Mrs. Tyler's Class Blog

Final post

2011-06-16T16:19:00.002-04:00

This blog will be going inactive as I have completed my last day at WHS. I am leaving the blog up because I treasure the quality of work my students contributed to it. Thank you for all you've taught me.

Dela's Creative Writing Post 6/9/2011

2011-06-09T12:35:00.000-04:00

Please comment on everyone's final publish/perish postings - including Dela's.

Dela's Creative Writing Post 6/3/2011

2011-06-03T13:41:00.002-04:00

Please remember to comment on Dela's post - attached as a comment.

Dela's Creative Writing Post 5/27/2011

2011-05-27T13:42:00.001-04:00

Please comment on Dela's post.

Creative Writing - Publish & Perish 5/20/11

2011-05-20T13:49:00.001-04:00

Remember to comment on Dela's piece in the comments section.

Dela's Publish or Perish 4-29-11

2011-04-29T14:18:00.002-04:00

Dela Herr

WHERE I'M FROM

I am from a tree of Rosas and Paulas.
Grew under the help of Samira and Sarah.
I am from 'You can't have everything'
and 'Nobody's perfect'.
I am from Indonesia, Italy and Greece.
I am from Princes and Blonde on Blonde;
grew up with love birds,guinea pig and fish.
I am from Trivial Persute and Barbie girls.
I am from baking cookies, barbecue and paint.
I am from chocolat and mom's best cheese cake.
I am from volleyball, tennis and ballett.
I am from the warmth and
I am from home.

Friday, April 29, 2011 - Publish or Perish

2011-04-29T13:44:00.001-04:00

Please remember to comment on everyone's blog!

Creative Writing - Publish & Perish 4/15/2011

2011-04-15T14:14:00.002-04:00

For those of you making blogs, please comment with your blog address. For those of you posting to my blog - please comment and we'll give you feedback on the comment page!

Thanks!

Hamlet Act 5

2010-12-22T13:25:00.001-05:00

King Lear Act 5

2010-12-22T11:29:00.002-05:00

King Lear Act 1

2010-12-06T15:08:00.004-05:00

The Ginger Gossip Show presents King Lear, Act 1

Friday, September 10, 2010

2010-09-10T13:25:00.003-04:00

Congratulations on completing the second week! And there are now only 274 calendar days until graduation (for those of you who might be counting).

Period 1: We saw some interesting presentations today and I think the presenters did a good job of making connections to both our text, other presentations, and the world we live in. I've added Tyler & Mike's presentation to the Ning, and please post your digital portions as well.
I encourage you to continue to think about the importance and relevance of history in today's world and also challenge you to consider how it relates to you.

Period 2: Congratulations on completing your first major test in Senior English. As you begin Doctor Faustus keep in mind the notes and learning you did on Greek tragedy as they will assist you in understanding the format of the play, as well as determining if Faustus is a tragic hero. Check out this link which provides some helpful background information as you begin your reading exploration. Don't forget your personal narrative draft for Monday!

Period 4/5: Our discussion on school days, the WHS Mission Statement and I am the Messenger will continue next week. See what connections you can make and also think about your role in achieving the goals stated in our school Mission Statement. Don't forget to keep working on your War Memorial Project (phase 1).

Have a great weekend, keep reading & writing.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

2010-09-09T14:50:00.002-04:00

We are almost finished the second week!

Period 1: We will finish the presentations on 1984 tomorrow after the vocabulary & reading quizzes. Continue to think of the role that censorship plays in control and how propaganda relates to beliefs, and yes, censorship. Also watch for other allusions to 1984 in your media.

Period 2: Today's discussions on tragic heroes and exploration of quotes should help you a great deal on tomorrow's Greek tragedy test. Consider why Oedipus and Antigone are still relevant works in today's society.... Don't forget to work on your personal narrative revision!

Period 4/5: Today's discussion on I am the Messenger raised some interesting points, including how we as people view one another, and the importance of both our self perception and others. Continue to think about the school & education article, as we will spend some time working with it and our mission statement tomorrow after the vocabulary quiz.

As a reminder, I need your email address to invite you to my Ning, and all its fabulous resources.

See you tomorrow!

Mrs. Tyler

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

2010-09-01T18:12:00.004-04:00

Today was our first reading & writing workshop and I think many of you have the beginnings to your personal narrative essays.
In both first period & second period we will be discussing the Hero's Journey and the below video is an excellent portrayal of how the Hero's Journey has been used in different movies.

The Hero's Journey in Film

Ciaran | MySpace Video

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

2010-08-31T16:06:00.000-04:00

Congratulations- you have all begun your first assigned reading for the year, and completed your first writing activities. Please let me know if you have questions about class policies, the assigned work, etc. I am usually available before school & after for assistance. Remember to bring an independent reading book for class on Wednesdays and be prepared to write. We will begin with personal narratives. I have many samples of student personal narrative and memoir pieces, so see me if you would like to read through them.

Don't forget to turn in your academic honesty pledge and to complete your vocabulary.

Happy reading!

Mrs. Tyler

Monday, August 30, 2010

2010-08-30T15:20:00.002-04:00

Welcome back!

I hope you all enjoyed discussing your summer reading books this morning. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences as the week progresses. Remember that if you are a CP or Honor student, your summer reading essay from the world literature book you selected is due tomorrow. Please contact me with any questions you may have after reading the course expectations, and extra handouts of today's materials have been added to my school website. Remember to email me if you would like access to the course Ning.

Have a great evening & I will see you tomorrow.

Mrs. Tyler

And the reading continues...

2010-08-03T14:42:00.003-04:00

I just finished Adam Bagdasarian's novel, The Forgotten Fire,and found it to be a riveting telling of the horrific events in Turkey during World War I, the genocide of the Armenians. After reading this story, inspired by Bagdasarian's uncle, I am shocked that nowhere in my education was this piece of history discussed. I learned a great deal about the Holocaust that occurred in Germany, and have even studied and discussed modern genocides, but this was the first time that I learned about the Armenian history. The book opens with a quote by Hitler,"Who does now remember the Armenians?" and after reading this story of a young boy trying to survive as his home, his family and his world is destroyed around him, make me determined to learn more. It is a book that is filled with the horrors of war, but a very worthwhile read.

