Lost Bet....

Sample of Project from last year...

Favorite Poem Project

http://www.favoritepoem.org/project.html

Brit Lit:

We discussed the article that I gave you to read for HW last night on doublespeak.  We looked at specific examples of how we are manipulated by people through language.

We went over the rules of Newspeak.  We translated terms into newspeak and shared them.

I broke you into small groups and asked you to re-write an article from yesterday on the us pullout of Iraq.  You were asked to re-write this like you were a proof reader in the world of 1984.

We shared your revisions.

We had the final round of your debate on censorship and surveillance. 

New Class rule

WOS:

Today:

Journal prompt:  Please write a sonnet based on the theme of death.

We shared these.  Many were quite powerful.  Remember, truth and honesty always force incredible writing.  This is true for poetry as well.

I tried to lighten the mood with a comic sonnet:

Sonnet - Billy Collins

All we need is fourteen lines, well, thirteen now,
and after this one just a dozen
to launch a little ship on love's storm-tossed seas,
then only ten more left like rows of beans.
How easily it goes unless you get Elizabethan
and insist the iambic bongos must be played
and rhymes positioned at the ends of lines,
one for every station of the cross.
But hang on here wile we make the turn
into the final six where all will be resolved,
where longing and heartache will find an end,
where Laura will tell Petrarch to put down his pen,
take off those crazy medieval tights,
blow out the lights, and come at last to bed.

 

I showed examples of the sonnet movie project.  We will have Friday and Monday as work days for this project.  Please have anything needed to complete these.  These are due next Wed.

 

HW:  Make sure you have a sonnet selected that you connect to.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:
Journal Prompt #34:  Headline poem.  Cut out 25 words from the magazine that you were given and build a poem around these words.  Min= 15 lines.  Please use three examples of alliteration.

I introduced you to the favorite poem project.  We watched three examples.

I gave you notes on meter and foot.  Please begin studying and understanding these terms.  They will be part of your poetry test.

HW:  Please get your journals up to date.  I will be collecting and grading prompts 21-34 Friday and Monday

Brit Lit:

Today:  We debated censorship and surveillance:

1984:  The Debate

 

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

 

Side One:  Government censorship and surveillance are both needed to protect our freedom and safety. 

Side 2: Censorship and spying on American Citizens’ are both wrong and counter our basic fundamental rights as Americans.

 

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.

 

WOS:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Please use the rules that we discussed and write a Shakespearian sonnet on the theme of love.

We watched the last 10 minutes of Shakespeare High

I gave you intro notes on the sonnets.

I assigned the Sonnet Movie Project:

The Sonnet Movie Project

Introduction:

As we have been discussing in class, Shakespeare’s sonnets revealed a much deeper and complex picture of his heart.  For your next project, you will need to visualize the feeling and emotion in the sonnet.

 

Procedure:

Pick a sonnet that you connect with, or just like.  It will be easier if you pick one that holds a special connection to you specifically.  If not, that is ok- just try and have one that you have feeling towards.

 

Next, you are to make a visual representation of the images and feelings in the sonnet.  Here are some suggestions:

 

A short film: 

This needs to be 3 minutes long.  Please narrate your sonnet over the footage.  The footage and images in the movie must tie in with the sonnet.

 

Powerpoint/slideshow:

For each of the 14 lines, please pick an image that expresses the feeling or imagery of the line.  Please use background music to score these emotions as well. 

 

Painting/Drawing:

Draw an emotional representation for each of the 14 lines.  You will need to read your sonnet to the class, and hold up each image.

 

 You will be graded on the following rubric:

 

You successfully understood the poem……………………30 points

You had a correct visual representation for each of the 14 lines

                                                                             ………30 points

You presented it live in front of the class…………………..40 points

 

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal Prompt #32:  What do you think about poetry?  Have you ever used poetry in your life outside of school?  If you dislike poetry or are frustrated by it, why?  1/2 page.

Reminder I will collect these again on Friday after journal prompt #35.

