Winter Break

I hope everyone has a restful and meaningful Winter Break. Regardless of your faith background, and the individual requirements you may face during the holiday season, I hope that each of you takes this opportunity to reflect, recharge, and revisit your goals and values for the coming year.

Over the break, I encourage everyone to read for pleasure for at least twenty minutes a day, if you do not already do so.

Upcoming Titles:

Gifted English II: You need a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White by mid-January, and our next text is The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. The play is in your textbook, but if you struggle with Shakespearean diction and syntax, you may acquire a copy of No Fear Shakespeare by SparkNotes (the only decent thing they do) or Barron's Julius Caesar Made Easy.

Gifted English IV: We're finishing Hamlet after the break, then moving immediately into Stoppard's revisionist text. I have copies for you of both titles.

AP Literature: Each of you has a copy of Frankenstein and the reading journal that will accompany it--due date is January 10. If you are looking for gift suggestions to give to your loved ones, upcoming titles you will need include Toni Morrison's Beloved and Jean Rhys's The Wide Sargasso Sea. Everything else will be given to you.

Gifted English II Exam Review

Gifted English II
Semester Examination Study Guide

We will be extensively reviewing for the semester examination over the two days preceding the test. Go ahead and begin to gather your class notes and character lists to ameliorate any problems we have in preparing for this test—it’s long. Muhahahahahahahaha.

Format of Examination:
-Multiple Choice
-True/False
-Matching (Characters and Authors of the Day)
Subject Areas Covered:
Mini-Unit--Literature of Irony
“The Pedestrian”
“The Storyteller”
“Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?”
Short Fiction
Example—“The Cold Equations”
“My Melancholy Face”
Non-Fiction
Literary Terms in Context/Examples (see list of 120 terms)
Greco-Roman Mythology
-Gods and Goddesses
-Ovid’s “Metamorphoses” (Daedalus and Icarus)
-Sophocles’ Antigone
-The Literature of Horror
Edgar Allan Poe
Psychological Backgrounds of Horror
“Pit and the Pendulum”
-The Novel
The Stranger
Existentialism
Death of a Salesman
The Count of Monte Cristo
Candide
Things Fall Apart
-FCAT Reading Comprehension
There will be a passage you have never seen before on the test; read it over and answer the corresponding questions.
-The Literature of the Bible
-PSAT Vocabulary and Comprehension
-General Grammar (proofreading a small passage)
-The Literature of Satire
“A Modest Proposal”
“Top of the Food Chain”
Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail
Media Literacy—Bert the Turtle

Figurative Language to Know
-metaphor -symbol
-simile -structure
-personification -allegory
-conceit -alliteration
-iambic pentameter -theme
Character Identifications
-Gods and Goddesses
-Zeus -Dionysus
-Hera -Hades
-Aphrodite -Poseidon
-Hermes -Hephaestus
-Athene(a) -Cronus
-Deadalus and Icarus
-Antigone
Antigone Haimon
Ismene Teiresias
Creon Polyneices
Eurydice Eteocles
Choragos Sentry
NOTE: Know the background of the House of Thebes (the Oedipus story)
-Horror Literature
-Vlad the Impaler
-Countess Elizabeth of Bathory
-protagonist in “Pit”
-Carl Jung and the Iceberg Metaphor
-Novels (see notes for each novel/character lists)
Characters to emphasize-- Mersualt/Maman/Salamano/Marie/Raymond/Celeste
Willy Loman/Biff/Happy/Linda/Charlie/Uncle Ben
Edmond Dantes/Mercedes/Fernand/Caderousse/Faria
Danglars/Villefort/Valentine/Maximilien Morrel
Haydee/LuigiVampa/Candide/Cunegonde/Pangloss/The Anabaptist/Okonkwo/Ekwefi/Ezinma/Nwoye/
Ikemefuna/The Missionaries/Chielo/Agbala
-Authors of the Day:

Garcia Marquez
Baudelaire
Thomas Aquinas
James Baldwin
Alice Walker
Anne Rice
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Carl Hiaasen
Sophie Kinsella
George Gordon, Lord Byron
John Keats
Jane Austen
Robert Coover
Vaclav Havel
Leo Tolstoy

Additional Notes or Things I Forget Until the Last Minute to Tell You About:

AP Literature Exam Review

Semester Examination Review: AP Literature
Fall 2005/Jennifer Hilley

We will review the following elements in class over the next couple of days, to ameliorate any problems with comprehension or understanding. Moihahahahahahahahahaha.

Format: You will have an essay to construct on an AP FRQ related to any of the major works you have read thus far. Furthermore, you will have a comprehensive multiple-choice objective test featuring recall, analysis, and synthesis questions. You have will two hours to complete both sections of the test.

Subject matter:
Ø The Great Gatsby
Ø Oedipus Rex
Ø Heart of Darkness
Ø Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Ø Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
Ø Macbeth
Ø Literary Terms and Figurative Language (please focus on the asterisked terms, in addition to others I provide for you in class)
Ø Literary Criticism
Ø “Prufrock”
Ø Sonnets

Specifically. . .
The Great Gatsby
Ø Jay Gatz/Gatsby
Ø Daisy Buchanan
Ø Jordan Baker
Ø Meyer Wolfsheim
Ø F. Scott Fitzgerald and the 1920’s
Ø Color Imagery and Ocular Imagery
Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now!
Ø Marlow/Willard
Ø Kurtz/Colonel Kurtz
Ø Harlequin/Photojournalist
Ø District Manager/Kilgore
Ø The Accountant
Ø The Intended
Ø Symbolism of the jungle: fog, shadows, women knitting, the scent of rotting hippo meat. . .
Oedipus Rex
Characters
Ø Polybus and Merope
Ø Oedipus
Ø Jocasta
Ø Laius
Ø Creon
Ø Oracle
Ø Fate/prophecy
Ø The concept of sin
Ø Greek tragedy
Ø Hubris
Ø Incest


Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Characters
Ø Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
Ø Hamlet the Elder (ghost)
Ø Claudius
Ø Gertrude
Ø Polonius
Ø Laertes
Ø Ophelia
Ø Players and Player King
Ø Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Ø Horatio
Ø Osric
Ø Reynaldo
Ø Gravedigger
Ø Yorick
Themes
Ø Denmark as a garden
Ø The play-within-the-play motif
Ø Rottenness
Ø The role of the supernatural
Ø The role of philosophy
Ø The significance of three sons mourning three dead fathers
Ø Graveyard imagery
Ø Action v. intellect
Ø Sexual imagery
R and G Are Dead
Ø Existential thought
Ø Tom Stoppard
Ø Theatre of the Absurd
Characters
Ø Title characters
Ø Player (in studied contrast to the minimal role in Hamlet. . .)
Ø Cast of Hamlet
Themes
Ø Mortality
Ø Ambiguity
Ø The interpolation of narrative
Macbeth (or this one. . .)

Ø Macbeth
Ø Macduff
Ø James I
Ø Lady Macbeth
Ø Fleance
Ø Lady Macduff
Ø Banquo
Ø Siward
Ø Duncan
Ø Edward the Confessor
Ø Malcolm and Donalbain
Ø the witches
Ø Hecate
Ø Seyton
Ø Ross, Lennox, etc.

Recurring Images
Ø Blood
Ø Clothing
Ø Sleeplessness/sleep
Ø Garden
Themes
Ø Appearance v. reality
Ø Ambition
Ø Guilt
Ø Relationships between men and women
Ø Fate v. free will

Ancillary Works:
“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot
-dramatic monologue
-critical commentary
-Biblical and mythic allusions throughout
-Prufrock as an unreliable narrator
-the role of the speaker and his choices (“Do I dare/Disturb the universe?”)
Sonnets
-scansion and rhyme scheme
-diction
-figurative terms

Additional Things I Tell You at the Last Minute:

Gifted English IV Exam Review

Gifted English IV
Semester Examination Review

I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you about this exam. I think it’s easy.
Heeeeehhahhahhhhaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahahahahahahahah!

