January-day one

In the first blank page in your notebook, write your name.
In the left-hand margin, write today's date: January 7, 2025

Read and think about this quote:

​Melanie Mayer said, "So many people tell me they don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, or set goals. I get it. No one wants to fail, and it is impossible to fail if you don’t start.

I have a different approach, though. I think of New Year’s Day ... as just a reminder to live by design instead of by default.

It’s so easy to slip into default mode in any area of life: relationally, financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and at work. This is where you just go through the motions that are easy, comfortable, and familiar, without regard for where you are headed until you wind up there.
Living by design means, you see where you want to be long-term in each of the above areas, and you try to do the things today, whether you feel like it or not, that produce those results...
If you have slipped into default mode in any area – spiritually, financially, emotionally, relationally, physically, or at work – don’t be discouraged. It’s never too late to design a life you can love; and now is as good a time as any to start.

It's easy to be excited about the new year unfolding, when you have a great design."

Read and respond to this quote in your journal.

Your response should include a reflection based on the quote.

• resolutions

• goals

• default mode

• living by design

• any area of life: relationally, financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and at work

Read and respond to this quote in your journal.

Your response should include a reflection based on the quote.

• Select a topic from the quote to discuss.

• What is your opinion? Do you agree or disagree?

• Do you have any connections with the statements? What do you relate to?

• You will have ten minutes to write.

• You may write freely or use any of the structures you know (race).

Read and respond to this quote in your journal.

​Melanie Mayer said, "So many people tell me they don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, or set goals. I get it. No one wants to fail, and it is impossible to fail if you don’t start.

I have a different approach, though. I think of New Year’s Day ... as just a reminder to live by design instead of by default.

It’s so easy to slip into default mode in any area of life: relationally, financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and at work. This is where you just go through the motions that are easy, comfortable, and familiar, without regard for where you are headed until you wind up there.
Living by design means, you see where you want to be long-term in each of the above areas, and you try to do the things today, whether you feel like it or not, that produce those results...
If you have slipped into default mode in any area – spiritually, financially, emotionally, relationally, physically, or at work – don’t be discouraged. It’s never too late to design a life you can love; and now is as good a time as any to start.

It's easy to be excited about the new year unfolding, when you have a great design."

Open Ended

How would you like to "live by design" instead of "by default" this semester? (in ONE "area of life: relationally, financially, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and at (school)."

Poll

What area(s) are your perceived strengths from last semester?

• Narrative/Fiction/Drama

• Poetry

• Writing (Short and extended constructed responses)

• Informational Text

• Grammar/ Revising/Editing

Poll

What area(s) are your perceived weaknesses from last semester?

• Narrative/Fiction/Drama

• Poetry

• Writing (Short and extended constructed responses)

• Informational Text

• Grammar/ Revising/Editing

Fill in the Blanks

What is one of my two R's?

Word Cloud

In one to two words, what does RESPECT look like?

(Give an example)

Word Cloud

In one to two words, what does RESPONSIBILITY look like?

(Give an example)

Poll

What area(s) are your perceived strengths from last semester?

• Sentence Combination

• Spelling

• Capitalization

• Punctuation

Poll

What area(s) are your perceived weaknesses from last semester?

• Sentence Combination

• Spelling

• Capitalization

• Punctuation

Draw

Draw something you remember about PLOT.

Match

Match the following

• Thesis

• Diction

• Theme

• Connotation

• Summary

Main Idea

Word Choice

Topic + Author's Thoughts

Feelings associated with words

Main Idea + Supporting Details

• Main Idea

• Word Choice

• Topic + Author's Thoughts

• Feelings associated with words

• Main Idea + Supporting Details

Word Cloud

What are terms for LITERARY DEVICES? (examples)

Looking forward: What do you know about non-verbal communication?

Turn and Talk

Multiple Choice

What is a rhetorical device and how is it used?

• It's a question that doesn't need to be answered; it makes the reader think.

• It's a word tool that author's use as evidence to support the thesis.

• It's a fancy word that makes writing sound more sophisticated.

How can non-verbal communication be used as a rhetorical device?

Turn and Talk