We finished Dead Poets (or close to it).

HW:  Please make sure that you have song lyrics that are meaningful to you.  No excuses!

Brit. Lit.:

Today:

We exchanged secret santa gifts.

We watched parts of the movie Blade Runner to tie in with our look at Dystopian fiction and film.

I collected your Poetry Projects.  If you did not pass one in, your loose 10 points and they are expected on Jan. 2.

No HW over break.  Thanks for your hard work this week.  Looking forward to seeing you all in the New Year....be safe.

WOS:

We exchanged secret santa gifts and put a fake log on the you tube fire.

We one a close game against Mr. Metz.  I am looking forward to seeing him wear a Yankee hat in Communist garb....

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We shared your secret santa gifts.  Thank you for participating.

We each shared the poem that you brought in and explained why you chose it.  Please hold onto these, as we will be working with them when we get back.

No HW- get some rest and spend time with your friends and family.

Brit Lit:

Today:
We discussed dystopian fiction/film

We reviewed pgs 75-104
We played three strikes and you get a quiz
We began Blade Runner

HW:  Please finish your poetry project.

WOS:

Finish Othello test (essay only)
Collect plays

The Sonnets:
Intro notes
share your selected sonnet
Assign Sonnet Project

Tomorrow: Metz vs. Q6 in the history holiday show-down.  Make me proud....

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Finish Catcher test (essay only)

Collect books
Share the poem that you brought in and explain why you picked it.

Begin Dead Poets Society

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal:  What things are different in the world of 1984?  Please describe 5 examples that effect the tone of the novel.     1/2 page.

We reviewed your reading and began to look at this world.

We took a quiz on pgs 1-43.

HW:  Please read 43-75 for tonight.  Expect daily quizzes- so please read.

WOS:

We finished the movie O.

We began our review of the play in prep for the test.

We fill finish the review game on Wed. and take the test as time permits.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  You are Holden's doctor at the end of the novel.  Please write your professional advice for him based on him just telling you this story.  What would you recommend him working on to get healthy?  H= 1 pg, CPA/CP=1/2 page.

We played the first round of the review game.

We will continue the review game tomorrow and take the test is time allows.

HW:  Enjoy the snow.

Brit Lit.:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Does recent NSA revelations make you feel safer?  If this does keep us safe, is it worth giving up your personal privacy?  Is there anything off limits?  1 pg.

We looked at the 1984 Apple commercial.  I had two worksheets that we used to do an analysis.

I gave you an article on the term Orwellian.

HW:  Please read to pg 43.

WOS:

We watched the movie O.
HW:  Please look over the play.  Review.

Comp. Lit II:

Today:
Journal Prompt: Imagine that you write for a ultra-conservative newspaper.  Please write a one pg. letter as to why Catcher in the Rye should not be taught in school.  Please make sure to include specific reasons.  1 pg.

Secret Santa for this Friday.

Toys for tots.

We looked at Symbolism in the novel.

I broke you into small groups and had each group make 20 multiple choice questions in review of the novel.

HW:  Finish book tonight.

Project Purple Video

Proud of you guys!

WHDH-TV 7News Boston

1984 1st page edit....

Brit Lit:

Journal Prompt:  Imagine a world 40 year's in the future.  Please describe what the world will be like with a focus on: Gov., wealth, health, tech., religion, politics, and social issues.  2 pages.

We defined Dystopian Fiction.
We defined it as:
Opposite of Utopian fiction
Set in future
totalitarian government
Pollution
Social collapse
Dark tones

I passed on 1984.

HW:  Please read pgs 1-15.

Wos:

We watched the movie for Othello and had a solid class discussion on what you thought of the interpretation.

I passed out permission forms for the movie O.  We will be watching this on Monday.  Please discuss this with your parent/guardian this weekend.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Please imagine that you can be any person for one day.  From their point of view, explain your day.     1pg.

I read the 4 best Write like Holden papers.

We reviewed ch 22-24.

