Brit Lit:

HW: Read the next 3 R. Burns poems. Do ONE of the following:
Answer questions 1-3 at the end of each poem.
Write a poem about about a small unnoticed thing or event. Please write this with a direct accent (Scottish, wooosta, Boston, modern teenage vernacular, etc)

WOS:

Today in class you shared your own "gross" magic stew. We then reviewed act 4 and had a short quiz on it. Please make sure to see me if you missed it and arrange a make-up day.

We started Act 5. Some of our discussion today was centered around what "may" happen.

I also passed back your papers- so see me if you did not get yours back.

Brit Lit:

If you were not in school due to the mass illness inflicting the senior class, please make sure that you still have your poem that was assigned last night. It is unfortunate that you were all sick on such a wonderful day. I hope you all feel better soon...

Soph Lit:

Today, we went outside to enjoy the heat, and to read the poetry that you brought in. I asked you to each pick your favorite line and write it on a post it note. Then, in small groups you had to connect three different notes on the white board. High expectations resulted in impressive results. You were able to connect Shakespeare and Poe. As Lord Vader might say: Most impressive..... Below is a picture from group one.

HW: Continue to research your part in the Wasteland. Reminder- these are due Friday. I will try and squeeze some Internet time in on Thursday for those of your without the intertubes at home. Please note- the Internet is NOT a requirement. Good ol' fashion books can be a wonderful resource. Often better than the misinformation online. Imagine- finding information from books...

Poetry remix, Soph English

Scene from my classroom window...

Brit Lit:

Please finish your original poem. Please model your poem after the 3 that we read in class.

WOS:

Finish Act 4. Expect a quiz....
Make your own stew. 25 "icky" ingredients. As much description as possible.

Reason # 423 of why I love teacher here....

The power of your words....

I asked you to find your favorite line/lines from a poem or song lyric. I encouraged you to leave these for another person to discover. In this picture, poetry was left on an unexpected locker. Words can have a lasting power. Poetry can capture emotion .

Spring has sprung...

What better to do on our first 72 degree day in 4 months, than to read poems. Today in my Soph Lit and Brit Lit class, we read and discussed our favorite poems. Using fluorescent stickienotes, I encouraged you to leave your words for another person to find and discover. So, if you see a bright piece of paper around the school, take it down and read it- you might enjoy and connect to it; which, after all, is what poems are supposed to do....

WOS:

Today in class, we thought "outside the box." It felt good to read the lines outside with power. Please forgive my acting ability- you have to at least give me credit for trying hard to make my class interesting... Nothing makes me happier as a teacher to hear you mumbeling that class was interesting..for those 3 that mumbled, thanks.

I also collected your papers. Please remember that you will have 10 points deducted for each school day that passes after the due date. Some of you looked sleepy form burning the procrastination oil. It is always best to treat your writing, and the process, with respect. Very few things in life are better rushed. Writing is certainly one that gets better with time and thoughtful revision.

Soph Lit:

Today in class we took the exam for Lord of the Flies. WS needs to see me to make up. I will have these graded during vacation- so if you would like your grades early, shoot me a quick email to my school address.

Brit Lit:

I was very impressed by the Macbeth videos presented this morning. I will try to post some of them over vacation. As always, please let me know if you do not wish to have this displayed. Please remember to have your script and storyboard ready to pass in if you have not yet done so.

HW: Tonight, please bring in a poem or lyrics to a song that has a special meaning to you. We will be enjoying the predicted weather Friday, and discussing these in the courtyard. Please be prepared to share why you selected your poem or lyric.

Reminder: After vacation, we again delve back into the "Big Bertha" anthology. Please have this in class upon our return from vacation (the go-go's song is playing in my head as I type this....)

Brit Lit:

Today we took a test on Macbeth.

Thurs. in class we will have our independent film festival premiering your short Macbeth movies. Please remember to also have your original script approved by me. 10 points are deducted each day that these are late. I am really looking forward to what you put together.

Soph Lit:

Today we discussed the ending of the novel. It was very refreshing to have an intellectual discussion.

After, we played a review game for the test Thursday. Please make sure that you review your notes- paying specific attention to the use of symbolism in the novel.

HW: Study.

WOS:

Today we had a quiz on Act 2, and talked a bit about the writing process. I appreciate your feedback on some of my ideas. I hope that the big mac analogy did not make you hunger. But at least I made you think about the real point of sesame seeds....

