Into my head
I’m gunna be up for the next 20 hours
I miss my boyfriend
Never regret, just learn
Wow, I’m Creepy
Mexican santa
Is anyone asleep
The demented cartoon movie
Why do they call it white noise
Sliding around the corners
It is impossible to think about nothing
I still want that cheesecake
2nd time I planned it now
Only class I legitimately enjoy
How refreshed you feel
I want some…
Stupid formula

Brit Lit:

Test on Monday. Today we played the review game, Who Wants to Win a Pizza Party. Please look over your notes from this game, notes that I have given, and make sure that you look over all that we have covered. Have a nice weekend.

Wos

Monday-
We do the exposition backwards from 12th Night....
I continue to get blank stares: Is he crazy, or just a real interesting teacher....
Talk about your 1st major writing assignment...

Soph Lit:

I pushed vocab to Monday (dead copy machine.) Also for Monday, your propaganda assignments are due. Today in class we talked about how this could be done. I suggested a new program by Microsoft the is in beta testing, and free to use: Soundsmith. Some of you may wish to use it for this...

No reading HW- makes sure you have read Ch 1,2,3,4,5 in A. Farm.

Random Thoughts....

We did a free write in one of my classes to the sound of a washer and dryer. They had to think about nothing for 5 min. When I gave the signal, they had to write whatever came to them. I told them one line was fine. They all wrote a page. Each student gave permission to share, and I did not pick anything that would connect them to each line. It was like taking the pulse of the mind of 25 people....

Below is one random line, on a random grey Friday, on a random Feb day, at a random HS....



Dane Cooks little mini skits about laundry
It was hard to think about nothing
I hope this does not sound like I am depressed or something…
Even if I do turn lobster red
I am 17 today….
This is a big day to achieve what we deserve
Dice..in a tin can…
My parents made me delete my fbook
The sun roof had a leak so whenever it rained my car would fill up with dirty water
She’s the thin to my mint
RAD
I lie. I lie a lot.
I love Skittles
I don’t like the bad grade on my last quiz in here…
My stomach hurts
It sucked.
Thinking about nothing is harder than it seems…
Something+nothing=undefined
Don’t try idea does not seem applicable at present in my life, which is unfortunate.
If I could stop missing him I would
He had a strange look on his face
This week has gone by fast
I’m kinda cold
I miss him so much
I have to beat him one of these days
Rinse all the sea salt out of my hair
Her dad was cheating on her Mom
I want to talk to her
He is in a better place…

Soph Lit:

Please read CH 5 in Animal Farm for Friday. And that smell is not the farm...it is the smell of a fresh printed quiz on CH 1-5 and my notes...be ready

World of Shakespeare

Today we continued working on comic timing. We started class playing "I want, I think, I feel." Everyone had a character and needed to write 3-5 sent on each question. We avoided the super obvios, and talked about how some of his characters are very basic, while others are quite complex.

For the 2nd part of class, I showed the class a 2 minute comedy clip of a fake interview. We talked about how things can be funny when they are out of context. Next, each row was given a character from 12th Night to place in the same situation. The origional lines from the play could not change.

Good stuff today :-)

Tomorrow is sock puppet Friday, and wango tango gets to wear a wig..good times...

Bonus Answer for Soph

As a reward to those viewing this tonight, the answer to the bonus question Friday:

Unsramble to make "one word" oerwndo

Andwer is of course, One Word.

Brit Lit:

This week we have been reading from the Tragical History of the life and Death of Doctor Faustus. I asked you to research people in history that have made a deal with "the devil" for their power or skill. Some of the things that you found....were strange. Selling a soul on Ebay???

Today, you wrote your own faustus inspired tale.

Soph Lit

Propaganda Assignment:

Directions: This week we have looked at how language and media can be changed manipulated.

Each row has been assigned an animal from the novel Animal Farm. After the revolution, a power struggle has emerged. Please create propaganda that will be used to convince the other animals that you are the most suited to lead the farm.

Please select from one of the following choices:

TV Ad- Create a short 1 minute video that can be used in your campaign.

Poster- Design a campaign poster that can be used to gain power.

Radio Spot- Make a 30 second sound recording. Sound effects and music is encouraged. You want to make this something people want to listen to.

