1st half of class: Project work time (or last minute prep for book club meeting!)

2nd half of class: Book club meeting #1
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Book Club Meeting Protocol

1. Discussion Director begin by reading your SUMMARY only. Save questions until the end.
2. Each person take turns sharing your notes for your assigned role.
3. Discussion Director facilitate discussion!
4. Try to address the questions Ashley has for you as shown below.  Hopefully I'll be able to make it around to each group to help you analyze these texts more deeply. 

Ashley's Questions
Tale for The Time Being

1. What do you know about existentialism? What do you know about "the absurd".  (Ashley will explain these philosophies)-- Is Ruth's husband an absurd hero (see pages 60-61)?
2. What is Shrodinger's cat thought experiment all about? See Appendix E
3. What is the significance of Marcel Proust's book In Search of Lost Time especially given Nao has used it for her own diary? (Ashley will provide some context on Proust's book).
4. What is bodhisattva in Buddhism? (Ashley will provide context if you don't know).
5. What was the Taisho Democracy?
6. What are the various concepts of TIME that this book explores thus far?

• Read Appendix A (Zen Moments) and pages 62-63
• Impermanence (98-9)
• Flow of time (flow, drawn out, merging together, perception of time in nature)- pages 91-2
• Wasting Time (Furitaa, pages 81-2)
• In search of lost time, capturing time (61)
• The past's impact on our present (p. 32)

    7. What is the role of the Tsunami in the book? (pages 12-14)
    8. What is Old Jiko like? What is the deal with the "elevator"?  What is the significance of Ruth's dream on paged 38-40?
    9. What is the Japanese concept of suicide and how does Nao's dad claim it is different than that of the United States? (87-88).
     10.  What is up with the crows?  55, 96
     11. Do you believe in Karma? (Read page 52).
     12. What is Nao's schooling like? What is your reaction to her experiences?

Into the Wild

1. What do you guys know about Henry David Thoreau and Transcendentalism (Ashley will fill ya in if you don't know anything).
2. Pay attention to the chapter intro quotes and how they relate to the theme of each chapter.
3. As you read, think about what your opinion of Chris is and what is Krakauer's opinion of him?  
4. Read the quote on page 15 at the beginning of chapter 3-- How does it relate to Chris? Do you feel any personal connection to the quote?
5. How would you describe Chris? See pages 18-22.  
6. How does the quote by Thoreau on page 47 relate to Chris?
7. On page 37, Why does Alex say he is "soaring"? What causes him to feel that way? Do you think living like that will make you feel more fulfilled?
8. What does Alex want to get back to his "primordial" self (look up Primordial) see page 38.

Glass Castle

1. What does the quote by Dylan Thomas at the beginning of the book mean? How dies it capture the theme of this book? 
2. How would you describe the personality of each family member?
3. What is your reaction to the way the author describes her mom in the first chapter? Why would she choose to start the book this way? 
4. Throughout the book, the author learns many life lessons from her family/parents. What are they?  How does she learn them? 

• Live life between turbulence and order: p. 106, Nature v. City, Freedom v. Control/order
• Page 24: It pays to break the rules
• Page 34: Stay on your toes
• Page 103: Don't surrender to fear
• Page 66: Sink or swim

      5. Do you agree with the way her parents raise their kids? 
      6. Pay attention to the way the author explores the following themes:

• Struggle is necessary for beauty
• Money doesn't equal happiness
• Toughness (p 59)
• Self-reliance (64-66)
• Freedom (107)
• Turbulence v. Order (106)

Book Club Prep + Project Work Time + Veteran Homestead Project Guest Speakers!

Each day, we'll start class with 30 minutes of silent reading. Think of it almost as a time for quiet, calm and mindfulness before the more creative and chaotic project work time ensues!

1. Ticket out the door: Read the Herald article and on the back, write down at least one question to ask Edit tomorrow related to the Veteran Homestead project.
2. Complete today's daily goals on page 2 of the Daily Log sheet with the tasks you need to accomplish today!
3. Sign up for a conference with Ashley
​4. Conference with Ashley and/or work on your project goals!!

Thanksgiving break highlights mixer!  Get off yo feet folks!  Let's boogie to some sweet tunes and chat about highlights from Thanksgiving break!

