Over the summer we had an addition put on our house. My mom has always wanted a bigger kitchen, so we put that plan into action. We just finished up the entire project, finally. We have all these extra cabinets now because we had to get new ones for the kitchen so that they would match. We got rid of or gave away most of them, but there was one my parents decided to hang in the basement for extra storage seeing as the ping pong table was beginning to strongly resemble a warehouse bench. Every game, puzzle, decoration, napkin, and holiday plate had resided on the table, so my job was to organize the cabinet with all everything that didn't belong on the table.
Before I began I was dreading it. A third grader could organize better than I can, and I never know where to start. I looked at the table, and all of the random things on it, and wondered how on earth I could make a system out of it. So before I started I was overwhelmed with all the stuff, for lack of a better word. I decided that before I put anything in the cabinet I should put the items in categories. About halfway through the project I had expanded the mess to the floor, but it made sense to me. Now I just had to find a way to put everything inside the cabinet. That was probably the easiest part of all, seeing as everything was in groups. When I was done, I hate to admit it, I felt really relaxed. It wasn't that the mess bothered me, but I knew that it was good to have it out of the way, especially since my family loves to have ping pong tournaments on Thanksgiving (which they happened to skip this year, just my luck).
After the project I really didn't feel that different about other things. It was the same organizational principle that I use for pretty much everything: put things with other things that are similar to them. I did feel a little more calm knowing that one job for Thursday was out of the way, but I also felt very tired because organizing is exhausting.
After I finished getting everything off the table I realized that there was alot less random stuff than I thought there was. The task that looked so daunting turned out to not be that bad. I could easily close the cabinet doors when I was done. I guess it kind of relates to everything that goes on in your head when you're stressed out. When you look at the big picture it is completely overwhelming and it becomes impossible to grasp everything that you need to get a hold on. But when you place each thought or thing where it belongs, it is so much easier to get a handle on it. Instead of I need to read these pages in Sophie's World, and these pages for AP psych and then do my math homework, but after that do my psych writing assignment, and then that blog, oh and memorize my lines for the play, I say I need to read Sophie's World and do my blog (English) Then do my psych notes and assignment (psych) After that I'll finish my math, then worry about the show. It puts all those tasks into an easier order.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Carry it Forward: Organization Principle
Dumbledore says to Harry in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire that he keeps some of his thoughts in a pensieve because sometimes it just feels like he has too much going on in his head. At first Harry cannot relate to this, but after he learns about some complicated past events and ideas, he can no longer tell the top from the bottom.
Sometimes reading books in English feels exactly like this. When the book begins to get confusing, it becomes hard to make sense of what you are reading, which makes it harder to analyze, and even hard to remember! During The Shadow Catcher we talked about organizing principles, which is basically using a single object or idea that can relate to most of the concepts, characters, or events in the story, making it easier to handle.
In Sophie's world, it is hard to pick an organizing principle because there is so much material. Sure, everything relates to Sophie, but somehow I don't think that it would simplify anything, seeing as you could just put down all the lessons Sophie has. Instead we have used many organizing principles to deal with the story. Sometimes there are two opposing view points, and even though all those organizing principles have to be remembered, it is nice to have everything mapped out in your head, instead of a tangle of information.
This is something that, when I take the time to do it, will help me so much. Not only will it help me with school work, it will also help me sort through my thoughts on other issues. If I'm in a fight with somebody, it'll help to find what started it all, and see how it branches out from there. Once thoughts are organized they can be heard, instead of having every pent up thought come rushing out at somebody, making no sense and solving nothing. It will also help me plan things out, be more productive, and feel less like my head is exploding when I'm busy.
Even though an organizing principle can't apply to everything, it is easy to apply a few different ones to vastly different things, and then connect it from there. Dumbledore's pensieve would be nice, but an organizing principle may be the next best thing.
Sometimes reading books in English feels exactly like this. When the book begins to get confusing, it becomes hard to make sense of what you are reading, which makes it harder to analyze, and even hard to remember! During The Shadow Catcher we talked about organizing principles, which is basically using a single object or idea that can relate to most of the concepts, characters, or events in the story, making it easier to handle.
In Sophie's world, it is hard to pick an organizing principle because there is so much material. Sure, everything relates to Sophie, but somehow I don't think that it would simplify anything, seeing as you could just put down all the lessons Sophie has. Instead we have used many organizing principles to deal with the story. Sometimes there are two opposing view points, and even though all those organizing principles have to be remembered, it is nice to have everything mapped out in your head, instead of a tangle of information.
This is something that, when I take the time to do it, will help me so much. Not only will it help me with school work, it will also help me sort through my thoughts on other issues. If I'm in a fight with somebody, it'll help to find what started it all, and see how it branches out from there. Once thoughts are organized they can be heard, instead of having every pent up thought come rushing out at somebody, making no sense and solving nothing. It will also help me plan things out, be more productive, and feel less like my head is exploding when I'm busy.
