Holiday Word O' the Week

Hibernacle [hye-ber-nack-kle]:  A Winter retreat, or the Winter home of an animal.

Happy Holidays!

To you and yours- The warmest of holidays!  See you guys in the new year!

Reminders

Brit Lit:  Your final college essays are due this Friday

Soph Lit:  Your Midsummer videos are due this Friday.  Boys on the right side- don't blow this off!

12.9.08

Brit Lit:
Great job this am in your Paradise Lost translations- real good stuff.  Try to watch the Disney version of Fantasia.  The Night on Bald Mountain could be scripted to what we read today.  Some of my fav classical music in that.  For HW tonight, I would like  you to craft a 2008 response to Milton's poem.  Must be at least 14 lines, and model itself in the same style as Milton.

Soph Lit:

Thanks M for bringing in our Holiday Bush!  We will be decorating it English Class Style this Friday!  If you have any good holiday music, please bring it in.  I am kind of a XMAS music nut.  HW tonight- please read the poems that I assigned from Dead Poets.

Progress Reports

Alert, Alert- Danger Will Robinson!

I will be afterschool Tuesday for as long as it takes for any of you to make up missing work before progress reports.  Please check with me to make sure you are not missing any assignments.  Progress report grades will be passed in Wed. morning.

12.08.08

Congrats to our football team!  Central MA Superbowl Champs!

Brit Lit:  HW- please read all of the poems that I gave you from Dead Poets.  Last call to research you Paradice Lost stanza.

Soph Lit:  Reminder- Midsummer videos due this Friday.  Make sure that you do not leave it to the last min- this counts as a test grade

Word O' the Week

Deturpate [dee-tur-pate]:  To disfigure, or defile.  From Latin- to make ugly.

Try to use it this week in class or in assignments for extra credit :-)

Are You Ready for Some Football?

I am at a loss- Boston College plays in the ACC championship on Saturday, while at the same time, our own football team plays in the central Mass Super Bowl.  What is a pigskin loving teacher to do?  Good luck to our football team!  Regardless of the outcome, you have made our school very proud of your season.

12.5.08

Brit Lit:  This week we explored poetry.  Please have your Paradise Lost translations ready for Monday.

Soph Lit:  Over the next 10 days, you will be making a video of A Midsummer Nights Dream. You can modernize, and change the script- have fun with the possibilities- A Mob boss for King, a High School Musical love triangle, Darth Vader as Oberon….Chewbacca as the lion….anything school appropriate goes…




Rubric:

You will be graded on the following rubric:



A script is passed in with video………………………………..20 points



Characters in video followed script…………………………….20 points



At least 5 minutes in duration (one act)…………………………20 points



Effort (costumes, production value, general effort in video)……40 points

12.2.08

Brit Lit: Remember to write your sonnets tonight. 14 lines- iambic pentameter; Begin in delight, end in greatness. Remember- the only one who needs to understand and enjoy it is YOU. Make it meaningful and share a part of you on paper. IMMORTALITY!

Soph Lit: I have just passed back everything that I had- some things did not have names, so please be responsible to check to see if you have anything missing. I also gave out grades (as of this week.) So- if any parent or guardian is reading this- ask them how they are doing in English tonight :-) I am working on making up the video assignment now- I will explain in class Wed.

12.1.08

I hope that you had a good break, and had a chance to spend some good quality time with those around you.

A big congrats to the football team in their win romp domination over my former school. UNDEFEATED!

Brit Lit:
Tomorrow we start a week of poetry. I am going to bring in some things that I wrote when I was 16 for you to make fun of- but it will allow me to prove my point about poetry and immortality.....

Make sure that you have your big "fat" books...

Soph Lit:
Today in class you did AMSND in 32 seconds. Forcing the play into a small box made you realize the key important facts. That sound is Shakespeare rolling in his grave....

Word O' the Week

Kench [kentch]:
To laugh too loudly.

11.29.08

What a great win over SH. Go Warriors!

11.21.08

Brit Lit:

Happy Friday! I started to correct your Macbeth tests- so far they look very good. If any of you want your grades early, shoot me a email to cusicks@tantasqua.org. Starting Monday, we will be taking a few days before the break to look at and write a killer college essay. I will explain this in detail on Monday. Have a safe weekend!

