Example of a Far Side Comic...

A/B Block:

Today:

Listening to your feedback, I will be giving you 2 daily prompts to write on. Please only answer ONE:

"An optimist thinks this is the best of all worlds, the pessimist fears the same to be true." Doug Larsin (Far Side)

What are your greatest fears?

1 page.

A reminder: Failure to complete these will result in a mandatory help session after-school. Please make sure that these are complete. I will be collecting these these this Friday. Please make sure that they are all complete. Almost all of them are on the blog.

I asked you to envision what the monster Grendel might look like. I asked you to base your creature on the clues given in the story and draw a picture of the beast. I will continue to post some of the best ones....

We continued to look at the movie Beowulf and Grendel. Do you think that the film captured the tone of the original story? Why or why not.

Friday we will be using the computers in the lib. to work on your hero quest papers. Please have all notes and early drafts available. I will be using this time to also work with those that are having a hard time. These are due Monday.

D: Block

Same journal prompt as below (A and B Block)

Today we finished watching Beowulf and Grendel.

HW: Please work on your papers.

Brit Lit A/B Block:

Journal Prompt:

If you had a chance to go back in time, for 5 minutes, where would you choose to go and why? 2 pages

Reminder...journals are collected after every 10 assignments. I will be collecting them this Friday- so please make sure that you are up to date. Any student that is missing more than 2 assignments will be required to stay after for a mandatory extra help session next week. Please see me with any questions. We do these in class, so there is no excuse as to not having them done.

We finished Beowulf and took a quiz on your reading and terms/notes.

HW: Please continue to work on your paper. These are due Next Monday.

Brit Lit

Today:

Journal Prompt:
If you had three wishes, what would you wish for and why. Also, look 10 years out and describe what specifically these wishes would change.

A/B Block: We looked at examples of Kennings and finished Beowulf.

D: We defined symbolism, worked on dream representations, and found examples of kennings in the text.

Today in class:

A & B:

Journal Prompt:
"When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers." Oscar Wilde

Journals (1-10) will be collected and graded this Friday. Please make sure that you have them completed.

I assigned your paper. These will be due Monday. You will have the majority of Friday to work on these. Please have your 1st draft ready so I can come around and conference with those that need help. I have us signed up for the computers in the lib on Friday as well.

We finished our performance of the Hero's quest. B Block- not bad.... A block not so good. I expect much more from both going forward.

Today in class:

Word O' the Week:

Pendulous: (Pen-juh-luhs) adj. Hanging.

Think:

The average life span of a major league baseball: 7.

Today in class

A Block prompt:

Please describe the most vivid smell that you remember, without telling me what you are specifically describing. 1 page

B and D Block: "Curiosity is the key to creativity." Akio Morita 1 page

You act the scene:

15 minutes to storyboard your Hero's Quest group project
10 minutes fro scene prep
20 minutes to perform

I will try and share some video of these afterschool.

Have a great weekend.

Ever wonder what happened to all of our cranes?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/21/magazine/mag-21Look-paper-cranes.html?ref=magazine

Brit Lit:

I used different journal prompts today:

A Block: Describe a moment of intense pain. This can be phsical, or if you are brave emotional.

B and D Block: Smell is your greatest memory. Use the memory of smell to write a 1 page descriptive piece.

All classes: Today we broke into groups and constructed a Hero's Quest following the notes that I have given to you. We will be trading these and performing them in front of the class this Friday.

HW: Please study the Hero's Journey and be ready for a quiz on the terms. You should be able to explain each in your own words.

D Block:

Today:

We started with journal prompt #3

We had M complete the Beowulf chant challenge. He lost and was forced to sing the chant on pg 73.

We took a timeline quiz (20 events) from pgs 1-83.

HW: Please read pg 83-101. Please be ready for a quiz on these pages.
Please be ready to share a specific image from a recent dream. We will be using them as symbols in or class writing project Thursday.

Brit Lit Paper assignment

The Hero’s Quest
Over the last week, we have looked at the classical definition of a hero. Specifically, we discussed the research and findings of Joseph Campbell. He believed that mythology was our one single truth as humans, and these stories connected us all in a very deep and spiritual way.

