I actually had to call Verizon about the GSM (Europe’s cell phone system) roaming capability when I first took my BB to Europe. The salesperson insisted it was all set up right. It wasn’t. I used Skype on my laptop to call tech support from Europe, and it took the actual Verizon tech support folks all of about 1 minute to fix…I suspect if you call them before your next trip they will have no trouble seeing and correcting the mistake. Unfortunately, I don’t know any way to test that they have fixed it outside of going to a GSM country, since it won’t roam on the US GSM carriers (AT&T and T-Mobile) even in areas where there is no Verizon coverage.

I caught you in Atlanta last July and have enjoyed this blog since then. My favorite entries have been the four “day in the life” glimpses of you homeschooling your own children. After being challenged by the highly disciplined framework in WTM, I found it so refreshing that your kids still forget what direct objects are or need a handful of M&Ms to keep going. I thought about it today as I was doling out chocolate chips. I don’t know what you might say, but I’d sure love to see a workshop along these lines. Or a future book.

Thanks.

And, I ditto Amy in MD’s ideas for workshops. Have you done workshops like that already (partly why I asked if PHP would put more on CD)? Or even for high school?

Speaking of emails, I sent you one to get set up as a contributor on the 52 books in 52 weeks blog. It’s hidden among those 187 unread emails sitting in your inbox. I resend again today and it will have today’s date on it. Didn’t like your book, huh. Good, will be interesting to find out what you thought about it. I didn’t like “wicked”, either. Too dark. Off to read a lighter fluffy one.

Have a good day.

Robin

Literary Analysis at the High School Level – goals and targets.
1. What IS Literary Analysis – what are the “schools of thought” on this one, and where did they come from?
2. What are the goals/best things to shoot for in high school? Broad or deep? Learn the terms? Learn to apply the terms? Enjoy reading? How many books per year are “good enough!?” What does a student really need to KNOW in order to do well in a college lit classroom? Where is the “good enough” bar?
3. What IS a literary analysis WRITING assignment? Types? Length?
4. etc…..

I realize that you have written at length on this one. And I realize that you have a terrific Great Books at the R level lecture available. But I would really appreciate your take on the “tools and terms” that a high school student needs in order to participate in this “world.” We ultimately read toward philosophy/worldview goals. But I still ponder about how much of this other “stuff” is needed for potential college/life tracks. (How much for a non-humanities major? How much for a humanities major? Where are the bars?)

I’m rambling…. can you tell that I still can’t make CLEAR sense of this after all these years. I don’t even know WHAT I want the topic to be…. Could you nail this one down into a 45 minutes lecture that anticipates and answers my questions…. and pop me off a CD?

I actually have worked out most of my “goals” for this one on my own, but I would have given BIG $$$$$ a couple of years ago if someone (a college-level lit teacher perhaps??? *grin*) could have wrestled this one down to goals and plans for me that fit on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. I guess I still wonder about how much is enough.

Your workshops are always so much fun and informative. I love your sense of humor. I have heard you speak a few years at HEAV as well your day-long workshop at the Smithsonian.

I would love any workshop topics addressing 5th grade and above (even hearing your 5th grade to 8th grade WTM at the Cinn. or your Williamsburg convention would be wonderful – I couldn’t make it to Atlanta last year).

The task has been a little more overwhelming this year having a 5th grader transition to the logic stage. Your book and resources continue to be wonderful tools, I just struggle with the mental pressure of being the one responsible for my children’s education, spiritual and life skills training in the higher grades.

Your workshops are always so encouraging and always reaffirm/recast the vision of why I am doing this. Thanks for continuing to speak with so many other commitments. I am so excited about the Williamsburg conference. Can’t wait to register!

Amy

“The Benefits of Eating Chocolate for Breakfast for Homeschooling Parents and Children”