Monday, December 21, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

We presented your Sonnet projects for the class.  We will finish those remaining/late on Tuesday.

Reminder:  Bring in your secret santa gifts!  the holiday shrub is lonely.

Brit Lit

Today:

We used the computer lab and ipads to complete one of the three prompts for the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Reminder:  Secret Santa this Wed before break.  Bring those gifts in :-)

Friday, December 18, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

In small groups we reported on the news of the day with The Cyprus Ch 5 News.  Each group needed to report events as a newscast.

We did act 3 sc 1 with a monkey on the back.  One read lines (monkey) one acted the lines.

We ended with Othello Friday.

Brit Lit

Today:

We finished The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

We listened to the Iron Maiden version and compared the lyrics

I assigned the following project.  This is due at the end of class of Monday:

Rime of the Ancient Mariner  Assignment

 

The Ship's Log

Every ship is supposed to have a log book, which is filled in every day by the captain. If he dies, the next senior officer fills it in (usually the First Mate). You should write a series of entries for the log of the ship in the poem. For part of the voyage, these will be written by the captain; after all the other men die, only the ancient mariner is left to fill it in.

 

Storyboarding

The fantastic details in the story are well-suited to vivid illustration. You can use a series of pictures with captions underneath to turn the poem into either a storyboard for a film version, or as a comic strip. Minimum 15 frames – every frame must have a caption that is a minimum of 1 complete sentence.  If you choose this option, you MUST do the drawings yourself and you CANNOT do stick figures or oversimplified pictures.  Choose this only if you have some artistic talent.

 

Newspaper (and other) reports

When the ship leaves port, to the cheers of the sailors' friends and sweethearts, no-one has any idea of what is to happen; but the return of the ship, its sinking in sight of land, the strange lights seen on it, the one survivor, his strange tale and his effect on the pilot and his boy - all this adds up to a mystery any reporter would love to write about. Write either newspaper report

OR 

an official report of the naval authorities investigating the loss of the ship and all its crew bar one.

 

Minimum 30 sentences total.

 

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Download Attachment
Available until Jan 16, 2016

Shakespeare:

Journal prompt:  Write a sonnet about this time of the year.

We made small pocket sonnet books

We designed a cover that reflected your images and feelings.

We formed a Congo line and placed them in the holiday shrub.

After lunch I gave you more time to work on your sonnet project.  These are due Monday.

Brit Lit

Today:

Journal:  What is romance?  Is it dead?  What is the most romantic thing that you have ever seen or done?     1pg

I gave you your progress report grades.

A block finish Young Frankenstein and compared it to gothic lit using the terms that I gave you.

B Block:  Began the Romantic period.  We read the intro section.
We read parts 1 + 2 of the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Shakespeare:

We began with
journal prompt 31: What is love?  What do you think about inter-racial relationships?  What do you family feel about race and religion?          1page

We had a good discussion on race and relationships.

We looked at the relationship of Desdemona and Othello.  Is it love or lust?  Why?

We had 30 minutes to work on your sonnet movies on the ipads.  These are due Monday.

We finished act 2.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We finished watching Young Frankenstein

Journal:  Please select 5 elements of Gothic Lit that this movie pokes fun of.  For each explain how.

I passed back the bulk of you for so far in this term.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Shakespeare:

We began reading our Herald.  See video above :-)

Pg 64.  The Psychiatrist's Couch.  Pg 64.  We looked at Iago's soliloquy on 65.  In pairs, one played doctor, one Iago.  Using Iago's lines as answers, ask him about his obsession with both Othello and Cassio.  We performed these after lunch.

We put names in Lord Vader's dome for Secret Santa.

We covered Act II, sc 2.  One of his shortest scenes at 10 lines. 

Last 10 min: Othello Fridays!

Brit Lit:

We finished Frankenstein and our look at Gothic Lit.

We shared our Gothic Lit stories by candlelight.

Up next, Romance

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Shakespeare

Today:

We finished act 1

We wrote a sonnet (must follow the rules) to Desdemona from either the perspective of Othello or Rodergio.

