside an entire day in which to focus the nation's gratitude. How can I do any less?
Blessings!
Together, with you, in His service,
KGSmith
k.smith@crystalcathedral.org
PS: For your convenience, downloadable PDF forms of syllabi, calendars, and major assignments for for each class are posted below.
Eighth Grade Language Arts
Monday(11/23): No School!
Tuesday: (11/24) Be sure to have read Witch, Chapters 3-6; Quiz
Wednesday: (11/25) Minimum Day
Thursday: (11/26) Thanksgiving Day!
Friday: (11/27) Thanksgiving Break
Monday: (11/30) Grammar!
Tuesday: (12/1) Be sure to have read Witch, Chapters 7-8
Wednesday: (12/2) Be sure to have read Witch, Chapters 9-10
Thursday: (12/3) Be sure to have read Witch, Chapters 11-12
Friday: (12/4) Grammar!
Literary Genre (Freshman English)
Monday(11/23): No School!
Tuesday: (11/24) Grammar Review
Wednesday: (11/25) Research Paper Due!
Thursday: (11/26) Thanksgiving Day!
Friday: (11/27) Thanksgiving Break
Monday: (11/30) Mystery Monday
Tuesday: (12/1) Writing!
Wednesday: (12/2) Be sure to have read To Kill a Mockingbird (Chaps 11-15)
Thursday: Be sure to have read To Kill a Mockingbird (Chaps 16-20)
Friday: (12/4) Operation: Christmas Child Field Trip
American Literature (Sophomore English)
Monday(11/23): No School!
Tuesday: (11/24) Be sure to have read A Growing Nation (L: 230-238); Quiz
Wednesday: (11/25) Minimum Day
Thursday: (11/26) Thanksgiving Day!
Friday: (11/27) Thanksgiving Break
Monday: (11/30) Grammar Review
Tuesday: (12/1) Be sure to have read Longfellow (L: 256-260)
Wednesday: (12/2) Writing!
Thursday: (12/3) Be sure to have read Irving (L: 240-252)
Friday: (12/4) Operation: Christmas Child Field Trip
British Literature (Junior English)
Monday(11/23): No School!
Tuesday: (11/24) Examination: Henry V
Wednesday: (11/25) Minimum Day
Thursday: (11/26) Thanksgiving Day!
Friday: (11/27) Thanksgiving Break
Monday: (11/30) Grammar Review
Tuesday: (12/1) Be sure to have read Macbeth (L: 296-333); Quiz
Wednesday: (12/2) Be sure to have read Macbeth (L: 336-351); Quiz
Thursday: (12/3) Be sure to have read Macbeth (L: 354-371); Quiz
Friday: (12/4) Operation: Christmas Child Field Trip
World Literature (Senior English)
Monday(11/23): No School!
Tuesday: (11/24) Examination: Asian Literature
Wednesday: (11/25) Minimum Day
Thursday: (11/26) Thanksgiving Day!
Friday: (11/27) Thanksgiving Break
Monday: (11/30) Research Project Due!
Tuesday: (12/1) Be sure to have read Focus on Culture (L: 218-221); Quiz
Wednesday: (12/2) Introduction to Greek Thought
Thursday: (12/3) Introduction to Greek Thought, Day 2
Friday: (12/4) Operation: Christmas Child Field Trip
Advanced Placement English
Monday(11/23): No School!
Tuesday: (11/24) Be sure to have read "My Left Foot" (L: 156-161); Exam
Wednesday: (11/25) Minimum Day
Thursday: (11/26) Thanksgiving Day!
Friday: (11/27) Thanksgiving Break
Monday: (11/30) Style
Tuesday: (12/1)Examination: "What Makes a Degas?"
Wednesday: (12/2) A.P. M/C
Thursday: (12/3) Pressure Essay
Friday: (12/4) Operation: Christmas Child Field Trip
Scroll Down for Mr. Smith's Documents
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