The End of the Road

Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble...

2012-01-23T04:58:00.002-08:00

This week we will really get into the heart of the story of Macbeth. I also want to say that I feel like you all are doing a pretty good job of "getting it" even before I explain passages. Do you find that this is one of the easier plays you have read? Do you think it's just having gotten more comfortable with Shakespeare that makes it easier? It is, after all, Shakespearean play number four or five (if you were in World Studies)...

Here is our schedule for the week.

Monday, 1/23
Grade aloud the multiple choice homework
Macbeth Act III, while tracing your word

Tuesday, 1/24
Macbeth Act III, tracing word

Wednesday, 1/25
Macbeth III (?) and IV

Thursday, 1/26
TT-Group 1
Work on multiple choice- Group 2

Friday, 1/27
Macbeth Act IV

Macbeth Act II Activity

2012-01-23T04:58:00.001-08:00

In previous years, I have done the following activity over Lady Macbeth after Act II of Macbeth. I thought you might want to do a piece of this activity on the blog as one of your optional comments. I could see some of you getting into this...

You can link here to read the lyrics to Alanis Morissette's song "Wake Up". What is the speaker's attitude in this song? Does this seem to be more like Macbeth or Lady Macbeth's viewpoint in Acts I and II? Look at the first two lines and line eight. What is the speaker expressing in these lines about the person to whom she is referring? Rewrite the song (or any portion of the song) as if Lady Macbeth is talking to Macbeth. Keep in mind the states of mind of both characters at this point in the play.

Below is an example:
You want power but only if it's morally taken.
You like to think but only if someone else thinks for you.
No reason that you should be in dismay
No excuse for you not to do the deed today
Cause it's easy to be scared
So much easier than being brave
And if your chance comes and passes by, it shall never come back to you
You like prophecies to be fulfilled but only if you don't play your part
You sulk... and you think...just go do it
There's an obvious attraction
To the choice that risks your chance to be king
There's an obvious coward that I
could not make you finish tonight
Cause it's easy to be scared
So much easier than being brave
And if your chance comes and passes by, it shall never come back to you
To you to you to you to you and to you alone...
There's no jewels, no crown, no bravery anymore
There's a little boy cowering in a corner
Which the sight he cannot bear
There's a bold and proud little girl
Going to commit the act
But it's easy to be scared
So much easier than being brave
And if your chance comes and passes by, it shall never come back to you
To you, to you
Go on kill him go on just do it
Go on kill him go on just do it
Go on get it done before someone sees you
Go on kill him go on just do it
Just do it.

"Fair is Foul and Foul is Fair"

2012-01-17T04:57:00.000-08:00

Happy MLK Day week! I have so many favorite quotes of his, but one of the best is "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." I think that's a good model to base your life on. There are so many times in life that the easier option by far, the safer option, even, is to remain silent. From the most basic example of one person picking on another or jokes that seem harmless but are actually very offensive to the extreme of a country slaughtering its own citizens or children being abused by those who should protect them, silence is not acceptable. Be that person, even if you are standing alone. We are reading Macbeth, and this play contains a very clear example of the effects of silence. We are not to the end, and so can't see the full ramifications yet (and I don't want to spoil it), but as with most murders of a king, it is not going to end well. Macbeth, as you saw on Friday, decided that he should not do it, that he should let nature take its course. Lady Macbeth manipulated and bullied him into it. When it mattered, Macbeth kept silent. He let her push and bully and insult and get her way, rather than speaking up for what he knew to be right, even if he too felt the temptation to kill. Learn from literature, learn from history, learn from heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Speak up and speak out. Be a hero to those around you who need a voice or a hand or a heart...

[Sermon over.]

