wos:

Today:

We started with the idea of slowing down to allow creativity to emerge.  I shared what I learned at our recent professional development on this topic.  We tried some basic relaxation exercises to help you get to a "still mind."

Journal Prompt #6:  I gave you 15 minutes to write 1 page on anything.  How often do we get that?  Some of you chose to doodle, some wrote a song lyric, others wrote poetry.  Most of you agreed that it help to center yourself before you come up with new ideas. We discussed slowing you brain down to undertsand Shakespeare.

We broke into 4 groups.  We defined pantomime and watched an example from You Tube.  I then gave each group a scene from Act 1 and tasked you with showing these with only brief narration, and lots "showing" your action without using words.

Reminder: A great PBS series continues on PBS tonight, Shakespeare Uncovered.  I believe Hamlet is next Friday- but I am sure that you will get something out of all of them- they are that good. 

Cool video

First video showing what a thought looks like in a brain.  Worth watching....

http://gizmodo.com/5980796/first+ever-incredible-footage-of-a-thought-being-formed

Brit Lit:

Today:

We discussed the idea of slowing down to allow the creative process.  We tried some short relaxation techniques. 

Journal #6:  I asked you to take 15 minutes in your journal and explore and creative thought: doodles, a poem, a short story, song lyrics, etc.  1 page

I broke you into small groups and asked each group to make an original hero's quest, following the 12 steps that we have been studying.

I had you list these on a giant post it note and present the idea to the class,

HW:  Please re-watch the movie that you selected for the paper.  On Tuesday, we will be returning to the lab to finish your paper.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We went over the outline for your paper. 

We went to the computer lab to type your first draft.

WOS:

Today:
I gave you a pre- reading interview to get your feelings on some of the major themes in Hamlet. 

Journal Prompt #5:  For your journal prompt, I asked you to share your personal experience for three of the questions.  1 page

To Snooze, or not to Snooze.  We looked at a modern conversion of the lines that you need to learn for this Monday.  I asked you in small groups to convert these lines and share what you cam up with.

Shakespeare 101:  I gave you notes on the things that we know for sure about the Bard.

We took notes on the history of the globe, and the conflict with the church.  We also discussed the other forms of entertainment that Shakespeare competed against, and how this influenced his work.

We inched closer to starting act 1.

HW:  Please read CH  5 in Shakespeare Alive!  As always, be ready for a quiz....

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt #5:  Think about the quote- "I want to sing how birds sing, not thinking about what others think."  Rumi 12 c.
What do you think about this?  Have you ever done something in high school where you disregarded what others might think?  1 page

I played two additional clips about The Hero's Quest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGV1BvnyvGo&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMl9cLz2b_s&list=PL789CCEBDDF7230AE&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

We finished our outlines for your first major paper.  Please make sure you show this to me to get credit.

HW:  Re watch the movie that you selected.  Thursday we will be in the computer lab writing our first draft.

Shakespeare:

Journal Prompt #4:  The play Hamlet opens with two words:  Who's There?  Write a one page skit, where each line is only two words.  1 page (two words per line)

We acted out the best.

We went over the cast list in Hamlet.

We took a quiz on CH 1-3 in Shakespeare Alive!

HW:  Please read CH 4.

Brit Lit:

Journal Prompt #4:  J. Campbell wrote about the importance of "facing your dragon."  Please describe a time when you, a friend, or family member, faced their dragon (fear.)  What was the outcome?  1 page.

We went over the 12 stages of the hero's quest.

HW:  Please work on the outline for the movie book or story that you plan on writing about.  You will have some time to work on these in class on Wed.

Must see TV:

PBS is running a weekly Shakespeare series for the next month.  Previous episodes and information on upcoming ones can be found here:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/shakespeare-uncovered/

Check it out....

Are you ready to learn why this scene is important?

Think

A Ostrich's eye is much bigger than it's brain.

Word of the Week:

Vamoose (va-moos): Verb int.  To leave in a hurry.

Shakespeare:

Journal Prompt #3:  Shakespeare often uses ghosts, magic, fairies, spells and witches in his plays.  What is your view on the supernatural?  Have you ever seen a ghost?  Would life be better with a little magic?  1 page

We watched the Video:  Why Shakespeare (15 min)

We paired up and delivered a Shakespearean insult.

We looked at insult lines from many of his plays.

I passed out Hamlet.

HW:  Please read ch 3 in Shakespeare Alive!  Please expect a quiz on ch 1-3 for Tuesday.

Brit Lit:

We watched more of the movie, Finding Joe. 

I passed out the paper assignment: 4 pages due Monday, Feb 4.

An outline sheet to follow:  Due Wed., Jan 30.

An explanation with examples of the steps.  This will be helpful in writing your paper.

Journal Prompt:  Please share your thoughts on the movie.  What parts connected with you and YOUR life?  1/2 page

Shakespeare on Tumbler...

http://pbsshakespeare.tumblr.com/