Web Page- Make one page that will be used in a online media blitz! You do NOT need to host the file- just be able to save it as a html file to be viewed off the web.

PowerPoint Slideshow- Make 4 slides that highlight the reasons that you should be elected.

You must include at least 2 of the following terms:
Bandwagon effect, empty promises, oversimplification, faulty-cause-and-effect-reasoning and using a scapegoat.

Due Monday

When Notes mix with Star Wars

A copy of a student's notes :-)

Soph Lit

Today in class we had our great guest lecture on Orwell. Thank you for being a polite aud. for our guest.

I then gave you notes on the Russian Revolution, and passed out copies of Animal Farm.

HW: Please cover the book, and read CH 1+2.

World of Shakespeare

Today I completed my notes on the 10 essential elements in a play. We also looked at comic timing, and tried to do the comic scene in Act 1.5 with some speed and bite.

HW: For this evening, please take any modern movie, play, or novel and explain if it fits the mold that I gave you. You can do this as a list- but be prepared to share in class.

Last call for socks! Sock puppet friday begins this week- so get your sock on'...

Brit Lit:

For HW: please read The Green Knight in your anthologies.

Today in class I used a program to lower and raise your voices as we acted out the play Everyman. Everyman is an example of a mortality play- written for the "common man" to teach a moral. After we had moderate fun with making the voice of Death sound real slow and evil, we spent the 2nd part of class making short mortality skits. Please see me if you missed thia activity, as it was graded.

Word O' the Week

Flarf: a word used to describe (often deliberatly) bad poetry.

Green Eggs and Ham

Teaching Iambic Pentameter to my Brit Lit class via Dr. Seuss and some drum beats.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Master Chief is missing....

WOS Random Acts of kindness....

Puns

Here is a sample of puns that my Shakespeare class came up with by way of knock knock jokes...
Knock knock.

Who's there?

Sham!

Sham who?

Shamu made a big splash!



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Afro.

Afro who?

Afro you out the window.



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Dwayne.

Dwayne who?

Dwayne the tub, I'm drowning!



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Ashley.

Ashley who?

Ashley, I'm at the wrong door.



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Will.

Will who?

Will you be my valentine?



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Cusick.

Cusick who?

Cusick of Shakespeare yet?



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Orsino.

Orsino who?

Hear no evil, speak no evil, Orsino evil.



Knock knock.

Who's there?

Dive.

Dive who?

Dive? I'm sixteen.



Knock knock?

Who's there?

Evan.

Evan who?

Evan I can't stand you.

Soph Lit:

Reminder- Test on Catcher this Thursday.

Word O' the Week

Quagswag: [kwag-swag] To shake back and forth

Soph Lit:

Please finish the novel for tonight. We will be playing a review game based on the novel in class Wed. Test this Thursday.....

WOS:

I hope that you enjoyed making socks of yourself today. We be using these in many different ways as we explore the world of WS.

Please remember to have your iambic pentamer assignment for Wed. I am looking forward to what you guys come up with (da Dum, da Dum, da Dum, da Dum,da Dum.....)

Brit Lit:

Make Your Own Pilgrimage…..

Over the next week, we will be reading a collection of “tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer.

In class we will be looking at his style, and be looking at what a pilgrimage is, and why you would go on one. Duplicating a writer’s style is one of the hardest tasks that I will ask you to do. It will require close examination of the language and they way Chaucer tells the tale.

Part 1: The Prologue Poem In this section, you will write a poem to begin your piece. In your poem you must: Give yourself a title as a pilgrim
Write 4-6 Lines.
Emulate Chaucer

Part II: The Symbolic Representation Provide a hand drawn picture, a collage, or a brief descriptive piece which clearly gives a symbolic representation of who you are. Remember, symbols are common images, which are used to represent much larger things.

Part III: The Tale You will write about a pilgrimage that you have been on.
In your Tale, you must: Write 3 well written paragraphs
Write a tale that includes, Characters, a plot, a setting, a climax, and a conclusion
There is a clear lesson that you learn by the end of the tale.

Due: Friday

Wos

Due Wed:
Please find 10 lines written in iambic pentameter in either a sonnet, or play. Please complete one of the following:

#1 Record the 10 lines selected, using a beat in the background. Some ideas: pots and pans, your beat boxing Grandmother, a door opening and the closed...listen all around you....iambic pentameter is all around....