I somehow managed to make it through all my school years without reading Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War. I want to ask my students and myself the often used T.S. Eliot quote: "Do I dare to disturb the universe?" For the main character, Jerry, this is his goal, and he attempts this disruption by trying to stand against the secret school society that exerts itself control over the student body by assigning them "jobs" like unscrewing everything in a classroom, and a frightening teacher/administrator, Brother Leon. Cormier's work examines how hard it is to stand up for what you believe and challenges you to explore the questions raised by the ending. Again, it has material dealing with bullying, teen issues, etc., but it is a good read!

I finished Melissa Marr's Fragile Eternity, this time Seth's story. I really liked how this novel in the series fleshed out his character a lot more and separated him from just being Aislinn's really nice boyfriend, into someone with emotional depth. This novel describes Seth's journey from being a mortal into a fey-mortal (fey in the mortal world, mortal in Fairie). His growing importance to all the Fairie courts make him an interesting figure as the series continues. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Apparently, I read The Christopher Killer back in February when I was really sick. I had a lot of deja vu moments as I was reading (and finally called the library to confirm it), and just couldn't get sucked into the story. Sometimes books are hyped, and they just aren't for you. It is very forensic which I usually like (used to be a big fan of CSI - only the original Las Vegas one, and I LOVE Bones - both the TV show and the Kathy Reich book series), but I just couldn't get into this one. I don't think I really connected to the narrative style or the main character, which made it tough to really soak in the story. If you like forensic type thrillers, this may work for you, but it wasn't for me.

Along the way, I read Iris Johansen's Eight Days to Live (part of the Eve Duncan Forensics thriller series) and couldn't put it down. It starts with Jane MacGuire's art show in Paris, and her refusal to sell a mysterious painting she's entitled, Guilt. The action starts off right away with the grotesque murder of her friend, and art show presenter, Celine, in Paris, and doesn't stop until the final showdown in Syria. It is a fast paced journey throughout Europe and the Arabian Pennisula, complete with secret societies, car chases, and double-crosses. A great summer read.

On to enjoy some more books... waiting on deck: The Gathering, Ten Things I Hate about Me, and An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England.

Keep reading!

Mrs. Tyler's Summer Reading Journey Continues...

2010-07-22T19:27:00.004-04:00

Even with all the theory and research I have been reading, I have been seeking out books for my classroom library (and ones to recommend for the school library as well).

Recent books include:

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
I'm on the fence about this book. Frankie came up with some great pranks to be the mastermind about, but it took a long time to get into the story, and I don't know if I ever felt close to Frankie, which was odd when you spend the majority of the story in her head. I'd recommend this book to those who like pranks, private school drama, and are not looking for any real depth to a story.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party by M.T. Anderson
I consider myself fairly knowledgable about our country's history, but this fictional story introduced me to the reality of pox parties... People would gather at someone's house, purposely infect themselves with small pox, go into quarantine together and be sick together (an old fashion, deadly vaccination process). I also was challenged to think about how history perceived races, and how our country's ancestors treated their slaves and what it really meant to claim people as property. Anderson sets up a thought provoking contrast as he sets this work at the birth of the American Revolution where the colonists are chafing from their "slavery" to the English as told through the eyes of an American slave. I'm going to seek out Volume II because I want to find out what happens to Octavian Nothing next.

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr
This is the sequel to Marr's novel, Wicked Lovely, and continues the story of the characters, both mortal and fey, introduced in the first book. Aislinn, Keenan, and Seth (Summer Court) play smaller roles in this story, as Leslie and the Dark Court take the lead in this story. This story was more character driven then the last, and deals with the dangers of addiction, the traumatic experiences of Leslie, and provides the details for the replacement of the Dark King. Marr has me hooked with this dark fey story line because the fairies in her tales are nothing like Tinker Bell.

Next up on my list to read: finishing Forgotten Fire, then moving onto Cormier's The Chocolate War (a classic that I have been meaning to get to for a while now and somehow have never managed to read yet), Ferguson's The Christopher Killer (has had great reviews),Marr's Fragile Eternity (the third book in Marr's series), and Enright's The Gathering (2007 Man Booker Prize winner).

What are you reading? What should I read?

July 2010

2010-07-19T15:17:00.006-04:00

Hi, all,

I hope you are enjoying your summer break. Don't forget to do your summer reading! I wanted to leave you a note about some of the books I have been reading this summer:

I began the summer with The Master and Margarita, which was an interesting tale from the turn of the century (19th) Russia, and offered a fictional perspective on events in Russian history. The prose was very detailed and the characters were vivid, despite jumping around a bit in the narrative. It did all come together in the end. Like many Russian writers of that period, Mikhail Bulgakov, relies heavily on religious symbolism and I found the addendum explaining the references invaluable in accessing the layered meanings in Bulgakov's work. It is an anti-Stalinist piece offering the question: "What would your good be doing if there were no evil, and what would the earth look like if shadows disappeared from it?"

This literary journey was followed by the quick paced new Riordan series starter, The Red Pyramid. Riordan is working on doing for the Egyptian gods and mythology what he did for the Greeks in the Percy Jackson series, but I found I was not as riveted to "the Kane chronicles". I liked the story line, Carter and Sadie have descended from a line of two pharaoh families, and pharaohs have traditionally been able to host a god and perform magic. Due to their unique heritage, they have the potential to be quite powerful and encounter a number of different Egyptian gods in their adventures. I didn't enjoy how the narration was split between the two main characters, even though each chapter told you who was telling the story. On the flip side, I was invested enough with the characters and story that I will likely seek out the next in series, with the hope that it will be a bit tighter like the Percy series.

