APees: "The Man with a Hoe" by Gordon Markham and a painting; connections and TP-CASTTness related to the time period of Markham and Conrad (1899-1901).
Gifted II: Othello vocabulary list for Act I and introductory notes; review of registration dates with Guidance.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
APees: On the back of the packet I gave you regarding Heart of Darkness is a statement from the Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe. Today in class we are going to assess that statement, particularly this element of it: "Can such a work have artistic merit? I say. . .no, it cannot."
What justifies a work as artistic?
What right do we have to judge something thus?
Aesthetics? Content? Controversy?
Gifted English II: I have FCAT Writes! booklets for each of you; that test will be given on February 12. Today we are doing an in-class informal writing based on a quotation from Othello, Act I, scene ii, and then working in our groups for the Lupercalian festival.
What justifies a work as artistic?
What right do we have to judge something thus?
Aesthetics? Content? Controversy?
Gifted English II: I have FCAT Writes! booklets for each of you; that test will be given on February 12. Today we are doing an in-class informal writing based on a quotation from Othello, Act I, scene ii, and then working in our groups for the Lupercalian festival.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Today is my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday to Mom!
APees: "The Hollow Men" critical packet and response question; focus papers due by midnight tonight on www.turnitin.com. E-mail the paper to me as a Word attachment OR imbedded in the body of the e-mail if you can't get it to upload correctly to the site.
Gifted English II: Our next group meeting for the Lupercalian festival will be Monday; today we need to do a timed writing on an FCAT-approved topic after we go over the grammar homework.
APees: "The Hollow Men" critical packet and response question; focus papers due by midnight tonight on www.turnitin.com. E-mail the paper to me as a Word attachment OR imbedded in the body of the e-mail if you can't get it to upload correctly to the site.
Gifted English II: Our next group meeting for the Lupercalian festival will be Monday; today we need to do a timed writing on an FCAT-approved topic after we go over the grammar homework.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
According to one of my students, who we'll call Danny, since that's his name, my class today for AP is "boring," which means that I'm doing my job. Yup.
APees: Close reading of a passage from HofD and discussion of the following thematic elements:
Gifted English II: First group meeting for the LUPERCALIAN FESTIVAL!!! Groups One, Two, and Three will coordinate and plan for a group presentation on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2008.
Afterwards, we will finish watching Act V of JC and work on a grammar assignment (sentence modeling).
APees: Close reading of a passage from HofD and discussion of the following thematic elements:
- Structural analogy to The Canterbury Tales
- Idealogical analogy to Huckelberry Finn (the idyll of the river, etc.)
- Possible roles of light imagery
- Use of connotation in literary passages
Gifted English II: First group meeting for the LUPERCALIAN FESTIVAL!!! Groups One, Two, and Three will coordinate and plan for a group presentation on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2008.
Afterwards, we will finish watching Act V of JC and work on a grammar assignment (sentence modeling).
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Australian actor Heath Ledger passed away yesterday, no doubt due to drugs. So often people in the limelight succumb to the ravages and challenges of life in a fishbowl, but I had always thought that Ledger and his friends were of a slightly different ilk. Tragically, he is now dead at 28--a reminder of how devastating some choices can be, and a reminder to all of you young people that we are not invincible. Please don't make poor choices.
On to our lessons for the day:
APees: We need to continue our discussion of Conrad's vision, by focusing on a close reading of the text and then by giving you some time to develop your focus papers. Bring your HofD packet to class and we'll go over content vocab, too, time permitting.
Gifted English II: Planning for the Lupercal festival today! Third period will see the battle sequence from Act V of Julius Caesar, and sixth period will see the assassination of JC.
On to our lessons for the day:
APees: We need to continue our discussion of Conrad's vision, by focusing on a close reading of the text and then by giving you some time to develop your focus papers. Bring your HofD packet to class and we'll go over content vocab, too, time permitting.
Gifted English II: Planning for the Lupercal festival today! Third period will see the battle sequence from Act V of Julius Caesar, and sixth period will see the assassination of JC.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tueday, January 22, 2008
A few weeks ago, in a burst of unprecedented zeal, I created an Academic Calendar for the month of January. Well-intentioned, as in all of my side projects, but ultimately fruitless, the Calendar is now being updated and will be redistributed ASAP. So. . .fourth period, Le Guinea Pigs of the Academic Calendar Experiment (hereafter known as ACE). . .get ready to recycle a now-defunct schedule and move forward to new, exciting BETTER DAYS!!!