The format for this test includes the following types of questions:
o multiple choice
o matching
o true-false
o putting events into order
There are no essays on this test due to time restrictions.
The exam covers the following subject areas:
1984
Beowulf
Becket
The Canterbury Tales
Macbeth
The first two acts of Hamlet
Historical Eras: Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Renaissance
Vocabulary in Context
Reading Skills
“Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”
various bits of trivia and minutiae I can include to annoy you
People to Know
Authors
Margery Kempe
Julian of Norwich
Sir Thomas Malory
Christopher Marlowe
Jean Anouilh
Geoffrey Chaucer
William Shakespeare
George Orwell
Characters
Beowulf
Hrothgar
Wealtheow
Wiglaf
Unferth
Breca (Brecca)
St. Augustine
Alfred the Great
Harold the Saxon
William the Conqueror (they all have the same middle name!)
Boadicea
Maeve
Henry II
Thomas a Becket
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Chaucer’s pilgrims
Knight Host
Prioress Cook
Monk Miller
Friar Wife of Bath
Skipper Squire
Pardoner Yeoman
Summoner
The Green Knight
The Host
The Lady
Arthurian Knights
Macbeth Macduff James I
Lady Macbeth Fleance Lady Macduff
Banquo Siward
Duncan Edward the Confessor
Malcolm and Donalbain AND don’t forget the icky witches!!!!!
Hamlet
Gertrude
Claudius
Hamlet the Elder (Ghost)
Horatio
Ophelia
Laertes
Fortinbras
Polonius
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
Terms/Concepts to Know
morgengifu
Heorot
Stonehenge
animism
Druids/Celts
runic language
Old English
Middle English
Modern English
chivalry
courtly love
feudalism/social class structure in the Middle Ages
influence of Boccaccio’s Decameron on The Canterbury Tales
role of the Church in secular matters
genealogy of the Tudor line
Henry VII—Elizabeth of York
Henry VIII
The Six Wives
Edward
Mary I
Elizabeth
James I of Scotland

Styles of Medieval Poetry (Ballads)
Regicide
Imagery in Macbeth
Blood
Sleep
Guilt
Appearance v. reality
Clothing
Madness

Additional Notes I Tell You to Add at the Last Minute:

Monday, December 12, 2005

Today is the first Exam Review Day. I'm posting the review sheets here in this forum for each class so check the entry that applies to your class. We will be reviewing both today and tomorrow, bell to bell.

For the exam days, please bring a pencil and some paper for the essay portion of the test.

EXAM SCHEDULE:

Wednesday, December 14--Periods 1,2, and 7; adjusted bell schedule. Each exam block will be 130 minutes; you will have a fourth period lunch block and school will get out at its regular time.

Thursday, December 15--Periods 3 and 4. Each exam block is 130 minutes and you have a 15 minute break in between; you will be dismissed before noon.

Friday, December 16--same set-up as Thursday with early dismissal; exam blocks 5 and 6.

Friday, December 9, 2005

AP Literature: "The World is Too Much With Us" by Wordsworth.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet.

Gifted English II: Things Fall Apart Check-Read Activity.

Thursday, December 8, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: 1st period; finish "Rime" and listen to Iron Maiden's stirring rendition of it. 5th period, careful deconstruction of the poem in collaborative groups.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet, continued.

NOTE TO SENIORS: Please submit your diploma forms ASAP.

Gifted English II: Look at the Kipling poem "White Man's Burden" and analyze through the perspective of both imperialist and colonialized.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The meeting for future trips will be tonight at 7 p.m. here in room 313.
• The Writing Center will be having its holiday party today in 315 during A and B lunch.

Wednesday December 7, 2005

If you are worried about your grades, relax/curse me. I am drowning, people. Drowning. Make-up essay tests, resubmissions, exams that have to be written. . .freaking out over here. Please give me a couple more days.

::sigh::

AP Literature: 1st period--Timed Writing 5th period--Finish "Rime".

Gifted English IV: Hamlet, Act I film screening.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation(s) and discussion of TFA through the lens of feminist criticism.

Tuesday, December 6, 2005

Tragically, I won't be here today--doctor appointment and (maybe) Christmas shopping.

Advanced Placement Literature: 1st period will probably be attending the Senior Breakfast; keep up with "Rime" and be prepared to discuss in-depth Wednesday (if you're not going to the Honors breakfast. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the fact that they schedule these things right before finals?????) 5th period will be doing a cool timed writing from the 2001 AP Lit exam, based on Romanticism. 1st will have to do it for HW some time in the next week, unless they'd like to ditch the breakfast. . .

Gifted English IV: Breakfast Problem, Part II. Students who attend will have a chance to get ahead in Hamlet.

Gifted English II: After the Author of the Day presentation, you will each get three (not five, but three, and the number of the counting will be three, not two, except that thou proceedest then to three) thought questions on TFA and the critique I gave you yesterday. You will discuss the questions with a partner or a group of three (see previous parenthetical statement) before writing thoughtful, in-depth, symbolically meaningful responses. It will be so great.

Monday, December 5, 2005

Sorry this post is late; I really had no idea where the day would go until I got through it.

Here's what we did:

AP Literature: Lecture/discussion on Coleridge's "Rime" and the willing suspension of disbelief. We read through Parts III and IV today; I asked each of you to re-read I through IV to reconnect some the ideas we discussed in class.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet, Act I and reading through Act I, scene iii.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Laura Esquivel. We discussed a persuasive essay by Kathleen Parker of The Orlando Sentinel and looked at her rhetorical strategies for articulating a position against the death penalty, and then we had a chance to read TFA and/or a feminist critique of the novel by Rose Mezu, an African scholar.

ANNOUNCEMENT: If you have a chance, go see Every Christmas Story Ever Told. It's hilarious.

'NOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT: If you are available and interested, I will have the tour guide for Art Events discussing my upcoming trips 7 p.m. Thursday night here in my classroom.

Friday, December 2, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Quiz on your reading from yesterday; discussion of the poems; introduction to "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge.

Gifted English IV: Quiz on Hamlet; Act I, scene ii, and deconstruction of the soliloquy from that scene.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day; go over Candide essay assignments; pass back graded work; go over HP vocab; poetic connections.

Thursday, December 1, 2005

Can you believe it's already December? Goodness.

Here are my sub plans; I have that lovely meeting with the district peoples.

Stu,

I really can’t thank you enough for covering these classes again. You are awesome.

Roll sheets are the same as the other day; here are the lesson objectives I’d like the kids to cover:

AP Literature, Periods 1 and 5—

I went over a lot of the Romantic poetry things yesterday; in the burgundy book on the shelf by the refrigerator, the students need to read “The Lamb” and “The Tyger” on page 789 (you might want to select a student reader to read them aloud) and then turn back to page 602 to read “The Sick Rose” and answer the three questions in small groups. There is a brief essay following the poem they may want to reference. If there is time left over, have them turn to 793 and read “Kubla Khan” by Coleridge—the poem I read to them yesterday, but in fuller form. Tell them we will finish assessing Blake’s “Chimney Sweep” on Friday when I return, and remind them that their paper on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead is due tomorrow as well.

Gifted English IV, period 2—

Watch BBC.

This class started Hamlet yesterday; we barely got through Act I, scene i. Today, have them read Act I, scene ii—they can divide up the parts—preparatory to analysis and deconstruction of the first major soliloquy tomorrow. If they get off-task, have them read silently and work through the packet I gave them yesterday. (Extra copies are in the folder.)

Gifted English II—

After the Author of the Day presentation, please distribute the Edusoft answer sheets and test booklets. The kids will know what to do. Assure them that they A) get a grade for doing this and B) are very, very appreciated for cooperating.

Also, please remind them that they are taking a teeny little quiz on Things Fall Apart tomorrow. Thanks!!!!

I am at a district-level meeting today at Jones High School and will return to campus tomorrow. Again, thanks so much for your help. If anyone gives you an ounce of trouble, let me know ASAP.

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Today is the last day of National Novel Writing Month!!! So far at BHS we have three winners--Sarah Beehner, Sergio, and me. Yay us for writing over 150,000 words in the space of a month. Hopefully more will stagger across the finish line by midnight tonight. . .

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Go over William Blake poem from yesterday and further discuss Romanticism.

Gifted English IV: Wrap up final thoughts on Macbeth and transition into Hamlet. I have a neato packet for each of you. This is an enormously difficult play, but it's worth it.

Gifted English II: Revisit the Yeats poem, review grammar, set a timeline for the Candide paper, and look at short piece by William Stafford called "Traveling Through the Dark."

Note: I will be taping for National Boards this week and next week, and I need a permission slip for every student who is on-camera. If you'd rather not be taped (no one is going to really watch it, I swear) then I can send you someplace else during that particular lesson.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Here is the lesson plan I'm leaving for my substitute tomorrow. I hope the formatting transfers over clearly.

Thank you for covering my classes today. Here is the lesson plan:

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition:

We are beginning a unit on Romantic poetry, beginning with the work of William Blake. Interestingly enough, Blake’s “The Chimney Sweep” was a prominent element of last year’s AP exam. First, give them the handout with the poem “The Chimney Sweep” on it and have them read the poem and answer the questions on the bottom of the page. Then, please distribute the green booklets and have the students look over the actual AP test, with emphasis on Question 1. While they do not need to construct the actual essay as requested by that prompt, they do need to accomplish two things: 1. They must construct a reasonable writing plan or pre-write indicating how they would address the prompt, and they then need to 2. pair up (or in groups of three) and discuss the question and their approaches to it. I will pick up with them upon my return tomorrow and we will get to know Mr. Blake quite well. DO NOT LET THE GREEN FORMS LEAVE THIS CLASSROOM. College Board allows their use in the classroom, but they are not for widespread distribution. Please collect and count the booklets at the end of first and fifth periods.