I also read Enter Three Witches, which was a retelling of Macbeth told from the perspective of the Thane of Cawdor's daughter, Mary. Mary is being raised as the ward of the Macbeth's so she can learn all the skills she will need to run a household. The story follows the tale of Macbeth closely enough that I ended up reading the play along with the tale to marvel at Caroline Cooney's close adaptation. Cooney uses some of the lines from the play within the narrative, often so well incorporated that you only recall that they sound familiar.

Last night I finished Jose Saramago's novel, Death with Interruptions. The story was completely intriguing: what happens if death (purposely using the small 'd') stopped people from dying? What problems would be encountered? Halfway through, death resumes her role, but has implemented a one week warning system - people receive a violet envelope letting them know they will die in 7 days... Then one day, death's unrefusable letter gets returned to sender. I really enjoyed this book although some aspects of the translation I read may be off-putting to readers - mostly in the layout - dialogue was separated by commas within the same paragraph, although it was always clear who was speaking and some paragraphs would extend for more than a page or two. The story though was strong enough to carry through these layout issues.

Next on my list is: Forgotten Fire, the fictional retelling of the Armenian genocide that occurred in Turkey prior to the Holocaust. It is based on the author, Adam Bagdasarian's great-uncle's experiences during this time period.

As for my assigned summer reading, I have finished The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and am planning on watching the film later this week to compare how they relate and differ.

Please let me know if you have any questions about your summer reading and assignments and I would love to know:
What have you been reading?

Intro to Romeo & Juliet

2010-05-07T08:46:00.001-04:00

Virtual Globe

King Lear Act 2

2010-04-29T13:41:00.001-04:00

King Lear Act 1

2010-04-28T14:29:00.001-04:00

Power of Propaganda

2010-01-31T20:14:00.000-05:00

Short Stories...

2010-01-31T18:52:00.003-05:00

Freshman CP students are in the midst of working on our short story unit. As a way to help students see how the different elements of a short story connect, I am attaching a presentation that Mrs. Carbonneau at Littleton High School put together for her students. Hit play and think about the stories we have been reading:

Monday, October 13, 2009

2009-10-13T10:10:00.001-04:00

Today's Odyssey Review:

Week of Sept 21st

2009-09-22T10:24:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Working with Shakespeare's Hamlet and writing personal narratives

Period 2:
Finishing up Orwell's 1984 and moving into Homer's Odyssey
Revising summer reading essays and writing personal narratives

Period 6:
Reading Sunrise over Fallujah and comparing/contrasting to All Quiet on the Western Front
Working on Memorial Projects and personal narratives

Thought for the week:
"Genius is eternal patience." - Michelangelo

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

2009-09-15T14:21:00.003-04:00

Okay, I think this year I will do a revised blog - weekly posting rather than daily - especially as we go live with the Ning!

This week: REMEMBER IT IS HOMECOMING & FALL FROLIC ON WEDNESDAY!

Period 1:

Finish Faustus
Hero's Journey
Tragic Hero
Begin Hamlet

Period 2:

1984 Presentations
Continue studying and exploring 1984

Period 6:

Finish All Quiet on the Western Front
Begin Sunrise over Fallujah
Work on war memorial projects

Thought for the week...

"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and a mystery." H.G. Wells

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

2009-09-09T20:53:00.003-04:00

Reading & Writing Workshop Day!

Students participated in various writing activities including journaling, essay writing, research, and peer response.
They also read from their independent and assigned reading books.

Thought for the day....

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers." James Thurber

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

2009-09-08T09:30:00.002-04:00

Welcome back from the long weekend!

Period 1:
Discuss Antigone
Looking at quotes and applying them to Antigone
"ICE"

Period 2:
Discuss 1984
"ICE"
Introduce Orwell Project

Period 6:
Discuss All Quiet on the Western Front
Character Journals

Thought for the day...

"An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it." - Jef Mallett

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

2009-09-01T10:13:00.003-04:00

Wow, kind of a rocky start on the blog this year....

So, starting today:

Period 1:

Metamorphosis Test

Noodletools

Period 2:

Oedipus & Antigone

Noodletools

Period 6:

Discussing All Quiet on the Western Front

Work on Character Cards & Journals

Introduce & Begin War Research

Thought for the day...

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." - Plutarch

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

2009-08-26T15:47:00.003-04:00

WELCOME BACK!

Period 1:
Who I am
Reading quiz info

Hw: Metamorphosis Ch. 1 & Reading Journal

Period 2:
Who I am
Reading quiz info

Hw: Oedipus: 23-38 & Reading Journal

Period 6:
Who I am
Reading quiz info

Hw: All Quiet: Ch. 1 & Reading Journal

Thought for the day....
"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." - Joseph Brodsky

July 24, 2009

2009-07-24T20:04:00.002-04:00

Letters will be going out to students and their parents tomorrow. Make sure you are doing your summer reading. I can't wait to talk to you about your books in August.

Mrs. Tyler

And a thought for the summer...

Plutarch - "The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled."

Summer Reading...

2009-07-13T11:56:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to all who have already started their summer reading and began inputting their note cards onto Noodletools.

I will be sending out a reminder letter to those who are registered for CP or Honors and have not picked up their book.

See you August 26th.

Mrs. Tyler

Summer!

2009-06-26T14:48:00.002-04:00

If you did not pick up your summer reading book, you need to stop by the school to pick it up. There are books available from the guidance office.

Please let me know if you have any problems with your noodletools account.

Mrs. Tyler

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

2009-06-16T09:34:00.002-04:00

LAST DAY!

Literally Film's Final Exam.

For my CP & Honors students, please visit my website to download the summer reading assignment.

You should have either Camus' The Plague or Hosseini's The Kite Runner. You will need to enter your notecards onto Noodletools.
Don't forget to SHARE your lists with me. I am reachable via email and will be able to meet with you Wednesday afternoons if you need help (you MUST arrange this with me ahead of time).

Have a great summer and see you in August!

Mrs. Tyler

Monday, June 15, 2009

2009-06-15T12:43:00.001-04:00

Finals for Blocks 2 & 4/5 today!