You wrote 10 questions for a quiz based on your reading last night.  One question needed to be a higher level thinking question not based on factual comprehension.

You gave your quiz to another person in class.

You collected and corrected your quiz, and passed it back.  Isn't being a teacher great fun....

Brit Lit.

Day 3 of 3 to work on your poetry booklets.

Tomorrow, 1984.

Wos:

We watched your silent films from yesterday.

We finished the play: Act V, sc 2

HW:  Please look over the play and get ready for the test early next week.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal prompt:  You are a friend of Holden's and are getting tired of him always complaining.  Please write a one page letter to Holden that addresses his complaining and negative attitude towards everything.    1 pg.

We reviewed ch 21-22

We discussed the origin of the title and looked at the lyrics to the original song.  I may have rapped it.

We broke into 5 groups and looked at: Religion, education, money, death, phonies.  You listed 5 examples of each and how each are used in the novel.

HW:  Please read ch 23-24.

Shakespeare Silent Movies

Brit Lit:

Today:

We took your new-fallen snow poems and made unique snowflakes.  We made an offering to the snow Gods.  If you all did it, we should have a snow day within 2 weeks.

We looked at the poetry of Wordsworth.

We decided instead of a poetry test, we would use you poetry project as a final assessment for the unit.

HW:  Work on your poetry project.  You will have one final day in the lab on Thursday to work on this.

WOS:

Today:
I introduced you to silent films.  We looked at an example from 1916- right at the dawning of cinema.  We looked at it as an art form and identified characteristics.

I broke you into groups based on your rows and had you show act 5 sc 1 as a silent film.  You were asked to identify the ten things that happened that were important and show them.  I filmed them in BW on my phone and will share on the blog tonight after I add music and effects.

We read act 5 sc2 up to the death of Desdemona.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal prompt:  Please create a 10 song playlist for Holden Caufield and write a one page letter to him explaining the song selection and why you picked those songs for him.

We played Three Strikes and We Quiz!  You were able to get a person home and avoid the quiz.  For those of you not reading- READ!

We discussed texting and the idea that less is more in writing.  I broke you into groups of two and asked you to condense Holden's thought into a txt, or tweet.

HW:  Please read ch 21-22.

Brit Lit:

Today: 
Journal Prompt:  Please write a 10-15 line poem on: The first snowfall of the year.  I encouraged you to look at the window this morning for inspiration.

We went to the computer lab for day 2 of your poetry project.

HW:  Begin work on your poetry projects.

WOS:

Today:
Journal Prompt:  Please describe a time when jealousy destroyed a relationship.  1 pg.

Othello, the Talk Show.  I let you pick your own groups and create ten questions for the premise of a talk show.

We acted these out.

Comp. Lit. II

Today:
Journal Prompt:  Please cast the top ten characters from Catcher with modern actors.  This can be a list, but please explain why you selected each person for the role.

We reviewed your reading from last night.

We took a quiz on ch 14-17

We broke into small groups and did Catcher in the Rye Theater Part 2.  Each group selected a scene from the novel and acted it out in front of the class.

HW:  Please read ch 18-20

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Please write a 15-20 line original poem that asks questions. Please answer these within your last 2 lines.

I assigned your poetry Project:

Poetry Project 2013:

For this assignment, you will be making a poetry book with the following requirements:

Cover Page:  A cover that in a creative way invites the reader into you project.

Table of Contents:  List each section of poetry book

Section 1  Poet Bio:  Please research a poet that we read and give a one page bio about them. Please be aware of plagiarism, and make sure this is your own words.

Section 2  Poem Analysis:  Please write a detailed analysis on one of the poems that we read in class.  Please base this on the following:

Meter/foot

End Rhyme pattern

What is the poem about?

Section 3: Original Poem  Please write an original poem on any of the themes that we discussed during the poetry unit. Min 10 lines.  No max.

Section 4:  Favorite Song Lyric  Please Type out the lyrics of your favorite song.  These should be lyrics that you love- not the music.  Please include a paragraph at the end that explains your connection to the lyrics.

