Brit Lit:

A Block: Today in class, we discussed grades, updated our notes, read the first 2 scenes in Act 5, and ventured outside for the last 10 minutes to recreate the Birnham wood scene. Please see below video on how "the Forrest moves."

B Block: Today in class we went to the computer lab and worked on your Macbeth Parody paper. I passed out a writing rubric, and answered questions on parody.

Both A & B: We will be finishing the play in both classes by this Wed. I plan on having a review game Wed. or Thurs. and the Macbeth exam this Friday. You are reminded that you may use all of your notes on the test- so please make sure you are up-to-date by then.

Those that have been out sick: If any of you that have missed school due to illness and need additional time to catch up with class, please know that you have it. I can also stay after any day if you need specific help.

Don't look now, but the forrest moved....

Where in the class is Master Chief?

Word O' the Week:

Bevy: (BEV-ee) Noun 1. A group of birds or animals. 2. A Collection. From middle English: bevey

Think:

Reno, Nevada is west of Los Angeles, CA

Act 3 Parts for Othello:

Lucky Penny...

Brit Lit:

Yesterday and some of today we looked at a modern parody of Macbeth.
Block A: we also worked on discussing the weakness in Macbeth's plans/castle. Pictures to follow....

Block B: We worked on the outline for your next paper on the parody of Macbeth. I will flesh out a typed assignments with rubrics over the weekend for you.

World of Shakespeare:

Yesterday and today we looked at Act 2. Specifically, we looked at stage fighting in super slow mo, jealousy, and began our diary for Iago. Please do not loose the 2 pages that we did in class, as we will be doing this again and interjecting it at the end of the play.

Today we looked again at the film, and I had you present a short skit in front of the class. Each group was given an item that caused your breakup. A ton of great stuff today!

We assigned parts for Act 3- so if you have a speaking part, please look over and familiarize yourself with the lines for Monday. Have a great weekend....

Brit Lit:

Today in class you broke into small groups and read Act 4m sc 3 on your own. We then watched a clip from the Godfather, and launched into giving this scene "the Godfather Treatment." Each group identified the key parts to the story and made a mob version of the scene while I played the Godfather Theme in an endless loop. Nah, Nah, nah, nah, nah, na, nah.....

The last 10 minutes of class each group performed their scene. This was counted as a quiz grade, so if you were absent please see me for the alternative make up assignment when you return to class.

We also viewed some late Macbeth movies. I posted another great example below....

Cheerleader Macbeth Scene

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class: We acted out Act 2 in Othello outside.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:
We had our Macbeth Film festival. If your film was still in production, you are reminded that you loose 10 points for each late day. I am after tonight if any group requires technical help for free.

Word O' the Week:

Vamoose: [va-moos] Verb To leave in a hurry.

Think:

In Cleveland, Ohio, it's illegal to catch mice without a hunting license.

Macbeth Movie Monday

Brit Lit: You are reminded that you film projects are due this Monday. Today I collected your scripts. If you did not have your script, or see yourself not having this done for Monday, please see me ASAP.

Dressing the Dark Lord

Buliding Vader

Lord Vader Comes to Mr. Cusick's Class

Making a New Stew

Master chief Enjoys the show...

World of Shakespeare:

Today we finish Act 1, and continued our discussion of some of the controversy in the play.

During lunch I was absolutely delighted that a small group decided to have a picnic in my classroom. Tantasqua continues to amaze and inspire me as a teacher!

After lunch we broke into small groups and worked on creating a scene where the teenage daughter comes to a family dinner- only to announce that she has married the boyfriend that the family disapproved of.

HW- Please write 1/2 page on what your opinion is towards Othello is at the end of scene 1. Please remember, most of the conversation is about him, but they NEVER say his name.

Reminder: If anyone has the board game, please bring it in. I would like to talk about the rules of the game and how they relate to the play-It will help to have a visual of the game.

Brit Lit:

Today in class: We finished Act III. Block A looked at a scene with Jedi Master Yoda, and I asked you to identify the reversed thought. Much like Shakespeare, Yoda flips things around for effect.

Both classes read, danced and cackled during the Stew making scene in Act 4. I then asked you to break into small groups and modernize some of the ingredients. I will try and put some of them together and post some of the better parts.

HW: Macbeth Video project due November 9th. Please make sure that you are not leaving this to the last minute!

You know you have a great class when....

World of Shakespeare:

Today we began or study of Othello. We are going to work this one a bit different. Each week, you will be assigned a specific character. You will be responsible for reading their lines before hand and becoming familiar with the lines and what they mean.