Thought for the day...
If you want to see what children can do, you must stop giving them things.
- Norman Douglas

I am so proud of all of you!

Friday, June 12, 2009

2009-06-12T08:52:00.002-04:00

Awards Assembly, Student Council BBQ, Our Town & the Evolution of Dance!!!

How nice to devote a day to celebrating & recognizing student work!

Thought for the day...
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them. - Walt Disney

Thursday, June 11, 2009

2009-06-11T09:52:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to pick up your summer reading books!

Good luck on your first day of final exams. See you at Class Night & the Awards Assembly!

Mrs. Tyler

Thought for the day...
The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think.
- Edwin Schollsberg

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

2009-06-10T08:27:00.002-04:00

Don't forget to pick up your summer reading!

Period 1:
Finish viewing Hamlet

Period 3:
Our Town work

Period 5:
Collaborative paper

Thought for the day...
"There is more to life than increasing its speed." - Mohandas Gandhi

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

2009-06-09T09:06:00.002-04:00

Summer reading books are now available in the library! Don't leave for the summer without picking up your book.

Period 1: Viewing Almereyda's Hamlet

Period 2: Continue viewing Almereyda's Hamlet

Period 3: Our Town Work

Period 5: Portfolio Work

Thought for the day...
"We know what we are, but know not what we may be. " - Shakespeare

Monday, June 8, 2009

2009-06-08T09:16:00.003-04:00

Marching Practice from 8:30-9:30

Summer reading books are now available for pick up in the library. Please see your CP or Honors English teacher for next year's assignment.

Congratulations, seniors, on the completion of your finals. See you at Class Night!

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Portfolio Work

Thought for the day...
"Well done is better than well said." Ben Franklin

Friday, June 5, 2009

2009-06-05T09:59:00.001-04:00

Period 1:
Congratulations, I will see you at class night & graduation.

Period 2:
Final Exam

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Anthology editing & Portfolio work

Thought for the day...
Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
— Carl Sandburg

Thursday, June 4, 2009

2009-06-04T08:36:00.003-04:00

I apologize for missing yesterday's posting. As the semester is coming to an end, there are some similarities in our daily activities, but I did run out of time yesterday.

Period 1:
Final Exam

Period 2:
Review for Final Exam

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Anthology/Portfolio Work

Thought for the day...
Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.
- Elmer G. Letterman

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

2009-06-02T10:36:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Finish All My Sons
Discuss public responsibility vs personal responsibility
Begin review for final

Period 2:
Discuss The Stranger
Which is worse?
Work on hero presentation

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Portfolio & Anthology work

Thought for the day...
"We are wiser than we know." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, June 1, 2009

2009-06-01T10:33:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Shortened due to marching practice
Continued Act II for All My Sons - go to pg. 61 for homework

Period 2:
Review/discuss The Stranger
Work on hero papers

Period 3:
Our Town - the cemetery & rehearse "marriage"

Period 5:
Work on portfolio & anthology pieces

Thought for the day...
Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.
- Oprah Winfrey

Friday, May 29, 2009

2009-05-29T06:01:00.002-04:00

Summer reading books are filling up fast! Sign up today so you don't miss out on your first choice.

Period 1:
Final literature circle meeting
All My Sons
Work on society project

Period 2:
Shortened class due to marching practice
What is existentialism?
Discussing Camus' The Stranger

Period 3:
Our Town... At the graveyard

Period 5:
Publish & Perish
Peer Review

Thought for the day...
The use of language is all we have to pit against death and silence.
—Carol Joyce Oates

Thursday, May 28, 2009

2009-05-28T08:51:00.002-04:00

All students may sign up for summer reading!

Period 1:
Shortened class- marching practice
Present current events
All My Sons

Period 2:
Present current events
Greek Tragedy Test

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Anthology/Portfolio work

Thought for the day....
I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.
—Claude Monet

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

2009-05-27T08:48:00.000-04:00

Summer Reading sign up for Class of 2010!

Period 1:
Literature circles
Society work
All My Sons

Period 2:
Antigone
Hero Project work

Period 3:
Rain date - props & costumes

Period 5:
Work on portfolio/anthology

Thought for the day...
When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters. One representing danger and the other represents opportunity.
- John F. Kennedy

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

2009-05-26T13:20:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Literature circles
Working on society project
Begin All My Sons

Period 2:
Shortened period due to marching practice
Peer review of hero papers

Period 3:
Our Town costume work

Period 5:
Portfolio & Anthology work

Thought for the day...
When we are dreaming alone, it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.
- Dom Hélder Câmara

Friday, May 22, 2009

2009-05-22T10:13:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Literature circles
Creating a new society - Your New World Order

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Review Oedipus Rex
Introduce Antigone
Hero Project Work

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Conference on Portfolio and/or Anthology

Thought for the day...
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.
— Helen Keller

Thursday, May 21, 2009

2009-05-21T09:16:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Literature circles
Work on vocabulary review for final

Period 2:
Present current events
Present literature circle projects
Discuss/review Oedipus Rex
Ethical dilemmas

Period 3:
Rehearse Our Town

Period 5:
Work on portfolios

Thought for the day...
Eleanor Roosevelt - "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

2009-05-20T09:28:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Literature circles
Review vocabulary
Finish archetype notes & find archetypes and symbols in literature

Period 2:
Review vocabulary
Oedipus Rex
Work on projects

Period 3:
Filming - camera angles
Rehearse Our Town

Period 5:
Work on portfolio

Thought for the day...
Let a joy keep you. Reach out your hands and take it when it runs by.
— Carl Sandburg

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

2009-05-20T09:26:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Literature Circles
Discussing literature archetypes

Period 2:
Greek tragedy
Introducing Oedipus

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Work on portolio

Thought for the day...
Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself.
- Doris Lessing

Monday, May 18, 2009

2009-05-18T09:11:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Present independent reading projects
Introduce literature circle roles
What is postmodernism & existentialism?