In a 3-4 page traditional 5 paragraph typed paper, please take a popular movie, play, or novel, and examine how it fits Campbell’s classical definition. Please use the sheet that I gave you on this. You may pick any hero that you feel fits this mold, however, here are some suggestions that would work well: Pinocchio, Dumbo, Star Wars (1st 3), the Matrix, The Lion King, Indiana Jones, Batman, Harry Potter

Your paper needs to have a clear thesis and you must use solid examples in your body to answer the question.

Please use the following outline to help you formulate your ideas:

Opening Paragraph


Your Thesis:








Example: Many stories in literature are often influenced by stories and writers before them. In the movie Star Wars, we are told the story of a Young Luke Skywalker, and follow his quest into outerspace on his way to defining himself and finding the hero inside him. The movie Star Wars follows the tradional hero’s quest.


Main body paragraph 1:

Transition sentence:


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Main body paragraph 2:

Transition sentence:


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Main body paragraph 3:

Transition sentence:


Example 1

Example 2

Example 3


Conclusion:

Closing wrap up. Here you re-state your thesis statement.



Final Due:________________

A and B Block

Today we started with the following journal prompt:

"When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing." Enrique Poncela

We continued our great class discussions on The Hero's Quest. I gave you a 2nd handout detailing some of the things that we have been working on.

We will be writing a class story collectively on Thursday.

Word O' the Week:

Vamoose: (va-Moos) verb intr. To leave in a hurry. From Spanish vamos (let's go.)

Use in class for bonus points and dum-dums...

Think:

A duck's quack does not echo and no one knows why.

D Block:

Today in class we:

Journal #2:
"Everyone is necessarily the hero of his (her) own life story." John Barth

One page free-write.

We defined hero.

We defined the hero's quest.

We looked at the power of mythology.

I asked you to brainstorm on stories/movies that follow specific parts.

HW:
Read Beowulf: pgs 43-83. Please be ready for a quick quiz on your reading.

A Block:

Today:

We tracked down your journals and started the first 15 minutes doing a free-write.

I attempted to make the connection with what you wrote to the core concepts of heroic deeds.

We defined hero and examined modern day examples. We had a good talk about 911 and your feelings on the vents 10 years ago. I find it still hard to talk about.

I introduced you to the hero's quest, and passed out notes defining the concept.

I asked you to brainstorm on popular movies and stories that follow this mold. Please finish this for HW.

We looked at the power of mythology and had a discussion on why stories tied to these things have a deep lasting impact on us as humans.

These notes will be leading us towards our 1st paper assignment that I will assign this week.

Beowulf: The class movie...

The following videos are from D block today. Complete a scene from Beowulf in 32 sec. Given the short time they had to do these, great job! I know that I said that I would post the best one, but they were all fun to watch....so here they are:

Block D:

Today: We found our journals and worked on our first topic:

Journal #1: Describe a recent event where you did something that was not based on reward or punishment, but just because it was the right thing to do. I encourage you to write about the smallest of details. Random acts of kindness....

I introduced the concept of the hero.

We discussed your reading from last night.

I broke you into 4 groups and had you act out a section from your reading in costume. This was done with a narrator telling the tale.

You can read Beowulf fast, but it is impossible to comprehend this story quickly. Take your time in your study. Remember: Fine restaurant, not McDonald's. Chew your classical works slow and appreciate all of the taste. :-)

Have a great HW free weekend!

Block A + B

Today:

We were introduced to journals. I went over how we plan on writing everyday.

Journal #1: If you were a superhero and had one power, what would it be. Please describe specifically how you would use it. 1 pg.

We tried to defined the role of a hero. We looked at the classical definition, as well as the modern incarnation.

I introduced Beowulf and the work of J. Campbell. We will be learning about the Hero's Quest next week and taking a look at some popular modern movies and books that were directly influenced by his books.

Have a great weekend Tantasqua.

Q6

DBlock:

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/noa/audio.htm

Some audio files to check out....

Brit Lit:

Today in class:

A and B Block took a quiz on their HW reading (pgs. 2-14) in the Anthology.