Gifted English IV

These students are taking the Macbeth unit test. There is a short essay at the end, so they will each need one sheet of paper. Scantron sheets are in the folder provided. Please circulate casually and watch out for wandering eyes. It’s a small class, and the front row is terrific.

Gifted English II

These students will be reading Things Fall Apart after the Author of the Day presentation by a pre-scheduled student each period. I will get feedback on the presentation itself upon my return; it’s really informal and involves a student sharing data on an assigned author, followed by reading. Near the end of the period, distribute the journal prompt and have them write a response to be turned in. (It’s like a reading journal slip—just something to ensure that they are reading actively and to let me know if they have any questions.)


Thanks so much for doing this. I have student assistants throughout the day to help you—they are VCC students who don’t have class on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Most of them will quietly work on their calculus, but if you need assistance they can help you. Sarah Beehner will probably be with you all day—she crochets, so just let her. She’s very good at it.

I am off fourth period and this room is open for students who need to use it as an annex to the Writing Center.

Monday, November 28, 2005

We are having an adjusted bell schedule today due to the SOS presentation (suicide prevention) mandated by the state legislature. The presentation will take place in 2nd period, and will feature a prepared video and four handouts.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Peer Review for the Stoppard paper. Also, I have a handout of Stoppard quotes for your delectation.

Gifted English IV: Review for Mactest and collect Macscavenger Hunts.

Gifted English II: Return a TON of work to you and offer a resubmit opportunity for your last paper. You will have a chance today to work on your Candide essay, and we will do a brief grammar activity on appositive phrases.

Friendly Reminder

We will gather at Cinemark Festival Bay on Saturday, November 26 for Meet Me at the Movies Part II: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, loosely retitled Saved By the Bell: The Magical Years.

According to the website at www.cinemark.com, the film is playing at 2:30, but I'd like to meet at 2 just to make sure that we all have a chance to get in to the show.

Wednesday, November 22, 2005

As you prepare to gather as a family and have turkey, kosher turkey, or tofurkey, take a moment and think about what you have that the rest of the world doesn't. Reflect in a moment of gratitude. If you are reading this message, then you somehow accessed a computer--an act that places you above and beyond many of the world's citizens in prosperity. And for that, if nothing else, we should be grateful--that we are here, and recipients of a free (mostly) education, and together.

The great American writer Stephen King (just kidding, but I do think he's pretty cool) wrote an essay called "What You Pass On." In this essay, he refers to the car accident that almost killed him in 1999 and the epiphany he experienced while lying in a ditch on the side of a quiet road with glass in his hair and a bone protruding through the skin of his leg. He realized that he had a MasterCard in his pocket, and that the credit card would do him no good at that moment. He further states that we are only as good as what we pass on--the non-physical elements that we leave behind, the vestiges of our best. So on this Thanksgiving holiday, embrace your family, your friends, your faith (whatever that may be) and relax. Let gratitude sweep over you before you return to the grind.

Today in school:

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Writing workshop. You have a focus draft due Monday in class on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Gifted English IV: Make-up work and review for the Mactest on Tuesday.

Gifted English II: "Janet Waking" by John Crowe Ransom (I thought it poetic to do a poem about a dead chicken on the day before Thanksgiving) and misplaced modifiers.

Have a safe and blessed long weekend!!!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Before we begin: On this day in history, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Many older Americans remember where they were when Kennedy was shot; I wasn't born yet, but perhaps your parents or grandparents remember. For many, it became a defining moment of their generation. I think my defining moment came when the Challenger exploded over the Florida sky; I was in ninth grade Gifted biology class at the time, and our teacher had taken us outside to watch with binoculars. What is your defining moment? Many could argue that 9/11 defines this generation. Do you agree? Can you think of anything else?

AP English: Finish Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead; consciousness-raising and working on focus paper. The draft for that paper is due Monday, 11/28 for peer review.

Gifted English IV: Finish the final bit of Scotland, PA and compare and contrast to Macbeth. We are having a major unit test on Tuesday, 11/29 on the first part of our Shakespearean tragedy unit. Macessays can be resubmitted until next Tuesday.

Gifted English II: Yesterday, we started talking seriously about the writing process. Today, you will get back your graded Candide essay tests; you may use these tests to help guide your writing for the next paper we have due. Also, we are going to do a grammar review in class today.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Alami! (Our ESOL coordinator and my best friend.)

AP Literature: Distribute R and G focus paper assignments and finish the film.

Gifted English IV: Finish Scotland, PA and go over Macessays.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation, followed by discussion of the nature of writing. Featured elements: Quality of textbook debate (from The Orlando Sentinel), "Writing is Easy!" essay by Steve Martin.

UPDATES

Potential Travelers: As many of you know, I chaperone trips through Art Events Orlando, a non-profit that values cultural international travel. In the past, we've done London, Rome, Paris, New York City, and Frankfurt. Upcoming trips are England, Scotland, and Wales this spring (only two spots open due to cancellations), Florence next Thanksgiving (graduates and adults only), Paris, Rouen, and Chartres next spring break (2007), and Venice and Florence in the future and beyond. Anyway, we are having an informational meeting DECEMBER 8 at 7 p.m. in my classroom, room 313 for anyone who'd like further information. I want to clarify: These trips are not sponsored by OCPS, but Art Events is a licensed vendor for OCPS and I will be chaperoning all trips.

APees: Your reading journals are due Monday by 3 p.m.

Friday, November 18, 2005

HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE COMES OUT TODAY!!!!!!!!!!

For any interested parties--Ms. Miles and I will be hosting a Meet Me at the Movies on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m., Cinemark Festival Bay, to watch this film. I'm sure many of you are seeing it on opening night, but I'd rather not hang out with legions of eight-year-olds in pointy hats, so we're going two days into the theatrical release. Any and all are welcome, provided you TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE and know how to conduct yourself in a theater. A follow-up movie date will be held Saturday, November 26--same location, same time. If you are enough of a geek to want to see a movie with your teacher, JOIN US. We're a party in a box.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Screening of R and G Are Dead, directed and written by Stoppard himself. And there was much rejoicing.

Gifted English IV: Macessays due, with continued discussion of the tragedy and another small sequence from Scotland, P.A.

Gifted English II: Candide was so much fun, and "Pit" was such a happy tale--why not jump back into satire and horror for one more little look? Literature never had such a receptive and willing audience. . .

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Finish R and G Are Dead in class; final quiz. Your reading journals for this play will be due Monday. You will receive the next FP assignment today, as well.

Gifted English IV: Macessays will be due tomorrow; today we are going to discuss elements of this tragedy and watch a key sequence from the adaptation Scotland, P.A. Macbeth questions are due.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentation followed by a timed writing and cookie. The cookie might be metaphorical. (I'm posting in advance, so I'm not sure if my baking skills will be at their sharpest preparatory to Thursday's writing exercises.)

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Practice Session for the Multiple Choice on the AP exam out of the DMS workbook (10 points) followed by Q&A on R&G. We're reading two passages--one from Milton, one from Sinclair--on pp. 68-75.

Gifted English IV: Finish Act V and address any final issues with this tragedy; check for progress on Macessays and look at completion of supplemental texts and content vocabulary.

Gifted English II: District mandated administration of the DRP (10 points). I love you guys.

NOTE: My tour guide, Russ Russell of Art Events, will be here after school today to meet with me--if you have any questions for him regarding the spring break trip for this year OR next year, you can ask at this time. Otherwise, you can always contact him at russ@artevents.org or russ@iag.net.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

AP Lit: R and G quiz; progress check on reading journals; continue reading in the play.

Gifted IV: Macbeth, Act IV quiz, and reading in Act V. H.W.--Make sure you are keeping up with your questions, since I am collecting them one day after we finish the play itself.

Gifted II: Wrapping up elements from "Pit" and looking closely at Poe's use of diction and syntax. Grammar review and Author of the Day presentation.

I will be available after school for make-up work or anyone who needs help with their progress on National Novel Writing Month. Today is the halfway point! We have an unprecedented number of Boonies participating this year--how many words do you have?

Monday, November 14, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: We're continuing with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Act II. Expect a quiz tomorrow, and please continue developing your reading journals.

