After a Full Throttle Thursday you are probably energized... but on a more serious note, we are going to continue with our new theme: We Love Rigor...and to answer your questions it is not the kind of rigor that sets into dead bodies.
We took a noteable break from our Greek and Latin, however Friday will find us in a BLITZKRIEG!!!! 6 activities, 7 minutes per activity - could make for a GREAT day, at least for me!
Project lists will be posted tomorrow evening. I wanted to get to them today but I ran off and left my folder at school and my couch was just so nice and comfy I couldn't bring myself to get up and go back over there.
It's gonna turn into a classroom blitz...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Parody by the Dashboard Lights...
See how that works? The very title of my blog entry today is a parody on the fabulous Meatloaf song from the late 70's. Today we discussed parody as a literary device and its relevance to poetry and how parody can actually HELP us understand poems that we don't understand. Case in point was today's poem: Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer's Day? We read two versions of the poem: Will Shakespeare's version and a parody written by Howard Moss.
The parody actually provided a frame of reference for the poem and helped us delve into the symbolism, metaphor and epitaph of the sonnet.
Want a real-life example of parody? Check out some of Weird Al Yankovic's music at www.youtube.com. You can also see parody in action if you look from some of the skits from Saturday Night Live.
ETYMOLOGY: gram - Greek base meaning "writing or write" examples given in class were telegram, grammar, and diagram.
REMEMBER: Projects progress evals are due tomorrow!
The parody actually provided a frame of reference for the poem and helped us delve into the symbolism, metaphor and epitaph of the sonnet.
Want a real-life example of parody? Check out some of Weird Al Yankovic's music at www.youtube.com. You can also see parody in action if you look from some of the skits from Saturday Night Live.
ETYMOLOGY: gram - Greek base meaning "writing or write" examples given in class were telegram, grammar, and diagram.
REMEMBER: Projects progress evals are due tomorrow!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Concept Assessment Projects - Tip #1
If you are doing the vocabulary flash cards, take some time to go through the text and your notes, find your 30 words and jot them down on a piece of paper.
Then, grab a ziploc bag, your paper with your 30 words, a handful of index cards and a sharpie marker. Throw everything in the ziploc bag and throw your ziploc bag in your backpack. Work on writing the words on the front of the cards when you have down time - that is a third of the work done!
If you are working on a poster, draw a rough sketch of what you want and then go from there. Start a design file with words, letters or pictures that you want to use on your poster. That way when you have time to put it together all your elements will be in one place. Also, think about your statements, themes and sentences and when you come up with an idea, jot it down. Trying to sit down and force yourself to be creative can be taxing and quite honestly, nearly impossible.
Don't forget: Project progress evals are due Thursday, it's a good idea to have at least a couple of the projects started.
Classwork days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with all projects due at the end of the hour on Wednesday.
ETYMOLOGY (does not have anything to do with bugs, FYI): "mult" - meaning "many" words that exemplify this word include: multitude, multiply, multicultural and multitask
Then, grab a ziploc bag, your paper with your 30 words, a handful of index cards and a sharpie marker. Throw everything in the ziploc bag and throw your ziploc bag in your backpack. Work on writing the words on the front of the cards when you have down time - that is a third of the work done!
If you are working on a poster, draw a rough sketch of what you want and then go from there. Start a design file with words, letters or pictures that you want to use on your poster. That way when you have time to put it together all your elements will be in one place. Also, think about your statements, themes and sentences and when you come up with an idea, jot it down. Trying to sit down and force yourself to be creative can be taxing and quite honestly, nearly impossible.
Don't forget: Project progress evals are due Thursday, it's a good idea to have at least a couple of the projects started.
Classwork days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with all projects due at the end of the hour on Wednesday.
ETYMOLOGY (does not have anything to do with bugs, FYI): "mult" - meaning "many" words that exemplify this word include: multitude, multiply, multicultural and multitask
Friday, September 17, 2010
Miniver Cheevy
Here is where I read the poems for my little learning warriors...groovy ups and outs by Mr. B.
Miniver Cheevy
Here is where I read the poems for my little learning warriors...groovy ups and outs by Mr. B.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Journaling is for the bird...
September 7. Homework - Journal entry
Think about the story, A White Heron. In the story the tall pine that Sylvia climbs to find the heron is one of the most important symbols in the story. For this assignment, let’s agree that the pine tree symbolizes Sylvia’s passage into maturity – she climbs the tree a child, makes a decision once she can see clearly, and comes down the tree one step closer to being an adult. With that in mind, write five to six complete sentences describing an event that is the same as that Sylvia experienced. Specifically answer the following questions: What was important to you before the event? Provide some details of the event. What was important to you after the event? How did it change you? If you have to pick an object/color/place to symbolize that event, what would it be?
Journals should be brought to class on September 8. Individuals may be asked if they are comfortable sharing their entries.
Think about the story, A White Heron. In the story the tall pine that Sylvia climbs to find the heron is one of the most important symbols in the story. For this assignment, let’s agree that the pine tree symbolizes Sylvia’s passage into maturity – she climbs the tree a child, makes a decision once she can see clearly, and comes down the tree one step closer to being an adult. With that in mind, write five to six complete sentences describing an event that is the same as that Sylvia experienced. Specifically answer the following questions: What was important to you before the event? Provide some details of the event. What was important to you after the event? How did it change you? If you have to pick an object/color/place to symbolize that event, what would it be?
Journals should be brought to class on September 8. Individuals may be asked if they are comfortable sharing their entries.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Homework Wednesday Sept. 1
Similes make me smile. Metaphors fill me with mirth...I doubt my students are feeling those same things at this point.
Today's homework, should you choose to accept it, and if you don't then tomorrow we dine, is a worksheet on figurative language.
We use figurative language all the time without even realizing it. Ever said you'd die for a hot, melty buttery cinammon roll? That's figurative language because if you would literally DIE for a cinnamon roll then what would be the point of getting a cinammon roll... you might as well give it to your friendly, neighborhood English teacher!
So figurative language, using similes is a lot like making comparisons using metaphors. The BIG difference is that they contain a comparative word such as LIKE or AS...a word that prepares you for the SIMILarities (subtle hint) of the two objects.
Let your little imaginations run wild... use your descriptive words, try to think of it as writing the next super-groovy slang language... And if that doesn't work I will wring the words out of you (figuratively, of course) the next day!
As always, feel free to call with questions or concerns!
Prepare yourselves for tomorrow, the HERON has landed!
Today's homework, should you choose to accept it, and if you don't then tomorrow we dine, is a worksheet on figurative language.
We use figurative language all the time without even realizing it. Ever said you'd die for a hot, melty buttery cinammon roll? That's figurative language because if you would literally DIE for a cinnamon roll then what would be the point of getting a cinammon roll... you might as well give it to your friendly, neighborhood English teacher!
So figurative language, using similes is a lot like making comparisons using metaphors. The BIG difference is that they contain a comparative word such as LIKE or AS...a word that prepares you for the SIMILarities (subtle hint) of the two objects.
Let your little imaginations run wild... use your descriptive words, try to think of it as writing the next super-groovy slang language... And if that doesn't work I will wring the words out of you (figuratively, of course) the next day!
As always, feel free to call with questions or concerns!
Prepare yourselves for tomorrow, the HERON has landed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)