Period 2:
Hamlet test
Hero conferences

Period 3:
Our Town work

Period 5:
Work on anthology & portfolio pieces

Thought for the day...
You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down.
— Mary Pickford

Friday, May 15, 2009

2009-05-15T10:22:00.002-04:00

Period 1 (shortened due to marching practice):
Vocabulary quiz
Book selection - Ch. 1 due on Monday

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Literature Circles
Finish Hamlet
Watch The Simpsons' Hamlet

Period 3:
Our Town & Chinese food!!!

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Anthology workshop

Thought for the day...
To have great poets, there must be great audiences, too.
—Walt Whitman

Thursday, May 14, 2009

2009-05-14T06:18:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Hamlet Test

Period 2:
Present current events
Literature circles
Finish Hamlet Act IV, begin Hamlet Act V

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Work on anthology and portfolio pieces

Thought for the day...
"I like nonsense -- it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope...and that enables you to laugh at all of life's realities."
— Theodor S. Geisel, a.k.a. "Dr. Seuss"

Wednesday, May 14, 2009

2009-05-13T09:44:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Review vocabulary
Finish Hamlet
Independent reading project time/study time

Period 2:
Review vocabulary
Literature circles
Hamlet Act IV - Hamlet sentenced to death in England, Ophelia has lost her mind, Laertes wants revenge, and now Hamlet's returned to England via pirates.... This is falling action?

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Peer feedback on anthology pieces
Titling the anthology

Thought for the day...
The hand that holds the quills controls history.
- Charles L. Blockson

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

2009-05-12T09:43:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Finish Hamlet Act IV, and Read Act V, Scene 1
Tomorrow - the tragic finale!!!
Independent reading project work

Period 2:
Hamlet Act II & Act III, Scene 2 quiz
Finish Act III, begin Act IV
Literature Circles

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Work on portfolio & anthology piece
Dr. Jekyll conferences

Thought for the day...
William Feather - "No man is a failure who is enjoying life."

Monday, May 11, 2009

2009-05-11T09:44:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Hamlet Act III quiz
Read Hamlet Act IV - review dramatic structure
Independent reading project time

Period 2:
Film version comparison finishes
Finish Hamlet Act III
Literature Circles

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Writing warm-up:Describe a scene
Portfolio work
Mr. Hyde conferences

Thought for the day...
Do what you can with what you have where you are.
- Theodore Roosevelt

Friday, May 8, 2009

2009-05-08T05:50:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Hamlet Act 3, Scenes 2-3 (maybe even 4???)
Independent reading

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Video exploration of "To be or not to be..." and "Get thee to a nunnery..."
Literature Circles

Period 3:
Our Town work - storyboarding, etc.

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Small group conferences

Thought for the day...
Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
— Louisa May Alcott

Thursday, May 7, 2009

2009-05-07T09:52:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Present current event
"To be or not to be" & "Get thee to a nunnery" - a comparison of four films
Independent reading project

Period 2:
Present current events
Literature Circles
Hamlet Act III: "To be or not to be"

Period 3:
Our Town work - understanding storyboarding

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: "I miss..."
Share/Respond
Dr. Jekyll Conferences

Thought for the day....
I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning to sail my ship.
— Louisa May Alcott

Hamlet in Pop Culture...

2009-05-06T21:48:00.005-04:00

Enjoy these videos inspired by Hamlet....

"Tales from the Public Domain" - The Simpsons
Hamlet is at the end of this episode, following retellings of Odysseus and Joan of Arc.
The Simpsons 1314 Tales from the Public Domain

Hamlet & Elmo

Hamlet & Animaniacs

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

2009-05-06T10:27:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Review vocabulary
Hamlet Act II quiz
Begin Hamlet Act III
Introduction to "To be or not to be"

Period 2:
Review vocabulary
Literature Circles
Hamlet Act I & beginning of Act II quiz
Finish Hamlet Act II

Period 3:
Our Town work: reflections & what has happened so far

Period 5:
Writing prompt: Create a list about annoying things.... Write about one of them
Mr. Hyde Conferences
Share/Respond

Thought for the day...
Common sense and a sense of humor are the same thing, moving at different speeds. A sense of humor is just common sense, dancing.
— Clive James

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

2009-05-05T11:15:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Finish Hamlet Act II
Work on Emotion Charts
Independent reading time

Period 2:
Literature Circles: Three Cups of Tea & 1984
Hamlet's "Madness" and insulting Polonius

Period 3:
Our Town work

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: Free Write
Conferences
Share/Respond

Thought for the day...
Life is tough, and if you have the ability to laugh at it you have the ability to enjoy it.
— Salma Hayek

Monday, May 4, 2009

2009-05-04T12:46:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Hamlet Act I quiz
Charting the emotions of Hamlet & other characters
Reading Scene 2

Period 2 (shortened due to advisories):
Finish Act I of Hamlet and begin Act II
Understanding Hamlet's emotional state
Literature circles

Period 3:
Work on Our Town - Thank you, to Alice & family for hosting us!

Period 5:
Writing prompt: "Your plane crashes..."
Share/Respond
Workshop

Thought for the day...
Each man is a hero and an oracle to somebody.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, May 1, 2009

2009-05-01T11:10:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Finish Hamlet Act I, begin Act II
Independent reading
Journal check - Next Journal check Tuesday

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Introduce Literature Circles
Select books

Period 3:
Our Town work

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Conferences in Jekyll & Hyde

Thought for the day...
I am not a quitter. I will fight until I drop. It is just a matter of having some faith in the fact that as long as you are able to draw breath in the universe, you have a chance.
— Cicely Tyson

Thursday, April 30, 2009

2009-04-30T13:17:00.002-04:00

Oops! I forgot to post yesterday....

Today, I will be out, but I know I will get a great report from Mr. Feid.