Section 5:Your Favorite Poem  Please type out the lines to your favorite poem.  This does not have to be British, but needs to have been published.  Please include a 3-5 sentence explanation as to why this is your favorite at the end.

Section 6  Evaluation of project  Please include a brief 3-5 sentence evaluation of the project.  What did you like/dislike?

WOS:

Today:

We started off class watching a 10 minute video on deception in the play.  This can be viewed here:
http://www.folger.edu/Content/Teach-and-Learn/Teaching-Resources/Audio--Video/Insiders-Guide/Othello-Insiders-Guide.cfm

I broke you into group and had you select and modernize any scene from Othello.

HW: Please review act IV for HW and finish if you did not already do so,

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

Journal Prompt:  Please write the next page in the novel.  Please also write down the pg. # so that I know where this should be.                                                 1 page.

I broke you into small groups and had you write names for each chapter, with a brief 2-3 sentence explanation as to why you selected the name.

HW:  Please read ch 15-17.  Quiz Tuesday.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We looked at the poetry of Yeats and Keats.  I shared some of my favorites with you.

Journal Prompt:  Please describe a book/movie/play that has changed your life in some way.  1 pg.

We looked at John Keats, and specifically a few sonnets that he wrote that were influenced by other things that he read.

We discussed how art can influence life.

WOS:

Today:

I collected your take home quiz on act III.  I went over the questions that some of you struggled on.

Journal Prompt:  Please write a one page movie review on the version of Othello that you watched yesterday with the sub.  How well did it follow the play?  What did you like/dislike?  1 page.

We acted out act 4 sc1-3.

Comp. Lit. II

Today:

We looked at the similarities between Holden and Ferris B.
Journal Prompt:  Please compare/contrast Catcher in the Rye to Ferris Bueller's Day Off.  Please discuss 8 of the 10 points that I gave you.

HW:  Please read ch 15.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We looked at poetry by William Blake, the poet that saw God at age 4.
We defined symbolism and looked at how it is used in poetry.

We looked for examples of the terms that we defined yesterday in the poetry that we have read.

WOS:

Today:

We started off sharing the poems that you wrote yesterday.

We decorated the holiday shrub.

We exchanged names for Secret Shakespeare.

I broke you into small groups and asked you to give examples for the different stages of Othello's mind.

We looked at a brief video examining deception in the play:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1HoEfPN-i0

We reviewed act III.

We took a quiz on Act III.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:
We typed our final draft of your Write Like Holden paper.

We reviewed your reading from last night.

I introduced the assignment for Wed:

Holden vs. Ferris Bueller

             We are going to watch the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in class- one of my personal favorites.   The movie deals with characters that all have a bit of Holden in them; in particular the characters of Ferris and Cameron.  You assignment at the end of the film is to compare Holden to these two characters.  Please consider the following during the movie.  This will help you compare the two when you write your essays.

 
1.)  Escapism:  Skipping school vs. getting kicked out of school.  How are these similar?

 2.)  Hidden character traits.  Are Holden and Ferris/Cameron the same deep down?

 3.)  Suicidal Tendencies:  Holden and Cameron both have them....

 4.)  Holden’s relationship with his sister vs. Ferris’ relationship with his girlfriend.  How do they hold the characters to reality?

 5.)  Humor:  How do Holden and Ferris share the same sense of humor?

 6.)  Making believe that they are someone else:  How do both Holden and Ferris use different identities to their benefit?

 7.)  Loneliness:  Holden and Cameron both feel like they are looking at the world from the outside.  Please explain how.

 8.)  Parental Relationships:  While Ferris has a healthy relationship with his parents, Cameron seems to suffer a cold Father who only cares about cars.  How is this similar to Holden’s situation?

 9.)  Generosity:  How are Holden and Ferris both generous, but in unusual ways?

 10.)  First person narration:  How are both stories similar in the way that they are told?