This week, we are going to be doing vocab and reading Macbeth. I love how the play develops and am anxious for you to read and discuss it. So far, I feel like you guys aren't feeling Macbeth that much, and that makes me sad. I think that having the Shakespearean plays SO spread out due to the modified schedule makes it harder. Anyway, here is this week's schedule:

Tuesday, 1/17
Unit 6 Vocabulary: abject, agnostic, complicity, derelict, diatribe, effigy, equity, inane, indictment, indubitable, intermittent, moot, motif, neophyte, perspicacity, plenary, surveillance, sylvan, testy, travesty
Macbeth Act II
Wednesday, 1/18
Macbeth Act II
Thursday, 1/19
Macbeth work-Group 1
TT- Group 2
Friday, 1/20
Vocabulary Unit 6 Quiz
STUDY

I'm Baaaaaack!!!!!!!!!

2012-01-10T06:10:00.000-08:00

I have decided to restart ye olde blog this semester with my AP and English IV classes. Here you will find schedules, awesome student work, and sometimes extra activities and thought-provoking information. I have told you already, but I am thrilled to death to have another semester with you all. 2nd period was such a bright spot in my day last semester and I expect that it will be the same this semester, though certainly shadowed with the knowledge that you are all LEAVING me in May. (If you will note, on the right side of the blog, there is a countdown clock to graduation. Please know that your joy is far greater than mine as this clock winds down...) :) Seriously, though, last semester of senior year... it has to feel great! I am proud of each and every one of you.

This week begins Unit 3, Complications of Culture. As you know from yesterday's seminar, the essential questions are:
How does one's perspective shape or alter truth?
In a culture where we are bombarded with other people and other things trying to define us, how do we make decisions for ourselves?
How is who we want to be as revealing as who we are and how we are perceived by others?
The major works for this unit will include Heart of Darkness, Macbeth, Sir Gawaine, Arthurian legends, and Metaphysical/Carpe Diem Poetry.
We are starting Macbeth this week, and I can't wait to teach it to you and hear your discussions. It is not as deep as Hamlet, in my opinion, but it is really very incredibly exciting and it contains one of Shakespeare's greatest villains and one of his few strong female characters (at least in the tragedies we read in our curriculum).

This week's schedule:

Monday- Introductory Seminar to Macbeth (ambition, situational ethics)

Tuesday- Persuasive Prompt (part of schoolwide initiative)

Wednesday- Act I

Thursday- TT for Group 1, Macbeth for Group 2

Friday- Act I
JOURNALS DUE

Macbeth Act II

2011-03-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

Back and Better than Ever.

2011-03-14T05:42:00.001-07:00

What is that light filtering through the clouds and trees? The blogs are BACK!

After a LOOOOOONG bloggy hiatus, my class blogs are back... and better than ever before. We are going to finish the semester with a bang, interacting virtually with each other and having some enrichment stuff on here, some extra credit, some commentary, some planning... It's going to be GREEEAAATTT!!!!! :)

Sorry.

2010-05-03T18:15:00.001-07:00

I am calling it a wash. This blog this semester has been an utter failure. My fault. Sometimes when you are doing (way!) too much, some things have to go. Unfortunately for the blog, this is what went this semester. It's not you all, it's me. :) Sorry.

However, while we're saying goodbye, let me say that this semester with you has been wonderful. I have so enjoyed your energy and enthusiasm (at least most of the time)! You are all genuinely nice people and I am so grateful to have spent your last semester of high school with you. For those I have taught in the past, either in English II, English II Honors, or Holocaust Lit (or more than one of those!), it is one of my greatest joys as a teacher to get to teach kids several times. I love to see the ways you have grown up and matured over time. For those I met for the first time this semester, it is because of you that I love to teach AP English. I have told a few of you already, it always saddens me a little when amazing kids graduate and I never got to teach them. This class gave me an opportunity to meet more of you and for that I am grateful. I wish all of you the best, both in your immediate future and in your distant future. You will succeed in college and in life and I am happy to have been a small part of your past. Now go, and find your Personal Legend! :) Love you!!!

