Reminder to all of my classes: We exit right, and head down the side staircase on the 3rd floor. Please remember to meet on 3rd base.
Brit Lit: You have the night off. We will be (hopefully) watching parts of The Knight's Tale on Tuesday. In class today, we read the Pardoner's Tale. Please review the story. Block A- you had 4 lines left before the fire drill- please finish it at your convenience.
Soph Lit: Nice job on the review came. The next time that we play, I will be sure to have all of my sound effects working. Thanks for you understanding. Tonight: Please review for your Catcher unit test. Please also review your notes on: Theme, Symbolism, Salinger, and the significance of the title. Please have your books available, as I will be collecting them Tues.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
9.19.08
Parents/Guardians: It was very nice to meet those of you that came out last night. I hope that you find the blog useful in helping your student in my course. Please feel free to contact me at any time during the course with any questions or concerns.
Brit Lit: Block A: I had some fun up my sleeve this am- but you needed socks. Please try to remember to have a spare sock for Monday...... If any of you did not pass in your paper assignment this morning: Today we talked about pilgrimages. In the Canterbury Tales, they are on a religious pilgrimage. This morning, we went to the computer lab and wrote about your own pilgrimage. In one page (250 words) please describe a modern day pilgrimage that had an impact on who you are. Please describe the journey, what you discovered about yourself, and whether it lived up to your expectations.
Only 4 of you passed in your HW from last night. Please use the weekend to finish, and make sure that you have it on Monday morning.
Don't forget your socks- we will need them for Macbeth....
Block B: I loved your sock folk this am- I can still see Sarah looking at her sock and admiring it with a big smile all class. She may have puppets in her future..... I was disappointed with HW. Please take advantage of the extra time and pass it in on Monday....
Soph Lit: Holden theatre went well today. What most of you did not realize was that we were learning, in the midst of having fun. What a great way to review..... Speaking of review....we will have a game this Monday, with your test on Tuesday. This will be your first significant grade- so make sure that you look over your notes, as well as the novel this weekend.
Also, on Monday I will be collecting you 1st Draft (with peer edits), your checklist (signed by a peer), and your final copy. Please staple them together, with your final copy on top. Hopefully, this is already done and you can enjoy your weekend without the though of my class....
Have a great, safe, weekend.
I am staying after today to watch the Tantasqua Field Hockey Team beat Shepherd Hill. Good luck to all the sport teams, music kids, and cheerleaders this weekend!
Brit Lit: Block A: I had some fun up my sleeve this am- but you needed socks. Please try to remember to have a spare sock for Monday...... If any of you did not pass in your paper assignment this morning: Today we talked about pilgrimages. In the Canterbury Tales, they are on a religious pilgrimage. This morning, we went to the computer lab and wrote about your own pilgrimage. In one page (250 words) please describe a modern day pilgrimage that had an impact on who you are. Please describe the journey, what you discovered about yourself, and whether it lived up to your expectations.
Only 4 of you passed in your HW from last night. Please use the weekend to finish, and make sure that you have it on Monday morning.
Don't forget your socks- we will need them for Macbeth....
Block B: I loved your sock folk this am- I can still see Sarah looking at her sock and admiring it with a big smile all class. She may have puppets in her future..... I was disappointed with HW. Please take advantage of the extra time and pass it in on Monday....
Soph Lit: Holden theatre went well today. What most of you did not realize was that we were learning, in the midst of having fun. What a great way to review..... Speaking of review....we will have a game this Monday, with your test on Tuesday. This will be your first significant grade- so make sure that you look over your notes, as well as the novel this weekend.
Also, on Monday I will be collecting you 1st Draft (with peer edits), your checklist (signed by a peer), and your final copy. Please staple them together, with your final copy on top. Hopefully, this is already done and you can enjoy your weekend without the though of my class....
Have a great, safe, weekend.
I am staying after today to watch the Tantasqua Field Hockey Team beat Shepherd Hill. Good luck to all the sport teams, music kids, and cheerleaders this weekend!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Parent Contact Information
Mr. Cusick:
Courses: Brit Lit, Soph Lit, and Shakespeare.
Room 3115
Email: cusicks@tantasqua.org
Phone: (508) 347-9301, ext 1563
Blog: http://mrcusick.blogspot.com
Late Day: Every Tuesday night. and by student request.
Courses: Brit Lit, Soph Lit, and Shakespeare.
Room 3115
Email: cusicks@tantasqua.org
Phone: (508) 347-9301, ext 1563
Blog: http://mrcusick.blogspot.com
Late Day: Every Tuesday night. and by student request.