Period 1:
Present current events
Viewing Hamlet

Period 2:
Present current events
Viewing Much Ado About Something
Response paper

Period 3:
Our Town work

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: Pick a song you love and change ALL the lyrics to it.
Share/Respond
Work on Portfolio & Author's Notes

Thought for the day...
Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.
— Confucious

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

2009-04-28T11:37:00.003-04:00

Period 1:

Beginning in the middle: viewing the climax of Hamlet

Began reading & exploring Act I: Scenes 1 & 2

Independent reading project

Period 2:

Beginning in the middle: viewing the climax of Hamlet

Reading Act I: Scenes 1 & 2

Introduction to "In Search of a Hero"

Period 3:

Our Town work

Period 5:

Review Happiness descriptions

Writing prompt: List seven objects you (or your character) would want if you (or he/she) were the last person on earth. Pick one of the objects and explain why...

Share/Respond

Work on Portfolios

Thought for the day...

"He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius."
— William Gillmore Simms

Monday, April 27, 2009

2009-04-27T09:21:00.002-04:00

Welcome back!

Period 1:
Introduction to Hamlet
Major themes: Fate, Revenge, Ambition, Guilt, Anger

Period 2:
Introduction to Hamlet
Shakespeare High
Review tragic hero, dramatic set-up

Period 3:
Our Town work

Period 5:
Drawing of the groups
Writing Prompt: Describe happiness
"Good" Feedback
Share/Respond
Work on Portfolio

Thought for the day...
"What we become depends on what we read after all of the professors have finished with us. The greatest university of all is a collection of books."
— Thomas Carlyle

Congratulations to the Class of 2009 Honors

2009-04-18T21:34:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to the Class of 2009's honors' speakers....

Valedictorian: Ashleigh Greenwood
Salutatorian: Hannah Walker
3rd Honors: Alice Lin
4th Honors: Abby Fadden

And to the Class Marshals for the Class of 2009: Samantha Waterhouse & Sam Roy

Friday, April 17, 2009

2009-04-17T08:56:00.001-04:00

The last day before spring break...

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Persepolis test

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Finish Doctor Faustus
What are the themes?
Beginning analytical essay

Period 3:
Our Town: Finish the script

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Portfolio work
Teacher conferences

Thought for the day...
The discipline of the writer is to learn to be still and listen to what his subject has to tell him.
— Rachel Carson

Thursday, April 16, 2009

2009-04-16T11:18:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Persepolis reading quiz
Sharing of images
Review Persepolis worksheet

Period 2:
Present current events
Reviewing Doctor Faustus
Reading Act 4

Period 3:
Turn in Anticipation Papers for Part 1 of Independent Film Project
Our Town work

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: Crash
Share/Respond
Teacher Conferences

Thought for the day...
Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius.
— An Wang

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

2009-04-15T01:59:00.000-04:00

It's tax day...

Period 1:
Review vocabulary
Persepolis quiz & review
Review Iran history, Islam information & veiling

Period 2:
Review vocabulary
Review Doctor Faustus Act 2...
What's up with your character?
Reading Act 3

Period 3:
Our Town work - script review & revision
Costumes, props, locations, etc.

Period 5:
Writing prompt: "Once upon a time..."
Share/Respond
Teacher conferences
Work on personal writing

Thought for the day...
"Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better." — Albert Camus

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

2009-04-14T08:50:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Reviewing Persepolis - Understanding how to read subtext in a graphic novel
Reviewing Iran worksheet responses
Planning Independent Reading Book

Period 2:
Discuss/review Doctor Faustus Act 1, Begin Act 2
Select character to study...
What themes have been introduced so far?

Period 3:
Our Town work
Independent Film Part 1 check in
Explain Part 3, hand out samples

Period 5:
Writing prompt: "It was the worst vacation ever..."
Share/Respond
Sign up for teacher conferences
Work on personal writing

Thought for the day...
Without change, something sleeps inside us, and seldom awakens. The sleeper must awaken.
— Frank Herbert

Announcing the cast of OUR TOWN!

2009-04-10T13:09:00.003-04:00

Thank you all for auditioning. We were impressed with your energy, enthusiasm, and your support.

The cast:

Emily Gibbs: Emily Lloyd
George Webb: Peter Wright
Rebecca Webb: Karen Byrne
Mrs. Gibbs: Catherine Quigley
Mrs. Soames: Jordan Deppisch
Mrs. Webb: Angelica Murphy
Sharon (the drugstore owner): Lauren Simano
Lisa (Bob's girlfriend): Meghan Bullard
Bob (baseball player, George's best friend): Derek Dube
Wedding Guests/Talking Dead: Heather Machia, Curran Wood, Cameron Wood
Ballplayer/Wedding Guest/Funeral Attendee: Austin Albro
Extras: Teasha Beatrice and Sarah Padua

We still need a few more extras and are looking for a delivery person and Doc Gibbs. If interested, please see Alice Lin, Hattie Cadreact or Mrs. Tyler, ASAP.

Thank you all! It will be a great film.

Friday, April 10, 2009

2009-04-10T10:29:00.003-04:00

There are 65 calendar days left for seniors... Wow!

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Present current events
Persepolis reading quiz
Work on Iran research

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Present current events
Discuss/review Doctor Faustus
Begin reading Act 1

Period 3:
Our Town auditions continue!!

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Peer Workshop
Schedule writing conference with me!

Thought for the day...
"Tough times never last, but tough people do." - Robert H. Schuller

2009-04-09T05:59:00.001-04:00

Today is Career Day hosted by our very own Woodsville High School JAG. Thank you to Mrs. Spaulding and the WHS JAG team for a full day of information about careers. You can find out more about WHS JAG at their blog. Applications are being accepted now. See Mrs. Spaulding to learn more about what JAG offers.

There are no regularly scheduled classes. We will spend the day in our advisory groups. Follow your weekly schedule and if I don't see you in the workshops, I'll see you on Friday.