APees: Are you aware of a real-life Heart of Darkness taking place in Liberia, Africa right now, led by a formerly homicidal and clothing-free warrior general? Sadly, this is just one example of what Conrad was trying to expose--and today's Big Question in class has to do with the nature of megalomania. What happens when a cult of personality is allowed to reign in a consequence-free environment, and what are the costs? Oh, and you have a miniature focus paper due Friday night--www.turnitin.com and no hard copy. I'll explain in class.
Sophys: You will have the week to construct a brief essay on Julius Caesar while we watch the film. Third period is already well into Act II, but sixth needs to catch up. Feel free to bring popcorn; I will provide the lollies. This is FCAT month and we need to do a TW this week to prepare; registration is pending so check this space for updates and planning sessions.
After school today, for any and all interested parties: I will be hosting my first "Italian lesson" for those traveling to Venice and Florence with me this spring, or for the merely curious. Some of you have traveled abroad before (some with me, actually) but this first session may be helpful since we are going over The Euro and How to Walk in an Italian City and Not Get Smacked by a SmartCar. Also, you will learn five or six handy phrases! Next week's session: Ordering Food in a Restaurant. All info was neatly lifted from a guidebook I wrote with a partner in 2004 that went absolutely nowhere, so revel in the fruits of my failure!
This Saturday night we are ushering for As You Like It at the Shakespeare festival. Earn six community service hours, see a classic Shakespearean comedy, and get out of the house for a bit! Sign up sheet will be on the board.
APees: Are you aware of a real-life Heart of Darkness taking place in Liberia, Africa right now, led by a formerly homicidal and clothing-free warrior general? Sadly, this is just one example of what Conrad was trying to expose--and today's Big Question in class has to do with the nature of megalomania. What happens when a cult of personality is allowed to reign in a consequence-free environment, and what are the costs? Oh, and you have a miniature focus paper due Friday night--www.turnitin.com and no hard copy. I'll explain in class.
Sophys: You will have the week to construct a brief essay on Julius Caesar while we watch the film. Third period is already well into Act II, but sixth needs to catch up. Feel free to bring popcorn; I will provide the lollies. This is FCAT month and we need to do a TW this week to prepare; registration is pending so check this space for updates and planning sessions.
After school today, for any and all interested parties: I will be hosting my first "Italian lesson" for those traveling to Venice and Florence with me this spring, or for the merely curious. Some of you have traveled abroad before (some with me, actually) but this first session may be helpful since we are going over The Euro and How to Walk in an Italian City and Not Get Smacked by a SmartCar. Also, you will learn five or six handy phrases! Next week's session: Ordering Food in a Restaurant. All info was neatly lifted from a guidebook I wrote with a partner in 2004 that went absolutely nowhere, so revel in the fruits of my failure!
This Saturday night we are ushering for As You Like It at the Shakespeare festival. Earn six community service hours, see a classic Shakespearean comedy, and get out of the house for a bit! Sign up sheet will be on the board.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Friday, January 18 and Monday, January 21
Four day weekend for students; three day weekend for teacher-types.
Friday is a workday; I will be on campus later in the morning after an emotionally stirring oil change to get ready for the next semester. Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and there will be various celebrations all around Central Florida to commemorate the vision and work of this dynamic civil rights leader. Soapbox moment: I think our culture still has a long way to go in the respect department--respect for each other, regardless of race, gender, etc.--but I can't imagine the disorder and chaos we would have without the Civil Rights Movement of the previous generation. So take a moment today and think about the various freedoms you have, and be grateful to live in a time period and a country in which you can pretty much do and say whatever you want. (Despite our challenges, I can't imagine living anywhere else.) So, a friendly salute to Dr. King.
Now on to academics:
What can YOU do this long weekend to ameliorate your life?
SOPHYS: If you desire a copy of Othello for annotation/simplicity, please go get one this weekend. We will be finishing the film Julius Caesar for a day or two, and planning our Lupercal festival, and working on a focus paper, but you'll need it in a week or so. I have a class set of the play for reading-in-class purposes, but if you desire your own go get it, tiger. ALSO--we will be doing more intensive grammar work this quarter and you will need to get a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White--both books together should be no more than ten bucks. If this is a problem, come find me. Check the syllabus if you need ISBN numbers.