After lunch we gave our sonnet to a random person and wrote back as Desdemona.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We reviewed the characteristics of Gothic Lit.

We finished writing our Gothic stories on the ipads.

Stories due Thursday.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Thursday, December 3, 2015


Shakespeare:

Today:

We went to the computer lab to write the 1st draft of your paper.  For Kelly, here is the paper rubric:

  She’s The Man: A Parody of The Twelfth Night

 

An introductory paragraph stating your thesis.  In it you should first define parody, and then lead to your opinion.  Did the movie parody the play the 12th Night?

 

____________________ out of 20 points

 

A 3 paragraph body that examines the connections between the two.  I would suggest organizing your examples into three main paragraphs: Similarities in story, Characters’, and finally your opinion on if the play is needed to truly appreciate and enjoy the film.  Each paragraph needs to have a transitional thought/idea/word.  Specific examples need to be given from both.  This is not a summary of the movie or play.  You are examining the movie to answer whether it is a successful parody.  Does it work and succeed as a story on its own, or is previous knowledge of the story needed? 

 

_____________________out of 60

 

A final conclusion paragraph that restates your thesis.  Please avoid terms like I have proved, etc.  I should not be used in this type of paper. 

 

____________________ out of 20

Brit Lit:

Today:

We learned about J. Swift.  The original Swiftie...

We read Gulliver's Travels.

We answered questions 1-9 on pg 545.  This counted as a quiz for today.

Journal Prompt:  Gulliver's Travels is a series of tales that has the character of Gulliver in imaginary and magical locations.  Please tell of the next story in his travels. You should begin with him awakening in a new land.  Please write this in 1st person.  Extra credit if you also follow the real story with satire.                                                                                    1 page

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

We finished act 1, sc 1.

I shared vacation photos from Venice.

After lunch, we did the following assignment

O Beware, Sir, of Jealousy:

Passion and Jealousy in Othello:

 

Directions:  Please read the following and explain in 1 page what they reveal about passion and jealousy.

 

SONNET 40

Take all my loves, my love, yea, take them all;
What hast thou then more than thou hadst before?
No love, my love, that thou mayst true love call;
All mine was thine before thou hadst this more.
Then if for my love thou my love receivest,
I cannot blame thee for my love thou usest;
But yet be blamed, if thou thyself deceivest
By wilful taste of what thyself refusest.
I do forgive thy robbery, gentle thief,
Although thou steal thee all my poverty;
And yet, love knows, it is a greater grief
To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury.
   Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows,
   Kill me with spites; yet we must not be foes.

 

SONNET 57


Being your slave, what should I do but tend
Upon the hours and times of your desire?
I have no precious time* at all to spend,
Nor services to do, till you require.
Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour
Whilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you,
Nor think the bitterness of absence sour
When you have bid your servant once adieu;
Nor dare I question with my jealous thought
Where you may be, or your affairs suppose,
But, like a sad slave, stay and think of nought
Save, where you are how happy you make those.
   So true a fool is love that in your will,
   Though you do any thing, he thinks no ill.

 


SONNET 61


Is it thy will thy image should keep open
My heavy eyelids to the weary night?
Dost thou desire my slumbers should be broken,
While shadows like to thee do mock my sight?
Is it thy spirit that thou send'st from thee
So far from home into my deeds to pry,
To find out shames and idle hours in me,
The scope and tenor of thy jealousy?
O, no! thy love, though much, is not so great:
It is my love that keeps mine eye awake;
Mine own true love that doth my rest defeat,
To play the watchman ever for thy sake:
   For thee watch I whilst thou dost wake elsewhere,
   From me far off, with others all too near.

SONNET 87


Farewell! thou art too dear for my possessing,
And like enough thou know'st thy estimate:
The charter of thy worth gives thee releasing;
My bonds in thee are all determinate.
For how do I hold thee but by thy granting?
And for that riches where is my deserving?
The cause of this fair gift in me is wanting,
And so my patent back again is swerving.
Thyself thou gavest, thy own worth then not knowing,
Or me, to whom thou gavest it, else mistaking;
So thy great gift, upon misprision growing,
Comes home again, on better judgment making.
   Thus have I had thee, as a dream doth flatter,
   In sleep a king, but waking no such matter.