Mrs. Tyler

Thought for today...
"Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. "
— e. e. cummings

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

2009-04-08T08:40:00.002-04:00

Report cards go home today!
I'd like to publicly congratulate the following students who are in one of my classes or advisories on their academic accomplishments. Great job!
Principal List: Abby F. and Rachel B.
Honor Roll: Pat H., Reed M., Katie B. and Alice Lin

Period 1:
Review vocabulary
Cannery Row test
Work on Iran research

Period 2:
Review vocabulary
Postcolonial Literature Test

Period 3:
Auditions for Our Town

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: "Hungry"
Share/Respond
Work on individual writing

Thought for the day...
"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." - Mary Pickford

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

2009-04-07T10:52:00.004-04:00

Period 1:
Review Cannery Row
Share community maps

Period 2:
Review Heart of Darkness
Finish discussing "The Second Coming"
Reviewed Things Fall Apart

Go to: African Scramble and read The Dark Places on Earth and Racism in the Heart of Darkness. Please comment on THIS blog whether you agree/disagree and why. Consider what you know about postcolonial literature and the writers' positions as you respond.

Period 3:
Our Town work
Independent Film/Novel Project selections due

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: "If I could..."
Share/Respond
Work on own writing

Thought for the day...
"We never know how high we are
Till we are asked to rise
And then if we are true to plan
Our statures touch the skies"
- Emily Dickinson, "We Never Know How High We Are"

Monday, April 6, 2009

2009-04-06T03:57:00.000-04:00

Period 1:
Cannery Row reading quiz and discussion
Continue work on community maps - due tomorrow!!!
Iran research (prepwork for Persepolis)

Period 2:
Discuss/review Heart of Darkness
Revisit "The Second Coming"
Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"

Period 3:
Our Town prepwork - AUDITIONS ARE THURSDAY DURING LUNCH - Come be a movie star!
Select second Independent Film Project novels

Period 5:
Writing prompt: Write about something you threw away.
Share/Respond
Work on personal writing

Thought for the day...
"Were I called to define, very briefly, the term Art, I should call it 'the reproduction of what the Senses perceive in Nature through the veil of the soul.' " - Edgar Allen Poe

Friday, April 3, 2009

2009-04-03T01:15:00.000-04:00

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Cannery Row quiz
Work on community maps
Begin Iran research

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Review Heart of Darkness, Ch. 1

Period 3:
Our Town: Reviewing script

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Workshop

Thought for the day...
To have great poets, there must be great audiences, too.
—Walt Whitman, NOTES LEFT OVER

Thursday, April 2, 2009

2009-04-02T01:27:00.000-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Discuss/review Cannery Row - the FROG HUNT & what Doc's been up to...
Work on community maps/anecdotes

Period 2:
Present current events
Discuss/review Heart of Darkness
How does HOD represent postmodernist thought?

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Survey....

Thought for the day...
Education is the transmission of civilization. - Will Durant

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

2009-04-01T11:39:00.003-04:00

Happy April Fool's Day.... Try not to be anyone's fool. :)

Period 1:

Review vocabulary

Cannery Row quiz & discussion

Work on community maps, begin developing anecdotes for maps

Period 2:

Review vocabulary

Discuss Things Fall Apart

Review postcolonial literature themes

Introduce Heart of Darkness & Joseph Conrad

Period 3:

Congrats, Nicole, on getting your license!

Our Town

Period 5:

Writing prompt: Begin at the end

Share/Respond

Work on writing

Thought for the day...

"Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around." - Thoreau

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

2009-03-31T08:19:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Review Cannery Row
Continuing to build the mosiac
Work on community maps

Period 2:
Share Things Fall Apart passages
Analyzing Yeats' "The Second Coming"

Period 3:
Our Town

Period 5:
Writing Prompt: Slam Poetry
Share/Respond
Finish Workshops

Thought for the day...
"These are not books, lumps of lifeless paper, but minds alive on the shelves." - Gilbert Highet

Monday, March 30, 2009

2009-03-30T12:43:00.003-04:00

What a dreary, rainy day!

Period 1:
Cannery Row quiz on Ch. 1-6
The novel as a mosaic
Examining the roles & relationships that make a community
Begin community maps

Period 2:
Share passages from Things Fall Apart
Discuss how culture changes
Review changes in novel
Begin analyzing Yeats' "The Second Coming"

Period 3:
Work on Our Town, using Celtx

Period 5:
Writing prompt: "Liar, liar" - writing from the persepective of someone who always lies
Workshops

Thought for the day...
Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. - Thoreau

Friday, March 27, 2009

2009-03-27T06:18:00.002-04:00

It's Spirit Day and the last day of World Cultures Week.

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Discuss Cannery Row
What is a family?
Building a community

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Things Fall Apart Part One Quiz
Discuss Things Fall Apart

Period 3:
Our Town work continues...

Period 5:
Publish or Perish
Small group workshops

Thought for the day...
He who wonders discovers that this in itself is wonder.
-M. C. Escher

Thursday, March 26, 2009

2009-03-26T05:55:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Breathing Underwater test

Period 2:
Present current events
Share Things Fall Apart Passages
Writing from a secondary character's perspective

Period 3:
Our Town: the essentials
Creating the plan

Period 5:
Writing prompt: "I was so bored..."
Sharing
Work on personal writing

Thought for the day...
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.
— Carl Sagan

Out of Control - Anger, Jealousy, Rage : Words from Alex Flinn's Breathing Underwater

2009-03-25T14:18:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, March 24, 2009

2009-03-25T07:58:00.002-04:00

Period 1:
Finish Animoto videos & share
Discuss Breathing Underwater - What should you know?
What is happiness? Success? How do you measure it?

Period 2:
The culture of the Ibos
What role do values play in literature?
How do the myths illuminate the culture?
What is Things Fall Apart about?

Period 3:
Share responses to AI
Work on "Our Town"

Period 5:
Writing prompt
Share
Feedback for Lauren & Rachel

Thought for the day...
To find something you can enjoy is far better than finding something you can possess.
— Glenn Holm

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

2009-03-24T05:47:00.002-04:00

Check out some of the COOL LINKS on my new website. They can help you practice skills and also help you complete my assignments...

Period 1:
Reading quiz & discussion
Finish Animoto projects

Period 2:
Reading quiz & discussion
Final review of personal myth papers - does it meet senior writing expectations?