No HW- Please finish your paper. I have high expectations on these, so please make sure that you submit your best work. I know that you will...

Brit Lit:

Today we played a review game for Macbeth. A very close game between the boys and the girls. We will have a test on Macbeth this Wed.

HW: Videos are due this Thursday.

WOS:

She’s the Man Parodies the Bard


Often, literature has an indirect impact on pop culture. Shakespeare is of course of no exception. The film She’s the Man borrows more than small doses of the story from The 12th Night. In fact, one could argue that the movie succeeds strictly as a direct parody of the play itself.

In a well written 5 paragraph essay, I would like you to answer the following questions: Does the movie She’s the Man successfully parody the play The 12th Night? While the tendency will be to answer yes, I would also encourage those to voice disagreement. Please examine not just the names, but more importantly, the function of the relationships in both stories. Does the film require the play to fully enjoy the story? Please have a clear thesis, and make sure to back this up with direct examples from both.

Essay Due April 16th.

HW: Please finish Act 2 this evening.

Soph Lit:

Sorry for the lack of posts. These has been some content blocking issues at the HS.

Test on Lord of the Flies Thursday. Review game Wed.

HW- Please finish the book for tonight.

Shakespeare Workshop

It was 20 years ago today....

Brit Lit:

Today we caught up on our notes for Act 3.  We also had a quiz on these notes.  Wed we will wrap up our notes on Act 4, and get deeper into Act 5.  I enjoyed hearing your educated guesses as to what will be Macbeth's downfall based on the three new prophecies.  We ruled out a falling bank safe, but everything else suggest could happen....

I also wanted to publicly acknowledge how proud I am are all of you.  This is a difficult play, and I can say with 100% certainty that every one of you knows exactly what is happening in the story.  I even think that most of you are having fun- but your HS cool persona would never let the class see that.  I know.  I can see the smiles in your eyes, and hear you comment as you leave how the class went by so fast...  These are all good signs in a classroom.  My most difficult class to read is slowly being drawn out of their shells...

HW- Please continue working on your videos.

Wos:

I am about 1/2 way through your exams.  I will have them back Thursday.  Feel free to email me Wed. night if you would like your grade early.

Wed. we begin Macbeth!

Soph Lit:

Today we had a quiz on Ch 8.  I was disappointed in the three of you that did not even attempt to read (you know who you are). Please make sure that you read tonight.  HW= Ch 9.

Best of luck.

I would like to wish Mr. Bliss the best of luck in his new position.  In the short time that I knew him, I was impressed with his dedication towards improving education and his positive attitude. He deeply cared about Tantasqua and will be missed.  All the best in your new position!

Brit Lit:

Macbeth videos due April 16th.  Please make sure that you schedule time with your group on when to meet between now and the due date.

Soph Lit:

We miss Mrs. Marcucci already and wish her well during her delivery.

HW read CH 8- Quiz on Tuesday.

Wos:

Test Tuesday.  You may bring in a outline for your essay.  

History Hysteria

Tantasqua is a very special place. The events today once again amazed me as a teacher. I am so happy that I found such a warm creative place that truly values education- without loosing focus that learning can, and SHOULD, be fun.

Soph Lit:

Get ready to work this week. I wanted to relax a bit today to give you a break from all the testing/writing. Don't look now, but it is 4:12 am and you are ready this blog. Inside comment for Sophomore class...

My aim is to wrap up Lord of the Flies this week.

WOS:

Today we looked at a newer, and some may say better, version of the Twelfth Night. The last 15 minutes, we looked at some of your "dreams" from last Friday with your conscious mind. Did it feel like trying to move your little toe?

Monday we will be playing my review game: Who Wants to Win a Pizza Party. Tuesday we test... Have a great weekend!

Brit Lit:

This morning we looked at how Shakespeare uses a final moment of suspense in ALL of his tragedies. At the start of act 4, we have a fleeting moment where the audience thinks/hopes everything is going to work out. Of course, as this is a tragedy, we know that it can't end well...

I asked the class to write a page on what may be Macbeth's last hope. Many ideas generated...some good thoughts...

We also watched a wee bit of the Macbeth movie, before we left early for History Hysteria day.

History Hysteria Clue...who am I?