Brit Lit:

Yesterday (Monday):
We defined the following terms:

Alliteration
Consonance
Assonance
Internal Rhyme

We read The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
We looked at pop culture that has been influenced by the poem.

I gave you a hand-out of pop culture references.

WOS:

Yesterday (Monday) we:

Took notes on the definition of a Shakespearian sonnet.

We made small pocket sonnets to decorate or holiday shrub.

HW:  Please finish Act III in Othello.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We started with journal prompt #22:  Please describe your thanksgiving from Holden's point of view, in 1st person.

We worked on your first draft/final draft.  You will have Tuesday to finish these.

We talked about the big news over the break in the lit. world- the leaked copies of three previously unpublished stories from Salinger.  You can read about it here:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/29/showbiz/salinger-unpublished-stories/index.html

HW:  Please read CH 12-14.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We defined foot, meter, and end rhyme.

We stomped around the room as stressed and un-stressed syllables.

We diagrammed three poems:  Donne's Sonnet X, and When I Have Fears, and On the Grasshopper and Cricket by Keats.

I collected these.

HW: Please finish these for HW if you did not pass in.

WOS:

Today:

We made an offering to the snow gods and made Shakespeare Snowflakes-  A snowflake as unique as you, with your three favorite Shakespeare lines written on it.  Now, if the offering was just, we will have a snow day in 2 weeks.

We looked at how Iago is 'playing' Othello in act 3.  We covered scene 3.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:
Journal prompt:
#21: I am the most terrific liar.... please explain the greatest lie that you ever told.  What specific was the results?    1 pg.

We reviewed ch 10-11

We took a quiz on CH 10-11.

I passed back your journals.  I am glad to see so many of your writing!  Keep it up!

HW:  You have the night off.

Brit Lit:

We finished Dead Poets Society.
We discussed the ending of the movie and examined responsibility, parenting, and inspiration.

You shot down the Favorite Poem Project. :-(

We read the poem by Milton: On Having Arrived at the Age of Twenty-Three.

HW:  Please read the poem Paradise Lost on Pg. 471

WOS:

Today:
O Beware of Jealousy: Passion and jealousy in the sonnets.  We examined the following sonnets: 40, 57,61,87.  For each I tasked you with examining the lines and words that are connected to passion and jealousy.  We had a class discussion on this. We connected these two emotions to the play.

We read act III sc 2-3

HW:  Please read Cinthio's Tale, the original story that Shakespeare based the play Othello on.  Please do not read the last two pages to avoid ruining the dramatic ending of the play.  Please be prepared to discuss whether Shakespeare stole the story, or was inspired by it.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

I asked you to design a cover for Catcher in the Rye.  On the front, the cover needed to show a clear bias that is obvious.  On the back, I had you interview 3-4 students and pic a quote from them to use on the back jacket. 

We went over the Write Like Holden paper.  I gave you this assignment as a handout.  1st draft is due Wed.

EXTRA:  Check out the real locations that Holden visits in NYC:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/01/28/nyregion/20100128-salinger-map.html


HW: Please read ch 10-11

Brit Lit:

We looked at the poems used in the film.

We watched Dead Poets Society and you saw what inspired me to want to teach.

Extra Credit:  Program from The Wizard of Oz gets you out of any quiz. 
Support your friends and the arts at Tantasqua!

WOS:

Today:
We looked at Pink Floyd's the Wall and examined if it does line up with the Wizard of Oz. (Happy Friday.)

We reviewed act 2.

We took a quiz on Act 2.

We learned the rules to the game of the same name and played an intense boys vs. girl game for the last 10 minutes of class.

Extra credit if you support your classmates and go to the play.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:

We finished the Salinger movie and discussed how this new bio information gives us much greater insight into the novel.

We broke into rows and I gave you each a scene from the novel.  We performed these.

Brit Lit:

Today:

I set up a stool and a mic and asked you to share the 17c poem that you brought in for HW.  Each person was asked to explain why they selected the poem.  We had a good class discussion on some of the most powerful topics in poetry: Life, happiness, death and acceptance.