Soph Lit:

Today in class I showed about 5 minutes of my version of A Midsummer Night's Dream that I did with Ms. St. Jean at ol' Shepherd Hill. I hope that it helped you visualize some of the things that we were talking about this week.
Every Friday, I try and do some fun assignments- today you did some writing on the history of the Slinky. After lunch, I taught you the very basics of what handwriting can tell us about the person. Remember- it was just for fun- I don't want any of you to read too much into it :-)

11.19.08

Brit Lit: We finished Macbeth today- the lightsabers were fun. I wish that I could have made the room darker, but it was still cool. I told you learning could and CAN be FUN! Macbeth is a difficult play, and I can't tell you how proud that all of you understand it. I also hope that I was able to show you that Shakespeare can be fun.

We will be playing a review game based on Wheel of Fortune Thursday, and catch up on any missing notes. Remember, you can use all notes on the test- so make sure that you have the complete set. If you are missing any- get them from me, or a person that you think takes good notes. On Friday- we TEST.

11.17.08

Brit Lit:
Block A: Today we continued to write the missing narration for Macbeth. Friday we completed Act 1, and 2. Today we did Act 3. We also had a quiz on Act 4, and a wee bit o' 5.

Block B: We acted out Act 5 in class and caught up on our notes.

Both Blocks- We will be finishing Macbeth this week. I am aiming on a review game Thursday, with our test this Friday. I am after school Tuesday for anyone who needs to make up work, or needs to catch up on their notes.

Word O' the Week

Zedonk [zee-donk]  The rare offspring of a male zebra and a female donkey. 

11.12.08

Soph:
Today we talked about contrasts in imagery. Hot/cold, love/hate, sweet/sour.... Shakespeare had a great way of mixing comedy with tragedy- we explored that today. In class we made skits that were funny, and sad at the same time. Look for this contrast as we continue the play....

11.12.08

Brit Lit:  Today we broke into groups and had to work out a scene that told the story of Macbeth in 32 sec.  This forced you to decide what things are important to keep the story "intact."  On Friday we will be working on making the missing narrative in Macbeth- what you did today in class should help you decide what is important to stress....

Word O' the Week

Gongoozler {gahn-gooz-ler} 
A person who stares at activity on a canal.

11.11.08

Soph Lit:  Reminder- your 16 lines from AMND are due this Thursday- so use the day off today to stomp around your house and learn the lines :-)

Brit Lit:  Last call on videos- If you elected to do the alternative paper, you need to write a 3-5 page paper explaining a Shakespearean Tragedy, and how the play Macbeth follows this model.  These are due Wed.

Have a great day off, and take a moment to remember the sacrifices that those in the military have made for all of us.

11.05.08

I hope that you are enjoying the day off.  Reminder: Block A- your Macbeth videos are due Wed.  Bring some popcorn...

11.03.08

Block A: Macbeth videos are now due Tuesday.

Block B: Missing prijects are due this Wed. Jeff- that means you!

Block C: No HW- sorry that it is taking so long to get your last projects in. I will have your character journals, Survival guides, and test back for Wed.

I will have your term grade ready this Wed. So to any parents out there in cyber space reading my thoughts, ask them how they are doing in English Wed. night. Please also feel free to contact me by eith email or phone as always.

Word O' the Week

Spanghew {spang-hyoo}  To cause a frog or toad to fly into the air from the end of a stick, usually violently.

When teacher inspiration goes too far...

Scene from my old classroom at SH

Happy All Hallows Eve!

I hope you liked my Irish ghost story today in class.  As most of you are typical teenagers who don't talk to you parents anymore- try and tell the story again around a Fall fire this weekend.  It gets better with age and each time it is told. 

Brit Lit:  Please work on your Macbeth videos- Due A Block, wed.  Due B Block, Monday.

Soph Lit:  Get ready to have your neg feelings about Shakespeare to be smashed.  We are going to laugh out loud in class next week as we start the comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Word O' the Week

Onolatry: [oh-nah-luh-tree] The worship of donkeys.

10.29.08

Alert (whoop, whoop, whoop...) Grades close this Friday. I can stay after for anyone needing to make up work. Remember, not completing an assignment is a zero. A few of these can take a large bite out of even the strongest grade. Please see me before or after class to see if you are missing work....