APees: Finish Heart of Darkness! C'mon--it's 71 pages long!!! FINISH IT!!!!!
Friday is a workday; I will be on campus later in the morning after an emotionally stirring oil change to get ready for the next semester. Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and there will be various celebrations all around Central Florida to commemorate the vision and work of this dynamic civil rights leader. Soapbox moment: I think our culture still has a long way to go in the respect department--respect for each other, regardless of race, gender, etc.--but I can't imagine the disorder and chaos we would have without the Civil Rights Movement of the previous generation. So take a moment today and think about the various freedoms you have, and be grateful to live in a time period and a country in which you can pretty much do and say whatever you want. (Despite our challenges, I can't imagine living anywhere else.) So, a friendly salute to Dr. King.
Now on to academics:
What can YOU do this long weekend to ameliorate your life?
SOPHYS: If you desire a copy of Othello for annotation/simplicity, please go get one this weekend. We will be finishing the film Julius Caesar for a day or two, and planning our Lupercal festival, and working on a focus paper, but you'll need it in a week or so. I have a class set of the play for reading-in-class purposes, but if you desire your own go get it, tiger. ALSO--we will be doing more intensive grammar work this quarter and you will need to get a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White--both books together should be no more than ten bucks. If this is a problem, come find me. Check the syllabus if you need ISBN numbers.
APees: Finish Heart of Darkness! C'mon--it's 71 pages long!!! FINISH IT!!!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
EXAM SCHEDULE:
Fifth period: 130 minutes
15-minute break
Sixth period: 130 minutes
Early dismissal
I will be here for a WHILE today so if anyone needs anything, I am your girl. Grades are due on Friday, January 18 by 1 p.m.
Fifth period: 130 minutes
15-minute break
Sixth period: 130 minutes
Early dismissal
I will be here for a WHILE today so if anyone needs anything, I am your girl. Grades are due on Friday, January 18 by 1 p.m.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
O frabjous day--callooh, callay. I got paid!
(I hate to sound mercenary, and in a perfect world we public servants would work for just love, but I like my minor ducats so that I can pay my bills and buy. . .handbags.)
EXAM SCHEDULE TODAY
3rd period: 130 minutes
15-minute break
4th period: 130 minutes
Early dismissal (noonish)
I am trying to finish grades today; they are due to the district at 1 p.m. on Friday. See me if you have any questions. K12 Planet is not necessarily the best thing in the universe and the site has had numerous glitches and problems this year--we are eventually switching over to a new system called SMS, which I am looking so forward to, since we will be able to do our grades FROM HOME. It has been so utterly limiting to be chained to my desk sans planning period for the past three years; if I could do grades from a remote location life would be infinitely better. Hail to technology!
(I hate to sound mercenary, and in a perfect world we public servants would work for just love, but I like my minor ducats so that I can pay my bills and buy. . .handbags.)
EXAM SCHEDULE TODAY
3rd period: 130 minutes
15-minute break
4th period: 130 minutes
Early dismissal (noonish)
I am trying to finish grades today; they are due to the district at 1 p.m. on Friday. See me if you have any questions. K12 Planet is not necessarily the best thing in the universe and the site has had numerous glitches and problems this year--we are eventually switching over to a new system called SMS, which I am looking so forward to, since we will be able to do our grades FROM HOME. It has been so utterly limiting to be chained to my desk sans planning period for the past three years; if I could do grades from a remote location life would be infinitely better. Hail to technology!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
The Ides of January! Not really, but the date reminds me of Julius Caesar just a bit.
Odd schedule today: FIRST PERIOD final for 130 minutes, followed by a brief 3rd period, a regular fourth period, then SECOND PERIOD final for 130 minutes. Bring a pencil. I will have snacks for you.
Reminder of travel meeting tonight at 7! And if you didn't come but you are interested in either PRAGUE AND VIENNA next fall break or MUNICH AND BUDAPEST next spring break, see me! I have the paperwork. :-)
Odd schedule today: FIRST PERIOD final for 130 minutes, followed by a brief 3rd period, a regular fourth period, then SECOND PERIOD final for 130 minutes. Bring a pencil. I will have snacks for you.
Reminder of travel meeting tonight at 7! And if you didn't come but you are interested in either PRAGUE AND VIENNA next fall break or MUNICH AND BUDAPEST next spring break, see me! I have the paperwork. :-)
Monday, January 14, 2008
FINAL DAY TO REVIEW FOR FINALS AND SUBMIT MAKE-UP WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Humanahumana.