I shared some of my favorite poems.

We started watching Dead Poets Society.

WOS:

Today:

We started on act II with an activity called monkey on your back, where one person was the actor, on was the voice.  I will post video and pictures above.

We looked at Iago's speech at the end.  I broke you into groups of 2- one the DR, one Iago.  I asked you to use Iago's lines as his answer and craft questions for him on why he hates Casio and Othello.

We took a quiz on act 1.
Here is the bonus answer to the question on your quiz:
http://vimeo.com/11673067

We ended reading your Tantasqua Heralds.

HW:  Please read the rest of act II.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:
We reviewed CH 7
We took a quiz on CH 4-7
We watched the second 1/2 of the Salinger Doc.

HW:  Please read the handout that I gave you on new Salinger information.
Please read ch 8-9.

Brit Lit:

Today:

We looked at the following poems today in class:
Donne: Holy Sonnet 10
Marvell: To his Coy Mistress
Herrick: To the Virgins to Make Much of Time.

I asked you to write your own poem based on an emotion that you feel right now.  I asked you to make your last line have POWER!

HW: Find a poem from the 17c that you connect with today.  Please also finish your original poem if you did not have time today in class.

WOS:

Today:

We reviewed act 1.
We looked at an article on how to select a good wife in 1616.
We looked at an article from 1950's on the same topic.

We looked at how Desdemona is classified in the beginning of act 2.  How is that similar to the points made in the readings that we looked at today?

We talked about the storm that destroys the Turks.  Here is the clip that I referenced in class on specific weapons used for combat on the seas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHB95FZndcc

HW:  Please write a Herald (proclamation) announcing news from anything at Tantasqua.  We will be starting class with these announcements on Thursday!

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:
We reviewed Ch 4-6.
Has your opinion of Holden changed?

We watched the first 1/2 of the new documentary Salinger.

HW:  Please read Ch 7.

Brit Lit:

Today: I collected journals #11-20 

We finished the movie version of Macbeth and discussed the alternate ending.

We went over your reading from last night.

We took notes on the two main forms of poetry in the 17 c:

Metaphysical Poets

Sons of Ben.

We read the poem:
TO THE MEMORY OF MY BELOVED MASTER WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

I asked you to identify: wit, allusions, and classic poetic forms.

WOS:

I tasked you with the idea that the play Othello starts off with the tail end of an argument.  I asked you in either script of skit form, to show the missing part of the argument, using the first line of the play as your last line.

We read/acted act 1 sc 3.  I introduced you to a shadow scene.  A few of you acted as the shadows for Othello's narrative of how Desdemona fell in love with Othello.

HW: Please finish reading act 1 and identify the rising action at the end of 1, start of Act 2.

Comp. Lit. II:

Today:
We finished (almost) Finding Salinger.

We reviewed ch 1-3 and talked about Holden's inability to connect to people in a meaningful way.

I gave you a list of recently banned books.  We talked about why people might have issues with some novels.

We shared your reactions from home.

HW: please read ch 4-6.

Brit Lit:

Today:

Journal prompt #20:  Please describe your experience with poetry.  1/2 pg.

We finished watching the Ethan Hawke Macbeth episode of Shakespeare Uncovered from PBS.
We watched the rest of the Roman Polanski version of Macbeth.

HW Please read Pg 395-410 on the 17th century in your anthologies.

WOS:

We acted out act 1 sc 1-3 and defined the exposition points.
I quickly shared pictures of my rip to Venice.
We continued looking at black/white relationships.

Comp. Lit. II

Today:
I passed out your next book...The Catcher in the Rye.
We looked at the style:
1st person
Pessimistic tone
Dry humor

I played the trailer to the newish movie: Salinger
We watched the 1st half of the documentary, Finding Salinger.

HW:  Please read ch 1-3
ask an adult in your life what their opinion of the book is.