Gifted English IV: Macbeth, finishing Act IV, scene iii--a particularly confusing act, since it is largely expository and contains Malcolm's deceitful snare as applied to the puzzled Macduff. I have some supplemental reading for you regarding this tragedy, and want to see how your Macpaper is developing.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day presentations, followed by the conclusion of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum." I am collecting your essays today by 3 p.m. at the latest--an extension from Friday--and assigning a syntactical analysis of Poe's writing. Upcoming event reminder: DRP on Wednesday (10 points) and timed writing on Thursday (40 points.) If you need to make up the Candide check-reading test, see me ASAP.

Friday, November 11, 2005

AP Lit: Continue with R and G Are Dead, through the end of Act I.

Gifted English IV: Macbeth--with cool sound effects.

Gifted English II: NO ONE CAN ESCAPE THE SPANISH INQUISITION. At least not Edgar Allan Poe.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

If you are missing any assignments due to absences, please see me ASAP. Progress report grades need to be exported by next Tuesday so that you can receive an update in print for all six of your classes by Thursday.

NOTE: I am noticing--as are some of my colleagues--a slip in student performance of late. There have been many things conspiring to make us distracted, certainly--between the chaos of Homecoming Week and Halloween, some students get lost in the shuffle. Don't be one of them. Focus in your classes and you will have smooth sailing between now and Winter Break. TIME TO RE-ENERGIZE!!!

AP Literature: Continue with R and G Are Dead, and maybe take a little quiz on it. Just maybe.

Gifted English IV: Continue with Act IV, scene i and its prophecies--A) Beware Macduff! B) None of woman born shall harm Macbeth! C) Till Birnam Wood do come to Dunsinane Hill Macbeth shall rule as king. . . but are the witches telling him the truth? Inquiring minds want to know!

Gifted English II: TWO Author of the Day presentations each period, followed by rambunctiouness as we finish discussing the nature of Horror in Literature. Then. . .brace yourself. . .Edgar. Allan. Poe. "The Pit and the Pendulum" will change your life, or, at least, scar it.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Hamlet obituaries are due and we'll share! Continue with R and G Are Dead. Anyone have a quarter? Heads. Heads. Heads. (See Act I of this play if this doesn't make sense to you. . .)

Gifted English IV: Macbeth, with the first Macessay assigned to you today.

Gifted English II: Candide check-reading test. Good luck, everyone!

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Our Hamlet unit test is today, followed by our introduction to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Gifted English IV: Macbeth Vocabulary Quiz, followed by further reading of the text.

Gifted English II: Continue with the Literature of Horror and a friendly reminder about the Candide check-reading test on 11/9. We will start with Mr. Poe today, too.

Monday, November 7, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Read "Gertrude Speaks" by Margaret Atwood and finish Hamlet review for our Amazing Test on Tuesday!

Gifted English IV: Macbeth, Act III.

Gifted English II: Introduction to the Literature of Horror.

Friday, November 4, 2005

AP Literature: Review for Hamlet Unit Test. And try to moderate a fascinating discussion with Shahier about. . .every element of the tragedy.

Gifted English IV: After administering a quiz to see who read Act II, scene ii, we go over vocabulary list, then get through the rest of Act II, including the famous Porter sequence.

Gifted English II: Read Mark Twain's "The Lowest Animal" in the text and pass out the Monty Python writing assignment.

Note: I am updating grades on Monday after grading through a veritable slew of make-up work this weekend. Check K12 Planet if you have any questions.

Thursday, November 4, 2005

I am not here today. Be nice to Stu.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Short day!

AP Lit: Today, we finish Hamlet.

Gifted IV: Quiz on Macbeth, Act I will be tomorrow--today, we will read through that act and start Act II (through Macbeth's soliloquy.)

Gifted II: Satire unit wraps up with a screening of Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail, carefully edited for your delectation.

NOTE: I WILL NOT BE AT SCHOOL TOMORROW. You can reach me by e-mail tomorrow evening, or come find me before school Friday if you are having an existential crisis. Focus papers are still due by 3 p.m. on Friday, seniors.

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Today is Mrs. Nicoll's birthday!!!

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet, Act V, scenes i and ii--let's particularly discuss the role of the clown-gravedigger and the humor contained in the scene. Possible quiz on Wednesday. No, definitely. Quiz. Aha.

Gifted English IV: I asked you to read the rest of Act I, scene iii last night and answer the related questions. Today, a teeny quiz on Macbeth, followed by a careful reading of Act I, scene iv. . .and the beat goes on. . .

Gifted English II: Author of the Day today is the French rapscallion Guy de Maupassant. We are wrapping up satire; friendly reminder--READ CANDIDE. READ IT I SAY.

October 31, 2005

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Mr. Bernier has requested that you not wear costumes today; please adhere to his request. I do plan to wear my classy Old Navy Halloween T-Shirt, but I will leave my Mr. Spock ears at home.

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet Redux. At this point, we are getting ready to vault headfirst into the train wreck that is Act V. Any predictions? Anyone starting to really FEEL the power of the diction and syntax of Modern English? Anyone want to take a crack at Original Pronunciation?

Gifted English IV: Macbeth begins today--I have some supplementary material to give you, and content vocabulary from the first three acts (words that still have resonance today and may help some of you raise the SAT verbal score just a smidge.) Some of the essential questions that emerge from studies of this tragedy revolve around the nature of ethics and ambition--and we need to see that Macbeth, while set in 1050 A.D. Scotland, still has political capital today.

Gifted English II: Satire and Horror and Everything in Between. Our first AofD Project will be for the Rhode Island recluse H.P. Lovecraft, and then we will seamlessly segue into the works of Edgar Allan Poe while you much on Halloweeny treats. But no costumes.

Friday, October 28, 2005

Football game tonight, Boone vs. Dr. Phillips!

AP Literature: I asked you to read ahead into Act IV last night; we're going to do some deconstruction today. Focus papers go back today along with (Oh, joy!) the second assignment--due next Friday, 11/4.

Gifted English IV: Finish Shakespearean sonnets and begin the transition into the Scottish Play--I have a plethora of handouts for ya'll. Good times. Good times.

Gifted English II: Finish Media Literacy and reassert focus on satirical things. I'd also like to review the Author of the Day project requirements for each of you. And--new stuff to talk about! And articles from Le Onion! Oh, what a majestic Friday.

Author of the Day Project

Attention all Gifted sophomores! Starting next week, you will be responsible for presenting Author of the Day. I will pass around a sign-up sheet tomorrow and Thursday for you to peruse; each date will have an author's name next to it. You will need to prepare a short talk on that author and a visual aid to show the class.

Monday, October 31 (Halloween!):H.P. Lovecraft
Tuesday, November 1: Guy de Maupassant
Wednesday, November 2: Terry McMillan
Thursday, November 3: No author--I will be out
Friday, November 4: Maxine Hong Kingston

Monday, November 7: Richard Rodriguez
Tuesday, November 8: Robert Louis Stevenson
Wednesday, November 9: William Faulkner
Thursday, November 10: Truman Capote
Friday, November 11: Eudora Welty

Monday, November 14: Theodore Geisel
Tuesday, November 15: Lois Lowry
Wednesday, November 16: Amy Tan
Thursday, November 17: Sophie Kinsella
Friday, November 18: Baudelaire

Monday, November 21: James Baldwin
Tuesday, November 22: Thomas Aquinas
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday of that week: Thanksgiving Holiday

Monday, November 28: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Tuesday, November 29: Phillis Wheatley
Wednesday, November 30: Vaclav Havel
Thursday, December 1: Anne Tyler
Friday, December 2: Leo Tolstoy

Monday, December 5: Laura Esquivel
Tuesday, December 6: Robert Coover
Wednesday, December 7: Gustave Flaubert
Thursday, December 8: Isaac Asimov
Friday, December 9: Steve Martin

Thursday, October 27, 2005

AP Literature: Continue with Hamlet. Don't you just love him?

Gifted English IV: Shakespearean Sonnets.

Gifted English II: Continue with unit on satire--"Top of the Food Chain" by T.C. Boyle.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet; assign the next focus paper.

Gifted English IV: Finish our discussions of John Donne and make the transition into Shakespeare. Sonnets! "Let me not to the marriage of true minds amid impediments. . ."

Gifted English II: Satire, continued.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Welcome back to school! I hope that everyone came through the storm safely.

On today's agenda:
AP Literature: I asked you to read Act III, scene ii in Hamlet over the weekend. . .so now let's see how much of it you recall. Moving farther into the play-within-the-play. . .focus papers should go back to you by tomorrow or Thursday.

Gifted English IV: Review "Death Be Not Proud" by Donne and take a look at "Valediction." Homework tonight: Read "Meditation 17" and be prepared to discuss in class tomorrow.