Humanahumana.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Exam Review, both AP and Gifted.
We will also go over the complicated exam schedule for next week.
We will also go over the complicated exam schedule for next week.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Begin final examination reviews; comprehensive review sheets given to EVERY student.
Warning about my exams, paraphrased from class discussions:
In the event that you haven't noticed, I am extremely right-brained, and my tests tend to reflect this. They are long, rambly, and conversational in tone--not difficult, I don't think, but specific and long. Thus, the three-page review sheet. I try very hard to run a relaxed classroom atmosphere, so sometimes it's deceptive how much material we are actually getting through. Even in a class in which we giggle much of the time, a wealth of "stuff" has been covered. (See how sneaky?) Don't panic about my exam--but definitely organize your notes and study.
The AP exam has 148 multiple choice questions and an FRQ from a previous College Board test; the Gifted II exam has 195 and contains multiple reading passages. Both take a while to finish, but if you go in assuming it's like a game of Trivial Pursuit you'll feel better.
And I haven't had anyone fail in quite a while.
Sophys: Julius Caesar Memorizations!!!
Warning about my exams, paraphrased from class discussions:
In the event that you haven't noticed, I am extremely right-brained, and my tests tend to reflect this. They are long, rambly, and conversational in tone--not difficult, I don't think, but specific and long. Thus, the three-page review sheet. I try very hard to run a relaxed classroom atmosphere, so sometimes it's deceptive how much material we are actually getting through. Even in a class in which we giggle much of the time, a wealth of "stuff" has been covered. (See how sneaky?) Don't panic about my exam--but definitely organize your notes and study.
The AP exam has 148 multiple choice questions and an FRQ from a previous College Board test; the Gifted II exam has 195 and contains multiple reading passages. Both take a while to finish, but if you go in assuming it's like a game of Trivial Pursuit you'll feel better.
And I haven't had anyone fail in quite a while.
Sophys: Julius Caesar Memorizations!!!
Wednesday, January 9: Back from Jury Duty!!!
APees: Heart of Darkness and love to the accountant character
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar; memorizations due Thursday, January 10!!!
:-)
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar; memorizations due Thursday, January 10!!!
:-)
so much for new year resolutions
. . .so I'll be catching up while your child takes his or her final exam. It's so chilly in here that they are drinking cocoa and two students are wrapped in blankets like little snausages.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
As it stands right now, it looks as though I have jury duty tomorrow. Just to be clear--I love the idea of being on a jury, and I really like watching Law and Order. I just kind of wish it didn't have to hit this close to your semester exams, so if they excuse me for any of the various reasons they could find (ahhhh--rejection!) I will scuttle right back to BHS and teach my heart out. If you don't see me, I'm still waiting to go to voir dire. (Not that you care, or that this is even relevant in an assignment blog, but I still harbor fantasies of being a prosecuting attorney. I'd love to wear expensive suits and yell, "No, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER!")
Be nice to Mr. Bailey; he's always extremely nice to you. (That would be particualrly relevant to the clowns in fourth period, btw.)
APees: Read over the "Layers of Meaning" handout relevant to Heart of Darkness and carefully read as much of the text as you can. We will discuss a specific passage of the novella tomorrow in class before launching into Project Review for My Semester Exam.
Gifted English II: Finish enacting Act V of Julius Caesar; divide up parts under Mr. B's supervision and see how much you can get through. IF YOU FINISH I have an amazing JC scavenger hunt that you can work on in pairs. If not, we'll do it tomorrow!!! Memorizations STILL due Thursday (you've had a month, so stop grumbling) and please check the Author of the Day presentation grid on the overhead cart. Please. Thank you!
Be nice to Mr. Bailey; he's always extremely nice to you. (That would be particualrly relevant to the clowns in fourth period, btw.)
APees: Read over the "Layers of Meaning" handout relevant to Heart of Darkness and carefully read as much of the text as you can. We will discuss a specific passage of the novella tomorrow in class before launching into Project Review for My Semester Exam.
Gifted English II: Finish enacting Act V of Julius Caesar; divide up parts under Mr. B's supervision and see how much you can get through. IF YOU FINISH I have an amazing JC scavenger hunt that you can work on in pairs. If not, we'll do it tomorrow!!! Memorizations STILL due Thursday (you've had a month, so stop grumbling) and please check the Author of the Day presentation grid on the overhead cart. Please. Thank you!