Mrs. Davis

Gertrude and Claudius

2010-02-19T21:01:00.002-08:00

I mentioned in class today that I personally do not feel that there was an improper relationship between Gertrude and Claudius prior to the death of King Hamlet. I know that other teachers share varying opinions. What are your thoughts on this topic? What examples can you give from the text to back up your opinion? Do you think it is relevant to the plot either way? Do you think Shakespeare really cared what we made of that relationship?

Foil Characters in Hamlet

2010-02-19T21:01:00.001-08:00

Do you feel that there are any foil characters in Hamlet? (You may have to remind yourself what a foil character is...) If you feel that there are, use the comment board to identify some and explain what effect the foil relationship has on the play, whether its plot of character development.

Week of February 8

2010-02-08T05:37:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are... the moment you have all been waiting for since sophomore year when the curtain fell on Act V of Julius Caesar, with Octavius and Antony extolling Brutus's virtues.... more Shakespeare!!!! It's Hamlet time! I sincerely hope you love this play as much as I do.

Monday, 2/8
Quiz over satire, sonnets, Boswell, "Everyman"
Intro to Hamlet
Hamlet/Shakespeare notes

Tuesday, 2/9
Hamlet, Act I

Wednesday, 2/10
Hamlet, Act II
"Love" activity
SM 5, 6 check

Thursday, 2/11
OFF!!!
(Parent conferences 12-7)

Friday, 2/12
OFF!!!

FOR FUN, does not count as a comment...

2010-01-30T17:00:00.001-08:00

You guys are reading "Everyman" this week. Enjoy this guinea pig version. :)

Week of February 1

2010-01-30T16:12:00.002-08:00

I hope that you all enjoyed your semi-long weekend and are set to have a wonderful, productive week.

Monday, 2/1
Medieval period test
Write Character analysis

Tuesday, 2/2
Multiple Choice AP test practice

Wednesday, 2/3
Boswell's Biography, Satire
H/W: Write a satire

Thursday, 2/4
"Everyman", Sonnets
H/W: Write a sonnet

Friday, 2/5
Test over this week

Wife of Bath's Tale

2010-01-30T16:12:00.001-08:00

We had a great discussion regarding the Wife of Bath's Tale. Do you think the Wife of Bath is meant to contradict the misogynist (woman-hating) ideas of her time, or to uphold them? How might her story be a type of wish-fulfillment for the aging? Respond to any other elements from this tale (or any others we read during this unit).

Six Characters

2010-01-30T16:11:00.000-08:00

In the past I have done a precious little activity called "Canterbury Tales: Six Characters in Search of a Pilgrimage" that I heard about at an NCTE conference. The assignment is below.

Select six characters to go on the pilgrimage with you. Two must have been on Chaucer's. Two must be from other literary selections. Two must be real people (though not necessarily living). Explain how these characters would get along and what kind of story they would have told the whole group.

If you feel so inclined, comment on this post and briefly explain your six characters and what kind of story they would have told, who would have gotten along with whom, disagreed with whom, etc.

Epic Heroes (and small-town heroes)

2010-01-24T16:23:00.000-08:00

We finished Beowulf today and most of you seemed to get it and even somewhat enjoy it. I would like to know what characteristics of Beowulf as an epic hero do you think are still respected in our society today? Are there elements of the Anglo-Saxon code of honor that are held dear in America in 2009?

Week of January 25

2010-01-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

Well, yet another exciting week in AP!!! Canterbury Tales this week! :)

Monday, 1/25
Define Unit 1
Discuss Part 1 of the Prologue
H/W: Read Part 2

Tuesday, 1/26
Discuss Part 2
Write own
Intro to "Wife of Bath's Tale"
H/W: Read Wife of Bath

Wednesday, 1/27
Temperament Activity
Discuss "Wife of Bath"
H/W: Read "Pardoner's Tale"

Thursday, 1/28
DUE: Prologue Memorization
H/W: Read Sir Gawaine/Le Morte

Friday, 1/29
Vocab Quiz 1
Discuss Gawaine/Le Morte
SM 4 check

Week of January 19

2010-01-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

Lots to do and read and talk about this week! :) (And we only have four days to do it!)