Gifted English II: Begin the Satire Unit! If you haven't already, GET CANDIDE AND START READING NOW. Each of you will receive a classy packet today containing literature, clip art, and Other Cool Things. Do NOT lose this--I will be forced to yell at you if you do. (Mostly kidding on that point--but don't lose it!) Our Author of the Day is Francois Rabelais, a satirist from late-Renaissance France.

Monday, October 24, 2005

Due to inclement weather brought on by Hurricane Wilma, OCPS will not hold classes today.

More information can be found on the district website, which is www.ocps.k12.fl.us.

A decision on when the make-up day will be held should be announced later this week.

Wilma, Wilma, Where Are Ye?

The play that had been cancelled for Sunday has had the cancellation cancelled. In other words, the show must go on.

Call time is 3:30 Sunday afternoon, unless the weather seriously shifts and we are in a maelstrom.

Ushering Update--Hurricane Wilma Edition

If you are signed up to usher this weekend:

The play for Sunday is CANCELLED due to possible hurricane conditions.

We are still, as of this moment, ushering for the play on Saturday--call time is still 1 p.m. I need at LEAST six ushers to make this work.

There will be a brief meeting after school Friday to go over these issues.

Friday, October 21, 2005

HURRICANEE WILMA UPDATE: Channel 13 is the official conduit of OCPS information regarding school shutdowns. As of this moment (Thursday p.m. is when I'm updating this post) there are no plans in place to cancel classes or school activities. Please check at www.ocps.k12.fl.us for further updates or check Channel 13 on DimHouse. (Whoops--I meant BrightHouse.)

Curriculum!!!

AP Literature and Composition: Submit your first focus paper for Hamlet, and we'll continue assessing Act III. Fifth period paraphrased the soliloquy yesterday, so first will today, and then move seamlessly into the play-within-the-play.

Gifted English IV: "Death Be Not Proud" by Donne.

Gifted English II: We are wrapping up the Icarian unit today; I will have you answer some questions about the Ovid translation, and then complete a compare/contrast of any two of the works we have studied. (I recommend doing a TP-CASTT analysis of the Auden poem. . .)

Thursday, October 20, 2005

If you are ushering this weekend for "Miss Nelson is Missing", please check with me to verify your call time.

AP English: Hamlet again; we'll watch Act II and get ready for Act III.

Gifted English IV: Andrew Marvell and the transition to the metaphysical; I have a terrific supplemental text for you that is a critical analysis of Marvell and Donne.

Gifted English II: Continue with the Icarian unit, looking at a brief piece by Anne Sexton.
(Anne Sexton, by the way, will be our first Author of the Day for the second quarter--an opportunity that will soon be yours! How would YOU like to present an Author? Oh, I think you do. . .)

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet Quiz, Act II. Anyone who missed the first quiz has the option to double the score on this one--if you dare. Har har. Afterward, further deconstruction of Act II and discussion on Hamlet's mental state--whiny loser, melodramatic nutcase, misunderstood hero? I eagerly await your insight.

Gifted English IV: Quiz on the vocabulary terms of the Renaissance, followed by our continued analysis of Pastoral poetry. We're moving toward a more Shakespearean vibe. . .

Gifted English II: Today you'll receive your timed writings with commentary and a due date for your revised draft. Also, we're starting a new mini-unit on the Icarian theme. First, we're reading Ovid's translation of the Daedalus and Icarus myth in your text, followed by the poem "Musee des Beaux Arts" by Brueghel. Then, I have a packet for you, featuring artistic renderings of Icarus, lyrics to songs inspired by the dramatic situation, and other poems on the same theme. We're looking for connections across the curriculum. (And it gives me a great excuse to play "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas in class.)

GRADES ARE EXPORTED

Whew. That was a tough journey!

NOTES: After careful deliberation, some crying, and some time googling student responses, I've decided that it would be in everyone's best interests if the Count of Monte Cristo essay tests go on second quarter intead of first. I have several reasons for this:

• I physically can't get them properly evaluated by noon today;
• Some of them are really good and deserve scrutiny and appropriate commentary;
• Some of them are really heinous and are making me twitchy.

Sorry about any inconvenience; I think this will give the Students Who Read the Novel on Time a decent start-of-quarter reward while allowing the Students Who Just Finished/Never Read It time to make that grade back up before progress report.

And there you have it.

Sophomores--Monday is Standardized Test Day (10 points), Tuesday is Timed Writing Day (40 points) and Wednesday begins a really cool mini-unit on Icarus and Daedalus (many points).

You should go ahead and acquire a copy of Voltaire's Candide, as well.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

The Writing Center is open and available for anyone who needs assistance with college application essays, focus papers, or analyses of The Count of Monte Cristo. Or anything.

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet again. We should talk about doing another practice AP multiple choice section, as well. Also--if it would help you, I can furnish each of you with a helpful study guide on this play. Let me know.

Gifted English IV: From Pastoral to Metaphysical--today, Christopher Marlowe's poetry.

Gifted English II: Timed Writing using the thesis statement you submitted last week. Today, I would like you to generate a rough draft in class preparatory to a peer edit.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Welcome to the Second Grading Period!

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet, continued. I will be distributing focus paper assignments soon, so keep up the active reading. First period, I will be giving you a critical essay by T.S. Eliot as well.

Gifted English IV: Introduction to the Renaissance, continued. Read the essay in your literature book and finish the handouts I gave you last week. Your vocabulary quiz will be tomorrow for the fourteen Renaissance-specific literary terms. Our focus today will be "A Passionate Shepherd to His Love" by Christopher Marlowe.

Gifted English II: EduSoft Testing. This is a district-wide initiative that shouldn't take more than this period; I will score them after school today using our (expensive) scanner and give you your score tomorrow in class. This is helpful data to guide instruction for the rest of the term, and is one of the two things we have to do preparatory for FCAT. I would rather do this than the TSI from last year, so I'd appreciate your cooperation and help with this.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

PSAT AT BOONE HIGH SCHOOL!

What this means for you:

• If you are one of my sophomores, it means that you will be taking the PSAT during the morning classes.
• If you are one of my seniors, it means that your schedule for the day will be altered. Fifth period, in particular, will be truncated due to testing shifts. I am sorry for any inconvenience.

Periods 1 and 5--Hamlet.

Period 2--Pastoral Poetry.

Period 6--Go over PSAT/how it went/go over thesis statements for Tuesday's workshop.

Have a safe and fun four-day weekend! I will think of you fondly tomorrow as I sit here entering grades while you rest and relax and enjoy a break. . .oh, yes, I will. . .

End of Quarter Reminders

Hello! I am frantically trying to finish all the grades in a timely manner. Some of your assignments might end up going on the second quarter--which could be advantageous for some of you.

NOTES TO SOPHOMORES: Your Count of Monte Cristo paper will be partially produced next Tuesday as a timed writing in class, using the thesis statement you turned in already. It will not be due yet, so don't panic.

Also--third period--I'm not counting your most recent vocabulary quiz in light of the circumstances surrounding your testing environment. I will score them and return them to you for your own edification, but the majority of the class wrote unfocused responses.

NOTES TO SENIORS: I've finished all resubmits and updated the grades. If you don't see your new score, let me know immediately--I think one or two of you might have picked up your papers before the new score was recorded. Thanks!

Also--if you have not yet applied to at least one college, consider the upcoming four-day weekend as a Window of Opportunity. We discussed the whole college thing again today in second period--be sure you're on track.

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Wow--the week is almost over. Can you believe it?

AP Literature: We're watching part of Act I of Hamlet today, followed by the Act I quiz. Hope you read it over again. . .

(Just as a reminder--my favorite lines are "There are more things under heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy. . ." and "Time is out of joint/O cursed spite. . ." and, of course, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark"!)

Gifted English IV: College/Scholarship Workshop. Progress check for everyone--where are we, what do we need to do? We're also going to work on Pastoral Poetry and proof college essays.

Gifted English II: After the fun and frivolity of the Author of the Day quiz yesterday, time to settle in and enjoy the denouement of The Count of Monte Cristo--a film screening that would have gone much faster if I hadn't kept interrupting the film with little things like, say, instruction.

Homecoming Photo Requests

I just spent a loooong time e-mailing pictures from the dance Saturday to various recipients, and I'm still not finished! If you would like a specific picture for your own collection, please comment here with your e-mail address and the photo you'd like. Creepy non-Boone people need not apply.

Thanks; it was a great dance!

Rubymel Jijon, Caroline Bird, and Natalie Nutt.

Lauren Nagel and Sara Haughee, Homecoming 2005. This uploading thing is becoming quickly addictive! 