#2 Learn the lines, and have Mr. Cusick provide the beat live in class.

Due Tuedsay: Bring your socks in- you will be making a sock version of yourself in class. I will have some supplies- but please bring in any "special" things that you need to make it you.

Brit Lit:

Today we looked at Chaucer's style. We defined things that you could duplicate, and took a real funky look (or listen) to iambic pentameter examples.

HW: Please finsh Canterbury Tales and be able to identify one of the styles that we listed.

Soph Lit:

In class today: We learned how to write a compare/contrast essay. We generated 8 simularities between Holden and Ferris. The class was given 20 minutes to write the boddy of their essay. Please see the above picture of the big mac that I drew to explain the different parts. I will be giving you the secret sauce (transition words) tusday.....

HW: Please Read 17,18,19. We will be finishing the novel Tuesday night, with a review game and test to follow. I have us signed up for the computer lab for Thursday-Friday if needed to work on your final draft.

WOS

Today in class we listened to beats, read Green Eggs an Ham, and wrote in iambic pentameter. The following is a beat in which each student added a line:

I don't know what rhymes with phrase
I like my friends, my friends are nice
They never are as cold as ice
Mock Trial is number one
All we do is have some fun
When the sun goes down & out
I cannot wait for saturday
It will be lots of fun
This song is making my headache
Thinking thinking thinking thinking
I really like this awesome beat
This is shakespeare class is wicked sweet
I have a pup, his name is cole
He is black from head to toe
Hamlets momma, she is queen
She bites it in the final scene
Then she drank some funky wine
Now she's satan's valentine
Sing this song for all to hear
never fall, never fear!

Here is Tantasqua taking names at SH

17 hours filming....

17 hours of filming at SH, and the best moment..... seeing the group from Tantasqua dance together in the aud before awards. You guys rock! Congrats to show choir for placing silver. In my opinion- you guys were the best of show....

Soph Lit:

Today in class we watched Ferris Beuller's Day off. Over the weekend, please continue to think about how Holden and Ferris are the same. On Monday we will begin working on your next paper: Holden VS. Ferris and work on writting a compare and contrast essay....Have a nice weekend-

WOS

Best of luck to all members of Show Choir in class as you compete at Shepherd Hill this weekend. Try and stop by- I will be the one filming with the camera in the back- I would love to see you guys. I can't wait to see your performance! Go Warriors! (For those just reading this out of context, SH has hired me to film all of the performances this weekend.)

Brit Lit:

Today I passed out the rubric for the "Make your Own Pilgramage" assignment. In class we worked on this for most of the class. We also listened to a musical version of Barbara Allen and agreed as a class that some things are better left unheard.

No "official" HW on the weekends- so enjoy.

WOS

Some new pictures. Quiz on all terms. Enjoy the new pictures from class today....

Brit Lit

For tonight, please search the intertubes for a song version of Barbara Allen. I was able to find at least 5.

Please also finish your pilgrimage tales (1 pg)

WOS

Today in class we blocked the fighting scene in Act 3 in R+J. I am sorry that your final performances were rushed...

Enjoy the pictures from today, and no HW tonight...

Soph Lit:

Today in class, we worked on understanding your vocab words in the context of the sentence. Each group was given the page numbers of your vocab, and asked to rewrite the sentence using the def rather than the word.

During the 2nd 1/2, we talked about IM as slang. I passes out a sheet of IM terms for you to use, if Holden could text.

Please finish both if you did not have time to finish for HW.

Also- study vocab words/ read CH 14, 15.

Soph Lit:

Vocab def. were due in class today.  Please finish them tonight and show them to me Wed. for partial credit.  Tonight, please read CH 11,12,13 in Catcher.  Please be ready for a quiz.

WOS:

Sorry that we ran out of time today.  We will work on blocking a specific scene in class Wed., with the goal of using lightsabers in the aud.  Sorry Jimmy- but it will be worth it.....

Brit lit:

Today in class we wrote origional ballads and read one in class.  HW- Tonight- please find a song or poem which follows the def. of a ballad.  Please be ready to share in class.