Period 3:
Finish AI
Begin response paper

Period 5:
Writing prompt
Peer workshop
Goal setting

Thought for the day...
"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."
— Emily Dickinson

Friday, March 20, 2009

2009-03-20T10:27:00.003-04:00

HAPPY SPRING (or mud season)

Please be kind to Mrs. Williams. Enjoy the long weekend & I'll see you on Tuesday.

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Reading quiz
Inside/Outside box

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Reading quiz
Personal myth papers

Period 3:
AI: Artificial Intelligence, continue viewing

Period 5:
Publish or perish day...

Thought for the day...
"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." - Ruth Stout

Thursday, March 19, 2009

2009-03-19T05:08:00.004-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Reading quiz & discussion
Continue working on Breathing Underwater projects
Animoto

Period 2: (period shortened due to advisories)
Present current events
Reading quiz & discussion
Work on personal myth drafts

Period 3:
Viewing AI: Artificial Intelligence
Themes discussion

Period 5:
My Hometown Cheer
Writing prompt & feedback
Publish or perish entries due tomorrow

Thought for the day...
"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better." - Albert Camus

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

2009-03-18T08:18:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Review vocabulary
Breathing Underwater reading quiz & discussion
Work on theme presentations

Period 2:
Review vocabulary
Introduce colonialism & post-modernist thought
Begin personal myth papers

Period 3:
Anticipation paper for "Super Toys Last All Summer Long"
Begin AI: Artificial Intelligence

Period 5:
Goal setting
Write to a prompt & share

Thought for the day...
"The best way out is always through."- Robert Frost

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

2009-03-17T06:08:00.002-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Period 1:
Reading quiz & discussion
Understanding Nick
Propaganda Project work

Period 2:
Present personal memoirs
Discuss reading & meaning
Explore myths
Begin personal myth essay

Period 3:
Work on Our Town

Period 5:
Writing prompt & in class responding

Thought for the day...
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
— George S. Patton

Monday, March 16, 2009

2009-03-16T05:53:00.004-04:00

What a busy weekend! I attended the NH Young Writer's Conference and spent a lot of time talking about writing and following our passions. There were some great published writers and we all were able to read student work of aspiring writers. If you are interested in writing, see me to talk about attending next year!

Period 1:
Quick check-in & quiz
Guest speaker from the NH Major Crimes Unit and Investigation team

Period 2:
American Born Chinese
Exploring cultural and societal myths
The myths that sustain us

Period 3:
Our Town: continue reading and determining characterization

Period 5:
We will respond to a prompt & share our writing today.
How feedback will change...
Deadlines for March discussion

Thought for the day...
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, March 13, 2009

2009-03-13T06:05:00.003-04:00

Two Friday the 13ths in a row....

Period 1:
Vocabulary quiz
Breathing Underwater quiz and discussion
Relationships
Beginning a character study

Period 2:
Vocabulary quiz
Discussion of American Born Chinese
Read & discuss myths
What is your mythology?
Working on memoirs

Period 3:
Our Town work - return to Act II?

Period 5:
Publish or Perish Day!!!
Reading/commenting on one another's writing.
Goal setting

Thought for the day....
"Before the beginning of great brilliance and beauty there first must be a period of complete chaos." - I Ching

AND a bonus quote because it was too good to hold onto....
Kurt Cobain - "Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are."

Thursday, March 12, 2009

2009-03-12T06:01:00.003-04:00

Period 1:
Present current events
Reading quiz & discussion on Breathing Underwater
Publishing beast fables
Relationships...

Period 2:
Present current events
Learning about the myth of the Monkey King
Reading Asian (Chinese, mostly) mythology & sharing thoughts - visit yesterday's post to learn more
Work on personal memoirs

Period 3:
Exploring Our Town

Period 5:
Writing creatively - Remember tomorrow is PUBLISH OR PERISH DAY
You can publish a work in progress to ask for feedback....(well, technically all writing is a work in progress).
For today's prompts: Write about 7 wonders of the world - they can be fictional, personal, or the real things OR write about something you lost OR freewrite.
You can always respond to the thought of the day.
Remember changing perspectives opens up even more opportunities.

Thought for the day...
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

2009-03-11T06:01:00.003-04:00

A snow delay...

Period 1:
Animal Farm test
Review vocabulary

Period 2:
No class due to snow delay
Keep reading American Born Chinese & working on your memoirs.
Here's the promised link to explore Chinese mythology... I recommend looking at The Chinese Stage, Chinese Takeout, and the Chinese Lion Dance.

Period 3:
Our Town review and assignment of roles for Act I
Working on Act I
Begin Act II

Period 5:
Writing to an assigned prompt
Preparing to "publish or perish" - publishing on Friday

Thought for the day...
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

2009-03-10T05:51:00.003-04:00

Early Release Day....meaning shortened periods

Period 1:
Review Animal Farm
Work on beast fables

Period 2:
Persepolis Jeopardy
Introduce American Born Chinese
Work on graphic memoir - remember minimum of 15 blocks.

Period 3:
Finish (for real) 2001: A Space Odyssey
What is Kubrick & Clarke's message?
What was it about???
Return to Our Town

Period 5:
Writing creatively
And if you are having trouble with what to write... Click here - they have over 542 different prompts!

Thought for the day...
The glory of great men should always be measured by the means they have used to acquire it.
- Francois de La Rochefoulauld

Monday, March 9, 2009

2009-03-09T05:00:00.000-04:00

Period 1:
Animal Farm quiz & discussion
Reading Aesop's fables
What is the moral of Animal Farm?
Creating own beast fable

Period 2:
Discuss/review Persepolis
Work on crafting graphic memoirs

Period 3:
Finish 2001: A Space Odyssey
Fidelity between film and short story
What is the message/warning re: Hal?

Period 5:
Writing creatively... using what you've learned

Thought for the day...
"Words do two major things: They provide food for the mind and create light for understanding and awareness." - Jim Rohn