Liz Colina, Samantha Bailey, and Natalie Nutt, Homecoming 2005. Terrific dresses! 

J.J. Litchford, doing the GQ thing. Homecoming this year was at the Wyndham Palace Hotel, and everyone had a great time. I can't figure out how to post multiple pictures in the same entry--hence the repeated posts. Bear with me! I'm on a techno-learning curve! 

Kellie Weber, grade 12, and Kelsie Luce, grade 11. 

A.J. Van Buren, Homecoming King 2005 

Clayton Abel and Rubymel Jijon 

Cherilyn Cloude, Homecoming Court 2005.  

Lemur! 

Monday, October 10, 2005

I hope everyone survived Homecoming weekend, and remembered the puppets!

Advanced Placement Literature: Hamlet; collect resubmissions.

Gifted English IV: Return objective tests from Middle Ages Unit; go over grades and make-up work. Introduction to the Renaissance lecture. Good times, good times.

Gifted English II: Finish The Count of Monte Cristo and see if anyone has any make-up work.

TO ALL STUDENTS: Grades are due Thursday! If you haven't had access to K12 Planet or if you have no earthly clue how you are doing, see me ASAP to see if you owe me any make-up work.

Friday, October 7, 2005

Crazy Color Day; the final day of Homecoming Week!

Please remember the Homecoming Speech--I want you to have fun and be safe during the game and the dance, and remember--YOU WILL SEE MY FACE.

Whew.

AP Literature: Moving on with Hamlet, Act I. Complicated, isn't it? But it's cool.

Gifted English IV: The long-awaited Middle Ages Unit Test. If you have any make-up work to give me, please do so.

Gifted English II: Continue with The Count of Monte Cristo screening. Your thesis statements are due today. . .

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Homecoming Week is coming to a close!

Advanced Placement Literature: Paraphrasing and Analysis. A good time will be had by some.

Gifted English IV: Ever hear of Thomas Wyatt? You will now!

Gifted English II: First, thank you to third period for handling yesterday with maturity. I really appreciate it. Ms. Centeno wants a brief word with you today to ensure that all is well, and then we are going to launch into The Count of Monte Cristo.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Toga Day for seniors! Come by in the a.m. if you need help tying a toga. . .I have a plethora of safety pins to ameliorate sheet-sag. For all other students, it's Class Color Day, which means I will probably be wearing my random Halloween t-shirt instead of a class color. I don't want to show favoritism.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Yesterday, we began Hamlet, and today we continue with Act I, scene i--Horatio's discourse. We are also going to take a crack at paraphrasing the first of the major soliloquies (my personal favorite) in Act I, scene ii. "Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh could melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew. . ." Hamlet: moody adolescent, or perpetual pedant? Hmmm.

Gifted English IV: Continue with review materials for Middle Ages Unit Test, including a read-over on page 194 emphasizing the role of women (however limited) in this era. I will also be returning graded and recorded work to you for further review before you test.

Gifted English II: GO TO THE WRITING CENTER. You have a thesis statement due on Friday! Today we take a quick vocabulary quiz and then take one more look at poetry before we launch into the screening of CMC. (Hopefully, it will come in as ordered! Hurry up, amazon.com!)

Tuesday Supplement

I felt like adding a poem.

When I Have Fears
When I have fears that I may cease to be
Before my pen has glean'd my teeming brain,
Before high-piled books, in charactery,
Hold like rich garners the full ripen'd grain;
When I behold, upon the night's starr'd face,
Huge cloudy symbols of a high romance,
And think that I may never live to trace
Their shadows, with the magic hand of chance;
And when I feel, fair creature of an hour,
That I shall never look upon thee more,
Never have relish in the faery power
Of unreflecting love;--then on the shore
Of the wide world I stand alone, and think
Till love and fame to nothingness do sink.

--John Keats


Commentary from Hilley: I love this sonnet, written by the doomed Keats shortly before his death. In it, he discusses the things he would miss most upon his demise--reading, writing, and love, not necessarily in that order. The sonnet is a brief form that lends itself to many subjects, but in this case (as in so many other Keats poems) he reflects on the brevity of life. It's not as moody a piece as "To a Nightingale," but I think it is thought-provoking and sweetly sad.

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Now that we've all survived Twin Day. . .

AP Literature: Macpapers are due today. We're moving into Hamlet full force now. . . today is a lecture/discussion on the characters, themes, and backgrounds of the Danish play. Bring your lit book! Fun times ahead!

Gifted English IV: Review "Federigo's Falcon," and go over the Middle Ages Unit Review.

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is Charlotte Bronte; focus is still on CMC. You need to go to the Writing Center this week to have your thesis statement checked; the deadline for the paper itself will be next Wednesday.

Monday, October 3, 2005

Can you believe it's October already?

Welcome to Homecoming Week, '05! Expect a stirring puppet show from me by week's end detailing All The Things You Shouldn't Do at Homecoming This Year. A moral message, punctuated by the Witch of Despair and the Puppets of Dumb Decisions.

Advanced Placement Literature: Return Mactests, and engage in a lively close reading of Le Play. We are slowly going to make the transition from this tragedy into our next, deeply involved Shakespearean adventure--The Prince of Denmark!

Gifted English IV: Continue working with the Gawain essay, and begin the comprehensive review for the Middle Ages Unit Test. I have a handout for each of you to facilitate the review.

Gifted English II: Return parables, and begin working on the Count of Monte Cristo paper. Today in class, we are going to look at Dantes as a moral figure--is he morally justified in seeking the revenge he desires? What Biblical literature supports his endeavor? We're reading a brilliant piece by William Blake that touches on the theme of revenge, and learning how to do a TP-CASTT analysis. Author of the Day is Ben Franklin.

Friday, September 30

If you are ushering tonight for Twelfth Night, call time is 7 p.m.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Mactest. Bring a pencil and your brain.

Gifted English IV: Review for Middle Ages Unit test next week, and wrap up All Things Medieval.

Gifted English II: After we share our parables, we are going to do Author of the Day--John Donne. Then, we are going to go over the CMC Focus Paper.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Discussion and review for the Mactest.

Gifted English IV: "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and a scary supplemental essay by Professor Shoaf of UF.

Gifted English II: What is a parable? Zen Buddhism proverbs and a creative writing assignment. Our author of the day today is Anonymous.

Note: I attended an online workshop through the College Board last night about poetry. Although I found the workshop itself deeply unmotivating, it did create in me a desire to read poetry even more than I already do. In keeping with my current poetic vibe, then, here is a poem I really, really like. Read it and comment if you'd like.


The world is too much with us


THE World is too much with us; late and soon,

Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers:

Little we see in Nature that is ours;

We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!

This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon,

The winds that will be howling at all hours

And are up-gather'd now like sleeping flowers,

For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

It moves us not.—Great God! I'd rather be

A pagan suckled in a creed outworn,—

So might I, standing on this pleasant lea,

Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;

Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea;

Or hear old Triton blow his wreathèd horn.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Good morning! If I seem a tad distracted today, it's just that I'm sandwiched between an online AP workshop last night and my National Board Certification Application today. Whew.

AP Lit: Writing Workshop. I'll bring the coffee; you bring the good ideas. You have the period to draft your focus paper; treat is as a timed writing.

Gifted IV: Share exempla and make the transition OUT of Chaucer and INTO "Gawain."

Gifted II: For the first ten minutes of the period, finish up the CMC test, since so many needed more time yesterday. THEN: Further adventures in literature! Author of the Day is Sandra Cisneros.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

AP Literature: Your thesis statements for Macbeth are due today. We will continue to Macdiscuss the Macplay and generally abuse the Mac- prefix as much as humanly possible. Good times. Good times. (Well, not for the Scots who were so bloodily dispatched in the play. . .)

Gifted English IV: Didn't have enough frivolity with the Pardoner? Let's check out the Wife of Bath! Wow! And if we have time, we'll go over some supplemental critical essays on Chaucer. Theme for the Day: CHAUCER IS YOUR FRIEND.

Gifted English II: COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO TEST. Yes, you can use your book. No, you had better not have used that wretched SparkNotes. Wheeee.

Monday, September 26, 2005

Many thanks to all who ushered for Twelfth Night this weekend. Great job!

NOTE: My classroom is closed today during B lunch. Normally, it's open as the Writing Center Annex, but I have to complete a complicated online application tomorrow for National Teaching Boards and I need some clarity. Lunch will resume Tuesday.

AP Lit: Macbeth, Act V.

Gifted English IV: The Pardoner's Tale and the Exemplum.

Gifted English II: The Literature of the Bible discussion and PSAT vocab list #3. Due to a copying conflict, your CMC test will not be until Tuesday. Author of the Day: Margery Kempe.