Tuesday, 1/19

Anglo-Saxon notes

Kennings

Discuss Beowulf, Section 1

Homework: Read Section 2

Wednesday, 1/20

Archetypes

Discuss Beowulf, Section 2

Homework: Beowulf, Section 3 and Exeter Book

DUE: Final Draft College Application Essay

Thursday, 1/21

Discuss Exeter Book

Multiple Choice Practice

Homework: Prologue Part 1

Friday, 1/22

Anglo-Saxon quiz

Canterbury Tales notes

Discuss Prologue

Homework: Prologue Part 2

DUE: SM 1-3

DUE: Journals

"The Sun Goes Down on High School"-- with inspiration by Steve Lawhead

2010-01-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

Students were given a poem by Steve Lawhead ("The Sun Goes Down on Summer") and asked to model their own poems after it, titling them "The Sun Goes Down on High School". Here are a few of our thoughts on the subject...

"This is serious. This is college ball. Game over."

"The time has come for me to move on, leaving an empty chair in my classroom, a vacancy in the locker I once occupied, and goals ready to be accomplished."

"I've spent countless hours perfecting them, and now I must wait, the wait for that priceless piece of mail to arrive at my house."

"I'll have to start over/New school, new friends, new me?"

"I hope I'm good enough. I suppose I won't know until I'm there."

"It'll be professors and textbooks and laptops and upperclassmen telling you what to take."

"Mr. and Mrs. run away, leaving Professor and Doctor."

"I'd give anything to make high school stay a little longer, and not disappear."

"And I can only hope but wonder if I've made my impression here; will I be missed or simply forgotten?"

"Twelve years to get to this point. Now what?"

"The school looks the same as always./It's a warm place dyed red, white, and blue."

"I pull in the parking lot one last time/Class by class, they slip away."

"I walk across the stage thinking that the end is near."

"It's going; I can feel it slip away, and it leaves a warm, new sense of freedom from the endless routine of everyday, and then the fear sets in."

"I hold fast to the things I'll long to remember, and to my relationships that may not last."

"In these halls, in these rooms/experiences have changed my life./I am not who I once was."

"School will start again. But I won't return."

"School will be over soon. And everything I've become used to will change, and the parking lot won't be so noisy anymore."

"It's leaving; it all appears to be drifting away, and it leaves a cold, shallow feeling in the place of heated, driven school spirit and hatred for Walker Valley."

"No, instead I have to figure things out for myself,/and nothing will ever be handed to me again."

"High school wasn't meant to last forever. I took it all for granted. Now I'm left wishing."

"As this chapter closes, I remember the earlier pages, when life was simple, like a picture book./ However, I wouldn't wish for these high school days to stay."

"People expect it. I expect it./Expectations are over. You're on your own. You can go do what you want. You can 'be yourself.'"

Classics

2010-01-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

The classics have often been defined as old dusty books written by dead Western white men. I think, over time, that view will change. We had a discussion last week on the classics, and I thought I would provide an opportunity to continue it on the blog. What books have you read that stand out in your mind in this context, either as a certain classic or as certainly not a classic? What part of the criteria relates to your text selection?

Week of January 11

2010-01-11T06:51:00.000-08:00

This week will consist of some practice, some peer reading, some discussion, and some literature!!! Hopefully you will feel like you have a good foundation and are ready to knock the top out of AP English and the AP test! :)

Monday, 1/11

Define Unit 1

Poetry/Prose AP practice

DUE: Self-Assessment, parent letter

Tuesday, 1/12

Open essay AP practice

Assign resume

Wednesday, 1/13

In-Class College Application essay

Assign Biblical Allusions for discussion

DUE: Resume

Thursday, 1/14

Biblical Allusions discussion

Peer Read College App essay

Friday, 1/15

Vocab Quiz

Anglo-Saxon notes

Assign Section 1 of Beowulf

SM 1 and 2

Welcome, Soon-to-be-Graduates!