 

 

 

Brit Lit.

Today:

If you were blind.....
Milton wrote most of Paradise Lost blind, transcribing it to his daughter.  10,000 lines.  Blind.

Today we tried to experience blindness.  You were each blindfolded and lead by words only to the bubbler. 

We looked for the last time at four pictures.  After we imagined that we were blind.  I asked you to describe each picture in your journal from memory.

You were each given a section of Paradise lost.  For your section, you needed to find a picture via the ipads and present it via airplay to the class while reading.

HW:  Finish Paradise Lost.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Shakespeare:

We finished your test.  If you need more time, please see me.

We went over the paper due this Friday.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal:  What did you do over break?  Please share one good story, one bad, and one funny.   1 page

I broke you into small groups.  With the ipads you researched and presented on: 
John Donne
Andrew Marvell
Ben Jonson
Robert Herrick

We took a quiz on the presentations.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

I was THAT teacher.  We took a test before the assembly.   On a 1/2 day.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We finished our pocket sonnets and used them to decorate the holiday shrub.  The idea is to take a poem off the tree and read a few and connect to another emotion.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:
We took a quiz on act V
We shared the remaining video projects.
We filled out group evaluations.

We went over the test:

The Twelfth Night

Essay Exam 2015 CP/CPA Please answer 1of the 3 questions in well-developed 3 paragraph (one page) answer.  H Please answer two essay questions.

 

Please answer the following questions in well written essay format.  Please make sure that you back up all statements will solid examples from the play.  You may use your scripts and any notes that you have to answer each question.

 

  1. One critic has called this play “an anthology of madness”.  He states that with the exception of Viola and Sebastian, almost everyone in the play exhibits some form of extreme behavior which separates him or her from the norm.  Please give three examples of characters exhibiting such abnormal behavior.  How does this lend itself to the comedy of the play? Please give specific examples to back up your opinion.

  1. Often, the charm and humor of this Shakespearian comedy are still appealing and engaging to a modern audience.  How are Viola, Malvolio, Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek responsible for the humor in the play?  Please give specific examples for each.


  1. The basic fuel for the play is in mistaken identity.  Seemingly everyone is in love with a person that is not the person that they truly are.  Please examine the love relationships in the play and detail how this is resolved in Act 5.
We played the review game, Who Wants to Win a Pizza Party?  You won and stopped on 80's day- great job!

 

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Write a 10 line (min) poem on the following themes:
The Future
Love
Strength

B block finished typing their final draft of their sonnet on the ipads.

Get on the Mic:  We had a mini poetry slam where you shared the best poem that you have written during this unit.

A Block read the poems by Donne.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

We watched act III.

I shared the clip of Sir Alec Guiness (Obi-wan Kenobi) dressed in yellow garters.

We  shared your song projects.

We acted out some of act IV

Brit Lit:

Today:

We watched the movie that made me want to be a teacher:  Dead Poets Society.

B Block shared their Macbeth movies.  Any group that was not ready- these are now past due.

Have a good weekend.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started with the journal prompt:  Can word really change the world?  What do you think are the most powerful words ever spoken?  If you had to leave the world with one sentence, what would you words be?    1/2 pg.

Sonnet Part II:  We wrote the 1st draft of your sonnet.  I gave you a worksheet on this to follow.

We looked at the poetry found in the movie Dead Poets Society.

We watched the 1st part of this movie- the reason that I became a teacher.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Shakespeare:

Journal:  Take the found poem that I gave you and imagine what character might find it.  Please respond in a 1 pg

I wish that I could take you all to the real Globe- today I did my best.  We watched a performance of the play at the real Globe in London.

Quiz on act 3.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal #21:  What do you think of poetry?  Share one positive and negative experience.  1/2 pg

We did ipad poetry:

Using the ipads we wrote on the themes of:  Love, Death, Winter

B Block also did Mad Lib sonnet poetry

Monday, November 16, 2015

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal:  Macbeth leaves room for a sequel with Fleance not becoming king at the end of the play.  Consider if Shakespeare wrote Macbeth II- what would it be about?  How would you have Fleance become king?  You may do this as a comic or narrative.   1pg/ten frames

We finished the movie.

