Nervous Conditions Projects:
B/A Layer
200 min.
Playlist and Film Study
Monday, March 18, 2013
NC for 9th grade
Nervous Conditions is something that exposes things to us that we as students hadn't been exposed to until reading this book. Postcolonial literature is a topic that you never talk about in Middle School. It's a definite possibility that kids who came from other schools have already talked about post colonial literature, but in the 10 years that I have been at Episcopal, postcolonial literature either hasn't come up or was mentioned but with no significance attached to it.
The vocabulary in Nervous Conditions has many pluses to it. With the Shona vocabulary, you are introduced to a whole new culture. Cultural awareness is something that could be more emphasized in the English department. Getting to know others customs can help to understand someones voice or mood, thus making better readers out of students. This is one of the biggest goals of English I: Make students better readers. This book does well to make students better readers through cultural awareness and critical thinking.
Nervous Conditions does well to answer our big question of the year. How do culture and community shape who we are? Nervous Conditions will be a big part of my answer to that question in May. The layered projects help you to find the answers to this question. The close readings and film studies are especially good at making you think about that question as you annotate passages and watch films. Hopefully somebody next year will realize the importance of these assignments and how they connect to the larger picture of English I.
The exposure, cultural awareness, and overall relatedness of Nervous Conditions are three reasons why it should be in next years syllabus. At first, reading a book about a poor girl in Rhodesia sounds like something that will be pointless, but that thought is far from right. This book pulls everything that we have done this year together and helps us as students to understand postcolonial literature and its benefits.
The vocabulary in Nervous Conditions has many pluses to it. With the Shona vocabulary, you are introduced to a whole new culture. Cultural awareness is something that could be more emphasized in the English department. Getting to know others customs can help to understand someones voice or mood, thus making better readers out of students. This is one of the biggest goals of English I: Make students better readers. This book does well to make students better readers through cultural awareness and critical thinking.
Nervous Conditions does well to answer our big question of the year. How do culture and community shape who we are? Nervous Conditions will be a big part of my answer to that question in May. The layered projects help you to find the answers to this question. The close readings and film studies are especially good at making you think about that question as you annotate passages and watch films. Hopefully somebody next year will realize the importance of these assignments and how they connect to the larger picture of English I.
The exposure, cultural awareness, and overall relatedness of Nervous Conditions are three reasons why it should be in next years syllabus. At first, reading a book about a poor girl in Rhodesia sounds like something that will be pointless, but that thought is far from right. This book pulls everything that we have done this year together and helps us as students to understand postcolonial literature and its benefits.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Reflection on State Championship
As I woke up on the morning of the state championship, I knew I wasn't going to play, since I was the 2nd youngest and only freshman on the team, but I was still excited to be a part of the experiment. I treated the day as though I was going to play, hoping to simulate the nerves I would feel when we (hopefully) go back in a couple years. Throughout the first four classes, I couldn't keep my mind off of the game. At 12:30, I headed to the bus, which was leaving at 1. When we left, it seemed like half the high school was out to send us away as we left. The drive down was quiet, everyone focused on the game. When we finally arrived at the stadium, silence fell on the bus. It hit everyone. This is the biggest stadium any of us had played in.
For the next couple of hours, we lingered around the stadium. We took pictures and watched the first half of the girls championship. At halftime, we walked into the locker room. It wasn't the nicest, but it was all part of the experience. We got ready and went out to warm up. It was no different than any other warm up, which was good because it kept us calm. By the time the game started, everyone was anxious but excited. About 1,000 people had come, the largest crowd for any game I had been involved in. After 100 minutes of nerves, we were state champions. We stormed the field as the rain had gone from a drizzle to a downpour. For the next 30 minutes, nobody knew what to do with themselves. We all were going crazy in the rain. After we were presented the trophy, we went into the locker room happier than we could've imagined. After getting tons of "Congratulations!", we got back on the bus and headed back on a surprisingly quiet ride back. Even though this was 3 weeks ago, I remember it like it was yesterday.
For the next couple of hours, we lingered around the stadium. We took pictures and watched the first half of the girls championship. At halftime, we walked into the locker room. It wasn't the nicest, but it was all part of the experience. We got ready and went out to warm up. It was no different than any other warm up, which was good because it kept us calm. By the time the game started, everyone was anxious but excited. About 1,000 people had come, the largest crowd for any game I had been involved in. After 100 minutes of nerves, we were state champions. We stormed the field as the rain had gone from a drizzle to a downpour. For the next 30 minutes, nobody knew what to do with themselves. We all were going crazy in the rain. After we were presented the trophy, we went into the locker room happier than we could've imagined. After getting tons of "Congratulations!", we got back on the bus and headed back on a surprisingly quiet ride back. Even though this was 3 weeks ago, I remember it like it was yesterday.
Social Setting
I will say I act differently depending on what class I'm in. When I'm in a class like Latin, P.E., or Study Hall, I tend to be much more relaxed and talkative. For Latin and P.E., I've been having the same teachers for years so I know who is more relaxed and who is stricter. Study hall is study hall. No need to be stressed for that block. In other classes, like Geometry and Biology, I have to tome it down a little bit. I need to pay attention in those classes and not get off track. I'm definitely quieter and more stressed on those classes.
In the fall and spring, I play on a recreational soccer team. When I'm practicing with my teammates, that's when I can let myself go. I can be 100% myself and not worry about appearance or what I say or anything of the sort. At the same time I can get better at soccer in preparation for the next game or tournament. The way I act at soccer is completely different from the way I act in Biology.
In the fall and spring, I play on a recreational soccer team. When I'm practicing with my teammates, that's when I can let myself go. I can be 100% myself and not worry about appearance or what I say or anything of the sort. At the same time I can get better at soccer in preparation for the next game or tournament. The way I act at soccer is completely different from the way I act in Biology.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Nayasha
Why can my father tell me what to read? When I want to read something, he rejects it and takes the book away from me. He's acting like he's the boss of me. I can't wait until I move out, hopefully to England, so that I can get as far away from Babamukuru as possible.
How could Babamukuru hit me like that. I'm his daughter!!! He should know better than to hit me. Ok, I was out a little late last night, so what. It doesn't mean that he has to hit me. If we were in England, I would press charges. I just need to stay away from that crazy man for a while.
How could Babamukuru hit me like that. I'm his daughter!!! He should know better than to hit me. Ok, I was out a little late last night, so what. It doesn't mean that he has to hit me. If we were in England, I would press charges. I just need to stay away from that crazy man for a while.
First C layer
Reading Times: NC- 75 min
c layers- 85 min.
For the first C layer, I think that the quality of the work was there, but the time management wasn't. I spent a lot of time the night before doing reading guides and vocal quizzes. At least I didn't leave it all for Thursday night! The reading guides helped me to comprehend the story and go more in depth into the story. It also told me what I would need to know for class discussion.
For the next C layer, I am being more time efficient. I am doing more work now so that I don't have to worry about it the night before it's due. I am also working with a partner this time. Hopefully we can get our part done quickly so that we can focus on more reading guides.
c layers- 85 min.
For the first C layer, I think that the quality of the work was there, but the time management wasn't. I spent a lot of time the night before doing reading guides and vocal quizzes. At least I didn't leave it all for Thursday night! The reading guides helped me to comprehend the story and go more in depth into the story. It also told me what I would need to know for class discussion.
For the next C layer, I am being more time efficient. I am doing more work now so that I don't have to worry about it the night before it's due. I am also working with a partner this time. Hopefully we can get our part done quickly so that we can focus on more reading guides.
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