A week in review...

This week we
1) performed the last scene of Act 1 of Julius Caesar and took a quiz.
2) performed our book commericials
3) journaled some "rants" about things that drive us up the wall in preparation for a persuasive paper after break.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Beware the Ides of March!

Today we
1) turned in our independent book posters and journals.
2) worked on acting/reading 1.2 of Julius Caesar.
3) went over a handout explaining how we'd be graded for each act of Caesar.

Yesterday we had time to rehearse and then we watched/discussed the beginning of 1.2.

On Monday, we'll be reading/discussing 1.3.

On Tuesday, we'll begin our book commercials.

Rehearsal

Today we journaled and then saw Act 1, Scene 1 of Julius Caesar. We discussed the events of it and then everyone had time to rehearse their own scenes.

Up on your feet!

Monday and today we did learned acting terms in class, including negative space, levels and leading centers, in preparation for studying Shakespeare.

Today we also signed up for parts in Julius Caesar -- and the homework is to read the parts so we're prepared to rehearse them tomorrow.

Ind. Book Plans

Today we journaled and then went over (in detail) the requirements for the independant book projects (posters and commercials). With our remaining time, we did some open-mic.

Begining Prince of Egypt

Today we journaled and Mrs. Gilbert checked off who had at least 5 book-journals done.

Then we began watching Prince of Egypt. On Thursday we'll be writing a time c/c essay on this movie and Antigone.

Antigone test!

Yep, we took a test on Angione today.

Tomorrow we're doing a journal check, so make sure you're caught up on your independant novel journaling!

Ode to Antigone

Today we analyzed the songs/odes of Antigone to see
1) how each song/ode related to the scenes right before/after it.
2) how each song/ode used literary techniques.

The end of Creon!

Today we began class by doing a quick-write about scene 4, and then we discussed the events of scene 4.

We read scene 5 and were having so much fun that we kept reading through the end of the play. Tomorrow we'll update our charts and discuss some of the odes.

Homework: Keep reading and journaling your independant novel. We'll do a journal check-in on Friday. You should be at least 1/2 way through your book and have 4-5 journals written.

Haimon vs. Creon

Today we read Scene 3 in Antigone and added Haimon to our character charts. We also went over the literary terms worksheet that was homework over Thanksgiving. We didn't collect the charts to give everyone a chance to keep revising/fixing the terms which are less familiar.

Homework: Read Scene 4 in Antigone and identify 1) how is Antigone feeling in this scene, and 2) how does the crowd feel about Antigone in this scene?

Antigone heats up

Today we read Scene 2 of Antigone and saw tempers begin to flare. We added to our character charts and got a lit. terms review sheet to do over the long weekend.

We also journaled.

Don't forget to continue reading your independant novel and journaling on it!

Beginning Antigone

Yesterday we read the Prologue to Antigone and introduced the character worksheets we'll be completing on Antigone. We also had some journal time and did a family tree for Antigone.

Today we continued reading Antigone. We journaled on the Parados and read Scene 1 aloud. Tomorrow we'll be doing Scene 2 and lots of work with literary terms.

Don't forget to be reading your independant novel and journaling on it as your homework!

The Oedipus Dilemna

Today we did some background reading/discussion leading up to reading the play Antigone. Everyone had to sign up for parts to read for next week and the homework this weekend is to pre-read your part and practice it so that you'll be comfortable reading it.

Everyone should also begin reading their independant novel and journaling.

From poetry to prose

Yesterday we orally presented our poems.

Today we reviewed the independant novel project and the guidelines for the journals that are part of it. We also looked at samples of good and bad journals.

Students must choose a novel (200+ pages of science fiction, fantasy, or AP-list recommended) by tomorrow and have it approved by Mrs. Gilbert.

Finalizing poems

Today we met in C-13 to put the final touches on our poems.

We also reviewed how to properly (and dramatically) read poems.

Tomorrow, the final drafts are due and everyone must dramatically present their poems (for a grade!)

Poetry formatting

Today we wrapped up the poetry workshopping and then we took notes on a worksheet about how to format poetry and what special rules govern the mechanics of poetry.

Homework: Work on revising your poems based on the feedback you received.

Poetry Workshop

Today we took notes on how to participate in a poetry workshop and then we had a poetry workshop.

Any poems not workshoped today will be workshopped on Monday. Students should use the long weekend to revise and improve their poems.

Otherwise -- just kick back and enjoy the break before we buckle down to hard work next week!

Poetry plans

Today we looked as some sample poems and discussed some advice for writing good poetry. Then we had the rest of the period to try to draft a poem of our own -- whether it be a revision of the praise poem or a totally different poem trying to capture a moment or make a point.

Homework: Bring 5 copies of your rough draft poem to class tomorrow for workshopping.

We also showed our homework from yesterday to Mrs. Gilbert for credit.

Bible as poetry

Today we started by sharing our apple poems and turning them in.

Then we looked at how literary devices worked in some Bible poetry, such as the famous Psalm 23 and some excerpts of the love poetry in Song of Solomon. We also looked at how literary terms worked in proverbs.

Homework: Write a praise poem (of a person or diety) OR write 5 original proverbs. Whichever one you choose, make sure that it is RICH with literary devices.

An apple each day...

Today we reviewed literary terms by using an apple to inspire some poetic writing.

Homework: Write a poem (or description) of your apple using at least five of the terms we reviewed. Your poem and today's worksheet will be due when you come to class tomorrow.