D Block discussed the introduction to Seamus Heaney's Beowulf.

We defined the following terms:
Caesura
Kenning
Epic Poem

I broke you into small groups and had you each come up with 10 original Kenning's. We then swapped and each group took time to guess the Kenning...

Intro to Beowulf.

Intro to J. Cambell and the Hero's Quest notes.

Exampe of Early Clay Tablet:

Brit Lit

Today:




We talked about the oral tradition of storytelling.



We looked at the evolution of recording stories. We went from stones, to cave paintings, to the printing press....



We played a quick game of Telephone to show what happens to a story after it is passed around. We speculated that many of these same problems happened with the early stories that we are about to read.



We talked about:

The "value" of a good story

Using stories to explain the unknown

Using them to entertain

Using them to teach



Earliest stories recorded the following:



Creation stories/religious beliefs

Explaining natural events, like the sun rising, etc.

War/hero stories of valor

Recipes



HW: Read pgs 2-14 in your anthology. Three question quiz Thursday.

Word O' the Week:

Garrulous: Adj. (GAR-uh-Luhs)  A blabbermouth, one prone to rambling.

Think:

Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

Welcome!

Welcome!  We made it past our 1st day.  It was nice to meet you all today and I look forward to working with you this year. 

Summer

Have a safe and enjoyable Summer. See you in the Fall :-)

World of Shakespeare:

The World of Shakespeare: Final Exam Review Sheet

Your final exam will ask you to answer (5 of 7 CP) 7 of 7 H) questions based on the plays and sonnets that we read in this course. To assist you in remembering, you may bring in one sheet of notes to remind you of specific plays and characters.

We read the following: Othello, Hamlet, The 12th Night, The Taming of the Shrew,) and the sonnets.

The following prompts are possible questions to consider (hint, hint):

Examine the relationship in terms of a timeline between Desdemona and Othello. Please make sure to examine the end of their relationship, and how specifically Othello believes she has not been faithful.


Please read the first page of each play. How is the opening in each play important to the story? Does it bring you in and make you interested? How? Please have specific examples from at least 3 plays.

Talk about what makes a Shakespearian tragedy. Please examine one tragedy in your study group and discuss how it fits.

Please define the following literary devices that Shakespeare uses:
Alliteration, simile, metaphor, reversed word, reversed sentence construction, classical allusion, personification, inflection, stress, aside, using language to show class and status in the play. Sonnet

Character can be defined by how one handles power. Look at 3 characters and make a list how each handles power.

Discuss the use of comedy in his plays. What ideas and specific plays hold up well and still make us laugh. Please use specific scenes in your discussions.

Please review important information on Shakespeare. Please work to define what we know about him. If you had to write his obituary, what would you list about his life?

Define a Shakespearian Sonnet. What did his sonnets reveal about him that his plays may not have? Pick a sonnet and be familiar enough with it that you could reference it in an answer.

Soph Lit:

Questions from the 4 pieces of Literature we read:
1. George Orwell’s Animal Farm
2. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye
3. William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”
4. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies


POETRY/ Lit. Terms:

Allusion –
Iambic Pentameter –
Sonnet -
Rhyming Couplets –
Metaphor –
Simile –


READING COMPREHENSION:

Protagonist
Antagonist
Theme
Plot
Setting
Climax
Characterization
Point of View – (1st person, 3rd person, Omniscient)
Symbolism
Allegory
Satire

Shakespeare:

Reversed Word
Reversed Thought
Metaphor
Simile
Personification
Alliteration

Today:

We worked on finding the meaning of a word by the context. I asked you to do this for 14 words from Midsummer.

We took a trip to the aud. to try this scene on stage. We discussed blocking and stage movement.

We took a quiz on Act 1 +2

Brit Lit:

Today: we reviewed Jane Eyre by watching the movie version.

HW: Please begin looking over the novel for your essay question this Friday in class.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We talked about the 10 year gap in the novel. What do you think happened during this time? Why not include it?

We then broke into three groups to script a fictional scene that happens within this time.

We will perform them wed.