Today I also gave you brief intro notes on the play and we discussed some of the controversial topics that remain 400 years after.

Brit Lit:

Today in class: We looked at act 3, and I asked you to write a page speculating what would be a great "moment of final suspense" at the start of ACT 4.

I gave you some group time to work out your Macbeth scripts. Reminder: These are due November 9th. I will be after this week to help those who may be technically challenged...so stop by for some free help.

Word O' the Week:

Dotty (Dot-ee) adj. Eccentric, mentally unbalanced, unconventional.

Think:

Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

Helping Dady Teach

Getting into the Act

Cusick vs Metz

If pluto is a dog, then what is goofy?

School Spirit Rules!

You Get to be "Super" in my class!

Ghost Story

This Friday, I will be telling you a great Irish ghost story. Be ready to be scared.....

WOS:

Today we had our final performance of our silent version of 12th Night. Yesterday we briefly looked at silent comedy, and discussed the importance of body language in telling a story. TWN was in the house for our class yesterday- so I will try to get some of that feed for the blog. If not, I will try to post some snippets from today after class. That sound in the back of the classroom yesterday was your English teacher laughing out loud- you guys did an incredible job with this one!

This Friday our class Honor is on the line as we face off against Mr. Metz in his yearly Halloween challenge. I am fiercely competitive- so no pressure...but you better win, and win convincingly....
:-)

Brit Lit:

Today we worked on how to write a script. We began by identifying JUST the key elements of the story- the parts that need to be told and can not be deleted. We focused on 3 areas specifically:
Narration
Dialogue
Stage Direction

For the Macbeth Movie Project, you are required to pass in a typed script. Please use the information covered today in class to complete this part.

TWN in the house!

Brit Lit:

Readings in British Literature- A St. Jean/Cusick Mash up assignment

VOCABULARY 2 Macbeth
Words are like paint- and new words can often dramatically change the feeling of your writing. Imagine how French impressionism would be if they had the use of florescent color. I present to you some new “color” in the way of Shakespearean vocabulary: guaranteed to push your writing in a drastically new direction.

Write a 1 page story (fiction or non-fiction) using 15 of these 20 words.
Please UNDERLINE every vocabulary word used in your story.

1. largess - gifts

2. palpable - touchable

3. augment - increase

4. bosom franchis'd - heart free from guilt

5. confounds - ruins/confuses

6. Beelzebub - one of Satan's chief devils

7. amiss - wrong

8. office - duty

9. abuse - deceive

10. consort - mix

11. benison - blessing

12. indissoluble - can't be broken
13. knit - bound together in friendship/ close ties to family

14. issue - descendants (children and grandchildren)

15. wrought - to work with

16. sorely charged - sadly burdened with

17. loon - fool

18. pester'd senses - troubled nerves

19. recoil - to jump in fright

20. patch - clown

Tools of the Trade...

WOS:

Today we reviewed Act 4 and I answered questions from your reading last night. I broke you into small groups and asked you to storyboard the play into 8 small squares (best one bellow ;-) )

HW: Please read ACT 5. We will wrap up the play Wed. in class with an assignment geared to our guests filming class.

Brit Lit:

Today we worked on Act 3, sc 1 and 2. As I discussed in class, Act 3 is the high point, or climax of a Shakespearean Tragedy. Macbeth being named king has led many around him to examine his sudden rise to fame a bit more closely.

Last call on your Macbeth lines. Anyone that has yet to go...tomorrow, tomorrow, and tomorrow....

HW: Begin work on your film scripts. New due date due to incessant A block complaining is November 9th.

Debating Parody in the 12th Night

Is that a Joke?

The Cusick knock knock joke that was posted last week was written by a former student. It was not my intention to take credit for a good joke. My apologize for not giving credit if credit was due. :-)

WOS:

Today in class we concluded our discussion on the use of Parody with She's the Man, looked at your Act 3 re-writes, and began our panel debate on parody of the play.

HW: Please read act 4.

Think:

5 Jello flavors that flopped: Coffee, cola, apple, chocolate, and celery.

Word O' the Week:

Vim: Noun. Lively in spirt, energy; enthusiasm; Mr. Tantasqua.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we finished your Macbeth lines, and I assigned the Macbeth Video project. As discussed in class, this will be graded on the following rubric:
Macbeth Video Assessment:

Your projects were graded on the following:


Script 5 10 15

Effort 10 20 30

Costuming 5 10 15

Lines 5 10 15

Interpretation 10 20 25
Of the Scene

These are due November 6th. Please see me if you have any questions on the assignment.