A Block:  We took notes on a sonnet and completed a mad lib one following the notes.

B Block:  Finish your Macbeth movie projects.

A Block HW:  Find and bring in a poem that connects to you and has meaning.  We will be using these in class Tuesday.

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Monday, November 9, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

We started off looking at bear baiting lines in the play.

We also looked at the biggest examples of classical allusions in the play.
I broke you into groups of 2 and asked you to make up 10 modern allusions that will not make sense in 400 years.

After lunch, we worked on your song project.

HW:  Please finish act 2.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We started off class imagining what Macbeth's facebook page would look like at this stage of the play.  Specifically, I asked you to write 15-20 posts.  These could be comical.

We watched the 2nd page of the PBS Macbeth Doc with Ethan Hawk.
I asked you to write 10 things that you learned from the doc.  I collected this and counted it as a quiz.

We came VERY close to finishing the play.  Tuesday....we find out the ending.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Thursday, November 5, 2015



Shakespeare:

Journal Prompt:  Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.  What is the danger of power?  Describe a moment when you were given power.  How did you use it?  1 page

We watched She's the Man- a parody of the play 12th Night.  This will eventually lead to your next major paper.

ipads were delayed one day, so we needed to reschedule the 12th Night music assignment to Friday.

HW:  Please finish act 2.  I smell a quiz Friday, which will also be the last grade of term 1.  As always, end in greatness.....

Brit Lit:

Today:

Do you believe in love at first sight?  Describe your experience with love 1/2 page
Write a 1/2 page love letter fro Lady Macbeth to her husband.    1/2 page

We finished act 4.

I played the Queen is Dead by the 80's group The Smiths.  While we listening, we wrote a suicide letter from Lady Macbeth to the world.

I am afterschool today for anyone that needs to make up work or needs help with the play.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Brit Lit:

Journal:  If you knew that you only had 60 days to live, what things would you do?  What 10 things would be on your "bucket-list?"                                1 page

You each made a 2015 version of the Macbeth stew.

We acted out Act IV.

Shakespeare:

Today:
Journal:  We all have two faces: one we show others, and one that is truly who we are.  Describe your two faces.  When do you show each?    1 page

We went over the 12th Night Music Assignment.

We started act II.

HW:  Finish act II

To make you smile: http://wn.com/the_muppet_show._swedish_chef_reciting_shakespeare_(323)

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

We started class looking at some of the most interesting lines of the entire play, out of context

Journal Prompt:  Please select a line that connects to you and use it to comment on.  1 page.

We reviewed all of the parts in the play.

We played three strikes and you quiz, narrowing escaping a quiz.

I introduced the music project for the play.  These will be due next Friday.

HW:  Please review act I and have act 2 finished for Thursday.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal:  Please write a one page spark note- styled explanation for acts 1-3.  1/2 page for each act, 8 main events for each act.

We took your journal entry and broke into three groups.  Each group needed to make it into 32 seconds, deciding what could be taken out.  Video samples below :-)

We acted out act IV sc 1.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Up, up away

https://www.skypixel.com/pilot/videos/shakespeare-2015


Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal:  Have you ever lost a person/animal/thing that was especially close to you?  Please describe the experience      1 page

We did a large chunk of Act I.

We took notes on 12th Night, and a Shakespearian Comedy.

We went outside and re-enacted the ship crash.  Drone footage to follow....

HW:  Finish act I.

Brit Lit.

Today:

Journal #17:  RANT!  What is bothering you?  Get it all out.  Writing can be very healing.  1 page

We finished act III.

We finished notes on act III

We again looked at: Reversed word/thoughts/sent.  I showed you a clip of Yoda doing these in Star Wars.

With a partner, find 5 examples in act III.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Shakespeare:

We continued sharing things that you find funny.

We re-enacted the ship wreck at the start of the 12th Night.

We began the play.