Brit Lit.  This morning, we went outside to act in the woods.  Despite the cold breeze, we managed to have fun.  Nothing says Mr. Cusick is teaching Shakespeare like the buzz and crackle of toy light sabers....

Reminder to work on your Macbeth video. These will not be able to be done "at the last minute."  Make sure that you see me if you have problems- before the due date.

Soph Lit:  I posted a picture of your character journals.  I am impressed!  Now, if I can get the smoke smell off of my hands from reading some of them...  A special "thank you" to Courtney for bringing in cupcakes.  Random acts of kindness...... :-)

10.24.08

Brit Lit:

Next Friday, you are reminded that your Macbeth Video is due. 
Here is a brief description of the assignment as a reminder:
1.  Pick a part that we have studied (at least 5 min)
2.  Write a modern adaptation.  Include: Stage direction (see notes), Setting Description, voice (inflection, pause, stress.)
3.  Design and produce costumes
4.  Film Scene
5.  Play for class. :-)

Soph Lit: 

Today in class we relaxed and caught up in the BW version of Lord of the Flies.  A bit diff than the Simpson's version from Thursday, huh?

We will finish the novel for HW on Monday night.  If you are behind, as some of you are, please use this time to catch up and be ready for Monday.  Your character journals are now due Tuesday.  We will play a review game on Tuesday, and have our exam next Wed.


Have a great weekend.  Best of luck to all sport teams!  :-)

10.22.08

Brit Lit:
Today, we took a quiz on Act 2.  Most of you did very well.  Today in class we learned about:

Stress, inflection, pause, and non-verbal communication in Shakespeare's plays.
Thursday, we will be performing your blocked scenes.  You will be graded on how close you follow the blocking.

Soph Lit:

Today we went over Ch 8 in lotf.  I gave the class 15 minutes to work on their character journals.  These will be due this Monday.  After lunch we hear Golding read his own novel, and watched clips of the 1963 version of the film.

HW- Read CH 9-10

10.21.08

This Friday, we have a great class. I will be telling a real life ghost story from when I was teaching in Ireland. It takes 60 minutes to tell- be prepared to be scared..... Until then- lots to do this week....so let's get to it...



Brit: Lit:

Today in class we learned about blocking a scene. I gave notes on stage direction, and we assigned each row with a scene in Macbeth to block. Once you are finished with the blocking, we will be swapping scenes- so you will be acting out another group’s stage direction. I am going to try and get us on the stage this Thursday to give you real experience. Make sure all of your notes on Macbeth are up to date. We will have a 5 question quiz on Act 2, sc 1-3 on Thursday. As with all Macbeth tests and quizzes, you are allowed to use your notes.



Soph Lit:

I began grading your survival guides last night. Real good stuff so far. Today in class, we have a vocab quiz. After lunch we will be working on symbols in the novel, and I will give you time to work on your character diaries. Reminder: We should finish the novel this Friday- so expect heavy reading (40 pgs per night). Journals will be due the day we finish- so make sure that you are working on this each night.


REMINDER- Grades close in less than 2 weeks. Many of you are missing assignments. Please remember that it is your responsibility to see me and ask what you are missing. I can stay after most days with 24 hours notice- so just ask. :-)

10.17.08

Brit Lit: Today in class we went on the web and did a Macbeth Scavenger Hunt. Please goto: www.pathguy.com/macbeth.htm to see what we researched.

Soph Lit: We finished our final draft of our A. Farm papers in the computer lab. HW: Vocab quiz Monday on your 15 words, Your Survival Guides are also due. We should finish the novel by next Friday. Please expect 30 pgs a night- so read ahead this weekend if you know that you have a busy week.

Have a great weekend Tantasqua.

10.16.08

Please encourage all of you parents/guardians to come out tonight. I would enjoy meeting them, and promise to say almost all nice things.... It is always nice to meet your folks. :-)

Brit Lit:

Block A: Today we finished the Porter scene in Macbeth, and watch the 1st part of the movie to help visualize the story. Tomorrow is the last day for those of you to read your lines. Remember, this counts as 3 quiz grades. HW: Modernize the knife floating scene on Pgs. 51-53. I will be collecting these on Friday.

Block B: We will be going on the wild internet in class Friday, so please make sure that you know your username and password. Please see me if you need help.