Shakespeare: Physical Comedy Example

Soph Lit:

Today we listened to the U2 song Shadows and Tall Trees- the same title as CH 7.

We worked on the following "scenes"
The Hunt
Piggy's Glasses
Fire on the Mountain
The Beast

No HW- Best of luck on the last day of MCAS!!!! Remember- always end in greatness.

MCAS Tip #3

Relax and go to bed at a reasonable hour the night before the test.
The MCAS test is designed to measure general knowledge skills and achievement. There is no specific information that you have to learn or can study to prepare for it. Rather, interpreting information provided and understanding basic principles and how to apply them are the keys to success on the test. In reality, all the time you have spent in classes at school and doing lesson assignments and practice problems at home represents your study and preparation efforts for the MCAS test

Try and mentally review the major books that you have read Freshman and Soph year. You will most likely have a general writing prompt that may call on you to use a novel or a character as the basis of your writing.

Relax the night before the test. Watch television, play a game of Halo, read a novel, socialize with your friends, or do something else you find relaxing. Then go to sleep at your usual bedtime to make sure you get sufficient rest. Do not go to bed early. If you do, you probably won't be tired and will only end up lying awake thinking (and worrying) about the test! And that will only make it more difficult for you to perform well the next day. Relaxing ensures you will be ready to put forth your best effort at exam time. Make sure you get a solid night sleep for the three days preceding the test. One night of good solid sleep will help- 3 days will make you recharged and ready to rock.

Eat a carbohydrate based meal. My suggestion- a big bowl of pasta. You want energy that will not burn out in the morning.
Have a solid breakfast- even if you normally skip it as many teenagers will do. Avoid energy that you will burn through fast. Slow and steady always wins the race :-)

Be confident! Positive attitude has been proven to lead to improved scores. Tantasqua has prepared you well, and you WILL do a great job!

MCAS Tip #2

As you read through the passage, try to form an idea of the overall purpose of the text and make a note of what and where detailed facts (which invariably are included) are located.


For Word Meaning multiple choice questions, if you do not know the meaning of the word, try to choose a definition by making an inference based on the context in which the word is used.


For Supporting Idea multiple choice questions, never rely on your memory or what "sounds right" when choosing your answer. These questions ask about unimportant facts presented in a stream of piddling details. Since these are the types of thing that one tends to ignore or forget while reading, the people who write the test take advantage of this tendency and purposely include tricky answers. Remember that this is a comprehension test -- not a memory test -- so always refer to the text.


For Thematic Summary multiple choice questions, look for answer choices that capture the main idea or overall topic. Avoid the trap of selecting answer choices that repeat a detail or fact appearing in the passage.


For Generalization multiple choice questions, look for answers that reflect a logical conclusion that might be drawn from the facts presented by the reading. Eliminate from consideration any answers summarizing the main idea of the passage or expressing a conclusion directly stated within the text.


Back-up your answer to every Open Response question with details, facts, and examples appearing in the passage. Even if you do not write the ideal answer, doing this will earn you partial credit.

Ok, I was wrong, they are wicked cool...

pAPER jAM.

MCAS Tip #1

In General:


Remember that your success largely depends on your ability to present relevant and persuasive arguments related to your opinion or position on the writing prompt topic.


Write down everything, documenting your development process. Even if your essay is poor, showing your thought process and progression from rough ideas to finished essay will earn points.


During the First Session:

Write down a concise, direct, and clear statement of your opinion or position on the essay topic.


Brainstorm, writing down ideas for arguments you might present to support or justify your opinion.


Identify and write down examples, facts, or details that bolster each of these arguments.


Select the three or four arguments that seem the strongest or most persuasive.


Think about how to order and link the arguments you select, numbering them and writing down notes on key transitional phrases or ideas.


Write down a summarizing and concluding statement.


Write a quick first draft of your essay beginning with your position statement, followed by your arguments connected with transition statements and in the planned order, and ending with a summary and conclusion paragraph.


During the Final Session:

Focus on strengthening arguments, connections and transitions, and the concluding paragraph.


Refine your sentence structures and diction, and check your punctuation, capitalization, and adherence to rules of grammar and usage.

WOS:

Today in class we examined terms that we use everyday that come directly from Shakespeare's plays. We also shared examples of satire, and argued what makes real good satire. Many of you brought in political satire which was interesting.