1. Does everyone know our exhibition is Tuesday, December 12th from 5:30-8 at the Fairgrounds?  We really need everyone to bring FOOD-- specifically chili and chili fixings.
2. Edit Aquarian from the Durango Veteran Homestead Project is coming to speak to us on Wednesday.
   
3. Your only homework between now and the end of the semester are as follows:
   

• Finish your project for our event
  
• Include an artist statement for art projects! Books should include a book description. Be sure to include a works cited for all projects in which you used outside sources.
  
• Complete your book club assignments on time!
  
• Write a reflection and complete a DP Update for our event after our exhibition.
  

4. HONORS: Be sure to conference with me if you want feedback on your essay NO LATER than Dec. 6th.

1. Go over the weekly goals and daily log sheet for this week!
2. Complete the Project Planning Task-list/timeline (due as your ticket out the door today)
​3. Work on your project!

Did you write your reflection from project tunes yesterday? If so, give yourself a pat on the back and turn to your neighbor and tell them what you plan to do to improve your project based on yesterday's feedback.  

If not, please write that NOW in your starter docs: What did you takeaway from the project tune about how to refine your project? What are your next steps in creating your project?

1. Book Club selections!

• Ashley will read the descriptions for the three options and the 1st page of each one
• Write your name under the title on the board that is your first choice.  Next to your name in parentheses, write your 2nd choice title.  

2. 20 minutes of reading time!  

• Select one quote from the reading that you find interesting, thought provoking or insightful.  

3. Spirit Reads!

4. With Justice for All Project Work Time

• Write down your daily goals for today!
• Get to 'em!

What is a focusing question for your project tunes today-- in other words, what is one element of your project you are prototype "testing" for tunes today?  Phrase this as a question. 

*If you are in a group for your project, confer with your group members!  

Example focusing questions: 

• How can I make my painting reflect my message more clearly?  
• How could I refine my project to more directly challenge my audience's perceptions?
  
• How can I reach a broader audience with my project?
• How could I improve the functionality of ______ to make my device function easier?
  

1. Project Tunes: Here is the protocol
2. Project work time!

Read the quote below that shares a perspective from the Ella Vita neighborhood.  Then, with a partner, come up with a point of view statement that captures this person's perspective.

POINT OF VIEW STATEMENT:  What does she seem to NEED/FEAR/WANT?  What is an insight you've gained as a result of hearing this perspective? 

Here is the quote:
"Dear Elected Officials"
This past summer my husband built a beautiful spec home in the Ella Vita subdivision.  If it were not for the constant flow of vagrant traffic through this street this would have sold by now. Yesterday we had another showing and I thought you should hear the feedback we received from our real estate agent: 

'They absolutely love the house.  The very very very unfortunate part was there was an incredibly steady stream of homeless people walking from the soup kitchen up to the camp the whole time we were there. It was crazy. It was like someone unloaded a bus of people to head up to camp.  I think they would be writing up an offer right now had they not experienced that. I was appalled at what I saw.  Honestly, today I was so disgusted with our city for letting this happen to those poor people in Ella Vita.  Coincidentally, my husband was up in test tracks biking today and he said he was shocked at how big the camp has grown and what a mess it was.  He said in particular because all the leaves are down it just looks like a refugee camp.  Now only is this hurting their values, but it's also feeling unsafe.  My clients have a one-year-old baby, and that's what the mom kept saying, "it just doesn't feel safe".  I've had two out of town clients contemplating not moving here because of the problem'.

Please explain how as our elected officials you are willing to take on spending millions of funding various improvements throughout the area while continually to blatantly ignore the residents' safety concerns.  We all know how difficult this issue is.  But simple immediate solutions are in your capacity to provide relief to Ella Vita.  If nothing else, please have the courage to spend a few dollars to reroute the trail 'temporarily' while you contemplate a long-term solution"

What is one aspect of your project that you want to make better or need more feedback on for improvement/refinement?  

Before project work time, please completed the Myth Buster Lesson #2: "It's too expensive!"
Many people believe that providing services and housing for people experiencing homelessness is simply too expensive and that we don't have it in our state or town budgets. This study conducted by the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law challenges this assumption by outlining the costs of enforcing anti-homeless laws.  It's a BIG study so we will break it into sections over the next two days but today, you'll just read the introduction, called "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY". 

