Journal Question #17

This painting of Edward Hopper's, called "Rooms by the Sea," makes me think of endings and beginnings.  The end of a school year is a good time to reflect on what has happened in your life since September, and what you think is ahead of you - either long-term or short.  What will you take from your year at TA?  What are looking forward to?

Journal Question #16

Are you a different person when you speak English?  Language is a big part of who you are, so I wonder if speaking English has changed your identity at all.  Another way to look at it: when you return to your home this summer and speak your first language, will you become your "native-language" self?

Journal Question #15

Explain video games to me.   Why are they so popular?  What do they do for the player that TV and movies don't do?  Do you play them?  Are you a video game "addict"?  Which ones do you like?  Why?

Journal Question #14

Earth Day is April 22nd.  We humans have only one home, and we haven't done a very good job taking care of it.  What do you see as the biggest threat to Mother Earth?  Do you have any ideas about how to reduce or eliminate this threat?  Is it possible, in the future, that the human race would leave Earth and start a new civilization on another planet? 

Journal Question #13

Humans lie.  There are different kinds of lies, and some lies are worse than others.  Why do we lie?  Is it ever good to lie? If it were possible, would you like to be absolutely honest all of the time?  Do you want your family and friends (and teachers!) to always be absolutely honest with you?

Journal Question #12

Russia has invaded Ukraine, and now there's a war that involves not only those two countries but also the entire world.  War is never a good thing.  Here's the question: Is war necessary?  Why do humans make war on each other?  Can you imagine a time when there is no more war?

Journal Question #11

 Ever feel stressed out by school?  What are some good ways to cope with, avoid, or eliminate stress?  What can a student do to make his/her life at school as stress-free as possible?  Share some tips with your fellow students, and read some of your classmates' ideas; you might find out ways to improve your life at TA and beyond!

Journal Question #10

 

As I write this, a blizzard howls outside, and the snow is coming down heavy and fast.  What's you opinion of snow?  Do you look forward to skiing in, sledding on, or walking through it?  Do you think it's beautiful?  Or do you wish it would just go away?  Explain your preference, either way.

Journal Question #9

It's hard to pay attention. There is so much to distract a student: digital devices, classmates, intercom announcements, bells, the stream of thoughts running through one's head... Of course, if you want to learn a subject, you have to pay attention to it.   Here's the question: How do you pay attention when all these distractions are around you?  Do you have any strategies or tips to share with your classmates?  

Journal Question #8

One of TA's pillars is Responsibility.  You can think of responsibility as both personal and social: you have a responsibility to yourself, your family, your friends, your colleagues at work or school; you also have a wider responsibility to your society, your country, your planet.  How do you define responsibilty? What does it mean to act responsibly?