WOS:

Today we looked at parody. Specifically, we watched part of the relatively new film She's the Man. Monday we will have an in class debate on whether parody of a classic is good or bad. Please be thinking about the obvious similarities. Does the story work better in a modern translation? What does it say about the play that it can still work as a timely story?

Brit Lit:

A Block: We watched the Polanski version of Macbeth covering Act 2, and I made the entire 3rd floor smell like a movie theater. I assigned your Macbeth video project and showed you 3 examples from previous years. I will post a rubric online Monday after I give the assignment to my other class.

Reminder: Your Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow speeches are due Monday- so make sure that you are ready to go first thing Monday morning. Have a wonderful weekend.

B Block: Those of you not attending the performance of Animal Farm, recited your Macbeth lines. Video to follow....stay tuned!
If you were not ready, you lose 10 points for each day, so make sure that you look over and learn the lines for this Monday. I will also explain your next project Monday...

Don't look now, but I see many of you laughing and getting perfect grades on Shakespeare. It is a difficult play, and I am very proud of how well you are ALL doing. Keep it up!

Quiz on the Stage

WOS:

Today we moved class to the auditorium. I gave a brief quiz on Act 2, and we rehearsed our scenes that we blocked. We performed them on stage and had a chance to give feedback on the comedy in the blocking. We discussed physical humor, and how the play probably had lots of this to help the funny.

HW: Please read act 3.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we examined blocking: notes to the actor of movement on stage. We talked about using abbreviations for movement, and I gave you a cheat sheet of often used shortcuts.

I broke you into small groups and had you block a scene of Macbeth. I asked you to include movement every 3-5 seconds to avoid the "cement shoe syndrome."

HW: 10 Macbeth lines this Friday. Please continue to learn the lines and be ready to recite. For anyone looking for a bit of extra credit- ask me about the Shakespeare challenge in class...

Late Night

Please be reminded that my late night is Wed., or any other day with appointment. If you need to make up assignments, or a bit of extra help, please drop in.

WOS:

Today we had a discussion on Act 1; specifically, we examined the comic elements of the play.

Part 2 of class, we talked about stage movement, otherwise known as blocking. I broke you into small groups and assigned you a part to block in a comedic way. Videos to follow....

HW: Please read act 2 and per usual, come in prepared with at least 5 discussion questions. Please once again focus on the comedy. Please continue to think: Is this play still funny? How would you make it funny if you were going to direct.

Part 3 we made believe that we were casting the play with modern celebrities. Specifically, I asked you to find characters that would add to the level of comedy.

Brit Lit:

Today in class...
We talked about a Shakespearean Tragedy and looked for the exciting force the propels act 2. I asked you to do a one pg "free write" speculating on what is in store in Act 2. If the death/murder of the king is the explosive force at the start of act 2, and the action continues to rise towards act 3, what else could happen. Macbeth is a blood bath, so be ready for a good ol' Scottish bash.

HW- Please continue to work on your Macbeth lines. I posted them last night for your convenience on the blog, but it is also obviously in your books.

A Geek Gift from Mr. Nameika

Dungeons & Dragons Soda: Sugar Free Potion of Healing.

A Block Story Boards

Think:

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

Word O' the Week:

Boondoggle [Boon-dog-uhl]: Noun. A braided cord worn by Boy Scouts. Also; a wasteful activity, especially one funded by the government as a political reward.

Wos:

Today in class we finished working on our "grouping" of lines into 4 categories. I hope that it was clear the Shakespeare had a formula in how he describes love. This holds true in all on his plays, and many of his sonnets.

HW: Read act 2 and please come into class with 5 questions for discussion on Tuesday. Specifically, did any of act 2 make you laugh? Please remember, this is a comedy :-)

Learn:

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 taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Brit Lit:

Today in class, A block finished their Act 1 comic/storyboards. After, I asked you to cast Macbeth with modern actors, and discuss why each was selected.

I assigned 10 lines from Macbeth that you will need to memorize for this Friday. 10 points per line, and it is being counted as a test grade- so it should help you averages a bit :-)

Tuesday, we will be acting out Duncan's death scene outside- so please bring a sweatshirt. They are predicting a "return to Summer" but you know that the weather people do not always get it right.

Question: Why do you think that Shakespeare does not "show" Duncan's death? The same with the marriage of R & J....why does he leave out the seemingly most important scene in the play?