2010-01-07T11:37:00.001-08:00

Hello to the new CHS AP English class!!! I know we are only two days into it, but I will say that I have a good feeling about your class! I am excited to spend your final semester in high school with you, reading great works, writing awesome papers, and having amazing discussions. :) Some of you I have had in the past, and I am so happy to see you in another of my classes. The rest of you, I am excited to get to know you, although it does just mean that there will be more people I am saddened to lose in May.......

Anyway, get ready to fly! Because believe me, we are all going to glance up and realize that graduation is only days away.

Week of April 27

2009-04-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

This week is slightly different from your calendar because it took us longer to get through presentations. Even still, it is not a big deal because I gained a whole week this week since graduation is a week later than I had thought! :)

Monday, April 27

Presentations

Tuesday, April 28

Probably more presentations

Wednesday, April 29

Something Special

Thursday, April 30

Metaphysical Poetry

Friday, May 1

Cavalier Poetry

DUE: Journals

Hamlet Projects

2009-04-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

Finally I am publishing the pictures of some of the AP projects! Better late than never.

Week of April 20

2009-04-17T11:47:00.001-07:00

This week is totally independent work. I am anxious to hear your presentations later this week. Check out the countdown clock!!!

Monday, April 20
Lab/Library

Tuesday, April 21
Lab/Library

Wednesday, April 22
Work Day in class

Thursday, April 23
Presentations

Friday, April 24
Presentations

Week of April 14

2009-04-09T19:45:00.000-07:00

I really hope this is a good week for you all and you enjoy getting some freedom of choice in what you are reading! I also want to say that I appreciate that you all enjoyed The Alchemist so much. It was a great discussion and I am so glad.

Tuesday, April 14

Independent Reading Day

Wednesday, April 15

Independent Reading Day

Thursday, April 16

Book Talks

DUE: The Alchemist writing

Friday, April 17

DUE: Journals

Begin Poetry Projects

Week of April 6

2009-04-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

You know I am so excited about The Alchemist! I hope our activities over the book go well.

Monday, April 6
Define Unit 6
Allegory, "Everyman"

Tuesday, April 7
Test over sonnets, satire, Boswell, "Everyman"
The Alchemist

Wednesday, April 8
The Alchemist

Thursday, April 9
Vocab Quiz
DUE: SM 13

You are then off on Friday and Monday! Another break!!!

Clean Slate

2009-03-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

The first nine weeks is now behind us. All grades are starting over, completely fresh and new. Everyone has a clean slate, if you will. Now is the time to decide to change the habits from last grading period, if you weren't happy with your grades. Now is the time to reinforce the good habits and attitudes from last grading period, if you are pleased with the results. But whatever you choose to do for the next nine weeks, there are still nine more weeks of school. Nine more weeks of assignments, tests, projects, and grades... I don't know about you, but I am happy to have nine weeks left with you guys. I have said already that this has truly been the most fun I have ever had teaching AP. I am so enjoying the subject matter and each of you and your unique personalities. Thanks for making my job fun, if not always easy! You might have heard it said, "Choose a job you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life." I can testify to that statement and I can say to you that it is the best advice I could give as far as your future and your career.

Week or March 30-- or, 31

2009-03-29T13:35:00.000-07:00

31? Can anyone say 31? Because if my calculations are correct, you have 31 school days left until graduation. (And since I am a little unclear about the exam dates, it might be less than that!!!) Now if that's not good news for the Monday after Spring Break, I don't know what is. Right??? So let's pep it up here and smile. It's all downhill from here!