WOS:

HW- Find a song or poem that has one of the Shakespeare Language tricks that we went over in class.

Soph:

Please define your 10 vocab words tonight. Vocab quiz on Friday.  Also, please read ch 9-10 in Catcher.....I smell a quiz Tuesday.....

Soph Lit

Please read Ch 8 tonight.  We will finish your final drafts in the lab Friday.

World of Shakespeare

From now on, we are just known as WOS.  For tonight, please create a sim (character) to live in the world that we just read about.  1 page, written in 1st person.  Think outside the box.....

Brit Lit:

Please work on your video game manuals.  Due to the storm delays, I have extended the due date to Monday.

World of Shakespeare

Quiz today on ch 1-3 od S. ALIVE!  Please read to pg 88 tonight for HW.  See you on Thursday (snow fingers crossed!)

Soph Li

Today we had a quiz on Ch 4-7.  3 people are not reading- use tonight to catch up in Catcher.  Please also work on your 1st draft of your "Write like Holden" paper.  Remember- the point is to duplicate tone and style.  Please use the checklist that we gave you in class today to see what you still may need to include.

Brit Lit

Beowulf, the video game, is due this Friday.  Today we researched weapons of the time.  Please make sure that you work on this at home during the week.  Today in class, we also had a pop quiz on your reading.

Word O' the Week

Ryparographer {rip-uh-RAH-gruh-fer}:  A painter of unpleasent or sorid subjects.  Greek words= filthy and writer.

Brit Lit:

HW- Please read the 1st 10 intro pages of the Anthology.

Soph Lit

HW Please read ch 4 and 5 in Catcher.  Today in class:
We reviewed CH 1-3
Talked about reactions to the book
Quiz, Ch 1-3
Went over 1st person narration
Wrote about the biggest lie in 1st person narration (1/2 page)

Friday we will be running a debate in class.
Book covers are due- 100 point on a quiz if covered.

Brit Lit:

Please finish your Grendel depictions and have them ready to present.  Thursday we meet Grendel- and he is not happy (father issues)

World of Shakespeare

HW:  Please come in with one line from any Shakespeare play or Sonnet.  Be prepaired to recite it from memory....

In class Wed, we will be mixing the lines up and creating skits based on strange combos.  Make sure that you have a line ready....

Soph Lit

Today you answered questions designed to help us get to know you.  For HW

Think about the greatest lie that you ever told.  Be prepaired to write about it....

Read CH 1, 2, 3 in Catcher

Ask those around you about Catcher.  Could they read it?  Did they like the book? 

Word O' the Week

Halch (halch) to hug or embrace.

The End

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my classes for a great term.  You are a great group of young adults, and I enjoyed every second of our time together. 

As I told you on the first day of class, I work hard to always remember what it was like to be bored sitting behind a wooden (or in your case some form of high density carbon based plastic) desk.  I hope that you find the time to stop by and say hello once in awhile- or at the very least pass a smile in the hall.  Thanks again for a wonderful start to my Tantasqua life.  Stay in touch!

Final Thoughts....

Brit Lit:
Today we began our review for the Final.  Please make sure that you can define all the terms given on the board today, as well as solid examples of each from the literature that we have read.

Tuesday we will be looking at the essay questions and working in class on how to answer each.

Soph Lit:

I will try to have your Night tests back ASAP- kind of crazy this week trying to finish... I am sure you are feeling it as well....

Today we defined the first set of terms for the final.  Tuesday, we will work on the second set.


Don't go quietly into that good night.....end in greatness......

Welcome Back!

I hope that you all had a great break. With the term ending soon, we need to return, recharged, and ready to end on a high note.

Brit Lit:

Today in class, we imagined a futuristic world.  In class, I had you write a one page description of what the world would be like in the year 2049.  I asked you to ponder the following questions:
What will tech allow us to do?
What world conflicts will there be?
Is it a dark future (WALL-E), or a perfect world (Meet the Robinson's)

If you were missing, please finish this for HW tonight.

Brit Lit:

HW Read 1-48 in 1984.  Quiz Tuesday.

Word O' the Week

Jirble [jur-ble] to spill liquid by unsteady movement of the container.  ie) Collin spilling choc milk in Block A

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 :-)