Soph Lit:
Block C: HW- please read Ch 6 in Lord of the Flies. Please be ready for a quiz on ch 4-6 Friday. On Friday we will be typing our 10 year after Animal Farm papers. Please make sure that you have your 1st drafts ready to go. I moved your survival guides to Monday, as many of you seem to have a crazy Friday this week. If any of you have this early, I would love to see them on Friday. Monday will still be your vocab quiz.

10.15.08

Due to PSAT testing, we lost many of you today to either testing, or me proctoring the test B Block.

A Block: We converted Macbeth's "Is this a dagger I see" speech on pg 51-53. We converted each line to "modern language" Ashley provided some phat tunes to set the mood. If you were out testing, you will need to complete this for HW by this Friday. Also, please remember to look over your lines if you did not recite your tomorrow X3 monologue.

B Block: We will do the above assignment in class Thursday.

Soph Lit:

HW: tonight, please define the 15 words from Lord of the Flies. Read Ch 4-5. Please continue to work on your Survival guide- which is due Friday.

10.14.08

Brit Lit:
What a great class today. It was fun seeing you all get into Macbeth. It is amazing what a bit of fake blood can do. I have posted some pictures of both classes death of Duncan scene. See- I told you Shakespeare could be fun.

Reminder- About 10 of you did not learn your lines. You will get another shot Wed. Remember, 10 points off each missed day- so take time tonight and learn them!

Soph Lit: HW- 1st draft of Animal Farm Paper. We will type final on Friday

Read Ch 1-3 in Lord of the Flies.

Begin work on 30 Day Survival Guide project- Due Friday.

Word O' the Week

Hogo [hoh-goh]: a stink.

Extra credit for the successful use in class discussions and daily quizzes.

10.10.08

Happy 3 day Weekend!

Brit Lit: Reminder, please have memorized your 10 assigned lines. This is due Tuesday.
Today in class we completed our notes on Act 1, and took a quiz. I just corrected them, and was very pleased. You guys deserve lots of credit. I am extremely proud that you are all understanding (and I hope) enjoying the play so far. Keep it up!

My objectives: That you enjoy Shakespeare, and that you all have an A for this part of the course.

Soph Lit:
Today we took our Animal Farm exam. Please have your books in class Tuesday as I will be collecting them then. I should have your tests back to you on Tuesday. Please finish your 1st draft of your paper. I will be checking this off on Tuesday, and I have us signed up for the computer lab for next Friday. Next week, we will crash on a deserted island as we begin Lord of the Flies. For fans of the hit show Survivor- you are going to love this book!

Food for thought over the 3 day: If there were no consequences, would people be good or evil? How would you behave with no adults around school, and absolutely no consequences for your actions? Is man inherently good or evil?

10.8.08

Brit Lit:

Pg 177: Lines 22-31 for Next Tuesday. I hope one person takes up the Cusick Challenge- be brave- it will be fun and worth the 10 extra points...

HW- Please don't forget to pass in the Shakespeare Language Trick worksheet. You should have the following defined in your notebook:
personification, metaphor, simile, classical allusion, reversed word, reversed sentence construction. Please study these terms, as they will be referenced often in our study of Macbeth.

Soph Lit: HW- Finish 1st draft of paper. Final copy due this Monday. Writing Assignment: Animal Farm, Ten Years After

Directions: Ten years have past since the last page of the novel. Original animals have died, but not all of their ideas. Describe the new farm. Have the animals come closer to creating a true communistic state? Like history, have events repeated themselves? How are the events of the 1st revolution recorded and remembered? Have facts been changed to benefit specific animals. Has greed once again contaminated the Marxist philosophy?

Also, tonight- study vocab. Quiz on your words this Thursday.

10.7.08

Brit Lit:

During Macbeth, you will have light HW for the next three weeks.  Most of our play study, will be done live in class.  For next Tuesday, you need to memorize and recite Macbeth's Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Speech on pg 117.  10 lines- 10 points per line.  For those looking for extra credit- ask me about the Cusick Challenge tomorrow in class.

Soph Lit:  HW- Please finish Animal Farm tonight.  Define your vocab- quiz this Thursday.  Animal Farm Test Friday.

