Wednesday, January 11, 2006

These are my sub plans for tomorrow. That's right; sub plans. I am so happy.


Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Thank you for covering these classes today—I have been called into a Superintendent’s Meeting downtown, and won’t be back on campus perhaps all day. If I return, I’d like to teach my classes—at least fifth and sixth periods, I would imagine—but I need you to stick around until I’m sure I’m back. This is NOT something I want to be out for.

*No computer access for my various student assistants.
*I will drop off the Orlando Shakespeare Festival ushering book, so kids may come in intermittently to check for their next ushering date.
*We will be watching films in two of the classes. Make them watch and pay attention.

1st Period: Advanced Placement Literature and Composition.

These students have been reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and will watch the first segment of the film version. PLEASE WARN THEM AGAIN—I did yesterday—that there is a visually disturbing death-in-childbirth sequence ten minutes in, and the possibility of a nude Robert De Niro playing the creature at the end of the period. Have them watch.

2nd period: Gifted English IV

Let these students finish watching the last few minutes of Hamlet—it’s only five minutes in length, or so—and distribute the thought questions on Act IV and V. These are due at the end of the period.

3rd period: Gifted English II

These students are reading Julius Caesar; many have copies of their own plays, and several will use the version found in the textbook. Please have them copy the content vocabulary off of the board and define the words using the play, and then have them divide up parts and read Act I, scene ii. If this becomes untenable or too disruptive, have them read the scene silently.

4th period: Writing Center/Planning

5th: Advanced Placement Literature and Composition

More Frankenstein. Distribute the focus paper assignment in the attached folder.

6th period: Same as third.

Thanks for doing this! I am incredibly bitter about having to be out of my classes. My student assistants can help you if you have any questions or problems throughout the day:

2nd period: Caroline Kennedy and Cherilyn Cloude
3rd period: Lauren Combs
4th period: Nailea Herrera, Sarah Beehner, Justine Schwartz
5th period: Kellie Weber

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

AP English: Go over the notes for Frankenstein and begin screening Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Kenneth Branagh.

Gifted English IV: Hamlet, Act IV.

Gifted English II: Go over PSAT and DRP scores; Julius Caesar, Act I.

Monday, January 9, 2006

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: "Ode to the West Wind" and "Ozymandias" leading into a discussion of characterization in Frankenstein.

Gifted English IV: Finish Hamlet Act III and watch the Zifferelli version.

Gifted English II: Pop quiz on Shakespeare; finish notes on Shakespearean England, transition into Ancient Rome.

Friday, January 6, 2006

Advanced Placement Literature: Group discussion of "West Wind" and connections to Romanticism; questions 1-4 on page 833 of the literary anthology.

Gifted English IV: Resumption of Hamlet and discussion of potential topics for research paper.

Gifted English II: Go over HW and connect Shakespearean themes to the Ancient Roman setting of Julius Caesar.

Thursday, January 5, 2006

AP Literature: Frankenquizzen and discussion of "Ode to the West Wind" by Shelley.

Gifted English IV: Mock DUI presentation in the stadium.

Gifted English II: Continuation of Introduction to Shakespearean studies. HW--matching sheet on Shakespeare.

Wednesday, January 4, 2006

Advanced Placement Literature: Frankenstein notes.

Gifted English IV: Discussion of Hamlet, Act III, scene ii

Gifted English II: Introduction to Shakespearean Studies.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to 2006! Friendly reminders:

The Teacher Workday is Tuesday, January 3--please don't come up to school unless you are making up work. THIS IS NOT A DAY TO VISIT AND CHAT. I will (most likely) be extremely unpleasant as I frantically finish grades.

APees--Have you finished Frankenstein?

Gifted IVs--Are you ready to do a research paper?

Gifted IIs--If you haven't yet acquired The Elements of Style or No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar, I suggest you do so. The first title is mandatory; the second is optional.