Even though an organizing principle can't apply to everything, it is easy to apply a few different ones to vastly different things, and then connect it from there. Dumbledore's pensieve would be nice, but an organizing principle may be the next best thing.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Metacognition: Comedy Sportz
For the past three weeks (and three years, I guess) I have been working on Comedy Sportz shows. Quick Comedy Sportz background: Comedy Sportz is an improv show where two teams (dressed as baseball players) face off to see who will be the funniest team. Improv is probably the funniest and scariest thing I've ever done. I first did comedy sportz my sophomore year, and as it has become much easier because, even though it is improv, there are rules.
The first thing you have to remember with Comedy Sportz is that you cannot mess up. That is always the first thing I remind myself before I start a scene. There is no script, therefore you cannot do something wrong. Unless you do something dirty because it is clean comedy. The next few things I think of are the basic rules: Don't ask questions because it puts all the responsibility on your partner to create the scene, say yes to everything because all suggestions are gifts you can use, and focus on the scene. Remember what other people are saying, and don't try to plan ahead. Your scene needs to make sense and if you are focused on coming in with a funny line about pancakes and the scene is in the museam, it will look BAD.
The first step onstage during a scene is to create a character. This may be what I struggle with the most, because it is tough to come up with a character when you don't know where your scene is until the split second before it begins. Still, it is much easier to carry out the rest of the scene when you have a strong character because you'll know that your girly girl won't ask someone to go build a house.
The second thing to do is create a relationship with the other people on the stage. Walking up to someone and saying "Hi, welcome to the store, how can I help you?" Doesn't open up to as many funny possibilites as, "Hi it's so good to see you again, my ex-boyfriend who I facebook stalk frequently" Creating any kind of relationship with at least one person on stage does loads of good for the scene.
The third thing to do is bring on characters who started off stage. All of us naturally hog the stage because it's so easy to let the scene go in your direction. It is important, however, to remember that this is a team, and you have to share your spotlight. If someone isn't coming in, or if you are consistantly talking over someone, fix it. It is improv, but if it goes well it looks like a well planned scene. It is okay to play supporting roles.
The forth thing: Don't try to be funny. Forcing it doesn't work. Ever.
And now, with my steps, and I ready to pull off a great scene in the show!!!
And here is my plug: Comedy Sportz tomorrow night at 4:00 and 7:30 in the Lyceam!! Be there or be square.
The first thing you have to remember with Comedy Sportz is that you cannot mess up. That is always the first thing I remind myself before I start a scene. There is no script, therefore you cannot do something wrong. Unless you do something dirty because it is clean comedy. The next few things I think of are the basic rules: Don't ask questions because it puts all the responsibility on your partner to create the scene, say yes to everything because all suggestions are gifts you can use, and focus on the scene. Remember what other people are saying, and don't try to plan ahead. Your scene needs to make sense and if you are focused on coming in with a funny line about pancakes and the scene is in the museam, it will look BAD.
The first step onstage during a scene is to create a character. This may be what I struggle with the most, because it is tough to come up with a character when you don't know where your scene is until the split second before it begins. Still, it is much easier to carry out the rest of the scene when you have a strong character because you'll know that your girly girl won't ask someone to go build a house.
The second thing to do is create a relationship with the other people on the stage. Walking up to someone and saying "Hi, welcome to the store, how can I help you?" Doesn't open up to as many funny possibilites as, "Hi it's so good to see you again, my ex-boyfriend who I facebook stalk frequently" Creating any kind of relationship with at least one person on stage does loads of good for the scene.
The third thing to do is bring on characters who started off stage. All of us naturally hog the stage because it's so easy to let the scene go in your direction. It is important, however, to remember that this is a team, and you have to share your spotlight. If someone isn't coming in, or if you are consistantly talking over someone, fix it. It is improv, but if it goes well it looks like a well planned scene. It is okay to play supporting roles.
The forth thing: Don't try to be funny. Forcing it doesn't work. Ever.
And now, with my steps, and I ready to pull off a great scene in the show!!!
And here is my plug: Comedy Sportz tomorrow night at 4:00 and 7:30 in the Lyceam!! Be there or be square.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Best of Today: The perfect city
I thought that one of the best ideas of today was the perfectly balanced city that athens was/is. There was no emphasis on a sole idea or activity, they were all represented. I thought that this was really important, especually when somebody pointed out that this is very similar to all cities, especially the one we live in: Chicago. Mr. Allen, playing devil's advocate, brought up that if we took away all the "extra" things about our school, like the free areas, the music department, or the gyms, it would be fine, and we would all have more time to focus on our academic classes. This enraged many people, as it was supposed to.
An important thing to realize is that even though drama and art aren't academic classes, they still are important because they shape who we are. They give us a balance. We don't aim to be smart people with no free thought, or nothing else going on. We are aiming to be well rounded people, not one demenstional.
An important thing to realize is that even though drama and art aren't academic classes, they still are important because they shape who we are. They give us a balance. We don't aim to be smart people with no free thought, or nothing else going on. We are aiming to be well rounded people, not one demenstional.
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