Friday, September 23, 2005

If you are ushering for me tonight, call time is 7 at the indoor theater of Loch Haven Park.

Advanced Placement Literature: Deconstruct John Donne poem, then finish Act IV and go over Macpaper assignment. Ideally, I'd like to get into Act V today, too.

Gifted English IV: Return work from yesterday and review, then finish "The Pardoner's Tale" and get the related creative writing assignment.

Gifted English II: Collect Antigone essay tests, then continue with the literature of the Bible. Today--"Abraham and Isaac" and related poem, and other discussions of parables. Warning--creative writing assignment ahead!

Have a good weekend. Sophomores--read Count of Monte Cristo like little fiends, and seniors, read something edifying. The quarter is coming to a close, and we get to "fall back" this weekend so you all have an extra hour to play with. :-)

Thursday, September 22, 2005

The previous two posts exist due to my celebratory experience learning how to post pictures using Picasa. I was so excited!

AP Lit: Review the Francis Bacon essay and finish Act IV in the Macplay. Also, I have to give you the Macessay AND return the focus papers, which (thank the heavens, O Apollo) are finished.

Gifted IV: TWO quizzes! Yikes!

Gifted II: End of the period, vocab quiz on PSAT words. Beginning of the period, lecture/discussion of Biblical literature. You need your lit book.

Original caption: British author/playwright William Shakespeare is depicted in this color illustration. Undated. 

A friend sent this to me from Victoria, British Columbia. They have all the fun up there in the North. Vader with a violin! 

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: Macbeth Act III quizlet; begin Act IV. Also, due to popular demand, I'm starting a small group grammar workshop after school. Watch this space for announcements and updates regarding this new feature--I keep forgetting that many of you came from different classes last year and the year before, and could use some review.

Gifted English IV: Reminder to prepare for the dual-quiz tomorrow (Chaucer vocabulary and quiz on the "General Prologue" for CTales.) We worked with the Pardoner's Tale today; exemplum assignment coming up!

Gifted English II: The last scheduled reading day for The Count of Monte Cristo. Enjoy the leftover lollipops from Parent Night 2005 while you read this great adventure book.

PTSA Open House

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Interested Parties:

If you couldn't attend the PTSA Parent Night, but wanted the information handed out there, then this post might help.

Scroll down until you find the form you need. Most are remarkably similar, and all feature contact information. You can also find me on the BHS website, although this site is not yet linked. (A dream for the future!)
__________________________________________________________________
PTSA Open House
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
Jennifer Hilley, Instructor
407-893-7200, ext. 4605
hilleyj@ocps.net


v The senior year is a pivotal year for your student, and already we have been discussing the college application process and have written entrance essays. At this point, your student should be visiting schools and sending in applications; in class, I suggested an October 15, 2005 deadline to the students to ensure that their applications receive top consideration. Our Writing Center is open and available to help your student with his or her essays, and I will be glad to help them before school most mornings or by appointment.

v If your student still has not taken the SAT or ACT, we offer those tests here at Boone during the school year. The earlier a student takes the test, the better; if your student is trying to raise a score, Mr. Dorman offers a preparatory course after school. I have had application packets for both tests in the classroom since the first day of school, and will continue to provide them in addition to our Guidance office. Most of the information can be gathered through www.collegeboard.com or www.facts.org, a terrific new website run by the state Department of Education.

v The scholarship application process is already underway, but the majority of scholarships available to your student will become apparent during the second semester. Guidance just released their first senior newsletter, which featured a few scholarship opportunities, and they will continue to do so throughout the school year. You and your student may wish to check online resources such as www.fastweb.com for additional opportunities. I would like to warn you, though—there are unscrupulous types who would love to make a profit off of your student. DO NOT PAY for scholarship information, regardless of the “guarantees” you may be offered. One of my students this year has already brought me a mailing he received at home offering access to dozens of scholarships for “only” $99.00. All of the scholarships advertised on this mailing are readily available, for free, on the web or through the school.

v WARNING: Around February, you may notice that your child’s brain has turned into mashed potatoes. Your student may claim “senioritis,” and this is the time of year when many, many students fall off the right track. Please remind your students, as I will, that acceptance letters to colleges are not contracts—they are contingent upon release of the final transcript. A distinct dip in grades can derail a student’s college plans.

Advanced Placement Literature

The AP exam will be given during the first week of May, and students who score 3 or higher typically earn college credit. (Everyone, it seems, but Harvard and VCC recognizes AP credit!) This course is designed to give talented high school students a college-level literary experience. Consequently, this is a Socratic course that features a great deal of high-level discussion of challenging texts and several written assignments. Thus far, we have analyzed Heart of Darkness, Oedipus Rex, and much of Macbeth.

Most of the texts are supplied for this course, but I have encouraged the students to acquire a copy of How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Turner—it’s a witty, quick read that can sharpen focus regarding literary criticism.


I am looking forward to working with your senior this year! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me.


__________________________________________________________________
Gifted English II
Jennifer Hilley, Instructor
407-893-7200, ext. 4605
hilleyj@ocps.net; www.j-hill.blogspot.com

I have enjoyed getting to know the 10th grade Gifted learners during the past few weeks, and am looking forward to all of the opportunities ahead of us during this school year. The sophomore year is a pivotal year for these students—between taking the FCAT and selecting courses for their junior and senior years, many important tasks can affect the outcome of the high school experience and preparation for college.


Ø On October 12, all of the Gifted sophomores will be taking the PSAT test during their morning classes, and will be excused through attendance for the test. 10th graders take the test for free; juniors and freshmen must pay the standard $12.00 fee. Your child has already been registered for this test and does not need to do anything else to sign up. He or she needs to take this test for the following reasons:
Ø it offers excellent preparation for ACT and SAT
Ø it gives us a tool by which we can assess a student’s readiness for AP courses in the junior year
Ø it prepares the students for the 11th grade administration of this test, which
can qualify them for the National Merit Scholars Program.

Ø The FCAT will be given in the first week of March. While we will address FCAT-related issues in class, and participate in school-wide timed writing sessions geared to FCAT Writes, I believe focusing on skills that surpass FCAT requirements is more philosophically sound than exclusively “teaching to the test.” I view this course as a pre-AP program above and beyond the minimal requirements of the state. However, if you feel that your child does need additional assistance to prepare for FCAT, I will be happy to help, and would also recommend that you avail yourself of www.fcatexplorer.edu for practice problems.

Ø I offer service-learning opportunities through the Orlando Shakespeare Festival. Many of the tenth grade students have already signed up to usher for the first semester, and although we are almost booked solid, many opportunities are still open. This is an excellent way for your child to earn Bright Futures service hours and see wonderful plays for free. If you are interested in accompanying your child and ushering yourself, you are welcome to sign up as well—all ushers have free admission to the play for which they usher. The OSF is performing seven plays this season, beginning with A Twelfth Night this month.

Ø There are some outside reading requirements in this course. The students are currently reading The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas; their next outside reading, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, will be provided for them. I will try to notify you with several weeks to spare when we begin another title.

Ø More specific data is provided in your child’s syllabus; if you would like me to e-mail you a copy as a Word attachment for your records I will be happy to do so.

Ø I look forward to working with you this year, as we prepare your student for the challenges of college and beyond!


___________________________________________________________________

PTSA Open House
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Gifted English IV
Jennifer Hilley, Instructor
407-893-7200, ext. 4605
hilleyj@ocps.net


v The senior year is a pivotal year for your student, and already in English IV we have been discussing the college application process and have written entrance essays. At this point, your student should be visiting schools and sending in applications; in class, I suggested an October 15, 2005 deadline to the students to ensure that their applications receive top consideration.

v If your student still has not taken the SAT or ACT, we offer those tests here at Boone during the school year. The earlier a student takes the test, the better; if your student is trying to raise a score, Mr. Dorman offers a preparatory course after school. I have had application packets for both tests in the classroom since the first day of school, and will continue to provide them in addition to our Guidance office.

v The scholarship application process is already underway, but the majority of scholarships available to your student will become apparent during the second semester. Guidance just released their first senior newsletter, which featured a few scholarship opportunities, and they will continue to do so throughout the school year. You and your student may wish to check online resources such as www.fastweb.com for additional opportunities. I would like to warn you, though—there are unscrupulous types who would love to make a profit off of your student. DO NOT PAY for scholarship information, regardless of the “guarantees” you may be offered. One of my students this year has already brought me a mailing he received at home offering access to dozens of scholarships for only $99.00. All of the scholarships advertised on this mailing are readily available, for free, on the web or through the school.

v WARNING: Around February, you may notice that your child’s brain has turned into mashed potatoes. Your student may claim “senioritis,” and this is the time of year when many, many students fall off the right track. Please remind your students, as I will, that acceptance letters to colleges are not contracts—they are contingent upon release of the final transcript. A distinct dip in grades can derail a student’s college plans.

