Friday, April 7, 2006

Today is the Boone Art Festival. See previous rant for my opinion on class interruptions.

That said, I will take second period for part of the class. I am not taking AP or the sophomores--we have too much to do.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Practice multiple choice session, featuring a very disturbing prose passage (that might remind you of our discussion in class yesterday) and Markham's poem "Man With a Hoe," based on this painting by Millet.

Gifted English IV: Continue discussion of Shelley's "West Wind" and go to the Art Festival.

Gifted English II: 3rd period: Share prepositional poems and listen to "The Highwayman."
6th period: Finish discussion of "Highwayman" and create prepositional poems.

Thursday, April 6, 2006

Advanced Placement Literature: Discussion on Beloved centered on the difference between "ownership" and "possession."

Gifted English IV: "Ode to the West Wind."

Gifted English II: 3rd period--discussion of new SAT policy and prepositional poem; 6th period; introduction to the ballad with "The Highwayman" by Sir Alfred Noyes.

Rant

Today is Student/Teacher Exchange Day.

I do not support Student/Teacher Exchange Day. And here's why: Years ago, this was a terrific opportunity to let students see what being a teacher was really like; it was meaningful and helpful for kids contemplating careers in education. Over the past six years or so, it has morphed into a day of frivolity and hijinks, by and large, through which a small cadre of popular kids, drunk with power, belittle and toy with their peers. The day they started letting the kids exchange with administrators was the beginning of the end.

Granted, some people still take the opportunity seriously, but I think it's just another distraction in a woefully packed grading quarter.

And to be completely honest and fair, I stopped supporting it three years ago when a particularly snarky kid gave me a detention and refused to treat me as an adult. When the administrator I complained to supported the student and not me, I mentally withdrew from the activity for once and for all.

While I'm on a rant, be warned: I REFUSE TO SIGN ANY MORE FIELD TRIP FORMS. THIS IS APRIL; THERE SHOULD BE NO FIELD TRIPS; YOU HAVE AP TESTS IN LESS THAN A MONTH. Of course, I can't stop you, nor would I from a state championship or the like, but some of the garbage I've been asked to give permission for lately is just ridiculous. I will not give my tacit approval of an excuse to leave class to go to the zoo or a theme park. NO. DON'T EVEN ASK ME.

Why am I being difficult? Because I chose to dedicate my life to the pursuit of education, and I live to make my class entertaining and relevant, and it kills me when someone bops into my room and says, "If we're not doing anything important today, can I. . ."

Wednesday, April 5

TODAY IS THE FIRST ROUND OF THE AP PRACTICE TEST.

I will be hosting in the Media Center; Mrs. Covert will host next Wednesday afternoon, same location. Bring a pen and your brain.

2 hours=3 essays.

Today in class:

AP Literature: Quiz on Beloved, pp. 1-87. There are four questions; select any two to address.

Gifted English IV: From Coleridge to Shelley; "Ozymandias." The original Ozzy!

Gifted English II: Shelley to Updike; a look at the impermanence of things through both Shelley's sonnet and "Ex-Basketball Player."

Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Advanced Placement Literature: Today we’re going over the timed writings after we tear apart that prompt and review student-generated texts. This one was an easy prompt based on two exceedingly challenging poems, so I’m curious to see how you react to our in-class deconstruction.

Gifted English IV: We’re going to work through the “Rime” analysis in class today.

Gifted English II: Poetry, in all of its myriad, intricate wonders. I love poetry. I hope you will, too.

Monday, April 3, 2006

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: A few people made up the timed writing today, while others read Beloved--you have a quiz on the first 87 pages of this novel on Wednesday. Tomorrow--go over the timed writing and peer edit.

Gifted English IV: We finished "Rime" today and will analyze tomorrow.

Gifted English II: We finished the story in the yellow text and talked about jargon and use of language. Please continue reading in your chosen novel. . .

The Week that Wasn't

Again, and hopefully for the last time, ever, I have to ask forgiveness for my slackitude.

National Boards is FINISHED! (Well, I test in June, but the box is mailed in. . .)

So this is what we did last week! Amazingly enough, I still managed to do some teaching, old-school style:

AP Literature: In addition to reading Toni Morrison's Nobel Prize address, we looked at key questions related to the opening of her novel Beloved and completed a multiple choice practice session and timed writing. Also, we went over the dramatic monologue and deconstructed "Porphyria's Lover" by Browning. A good week, by all accounts. . .

Gifted English IV: We took two quizzes on Romanticism, read "Tintern Abbey" by Wordsworth, and began "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge after thoughtfully exploring the imagery of "Kubla Khan" through a pop-up book version.

Gifted English II: "The Limits of the Envelope" by Tom Wolfe grossed us out, and we worked on our review writing techniques by analyzing the tart words of The New Yorker's Anthony Lane. Oh, and some other stuff. . .