Next we put together fictional cast lists for 12th Night, and debated your selections. My fav. from today: Adam Sandler playing the fool. That would just be killer.

Friday we will be doing a writing assignment based on She's the Man. Don't forget the popcorn....

Soph Lit:

HW: Please read ch7 in LotF.
Today in class we worked on MCAs prompt, and how to answer questions based on poetry.

Hear the author read his own novel...

Animal Farm Propaganda Project

Propaganda Project from Soph Lit 2009

Spring Cleaning.

Here comes the sun.....

The Machine.

Soph Lit:

Today in class you were asked to "survive" using only what you had with you in class, and the random survival guide that I distributed. I had you write about how you would use the guide that you were given to survive.

Next, we looked at the MCAS questions that you answered yesterday. I asked those with an 88 or above to comment on their strategies. We brainstormed on the following:

1. Underline main ideas as you read.
2. Put the question into simpiler language.
3. Cross out the answers that you are sure are wrong.
4. If you have time, go back to any questions that you are not sure of

The questions that you will face fall into a few main catergories- which is important to understand.
You will be asked recall questions that test your comprehension.
You will be asked for context questions
You will be asked questions that will ask you to refer to the story, and devise a logical answer.

Remember to beat your adversisary, you must completly understand them.

WOS:

HW: Please bring in a written or musical example of sarcasm. 12th Night made you all laugh today when you began to see the inuendo....ah...teenagers :-)

Brit Lit:

Today in class we worked in small groups making up a "death of Duncan" scene. My fav one from this morning: Group #5 and their 007 spy inspired scene. Always end in greatness, and you did.

Soph Lit:

HW: Read Ch 5 and finish your survival guides.

Today in class we worked on some last minute MCAS prep. If anyone would like some extra take home practice questions, please see me.

Spring has sprung in room 3115

Making an offering to the Sun God for Spring to come...

Monkey Macbeth

Word O' the Week:

Curwhibble: [Kur-whib-ble] Another word for a thingamajig or a whatchamacallit.

Brit Lit:

Today we started Act 2 in Macbeth. Why do you think that Shakespeare often leaves out the best scenes of the play? Be thinking of what Duncan's death scene would look like, as you will be putting together this "lost scene" on Tuesday.

Anyone missing the quiz from Friday, I am after school on Tuesday for makeups. Try and do it then while it still is fresh in your head.

Soph Lit:

Today in class we researched information for our survival guides. Please remember that these are due Wed.

Later in the week, we are going to put some of our reading on pause and work on some last minute MCAS strategies. Not the most exciting thing in the world to do, but I guarentee that it will help you April 1st.

WOS:

If music be the food of love, play on,
Give me excess of it, that surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die
That strain again! It had a dying fall.

Act 1.1 (104)

I was once like you, just more nerd.

Magic Will Rock Tantasqua...

Reminder: There will be a great fundraiser at school this weekend. Sat. night at 7:00, You will be blown away by the mind numbing magic of performers Frankie D, and Jason. Tickets are available only at the door for $5, with all proceeds going to the Three Cups of Tea imitative. Come out to support the cause and see a great show!

Soph Lit:

Today in class we had a quiz on Ch 1-4 in LOTF. After, we discussed Religious imagery, and symbols in the novel. Please continue to look at the following as you read- Simon, and how he could be compared to a symbol of Jesus; The symbolic use of nature in the novel, paying specific attention to the use of light; The title of the chapters.

We ended class watching 20 minutes of The Simpson's in an episode which parodies the novel quite well.

HW- Research your survival guides. Continue thinking about the question: Are people inherently evil?

My class let's you understand the literary world around you, as well as the jokes in a Simpson's episode.

WOS:

Today in class we looked at the four types of irony: Dramatic, tragic, situational, and historical. Next I asked you to come up with a scene showing each. Please begin to think about how each could be applied to 12th Night.

Can music make you smarter?

The Mozart effect:

A set of research results that indicate that listening to Mozart's music may induce a short-term improvement on the performance of certain kinds of mental tasks known as "spatial-temporal reasoning;"

Popularized versions of the theory, which suggest that "listening to Mozart makes you smarter", or that early childhood exposure to classical music has a beneficial effect on mental development

Think Different.

Soph Lit:

Please continue to work on your survival guides. Also, you will have a quiz on CH 1-4 in LOTF. Please look over those chapters and be ready.