I am looking forward to working with your senior this year! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

Advanced Placement Literature: I know some of you didn't finish the multiple choice sections yesterday, but we're going to score what we have and go over the Bacon and Donne passages. Then, back to Macbeth. . .even if a couple of you hate it. (My heart is cleft in twain; perhaps you'll like it better in retrospect.)

Gifted English IV: "The Pardoner's Tale." Hilarity ensues as three rapscallions try to cheat Death. You can never cheat Death!

Gifted English II: Antigone objective assessment; Author of the Day will be Alice Sebold.

REMINDER: CMC Reading Day is tomorrow. There will be a brief, insightful reading progress quiz administered at the end of the period. . .

Monday, September 19, 2005

Guten morgen!

Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day, an unofficial holiday created by two slackers who love to play with language. If you need insight into Pirate Linguistics, please see www.talklikeapirate.com. Aaargh, me hearties.

DISCLAIMER: Neither the Information Society nor Ms. Hilley advocate actual piracy. Pirates were bad to the bone, and had poor dental hygiene, to boot. ITLaPD is intended to celebrate the Johnny Deppness of Pirates of the Caribbean, and not to instill a desire for violence, pillaging, or bad grammar in the youth of today.

Advanced Placement Literature

You might hate this, but you'll thank me later--we need to do another multiple choice practice session for the AP Lit exam. CLIFF book, Practice Test #1. Good luck.
I will also be giving you the Macessay assignment. I'm still finishing the Oedipapers, so please be patient.

Gifted English IV

Chaucer Prologue, part III--and content vocabulary! Craziness.

Gifted English II

Author of the Day today is Jane Austen, Victorian novelist. We are finishing Antigone today, in preparation for our in-class test assignment tomorrow. Also, I'll be distributing the take-home assessment (essay format.) I'll collect the grammar homework at the end of the period.

Announcements and Update-age

• PTSA Open House will be Tuesday, September 20 at 7 p.m. Your parents will have an opportunity to experience your schedule!

• Ushering for the UCF/Orlando Shakespeare Festival will begin on Wednesday, September 21, at 6 p.m. Please check the sign-up book in my classroom; many of the dates are already filled. Please note that transportation is NOT provided due to district policy, but I encourage you to check with other ushers and carpool if possible.

• I have had to enable word verification for this blog; if you'd like to leave a comment, you may, but you have to use the word verification process so that I can ensure you are not a spambot. Sorry!

Friday, September 16, 2005

AP Lit: Act II oral quiz; continue into Act III. "Fly, Fleance, Fly!"

Gifted II: Antigone, Ode 4 and Scene 5. HW: Grammar (Sentence Combining) and PSAT Vocab List Subset #2.

Gifted IV: Wife of Bath/admire Adam's work on BBC.

Thursday, September 15, 2005

AP Literature: For homework last night, I asked you to read into Act II of The Scottish Play and identify one or two quotes/thoughts/questions with which we can initiate our discussion today. Hopefully, today, we will travel further into Act II. Review your content vocabulary, please. Tomorrow--another practice session for the multiple choice on the AP exam.

Gifted IV: Continue with The Canterbury Tales prologue! Yesterday we got through the Friar, so we begin this morning with another cartoon of the Merchant. We might have a post-it note quiz, followed by Art Day.

Gifted II: Author of the Day is David Foster Wallace (cancelled from yesterday, due to Reading Day), and we will continue working through the text of Antigone.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

If you need me after school today, you will need to reschedule--I have a department meeting in room 315 that will probably go all the way until 3 p.m.

Advanced Placement Literature: Macquiz, Act I. We'll continue into Act II today.

Gifted English IV: Continue with the character chart for The Canterbury Tales, and get content vocabulary.

Gifted English II: Second reading day for The Count of Monte Cristo--be sure to bring your book.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

FOCUS PAPERS DUE BY 3 P.M. FOR APees.


Advanced Placement Literature: Continue with Macbeth; content vocabulary and discussion of Act I. Isn't it great? Discussion focii: the role of the supernatural, the marital relationship between Mac and Lady Mac.

Gifted English IV: Moving beyond Becket and into the CTales; memorization assignment; character chart. Someone needs to make up the reading test. . .

Gifted English II: Author of the Day: Jamaica Kincaid. Collect HW for PSAT reading and briefly discuss; Antigone post-it-note quiz; assign out of class essay test for Antigone. Hopefully, we'll get through Scene 3 today.

Monday, September 12, 2005

Welcome back from another weekend!
Upcoming dates: Homecoming is less than a month away. . .expect a classy speech on How to Behave at Homecoming. (If you haven't had me as an instructor in the past, brace yourself--I have a patented, well-rehearsed speech, with puppets, for Homecoming, Winter Break, Spring Break, Prom and Graduation.)

Progress Reports go out Friday. If you need an update and don't have K12, see me. Also, if you were out on Friday (there were four or five of you) you'll need to make up Friday's tests ASAP.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Friendly reminder that your focus paper is due tomorrow by 3 p.m. I will be in 313 until 3 exactly, so make sure it goes IN MY HAND. Muchas gracias. Today in class, lecture/discussion on The Scottish Play and Shakespearean constructs. I'm not going to belabor the point on Shakespeare's bio; if you want an additional set of notes on Willie and his Life come see me after school for a cool chart. Instead, we're focusing on the historic context of James I of England and what inspired Shakespeare to write this particular play at this particular time. Politics in action! I'll be distributing copies of the play today; remember, if you have difficulty with Elizabethan diction, I recommend acquiring your own copy of No Fear Shakespeare.

Gifted English II: Content vocabulary words; we're skipping Author of the Day today so we can take more time with Antigone. In-class dramatic reading of Sophocles's tragedy and discussion.

Gifted English IV: Today we finish Becket and assess themes from the play.

And a good time should be had by all!

Friday, September 9, 2005

Can you believe another week has gone by? Goodness, time flies.

If you owe me make-up work, please get it in no later than Monday afternoon, since I have to export grades for the first official progress report by Tuesday afternoon. ALSO--if you do not have access to K12 Planet, a parent or guardian has to come up to school to get the password. Or you could just come ask me nicely and I'll print out a summary average for you.

Advanced Placement Literature: Oeditest! Bring a pencil for the multiple-choice section and a pen for the free response. Good times abounding. Coming up next: The Scottish Play!

Gifted English II: Antigone and quick vocab quiz. Author of the Day: Dr. Suess.

Gifted English IV: Becket and timeline.

Thursday, September 8, 2005

Welcome back to another exciting day at Boone High School, Home of the Braves, where Brave Students Today are Brave Leaders Tomorrow.

Yay!

Advanced Placement Literature: Peer Review for Oedipus Rex focus paper. If we finish early, review for the Oeditest tomorrow.

Gifted English IV: Continue with Becket, beginning with the invasion of Calais by the English forces. Isn't Peter O'Toole hilarious?

Gifted English II: Beginning with Oedipus Rex, we're tracing the myths and writing style of Sophocles. You will need your lit book today. (Surprise: Our Author of the Day is Sophocles!)

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Greetings, all. I'm going to be pretty honest: today is going to be a non-instructional day.

Advanced Placement Literature and Gifted English IV: Do not come to class; report directly to Guidance for your senior appointments. I will be waiting in the lobby for you to address any questions you may have after your appointment, and I will have extra copies of my Recommendation Request Form for anyone who needs one. Bring something to read. Reminder to APees: Your focus paper draft is due for revision and workshopping tomorrow in class.

Gifted English II: First scheduled reading day for The Count of Monte Cristo. The due date for this novel is Tuesday, September 20, and yes, there will be a check-reading quiz. I have popcorn for you; bring a pillow and a bottle of water if you like. Reading is fundamental!

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

Hope everyone had a terrific three-day weekend, and is ready for some academic challenges and an opportunity to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina! We have a big week ahead of us.

Advanced Placement Literature: Discuss Oedipus Rex and answer questions on the John Updike poem on page 947 in the lit anthology. Reminder--go straight to Guidance tomorrow instead of class! Fifth period will also address some multiple choice questions from the CLIFF book.

Gifted English IV: Begin screening Becket. Also, I will go over the Chaucer memorization assignment. Good times. Good times.

Gifted English II: Introduction to Greek tragedy. We will be reading Antigone by Sophocles soon. Also, I have PSAT vocabulary for you, and our Author of the Day today is J.G. Ballard.