9.18.08
I hope that you encourage your parents/guardians to come out tonight. Please remind them that open house if from 6:30- 8:30.
Brit Lit. Please finish Canterbury Tales, and answer question 1-8 at the end. I will be collecting them and grading them. Please try and remember to bring in a sock. No sock= no puppets= no fun on Friday :-(
Soph: Please complete your Holden checklist, making sure that your paper has as many of the requirements as possible. If you can check off all of them, you are looking at an A paper. Final draft is due this Monday. You will need to submit the following: 1st Draft, which needs to be peer edited, Checklist, and final copy.
Remember your socks, and that Beau should not ever bet in class :-)
Brit Lit. Please finish Canterbury Tales, and answer question 1-8 at the end. I will be collecting them and grading them. Please try and remember to bring in a sock. No sock= no puppets= no fun on Friday :-(
Soph: Please complete your Holden checklist, making sure that your paper has as many of the requirements as possible. If you can check off all of them, you are looking at an A paper. Final draft is due this Monday. You will need to submit the following: 1st Draft, which needs to be peer edited, Checklist, and final copy.
Remember your socks, and that Beau should not ever bet in class :-)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
9.17.08
I would love to try and catch some of your games after school- esp. vs. Shepherd Hill. If you have any home games, let me know and I will try and pop in :-)
Brit Lit: Make sure you bring in socks for sock puppet theater Canterbury style. Vocab Quiz Thursday. Make sure you study. I will be using the first def. from dictionary.com. Be thinking about what address that you would like to mail your future letter to. We will be addressing them in class Thursday. HW: Please read the rest of the character introductions in Canterbury Tales.
Soph Lit: Please finish Catcher tonight. We will review on Friday, and have a test on Monday. Remember your socks. If the Catch a Body folk song is stuck in your head- I am sorry.
Brit Lit: Make sure you bring in socks for sock puppet theater Canterbury style. Vocab Quiz Thursday. Make sure you study. I will be using the first def. from dictionary.com. Be thinking about what address that you would like to mail your future letter to. We will be addressing them in class Thursday. HW: Please read the rest of the character introductions in Canterbury Tales.
Soph Lit: Please finish Catcher tonight. We will review on Friday, and have a test on Monday. Remember your socks. If the Catch a Body folk song is stuck in your head- I am sorry.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
9.16.08
Brit Lit: Please have all your vocab defined by Wed. I will be checking off those who did it. Please review your notes, and make sure you are up to date. I am planning a surprise open notebook quiz to reward those of you that have been playing along and taking notes.
Soph Lit: HW Please read to CH 22. Please expect a quiz. In class on Wed., we will be analyzing Holden's behavior. Please be thinking of questions that you might ask Holden, as well as his responses.
If you have anyone around that grew up in the 1950's, share the story that we read in class. I would be interested in hearing about any reactions.
Soph Lit: HW Please read to CH 22. Please expect a quiz. In class on Wed., we will be analyzing Holden's behavior. Please be thinking of questions that you might ask Holden, as well as his responses.
If you have anyone around that grew up in the 1950's, share the story that we read in class. I would be interested in hearing about any reactions.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Brit Lit Vocab:
Please define the following words for Wed.
1. Solicitous
2. Garnished
3. Preferment
4. Screeds
5. Sanguine
6. Avouches
7. Whelks
8. Prevarication
Quiz this Thursday
1. Solicitous
2. Garnished
3. Preferment
4. Screeds
5. Sanguine
6. Avouches
7. Whelks
8. Prevarication
Quiz this Thursday
New Reality TV Show
Brit Lit: Imagine that you and 30 others are on an 8 mile pilgrimage. Your companions are from all walks of life, and have been selected for their bigger than life persona's. The only thing in common is their desire to make the trip. The TV producers have promised $10,000 for reaching the goal. What would they do to pass the time? Please describe the interaction between the group. To make it interesting, they are not allowed to have any form of technology- no ipods, tv, radios, cell phones... Describe the interaction between this odd group that has seemingly nothing in common.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Word O' the Week
Boodge [Booj] : A box or container on the back of a carriage used to carry swords.
Note: Some of the words have been hard to use in context. This word was selected to work well with our discussions this week- so use it often for extra credit.
Note: Some of the words have been hard to use in context. This word was selected to work well with our discussions this week- so use it often for extra credit.