Monday, January 7, 2008
APees: Today, we discussed the following elements of Heart of Darkness:
*imperialism
*physiognomy
*asceticism
*Florida being a "dark place on the earth" as much as Marlow's London
*the imagery of color and death in the opening chapter
*the need for close reading and analysis in understanding the novella--beyond travelogue to symbolism and commentary (whether on race, exploration, economic classes, or environmental issues)
. . .and somehow that included a rant about EPCOT. Go figure. Please read as much as you can tonight; tomorrow will involve further reading and reflection.
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar review of Acts I-IV; reading and dramatic re-enactments of Act V. Sixth period is a little bit behind third; please catch up by finishing Act IV, scene iii (the ghost scene). MEMORIZATIONS DUE THURSDAY, PEEPS!!!
*imperialism
*physiognomy
*asceticism
*Florida being a "dark place on the earth" as much as Marlow's London
*the imagery of color and death in the opening chapter
*the need for close reading and analysis in understanding the novella--beyond travelogue to symbolism and commentary (whether on race, exploration, economic classes, or environmental issues)
. . .and somehow that included a rant about EPCOT. Go figure. Please read as much as you can tonight; tomorrow will involve further reading and reflection.
Gifted English II: Julius Caesar review of Acts I-IV; reading and dramatic re-enactments of Act V. Sixth period is a little bit behind third; please catch up by finishing Act IV, scene iii (the ghost scene). MEMORIZATIONS DUE THURSDAY, PEEPS!!!
Monday, January 7, 2008: A New Year; A New Start!
Welcome back to an exciting new year! We still have two weeks to go before we complete this semester, but there are a few announcements I need to make before we get underway:
1. For those of you who know and love Mrs. Hannot ( a science teacher who left BHS this year to join Mrs. Tapley in Osceola County) please keep her in your thoughts and prayers--her husband became very ill this weekend, and she saved his life via CPR. He is in the hospital and is in very bad shape.
2. On a more student-centric note, NHS applications are due no later than Friday. If you need a leadership letter from me, see me ASAP. (This announcement applies only to seniors and juniors; sophomores need to continue working on community service and grades and can apply next year.)
3. Registration begins soon! Stay posted! Guidance will be distributing handbooks to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students near the end of this month.
4. If anyone is interested in traveling with me next year to Prague in the fall (seniors and grads only) or Germany and Croatia in the spring (all ages) then come to the travel meeting on Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in room 313.
5. If anyone is interested in earning community service hours this month, our first ushering date is for Shakespeare's As You Like It on Saturday night at 7 p.m. See me for details. Admission to the play is included and counts toward service hours!
There are many exciting things to do this semester, and I hope that everyone is on board and ready to go!!!
Please see the following post for today's curriculum.
And friendly reminder: NO CELL PHONES IN MY CLASSROOM. It is my personal pet peeve and drives me crazy. You might be allowed to use them in the hall--fine, fine--but increasingly some of you are using them in class. NO NO NO.
:-)
1. For those of you who know and love Mrs. Hannot ( a science teacher who left BHS this year to join Mrs. Tapley in Osceola County) please keep her in your thoughts and prayers--her husband became very ill this weekend, and she saved his life via CPR. He is in the hospital and is in very bad shape.
2. On a more student-centric note, NHS applications are due no later than Friday. If you need a leadership letter from me, see me ASAP. (This announcement applies only to seniors and juniors; sophomores need to continue working on community service and grades and can apply next year.)
3. Registration begins soon! Stay posted! Guidance will be distributing handbooks to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students near the end of this month.
4. If anyone is interested in traveling with me next year to Prague in the fall (seniors and grads only) or Germany and Croatia in the spring (all ages) then come to the travel meeting on Tuesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. in room 313.
5. If anyone is interested in earning community service hours this month, our first ushering date is for Shakespeare's As You Like It on Saturday night at 7 p.m. See me for details. Admission to the play is included and counts toward service hours!
There are many exciting things to do this semester, and I hope that everyone is on board and ready to go!!!
Please see the following post for today's curriculum.
And friendly reminder: NO CELL PHONES IN MY CLASSROOM. It is my personal pet peeve and drives me crazy. You might be allowed to use them in the hall--fine, fine--but increasingly some of you are using them in class. NO NO NO.
:-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)