READ:  Pages 1-2, "Executive Summary" (scroll down until you see the bold title "Executive Summary" and then on a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions.

RESPONSE: (ANSWER THESE ON LOOSE-LEAF paper and turn into Ashley tomorrow once you've finished the ENTIRE mythbuster lesson)

1. What does this report analyze?
2. What is one piece of evidence/statistic from the "Executive Summary" that you could share at our exhibition that you think would be best to inform community members and/or change their perception?
3. How would Reducing or eliminating anti-homeless ordinances achieve governmental goals of reducing ineffective spending? (p. 2)
   
4. By the 2nd half of class tomorrow, please also have read and briefly summarized the key points from your assigned section in order to share your section with other students.  

1. Mini-lesson, review of empathy maps and point of view statements

• Erica, truck-owner: We found out that she needed an experience at the mechanic that was more fun but that allowed her to learn without fear of judgement!  An insight is that the car mechanic experience should be one where people trust the mechanic and don't feel stupid asking questions. 
• What is a Point Of View Statement? See slides 25-end.

2. Complete 2 Empathy Maps and Point of View Statements: Pages 21-23 in your Design Thinking Guides (extra copies available from Ashley OR go to the digital copy available on the documents page).

3. Work Time-- refine projects!

4. TICKET OUT THE DOOR-- please fill out what all you completed today in the FRIDAY table of your daily log and then answer the question about how much work time you think you need for NEXT week.

Starter Part 1: Review this week's goals on top of your daily log then complete your daily log for today!  You will have the 2nd half of class for work time today, if you work efficiently that is)

Starter Part 2: Amaya is leading our fundraising campaign and has set up a GoFundMe account for us to raise money for student project supplies, event materials, etc...Any  additional funds raised will go to Manna Soup Kitchen.

However, we need to plug this fundraiser with as many people as possible in order to raise the money FAST!  So, today's starter is to send a personalized email to at least 3 people that you think would be interested in donating.  This can be friends/family/neighbors/coaches/mentors, etc...
Copy and paste THIS EMAIL and send away!  The more people you reach out to, the better. BE SURE TO CC ME ON THE EMAILS SO I CAN GIVE YOU CREDIT!

Social Media Extra Credit!!
Also, extra credit points for plugging it through your facebook/twitter/insta/snapchat feeds!  If you're doing it through facebook or insta, tag me and I'll give you 5 extra credit points. (@a_carruthless). 

Homelessness Myth Busters Lesson #1:  "It's just a choice"
Between now and our exhibition, I will be finding readings, research studies, resources, etc... to dispel certain stereotypes/myths/misconceptions about homelessness to help us all become more enlightened and informed so that we can be super prepared at our event. The first lesson in this series of "Myth Busters" lessons confronts the belief that homelessness and other related mental/physical challenges many adults face are simply a matter of "choice".  If adults wanted to, they could all be housed, substance-free, mental health illness-free, schmoozing on a yaht somewhere near Fiji with Jay-Z and Beyonce. 

However, this study, recommend by Victoria and Seradata from Axis, challenges that myth as it presents data from A HUGE study linking "adverse childhood experiences" with many challenges later in adult life, indicating that it is not necessarily people's faults nor simply a matter of choice that they suffer diseases or unfortunate circumstances later in life. 

Link to the Reading  *Be sure to hit the "collapse all" + button under "About the CDC-Kaiser Study"

Written Response:  On a piece of loose-leaf paper, please answer the following questions. These are due before break today.

1. Explain what the ACE pyramid is actually showing in your own words.
2. Under "Data and Statistics", look through the list of definitions as these are all the "adverse childhood experiences" the study examines.  
3. Now under "Data and Statistics" look through the charts that show "ACE Prevalence".  What are these charts actually showing? What is one statistic that MOST surprises you?
4. Summarize the "major findings" section as concisely as you can.  
5. How do these major findings challenge the notion that "it's just a matter of choice".  See my introduction to this myth busters assignment above if you are feeling confused right now.
6. IF this data is disturbing or distressing to you, I'd encourage you to look at "prevention strategies" which is a link on the LEFT-HAND side of the page.  This may provide you with some hope and at the very least show you recommended solutions.