World of Shakespeare:

Today in class we looked at your favorite sonnet. For Dec 22., please write a 3-5 page paper analysing form and meaning in your sonnet. We will be taking the next few classes to begin this together.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we discussed the Romantic Period. I gave notes on the time period, and reviewed your reading assignment last night. We had a quiz on pgs. 632-646.

Tonight, please read The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner in your Anthology textbooks.

I also assigned a small paper assignment due next Tusday December 22: Choosde one of the 3 assignments on pg 770 in your anthologies.

World of Shakespeare:

Today we took notes on his sonnet construction.

HW: Please write an original sonnet that follows the rules defined in class today.

Brit Lit:

Today in class I gave notes on a Shakespearean Sonnet. We read and discussed # 116, 53, 148, 115. I asked you each to diagram your favorite one of the bunch.

HW:
Please write an original sonnet that follows the same rules that we discussed in class today:
1. iambic pentameter
2. 10 syllables per line
3. 14 line poem
4. Follows the end rhyme pattern of: ab,ab,cd,cd,ef,ef,gg
5. Last two lines give it power. End in greatness- as always....

Word O' the Week:

Gynarchy: (Jin-ar-ke) Noun Government by women.

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class I gave a brief lecture on sonnets. I asked you each to bring in a fav. sonnet and read it to the class. We will finish reading these on Friday- so if you were not ready, or I did not get to you- please be prepared to go.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we held our open mic poetry slam. I posted a few clips from the event bellow.
I also introduced and gave you notes on Shakespeare's Sonnets We also read and analyzed the 4 sonnets in your anthology.

Friday we will be doing the second part of the Dream Catcher assignment. Please make sure that you have the thoughts that you collected Tuesday. Also, just a reminder that the assignment is and was optional. Please see me if you do not wish to participate in the assignment.

World of Shakespeare:

Here are the short essay/s for those that decided to finish it at home:

Please discuss Othello's main weakness. How does this make it easy for Iago to feed into his jealously?

Specifically, what other circumstances directly contribute to Iago's plan that help make it work?

Shout Out

Mike and Andrew keeping it real....

Tantasqua...scenes from a classromm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61793597@N00/sets/72157622826516239/show/

Open Mic Poetry Slam

This Wed. in class you will have the opportunity to share a poem in class. Please use tonight and tomorrow to have a poem that you are willing to read in front of the class.

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class we caught up on Othello in film form. Please look over acts 1-4, as there will be a quick quiz this Monday.

Good Stuff...

http://www.favoritepoem.org/

Brit Lit:

Happy Friday!
Today in class we diagrammed the foot and meter of the song lyrics that you brought in for HW.
Next, we looked at some examples from Robert Pinsky's America's Favorite Poem Project. We also looked at some of the DVD examples which were originally aired on PBS. If anyone would like to borrow the book and or DVD, please see me. It is real good stuff...

World of Shakespeare:

Today we broke into groups of 5 and read Act 4, sc 2 in Othello. After lunch we took a quick quiz on Act 4, sc 1 and 2.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we shared your HW from last night. I explained the power of words- specifically, how a mere 3 words can create feeling. Sometimes less is more. There is a power in sharing emotion and connecting your voice inside to an audience.

After, we took notes on poetic devices: foot and meter. In attempting to make you hear the pattern, I read you a classic from Dr. Seuss- Green Eggs and Ham.

After, we marked another classic- the theme song to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Some of you did not finish, and asked to complete it for HW.

Speaking of...tonight please bring in a song that follows a beat. Specifically, an song that has a foot and meter that repeats. You will be diagramming it, so please make sure that you have a copy that you can mark up.

Othello Talk...

Working on Othello in the hall

Rob checking my blog on his iphone as I post it.....

Decorating the Holiday English Shrub with Poems

World of Shakespeare:

Today we reviewed act 3, acted Act 4, sc 1.

After lunch we broke into your journal groups and wrote your entries for Act 3. Iago has much in his head- so if you need more time to finish, please see me.

HW:
Themes in the play. Please identify at least 5 themes in Othello. Remember a theme is a universal idea that connects the audience to the play/book/story. Please choose one of the following assignments:

1. Collage
2. Musical Representation
3. Poetry
4. Connect each theme to a modern film.

These are due in class wed.

Brit Lit:

Today in class:
We shared our favorite poem. Each student explained why the poem was important and then read it to the class. We agreed that the best included the following:
About Real things
End in power/greatness/deep line
Beat
Connects to you
Sound
Honesty

We the read 4-5 poems from the Anthology.

HW: Please read the excerpt in your text from Paradise Lost

Word O' the Week:

Pendulous: [pen-juh-luhs]
Adj. 1. Hanging 2. Undecided

Think:

It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year's supply of footballs.

Brit Lit:

Today we began with an introduction to poetry. Over the next 12 class days we will be looking at Poetry from the anthology books. Please make sure that you have you "big books" with you in class each day.

HW:
Please bring in a poem that you connect with. Please be ready to share what you liked.

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class: On pg 101, I asked you to remix and reverse the Othello and Desdemona lines and see how it would change the scene. Video to follow if anything is blog worthy...

Brit Lit:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow we will have out Exam for Macbeth. End in greatness.

A Block Needs more food...

World of Shakespeare:

Today in class I asked you to create 20 questions from acts 1-3 in Othello. We used these playing a review game, and took a quiz after lunch. Please remember that just because I am not assigning you HW each night, does not mean that you have nothing to do. Please look over the play and have any questions ready for class.

Brit Lit:

Today in class we played a review game "Who wants to win a Pizza Party" to prep for you Macbeth Test this Friday. After the review, I went over the essay of the test and we talked about how to answer it. You are allowed to use all of your OWN notes during the test- so please make sure that you have everything.

Thou Vader Villian...

Macbeth Video Project

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!