9.12.08
Brit Lit: Make sure you finish your game manual- due in class this Monday. Please email me if you run into a problem with the assignment.
Soph Lit: Nice Holden book covers today. But I think that most of you proved that art might not be your strong point :-) Remember next week, try and remember to bring in a solo song that has lost its mate... Holden papers will be due Tuesday (so you get an extra day)
Have a great weekend Tantasqua!
Soph Lit: Nice Holden book covers today. But I think that most of you proved that art might not be your strong point :-) Remember next week, try and remember to bring in a solo song that has lost its mate... Holden papers will be due Tuesday (so you get an extra day)
Have a great weekend Tantasqua!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
9.11.08
******Please make sure that you have read Three Cups of Tea. Reminder- it is worth a full credit, and well worth the time it takes to read. ******
For the next ten weeks, every Friday is "Dollar Day." I will be collecting any money you would like to donate A Block. Our school goal is to reach $12,000, which is the cost of a new school in Afghanistan or Pakistan. So- a dollar a week, for ten weeks. Think we can do it? I will be also running a special contest in our Block A class to recognize 100% participation. Let's come together and do something important and needed :-)
Brit Lit: Video Game Manual due date has changed to this Monday to accommodate Summer Reading. Please make sure you show your parent/guardian the letter that I sent home tonight. Please encourage them to call me if they have any questions or concerns.
Soph Lit: Holden Paper is due this Monday. No HW- look over Summer Reading and be ready for tomorrow! Also- please bring your dream catcher words to class. If you lost them, or were not able to come up with any last Friday, I will be providing and alternative assignment.
For the next ten weeks, every Friday is "Dollar Day." I will be collecting any money you would like to donate A Block. Our school goal is to reach $12,000, which is the cost of a new school in Afghanistan or Pakistan. So- a dollar a week, for ten weeks. Think we can do it? I will be also running a special contest in our Block A class to recognize 100% participation. Let's come together and do something important and needed :-)
Brit Lit: Video Game Manual due date has changed to this Monday to accommodate Summer Reading. Please make sure you show your parent/guardian the letter that I sent home tonight. Please encourage them to call me if they have any questions or concerns.
Soph Lit: Holden Paper is due this Monday. No HW- look over Summer Reading and be ready for tomorrow! Also- please bring your dream catcher words to class. If you lost them, or were not able to come up with any last Friday, I will be providing and alternative assignment.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
9.10.09
Soph Lit: Make sure you see me if you did not have enough time today in the lab and were not able to finish typing your Holden paper. Here is the assignment, FYI:
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE: Write Like Holden
Directions: Write a narrative essay about an incident that happened to you this year in school, and do so from Holden's point of view.
To start, think about an incident that remains especially vivid in your mind; choosing such a memory will make the writing a bit easier.
Next, write the incident using Holden's style and his philosophy of life.
Please include the following:
Holden's Style
slang
sarcasm
judgmental
repetition
exaggeration
digressions
addressing the reader directly
expressions such as "It really did," "I swear," "It's true. It really is," "If you really want to know the truth," and "I'm not kidding" to emphasis a point
frequent use of the expression "...and all"
an ambivalent* tone of both sadness and humor
Holden's Philosophy
disliking phonies
confusion about girls and sex
feeling isolated
sad about Allie's death
loves his sister
at moments very depressed, lonesome, and almost suicidal
A length of 2-3 double-spaced typed pages (or 5-7 double-spaced handwritten pages) would be appropriate for this assignment.
*"Ambivalent" means "the co-existence of two conflicting
feelings about a person, object, or idea," and "tone" means
"the feeling or mood suggested within the word choice of a
specific passage of writing."
THE CATCHER IN THE RYE: Write Like Holden
Directions: Write a narrative essay about an incident that happened to you this year in school, and do so from Holden's point of view.
To start, think about an incident that remains especially vivid in your mind; choosing such a memory will make the writing a bit easier.
Next, write the incident using Holden's style and his philosophy of life.
Please include the following:
Holden's Style
slang
sarcasm
judgmental
repetition
exaggeration
digressions
addressing the reader directly
expressions such as "It really did," "I swear," "It's true. It really is," "If you really want to know the truth," and "I'm not kidding" to emphasis a point
frequent use of the expression "...and all"
an ambivalent* tone of both sadness and humor
Holden's Philosophy
disliking phonies
confusion about girls and sex
feeling isolated
sad about Allie's death
loves his sister
at moments very depressed, lonesome, and almost suicidal
A length of 2-3 double-spaced typed pages (or 5-7 double-spaced handwritten pages) would be appropriate for this assignment.