Brit Lit:

Reminder: Please make sure that your lines are ready for class Friday. Try some classical music tonight- it may help stick it to your head.

Parent/teacher Night

Parent teacher night is from 6:30-8:30 tonight. Please encourage you parents/guardians to come out. I would love to meet them :-)

Working together: learning timing, improv, and what it means to succeed as a group...

My job is way too much fun at times....

Soph Lit:

Hw: Begin your survival research and read CH 4 in Lord O' the Flies.

Comic Touch: You've received a comic

Sent from Comic Touch (http://plasq.com/comictouch)

Love

Let's just forget that I read love notes given to me in 8th grade. Please remember that I did it for your education. Public humiliation in a lame attempt to gain your interest in language... I try not to have many regrets, but I do regret opening myself up so much and exposing my prepubescent heart in front of class. Let's just never mention that again and pretend that it did not happen :-)

Brit Lit:

Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow....

Soph Lit:

HW: Please read ch 3 tonight in Lord O' the Flies.

Limericks - The form

Limericks consist of five anapaestic lines.
Lines 1, 2, and 5 of Limericks have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another.
Lines 3 and 4 of Limericks have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other.

Soph Lit:

Today we recreated a plane crash in class. I played sound effects, and narrated the action. After we "crashed" and pulled ourselves from the burning carnage, we found ourselves on the peaceful shore of a deserted island- alone with no adults.... Things seemed very peaceful until the nightfall, when we became very aware that at the center of the island was a uncharted jungle. Somehow we made it through the long night, and discovered a way to get a fire started. I asked you to record this in a journal. If you were absent, please see me to fully explain this assignment.

Tonight we enter a similar world in the novel Lord of the Flies. By the way, you always underline the title of the book- but this is not an option in the tools that I have in making this post. While we are on the subject- you NEVER underline your OWN title.

HW: Read CH 1-2. Please expect a quiz. In class Tuesday we will begin work on our survival guides. Luke is going to love this assignment- guaranteed.... All hail the Conch. The conch is power. There is nothing without order....

Brit Lit:

Macbeth:
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
Macbeth Act 5, scene 5, 19–28

Your assignment today: Please memorize the above text. You will be reciting these in class this Friday.

WOS:

A reminder....please be ready to present your scenes tomorrow.

$5 at the door.

We work, you sleep till noon....

Enjoy your day off on Friday!

Soph Lit

Final typed version of your papers are due Monday. Please have both your 1st draft, as well as your final copy ready to pass in.

If any of you get stuck, I will be checking my school email this weekend, so please feel free to email me if you need help.

Wos:

Please make sure you touch base with your groups and are ready for Monday or Tuesday. Please report to class first. Have a great 3 day :-)

Brit Lit

HW free during our study of Macbeth. Enjoy the fruits of our hard work in class...

WOS

All groups moved to this Monday and Tuesday. Please be ready.
Jimmy.

Soph Lit

Test Thursday on Animal Farm. Remember that you can use notes on the essay- but just that part. Please make sure that you have read, and please look of the review notes from today via the game..

Word O' the Week

Alogotrophy: [al-uh-gah-truh-fee]
Excessive nutrition to any one part of the body resulting in deformity.

WOS:

Please use the time this week to work on your scenes.

Soph Lit

Writing Assignment: Animal Farm, Ten Years After

Directions: Ten years have past since the last page of the novel. Origional 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?

Requirements:
Your paper must be typed and have at least 250 words

Brit Lit:

Don't know what a whipersnapper yonker is. You will tomorrow. Shakespearean insults are coming...

WOS

I met your demands, and wish to thank you for the safe return of Master Chief. I applaud your creativity and wit during his "ordeal."

Pictures to follow.... Poor Master Chief was returned in a dress. Strangely, he finds it somewhat liberating and expressed his fondness of this new softer side. Full body armor gets real old after awhile...

Mini papers- I only had papers from about 50% of you. Please email them tonight by 4 for full credit, or bring them to class Tues. A reminder that you loose 10 point each late day.

Soph Lit

HW- please finish the book tonight. We will finish the movie in class after we have a quick quiz on the ending.

I also gave your next writing assignment. The 1st draft is due Wed, and the final Paper (typed) is due Monday.

We will be playing a new review game on wed, and have a test on the novel this Thursday.

Busy week!