thank you

As often as I say it, I feel like I don't say it often enough:

Thank You.

Thank you for your effort, your insight, your willingness to risk and make mistakes and change your mind;

Thank you for your trust, for your sense of humor, for your curiosity;

Thank you for your time, for your attention, and

Most of all

Thank you for taking this learning trip with me this year.

It's been a feast of ideas.

I hope you feel like it was time well-spent.

Wishing you the best this summer and always,

Dr. Preston

no one said have a good summer like thoreau

les mis at the pantages theater

I planned on taking a couple pictures for you at the performance.  My own family forbid it, and they were right-- apart from not wanting to be embarrassed by the guy breaking the rules with the camera, they wanted me to be present with them and the performance, instead of being distracted by a device.  So here are some professional photos from the performance (and one of us outside the theater).

If you ever have the chance, whether or not it's already on your bucket list, I recommend you find a live performance you think you'd like.  It's one thing to read a book, or see a movie-- but it's truly powerful and moving to be in the presence of real people who are acting and singing their hearts out on stage.

And finally, yesterday I was reminded that sometimes direct experience is often the fastest path to curiosity.  Imagine my surprise when I walked through the kitchen to find my favorite fourth grader reading the book I still have bookmarked from where we left off...  The play sparked her interest!  We wound up talking about the characters, the story, and good and evil for the next half hour.

june 3

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[Psych.]

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Finals plan/ sign-ups
3. Any unfinished business (?)
4. Finish Les Mis

POST:
Whatever you want me to read on your blog before I enter semester grades. (title: THIS IS IT FOR NOW)

may 30

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Up to you.

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness

2. Les Mis continued

POST:
Do you think the characters in Les Mis are driven by reason, passion, or both?  Please explain your answer. (title: LES THINKING & FEELING)

photos you don't want to miss

I love these pictures for three reasons:

1. They are beautiful.
2. They teach me about phenomena and a place I knew nothing about. (Look closely: that rock isn't falling, it is sitting on ICE that has been sculpted by the wind.)
3. Now I don't have to go to Siberia to see these things.

You can see the rest HERE.

may 29

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Up to you.

AGENDA:
1. Wanna watch a movie?  I've got an idea...

if you can fix it you can have it

[UPDATE: The speakers have been adopted.  Good luck and enjoy, Kevin!]

For years I relied on my trusty computer speakers for journal soundtracks and audio whenever I taught.

Then yesterday, I started playing a movie.

And they didn't work.

I was sad.

I've tried everything I know how to do, and I can't seem to resuscitate them.  But I don't feel good about adding more plastic to the landfill or the ocean, so before I toss them I thought I'd offer them here.  If you think you can bring them back to life, they're yours.

may 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Beginning this week, writing in your journal is up to you.  Writing is something that you can do every day for the rest of your life, depending on what needs it meets for you.  The journals are in the front of the room, where I am keeping them for review/writers' conferences as needed.  Choose your own topics / ideas and have fun!

AGENDA:
***Collect Term Papers***
1. Mindfulness
2. Journal
3. Plan for the week
4. Lit circles/ writers' conferences

i'm doing my homework this weekend... are you?

Hi everyone, I hope you're enjoying the three-day weekend!  However you celebrate Memorial Day and time away from school, please remember to finish your term paper and bring the hard copy with you tomorrow.  I will collect papers at the beginning of the period.  REMINDER: due to our tight timeline this week, I have offered consistent reminders and invitations for help.  Late / incomplete papers will not be accepted for review or credit.  See you tomorrow!

If it makes you feel any better, I'm working through the last eight (!) stacks of evaluations...

masterpiece academy day 9

Thanks to our faculty!

Mario taught us about the brain (and we finally learned why he was ringing that bell)



Jose talked to us about drawing, art, and how we can do it all -- if we just believe in ourselves and try.

self-assessment questions for the semester

If you weren't in class today, please take a moment to reflect on these and answer (either in a private email to me at dpreston.learning@gmail.com or on paper -- if you choose paper, please bring to class with you on Tuesday).

If you were in class, please feel free to continue your reflection and let me know if your answers change at all over the weekend.

Given all of the learning experiences we've shared together in this course:

1. What do you look back on with pride?
2. What do you look forward to with hope?
3. How are you doing on your paper?  What will you do this weekend to succeed?
4. What letter grade are you aiming for on the paper?  What grade will you earn on the semester report card?

may 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe something you learned in the Masterpiece Academy this week.  What made this memorable?  Was it the content, or something the presenter did, or ...?

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Self-assessment & intention/prediction
3. Masterpiece Academy

• Mario Hernandez (20 minutes)
• Carlos Gutierrez (10 minutes)
• Miguel Sanchez-Damian (10 minutes)

4. Journal/turn in

masterpiece academy day 8

Thanks to today's faculty!

Dani asked a very important question:

Daisean followed with a question I researched all the time when I played basketball (and sprained my ankle, and got kicked in the ***, and tore my ACL, and ...)





Cynthia raised an important issue that people are often reluctant to discuss openly (which makes it even more important).




Lastly, Miguel brought us into the world of e-sports and what it takes to succeed.

may 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine that it's late at night.  You hear an unfamiliar sound.  What's your first reaction?  What information do you need?  What will you do?

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Masterpiece Academy

• Dani Gonzalez (20 minutes)
• Daisean Leekins (10 minutes)
• Cynthia Ortega (10 minutes)

3. Journal
4. Work on term paper (if time)

masterpiece academy day 7

Thank you to our faculty!

Andrea began the day by asking a question I ask myself all the time (usually right after a student says/does something bizarre):


David helped us understand the benefits of playing sports.

David Presentation by dpreston1441 on Scribd

Citlally tackled an important -- and difficult -- topic to teach us about health insurance.




Evelin ended our day with 

What Does It Take to Be the Best Writer by dpreston1441 on Scribd

SPRING FINALS SCHEDULE

may 22

JOURNAL TOPIC:
*Choose your own topic.*

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Masterpiece Academy

• Andrea Nuñez (20 minutes)
• David Garcia (10 minutes)
• Citlally Lemus (10 minutes)
• Evelin Salcedo (10 minutes)

3. Journal
4. Work on term paper (if time)

masterpiece academy day 6

Thanks to our faculty du jour!

Sam ...

Abby gave us some perspective (see what I did there?) on art:




Kevin shed some light on a very poignant, important topic:

English Presentation by dpreston1441 on Scribd

Adolfo taught us all the reasons to play soccer:

may 21

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Have you ever had a conversation where you thought of the PERFECT thing to say-- after the conversation was over?  Describe the conversation.  Why didn't you think to speak your mind in the moment?  What happened afterward that led you to the idea?

AGENDA:
1. Mindfulness
2. Masterpiece Academy

• Sam Alonso (10 minutes)
• Abby Ardenio (15 minutes)
• Kevin Raymundo (10 minutes)
• Adolfo Rojas (10 minutes) 

3. Journal