another voice for Blog 6,

Mr. Smith was right on alot of points today: the brain must keep learning, keep working through problems. I think that people are happier when they are working through tough problems than vegging in front of the TV. I liked Smith's thoughts on engagement. From Vygotsy et. al. I see that learning is a contract, a give and take between learner & teacher. Standing in front of a class and lecturing for an hour might work in college but not in middle school, there is no engaging the students, so no learning is taking place.
Ramano's tale was wonderful. I loved how the story--a fiction based on shared experience--became part of the family canon. It illustrates how truth takes a backseat to reflecting a universality in writing. I would guess that over the years the daughter's story comes to be accepted as truth by the family.
Ms. Spandel, can I call you Vicki? I feel that I have gotten to know you through your writing.
Her discussion of voice was great yet how to develop this trait remains somewhat elusive. I thought back to a workshop education students attended on how to put together the writing portfolio. Two examples were handed out as examples--one as a negative example and one as positive. They were anonymous--no names, and yet reading through the positive example it became immediately apparent that this was the work of one of our former class mates. Almost all of us that knew this person picked up on the authorship. The voice was that strong--you could hear the author speaking the words as you read. The other example? Bland. who knows who wrote it or cares? the person had done nothing to make it rise beyond the average.