Well, Hello again.
You seem to always arrive. Right on time.
Normally, I’d complain.
But today I cannot wait. For the chime.
Even though there is rain.
The newness of a fresh start…it is sublime.
Monday, my old friend.
I cannot wait for you to begin!
Why are Mondays the most hated day of the week? Is it because they are filled with responsibility and expectation? What do the experts say?
This article says that it’s a combination of things. Our bodies are suddenly trying to adjust to a new routine. Over the weekend many people stay up late, sleep in, or are less productive. Many times we are also trying to catch up with our peers.
This really got me thinking. Coming back to school after such a long hiatus…are we in for the mother of all Mondays?
In this article, it gives some great tips to help with the transition. The first one is getting more sleep. I know I’ve been staying in bed until 9am and not going to sleep until very late. So, starting now I am going to try to get more sleep so I’m ready to work!
The other tip I really like is planning a treat for Monday night, so you have something to look forward to. Maybe I’ll bake a cake and have it on our first Monday back.
This week, I modeled for you all how to annotate as you read. We all know this is a strategy that many Language Arts teachers require…but why? To many students it seems pointless and tedious, but according to veteran teachers, educational specialists, and many scientist who study learning and the brain, it has numerous benefits!
According to expert Jordan Catapano, “the act of annotating is a physical interaction with the text. Because you’re interacting with the text with both your hands and your eyes, the multisensory experience makes a much stronger imprint on your mind.”
Annotating forces you the reader to interact with the text. This interaction creates connections in the neurons in your brain. In class, our goal is not simply to understand middle school level text, but to become critical thinkers, skilled communicators, and life long learners.
Check out these resources to learn more! Annotating might just be the Monday of English class. No one really looks forward to it, but it’s where all the learning begins!
Article #1: http://kaufmansocialstudies.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/9/7/10974186/annotation.pdf
Article #2: https://www.edutopia.org/article/more-highlighting-creative-annotations
Happy Annotating!
Comma rules are nuanced, often confusing and misunderstood. Just like Mondays.
This week I have some opportunities for you to practice your comma and semi-colon skills.
1. First, add a compound or complex sentence to your blog using commas correctly. Be sure to italicize or bold the sentence.
2. Second, complete the two Edpuzzles over commas and semi-colons.
3. Lastly, use a semi-colon in a compound sentence on your blog. Be sure to italicize or bold the sentence.
Have fun exploring and discovering the many uses of commas and sentence patterns!
The Babylonians named their days of the week after celestial bodies including the planets, sun, and moon. The second day of the week in Nordic cultures was devoted to worshipping the goddess of the moon. Girls born on Mondays were even given the name Mona in Ancient Britain, as it was the Old English word for moon.
In the Nordic tradition, Mani was the moon personified. There is beautiful Viking poetry that details these ancient myths and includes stories of Mani, her brother Sol, and Odin and Thor. Many scholars believe that the Northern European story of the Man in the Moon was derived from the story of Mani.
Maybe Mondays are more than the start of our work week. Maybe they are for nights best spent with friends and family in the soft glow of moonlight.
I started thinking about how many historical events happen on Mondays, how many songs have Monday in the title or lyrics, how many people dread them, and the cultural significance surrounding them. I decided maybe we need a quick history lesson on the origin of the word and the day starting in ancient times. I have found some fascinating information on my web quest for Mondays.
Interestingly, the word Monday is taken from Middle and Old English. Originally, it was translated from Latin and means, “day of the moon”.
Religions regard Monday differently. In traditional Roman, Greek, and Orthodox Christian traditions, Monday is considered the second day of the week. In the Jewish faith, Mondays were traditionally a day for fasting. In Chinese culture and traditions, it was considered the day one. Internationally in modern times, we consider Monday the first day of the work week and many modern calendars reflect this idea.
Whether you love Mondays or not, they are here to stay!
Monday, October 16, 1950
Read more: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/happy-monday-photos-historical-moments-on-monday#ixzz5jxXg7b3N
On January 13, 1930 the infamous Mickey Mouse debuted. He first appeared in the New York Mirror in a comic strip. In the comic, the marvelous mouse is inspired by Charles Lindbergh to build his own airplane. By the summer of 1930, the comic strip appeared in 40 different publications. I think it absolutely amazing how this little cartoon became a worldwide phenomenon 85 years later. I cannot even imagine a world or my childhood with Mickey Mouse!
Sources:
https://d23.com/first-mickey-mouse-comic-strip/
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/23/happy-monday-photos_n_3955425.html?slideshow=true#gallery/5bb79a59e4b05eed788b82e5/2