Begin to review for the final for HW.

Soph Lit:

Today:

We acted/finished Act 2.

I went over 7 examples of launguage tricks that Will S. uses. I asked you to find an example of each with a partner.

These terms are on the final, so please review them and do not loose the sheet.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We reviewed the week ahead and talked about the final.

I broke you into groups and had you examine Jane in a +/- timeline. We will use these as we attempt to understand her relationship with Mr. Rochester.

Each group presented their findings.

I assigned ch 11-15 and gave you a quiz on the reading. If you took these home to complete, please make sure that you pass these in Tuesday.

Soph Lit:

We started off performing the exposition of A Midsummer Nights Dream in 32 sec or less. This forced you to talk about the key events and decide the important parts. Kudos to the group that took my backwards challenge. I will try to put up a video of the best one...

We will be watching a modern version of the play Friday. Be kind and respectful to the sub and no paper topic... Have a great weekend.

Think:

Cats have over 100 vocal sounds. Dogs....about 10.

Word O' the Week:

Emote: (i-moat) Verb. To display emotions, esp. in a theatrical or exaggerated manner.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took a quiz on Ch 10-11.

We went down to the aud. and performed your Jane Eyre scenes. I posted some pictures.

HW: Please read ch 12-14 in the novel.

Friday I am out and we will be watching a film version of the novel. As I won't see you, please have a great weekend....

Tufts does surgery on tornado-hit horse

Note: This email is generated. Please do NOT reply to this email.

	This story has been sent to you from www.telegram.com by Sean (Cusick) Comments from Sean:
	June 07. 2011 5:23AM Tufts does surgery on tornado-hit horse GRAFTON —  A Brimfield horse injured in last week’s tornado has undergone surgery at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in North Grafton to have wooden debris removed from its leg, officials there said. According to the Hospital for Large Animals at the school, Cajun, a 9-year-old paint horse owned by Joann Kass and Steven Bush of Brimfield, was one of four horses affected by the tornado. Another horse died, and two others were treated by Spencer veterinarian Paula Orcutt for cuts and abrasions, according to Tufts. Cajun was impaled by a finger-sized piece of wood that penetrated his right rear coffin joint — the intersection of the lowest bones in the horse’s leg — and tendon sheath, according to the hospital. Dr. Orcutt and Ms. Kass’ sister, Karen Walker of New Braintree, worked with local firefighters to climb over debris to get to the stables after the tornadoes that ripped through the area Wednesday. On Thursday, the pair and more than a dozen volunteers cleared the driveway to allow the Animal Rescue League of Boston to get Cajun to Tufts for emergency surgery, according to the hospital. The surgery went well, and the hospital said it is optimistic Cajun will recover. Dr. Orcutt waived her fee for on-site care, and drug distributor JA Webster has committed to reimbursing Dr. Orcutt and Brimfield veterinarian Kevin Sherman for drugs used to care for Cajun. Non-tax-deductible donations for Cajun’s care may be made to Joann Kass and Steven Bush, care of Karen Walker, 351 Bernard Whitney Road, New Braintree, MA 01531, or may be made directly by calling the animal hospital’s front desk at (508) 839-7926. Order the Telegram & Gazette, delivered daily to your home or office! www.telegram.com/homedelivery

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Soph Lit:

Today:

Day one of your Puck lines. A reminder: -10 for each day not ready. This counts as a test grade- so please spend time tonight if you were not ready to go. The lines were also posted last week on this blog if you need them....

We started off with Shakespearean insults. I told you that Shakespeare could be fun....

We looked at the all the parts and discussed the love triangle.

We acted in costume (thanks T.ed) and tried to continue to make the comedy come to life in class.

Brit Lit:

Today:

You gave your group presentations on: Feminism, Gothic Lit, Coming of Age Novels, and the life of the Bronte sisters. Please remember to have your notes for a brief open notebook quiz Wed.

We took a quiz: Jane Eyre Ch 7-9

We reviewed your reading from last night.

HW: Please read ch 10-11 for HW.

We will be scripting your favorite scene in small groups on Wed.- so also be thinking about which scene that you may wish to use.