It is a bit late, but try and watch the presidential debate tonight and continue to look for the manipulation of language.  Euphemisms, begging the question, and oversimplification will all be on show tonight- trust me :-)

Word O' the Week

illatration [il-uh-tray-shuhn]: an act of barking at someone or something.

This word would be useful to make a distinction between the differing ways your dog barks- barking just to bark, or barking at the mailman or for food.

10.3.08: Are you ready for the weekend?

Take a few moments and appreciate the glorious Fall foliage this weekend. It is the same inspiration that has produced thousands of poems.... Take a walk in the woods and clear your heads. Poetry is the window to our souls and it can make us immortal. Find a spot and write what you are feeling. You may be surprised at the result...

Brit Lit:

Today we finished watching the film Shakespeare in Love. I hope that it helped you to visualize my notes, and connect to how real his play writing was. Next week, we begin our adventure into his mind, with our reading of Macbeth.

Soph Lit:

Please continue to watch for political propaganda. Orwell warned of absolute power. Always respectfully question authority and think for yourselves. Animal Farm is more than a tale of talking farm animals.... It is a stern warning that still holds very true in 2008. Look for the truth between the manipulation of language all around you.

We will be finishing the novel by Wed. Most likely, we will have some sort of final assessment on Friday. If you are behind, please use this weekend to catch up and ready yourself for the conclusion.


Have a great weekend. I am chaperoning the Homecoming dance Sat. If you see me, come over and say "hi." I am looking forward to seeing you guys all dressed up! :-) Have a safe weekend.

9.30.08

Brit Lit:

Block A: Please review your notes and text tonight for out test Wed.



Block B: Please re-read the stories and prepare for the Test this Thursday.



Soph Lit: Class average was an 84. I was happy to see so many of you doing well- keep it up. For those who are struggling- please come see me and we can work out an improvement plan.



HW- Begin Animal Farm Propaganda poster. These are due Thursday- so try and work on it a bit each night. Remember- you need to include 3 terms from my lecture on manipulating language. As an alternative assignment, some of you may wish to make a promotional video or web page for your character. Remember, although each row was given a character, this is a solo flight.



Read CH 4,5 in A Farm. I smell a quiz on 1-5 wed.- so please make sure that you have read. I am talking to YOU Michelle....

9.29.08

This rain is getting to me...reminds me of the Carpenter's song- rainy days and Mondays always get me down....what happens when you have both?
Block A: You guys came up with some incredible questions. B block is going to have a challenge. Remember- we will be playing a review game Tuesday, with our test this Wed. It will cover everything that we have read in class up to this point.
Please remeber to pass in question 1-5. So far, Asley is the only one who has submitted it.
Block B: Due to the fire drill, I will give you the first 10 minutes to finish your review questions. Get ready to win some great stuff, and learn while doing it. Can you smell what the Q has cooking....
Block C: Reminder, you have a vocab quiz Tuesday. Please study your Animal Farm words. Also: read Ch 1,2,3 in A Farm for Tuesday.

9.26.08

Sorry about the lack of posts. As some of you may have noticed, the computer in my room is being repaired, which has not allowed me to blog at the end of the day.

Brit Lit:
Block A: We finally created our socks. If you asked to complete them at home, please make sure that you finish them and remember to bring them back to class on Monday. Also, in our creative Friday rush, I forgot to collect your HW. Please remember to bring it to class- I will collect them on Monday.

Block B:
Monday we start Macbeth. Ask me why you can't say the name Macbeth in a theartre.....

Soph Lit: Please cover your Animal Farm books if possible. I realize that it is hard to cover paperbacks, but it does help keep them alive longer.
You all did a wonderful job with your proaganda speeches today. Some of you have politics in your future. If you did not get a chance to google The Communist Manefesto- please do and come in with 3 lines that you found interesting and be prepaired to disscuss it at the start of class on Monday. With the Pep Rally schedule today, I just lost track of time...

Also...please watch either the presidental debate, cnn/fox news, or any of the Sunday morning political shows. Please watch for all of the terms that we discussed. I would like each of you to have three examples. Watch for the grandaddy of them all...begging the question. They will do it- see if you can see through the propaganda on both sides. Why don't we notice this normally? What does this say about our democracy? Remember- the most import thing that I can teach you is to think for yourselves. Think about it....