*"Ambivalent" means "the co-existence of two conflicting
feelings about a person, object, or idea," and "tone" means
"the feeling or mood suggested within the word choice of a
specific passage of writing."
Brit Lit Assignment- Due Monday 9.15.08
Brit Lit:
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:
the Video Game
Assignment: You work for a small indie video game company, and have just purchased the publishing right for a new video game based on the story. Please design a manual that will explain how the game is played. You will be graded on the following rubrics:
1.) A cover that has the title and cover art. 10 points
2.) Weapons page. Detailing at least 5 weapons that you have researched from the 14th century. Please include a picture and detailed 3 sent description for each.
20 Points
3.) Intro page, which summarizes the story.
20 Points
4.) 10 Levels. For each, please title and give a 5-10 sentence description of the objective. 30 Points
5.) End boss picture or description, including the one weakness.
20 Points.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight:
the Video Game
Assignment: You work for a small indie video game company, and have just purchased the publishing right for a new video game based on the story. Please design a manual that will explain how the game is played. You will be graded on the following rubrics:
1.) A cover that has the title and cover art. 10 points
2.) Weapons page. Detailing at least 5 weapons that you have researched from the 14th century. Please include a picture and detailed 3 sent description for each.
20 Points
3.) Intro page, which summarizes the story.
20 Points
4.) 10 Levels. For each, please title and give a 5-10 sentence description of the objective. 30 Points
5.) End boss picture or description, including the one weakness.
20 Points.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
9.9.08
It was very nice to be nominated for teacher of the week. It humbled me to receive attention. Being new, I continue to be amazed at how nice and sincere everyone is at Tantasqua. You are all very lucky to attend such a great school. I am honored to have become a part of it! Thanks :-)
Brit Lit: I will have a rubrics for your "Design a video game manual for the Green Knight video game." We will go over the assignment in class. If we have time, we will finish Excalibur. Please review all of your notes up to this point. To review: Look at the Hero's Journey, Alliteration, Kennings, and the notes that I gave today on the Green Knight. I will try and schedule 1/2 a class to allow you time to research your game manual project.
Soph Lit: We have a vocab Quiz tomorrow. Bonus question: What is this from: Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps upon this petty place....
Please finish your Holden 1st draft. I will look to have conferences with each of you in the lab while you work. I am sorry that we ran out of time on your timelines today. How ironic. I will give you some time to finish them on Thursday. and...what is that I smell? A pop quiz on your reading.....mmmmm...the smell of fresh copied quizzes.....Make sure that you read!
Go Red Sox...1st place is just around the corner....
Monday, September 8, 2008
Word O' the Week:
Antapology [ant-uh-pah-luh-jee]: A reply to an apology.
Please use this as often as you can this week for extra credit and exciting door prizes.
Please use this as often as you can this week for extra credit and exciting door prizes.
9.8.09
Brit Lit:
Block A- you have the night off. I will get everyone the same copy of the anthology for Tuesday. Review your notes on Gothic Lit that I gave today in class.
Block B- Now that we all have the same versions, this should be easy....Please read pgs 69-79. You may take notes in it helps you. Quiz Tuesday. Please also review the notes on Gothis Lit
We will be reading in the dark on Tuesday.
Soph: Please define vocab words. Make sure you read Ch 6-9 in Catcher. Also, please continue to work on your rough draft of your Holden Paper. I have us signed up for the lab on Wed., so make sure you have all of your 1st draft writting finished. Our vocab quiz will be on Wed. of this week, to allow you Wed and Thursday night to look over your Summer Reading.
Reminder: Summer Reading- this Fri., Sept. 12th. Make sure you read!
Block A- you have the night off. I will get everyone the same copy of the anthology for Tuesday. Review your notes on Gothic Lit that I gave today in class.
Block B- Now that we all have the same versions, this should be easy....Please read pgs 69-79. You may take notes in it helps you. Quiz Tuesday. Please also review the notes on Gothis Lit
We will be reading in the dark on Tuesday.
Soph: Please define vocab words. Make sure you read Ch 6-9 in Catcher. Also, please continue to work on your rough draft of your Holden Paper. I have us signed up for the lab on Wed., so make sure you have all of your 1st draft writting finished. Our vocab quiz will be on Wed. of this week, to allow you Wed and Thursday night to look over your Summer Reading.
Reminder: Summer Reading- this Fri., Sept. 12th. Make sure you read!
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