Brit Lit:

Journal:
Do you believe in ghosts?  Do you have any good ghost stories made up, or real?  Tell a 2 page ghost story and share.                                                       2pgs.

Act III, sc 4: The ghost of Banquo.  We acted out this scene.

We ended watching the same scene:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1604122998/

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

Journal:  Please describe a time in your life when you were the most alone.  How did you manage these feelings?  What did you do?                                          1/2 page

We went over the 12 comedy terms. 

A few of you shared your funny thing from your HW.  We tried to identify the form of humor from the comedy terms.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal:  In act IV, Macbeth goes back to the witches and is given 3 new prophesies.  Please imagine what these might be and make up a scene that reveals three new events from his future.  You may wish to write this as a script.                             1 page

We finished act III, sc 2.

We took notes

We took a quiz on the terms from yesterday and what we have read so far in act 3.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

Today we started our look at the comedies.

Journal:  What ten things do you find funny?  Bigger question:  Why do humans need to laugh?  What happens to people when the don't or can't?  Where does funny come from?  1 page

You presented your projects.

I passed out The 12th Night.

HW:  Bring in something to make me and the class laugh.  Can be a joke, a clip, a story, a sound or face.  Tomorrow we begin to look closely at humor. 

Brit Lit:

Journal:  If you were made president/king/all powerful being, what 4 things would you do with you power?  Should you be trusted with that kind of power?  why?     1 page

We looked at and defined terms that make this stuff so hard:  Metaphor, simile, reversed word/sentence/thought, classical allusion.

You came up with your own examples, and found 3 of the 7 in Macbeth.

We read act III sc 1.

Last call on lines

Friday, October 23, 2015

Brit Lit:

You recited the 10 Macbeth lines

We watched the Macbeth movie through the end of act II

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

Work day #2 on your project.  These will be presented this Friday.

Brit Lit:

Journal: 
What is the greatest lie that you have ever told?  Why did you tell it?  What was the end result?                               1 page

We went outside and performed the death of Duncan scene with fake blood and light sabers.

We covered act 2, scene1-2.

I introduced you to the Beethoven effect and we studied your Macbeth lines.  This is a test grade and will be due this Friday!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Shakespeare:

Today:

I assigned the final project for Hamlet.  This will count as a test grade.

You cast the play:  With a partner, select the 5 main parts and cast them with modern players.  For each one write 2-3 sentences as to why you cast them.. Be specific.

We finished act 4.

I smell a quiz on act 4.......

Shakespeare


Hamlet Final Project

Each of you will need to select from the following projects:

 

  1. You act the scene:  Perform one act of the play on stage, in costume (15 minute min.)  Lines must ne memorized.  This will be graded on effort- so give it your all.

 

  1. You play the teacher:  Teach a 30 minute class on any aspect of the play.  You have long imagined it, now try it. Much like a real teacher, your aim should be to use varied, interesting instruction.  This must include some form of assessment at the end.

 

  1. You make the Movie:  Select one scene from the play and film and edit it. (10 minute min.)  Please only consider this if you have equipment available.

 

  1. Hamlet, Part 2.  Create a sequel to the play.  You must have a script and a way (storyboard/painting/powerpoint, etc.) to present it to the class.  (15 min)

 

 

  1. Paper: Theme: Select a topic from the play that interests you and write and essay in which you explore the development of that topic throughout the play. Come to a conclusion that you think the play comes to regarding the topic and give clear reasons.

 

Then, in the second part of the essay, personally respond to the topic/theme. Do you agree or disagree with the play regarding the theme? How has that idea been a part of your narrative? Suggested themes:

Morality: the nature of good and evil

Betrayal

Death (murder, suicide)

Power and Politics (corruption?)

Sex (gender issues, love vs. lust)

Love

Friendship and loyalty

Duty/ Responsibility

Revenge

 

Project idea of you own?  See me!  Anything flies.

 

 

Timeline:

Monday and Tuesday = Work days.

 

Wed. = Project due.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took notes on the Globe

We watched the 15 min doc:  Why Shakespeare?

You were each given a random line from a play and had to read it in a given emotion.

We acted out act 1, sc2-3

Tuesday, October 13, 2015