For Sophs and Seniors--Schoolsville 2010

So what goes on at Schoolsville?

Suffice to say that many former students have been heard to proclaim loudly that "Schoolsville is coolsville." Students have met together on weekends to have "Schoolsville Parties." Rumor has it that a Facebook page exists (unauthorized, of course, since I don't use Facebook) where Schoolsville groupies meet.

Seriously, it's the place where I'll post your "journal assignments." You must respond throughout the marking period as you are instructed "on the blog" at Schoolsville, but you MUST also turn in a printed copy of all of these journal assignments toward the end of each quarter for a major "grade." For each assignment, I strongly recommend that you type your response in a Word document and then copy and paste it into the blog response box. This keeps you organized and it protects you better in case your computer or the blog site crashes.

Also at Schoolsville, I will often give periodic extra credit assignments. I don't believe in providing extra credit to bail you out after you're drowning in a sea of poor grades. Instead, I like to reward those of you who do extra work in advance of major tests and assignments.

I will sometimes post class lessons that need additional review or instruction. In preparing for major tests, be sure to study your notes that you took in class and the additional notes that I may have provided on Studywiz or Schoolsville.

Does this all sound boring? I don't think so, and you won't, either, when you find yourself periodically checking in here to see if I'm "quizzing the chandelier" or "reprimanding the air."

You have to read Schoolsville (the poem) to understand that reference. Follow this link to read the Billy Collins's poem, Schoolsville, the imaginary Poetry-town created by a retired teacher who finds it impossible to retire. Could be me in about 11 years (and counting).

Billy Collins is a former poet laureate of the United States. Once a title of great distinction (in countries like Great Britain), these days, a poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government to promote the genre of poetry. The poet laureate might be called upon to compose poems for state occasions and other government events.

Collins's poetry is on the humorous side. His fans call it realistic, clever, and accessible; his critics call it lightweight and shallow. Since I've chosen one of his poems, I think you can guess on which side I stand.

Read on.