ENGLISH 7

Completed Thanksgiving quick writes. 

Took spelling test Unit 14. Checked in mug shot #14. 

Discussed "Aladdin," another of the 1001 Stories of the Arabian Nights. Began animated film.

ENGLISH 8

Handed in and shared some essays:  Turkey's Last Plea. We saved a few. 

Wrote a Thanksgiving quick write.

Began work on writing with a partner, getting motivated from someone else. Seeing what happens. 

HW: Make sure to bring in writer's notebooks on Monday to hand in for grading.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Enjoy your walks, your talks, your rest, your family.
And give thanks.

See below:

Research: Giving thanks brings health, happiness 

By MATT SEDENSKY   ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: Tuesday, November 24, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Bill Golden survived more than 20 years in the Army and another 30 in law enforcement. He fell sick with colon cancer, and at 86, he has an artificial hip and arthritis in his knees.

Golden still gives thanks, though, and researchers say that appreciative attitude can be good for you, too.

Academics have long theorized that expressions of thanks promote health and happiness and give optimism and energy to the downtrodden. Now, the study of gratitude has become a surprisingly burgeoning field, and research indicates being thankful might help people actually feel better. There's a catch, however: You have to say thanks more than just once a year.

"If you don't do it regularly you're not going to get the benefits," said Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside. "It's kind of like if you went to the gym once a year. What would be the good of that?"

See entire article.