To all those impacted by the storm: my heart and thoughts go out to you and your families. It was very sobering this morning to hear from you today about your accounts of the storm. Please do not hesitate to ask for any help or if you just need to talk about things. Please also continue to offer support to those at our school that were impacted.

We help so many others at Tantasqua- now it is time to help each other....

Soph Lit:

For this Monday: Please memorize

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

Brit Lit:

Today we reviewed the first 6 chapters in Jane Eyre. I broke you into groups and had you make storyboard for the novel thus far. Sample pictures to follow....

HW: Read CH 7-8. Please be ready for a quick quiz Thursday

Have a great weekend!

Wishing you all a relaxing weekend devoid of school. Make sure you thank a veteran for the many freedoms that we enjoy.

World of Shakespeare:

Our small class became even smaller. We acted Act 1, sc 1 outside.

Soph Lit:

We played the Review game: Who wants to win a Pizza Party. Congrats to C and L for taking us to the 2nd from highest prize, and consequently making school fun the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend.

HW: Please look over the novel and notes. Test Tuesday.

Brit Lit:

Today we reviewed your reading from Jane Eyre. We wrote on a series ( 3 of 5)of writing prompts.

HW: Make sure you are up to date on your reading. Have a great holiday weekend.

Brit Lit:

Today:

I collected the remaining anthologies. We started Jane Eyre.

HW: Please read CH 1-3 and be ready for a brief quiz Thursday before going to All Arts Day.

World of Shakespeare:

Today: Final Exam.

Soph Lit:

Today:

We took an open book quiz for ch 8,9,10. The winning team of the debate was excused from the assignment.

We reviewed the ending of the book.

We watched LOTF the movie.

HW: Thursday we will have a review game in class and prepare for the test Friday. Please make sure the novel is finished and that you review your notes on: symbolism, foreshadowing, Freud (ID, EGO, super Ego), etc...

World of Shakespeare:

We said goodbyes to our Sr friends...parting is such sweet sorrow...

We took notes and began Measure for Measure.

Soph Lit

Today:

We examined the use of light and darkness in Lord of the Flies and defined foreshadowing. We broke into small think tanks and looked at 5 examples of each and what they foreshadow.

We finised our debate on whether people are born good or evil. Great job. Remind me to do another debate.

Quiz on CH 8,9,10

HW: Please finish the book for wed (ch 12) We will review Thursday and test on Friday.

Brit Lit:

Today we took your final exam and I collected your books. Please see me ASAP if you did not have your book, or your recorded number is not the same. In both cases, I need to submit a book bill- so please remain diligent in returning all materials.

Soph Lit:

Today:

Lord of the Flies: The Debate

During this class, I will be breaking you into two groups to debate the following:

Side One: People are inherently Evil. We are born with the tendency for evil and need to constantly suppress the urge to be bad. The only thing keeping us “good” are the laws and consequences that are in place within society. Without them, we would act selfishly and think only of ourselves.

Side 2: People are born good, but their experiences force them into being a good or bad person. Evil, or being bad is a direct consequence of ones experience in life.


Directions: Please break into two groups and assign the following parts:

Captain: You will read your opening statement expressing your main point to prove. This will be very similar to the thesis of a paper. You will pick the order of your team to make your top 4 points.

Thinkers (4): You will direct the 4 examples that your team uses.

Scribe: You will write the main thesis of your group and record the four examples to prove your point.

Debate team: You will carefully listen to the argument from the other side and attempt to counter their argument.


Main Statement:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Example 1:______________________________________________________________________

Example 2:______________________________________________________________________

Example 3:______________________________________________________________________

Example 4:______________________________________________________________________

We will begin with each side giving their opening. Then we will go back in forth. Each team will present their example, and the other side will have the opportunity to counter their argument with their own examples.

Each round will be awarded a winner.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We finished our review for the final exam. Specifically, we looked at the short answer and essay. End in greatness....

The last 30 minutes I gave you an envelope to mail letter to yourself in 5 years. If you did not finish, please give it to me when you complete it and I will add it to the stack to mail in 2016. These are optional, but very cool to get in the future.