Monday, March 30
"Macbeth" movie

Tuesday, March 31
"Macbeth" movie

Wednesday, April 1
Satire/Modest Proposal (green book)

Thursday, April 2
Boswell Bio (green book)

Friday, April 3
Pastoral Poetry
DUE: Journals

Talk to Me

2009-03-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Because I know that you all have your computers with you at the beach and in the ski chalet and doing all the other fun things you are doing this week, I thought I would post a little something that I read this week that made me think of you. (And I know that if you do have your computer, that you are probably also checking my blog at least once a day.) I am reading a book called Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. It is fascinating and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Islamic culture and literature. I have marked so many passages and turned down so many corners because I am just waiting for someone to come along who wants to talk to me about a book. :) (I know, I might be waiting a LONG time.) Anyway, here is the passage that reminded me of you all at this point in your life journeys:

It is written at a point when the author is considering leaving Iran for the United States.
"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."

What do you think?

Week of March 16

2009-03-13T10:43:00.001-07:00

Can anyone say SPRING BREAK?!?!?!?! It's here!!! One more week and we can do it!

Monday, March 16
Define Unit 5
Macbeth Act IV

Tuesday, March 17
Macbeth Act V

Wednesday, March 18
Macbeth Test
In-class Essay

Thursday, March 19
Vocab Quiz

BLOG BY MARCH 19 OVER MACBETH.

OK, here is what I have decided about Macbeth activities. You can EITHER do a memorization OR a creative project over Macbeth for extra credit. This will be due Tuesday, 3/31. The creative project just needs to look like you spent at least three hours on it. The memorizations are either:
Option 1: "If it were done..." lines 1-28, Act I, scene vii
Option 2: "Is this a dagger..." lines 33-61, Act II, scene i
Option 3: "Thrice the brinded..." lines 1-34, Act IV, scene i
Option 4: "I have lived long enough..." lines 22-28, Act V, scene iii, and "To be thus is nothing..." lines 48-72, Act III, scene i
Option 5: "This supernatural soliciting..." lines 130-142, Act I, scene iii, "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..." lines 19-28,Act V, scene v, and "I will not yield..." lines 27-34, Act V, scene viii

You will read The Alchemist over break and we will start it in the first week of April. Please read it carefully. There is SO much in it worth talking about. I am DYING to discuss literature in an intellectual way with you all. Don't let me down....

Macbeth Act II Activity

2009-03-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

IF we had had class on Friday (instead of being hired out and the rest of us choosing to just hang out), I would have had you do an activity over Lady Macbeth after Act II of Macbeth. I thought you might want to do a piece of this activity on the blog as one of your optional comments. I could see some of you getting into this...

You can link here to read the lyrics to Alanis Morissette's song "Wake Up". What is the speaker's attitude in this song? Does this seem to be more like Macbeth or Lady Macbeth's viewpoint in Acts I and II? Look at the first two lines and line eight. What is the speaker expressing in these lines about the person to whom she is referring? Rewrite the song (or any portion of the song) as if Lady Macbeth is talking to Macbeth. Keep in mind the states of mind of both characters at this point in the play.

Below is an example:
You want power but only if it's morally taken.
You like to think but only if someone else thinks for you.
No reason that you should be in dismay
No excuse for you not to do the deed today
Cause it's easy to be scared
So much easier than being brave
And if your chance comes and passes by, it shall never come back to you
You like prophecies to be fulfilled but only if you don't play your part
You sulk... and you think...just go do it
There's an obvious attraction
To the choice that risks your chance to be king
There's an obvious coward that I
could not make you finish tonight
Cause it's easy to be scared
So much easier than being brave
And if your chance comes and passes by, it shall never come back to you
To you to you to you to you and to you alone...
There's no jewels, no crown, no bravery anymore
There's a little boy cowering in a corner
Which the sight he cannot bear
There's a bold and proud little girl
Going to commit the act
But it's easy to be scared
So much easier than being brave
And if your chance comes and passes by, it shall never come back to you
To you, to you
Go on kill him go on just do it
Go on kill him go on just do it
Go on get it done before someone sees you
Go on kill him go on just do it
Just do it.

Week of March 9

2009-03-06T11:47:00.000-08:00

The Frankenstein week was a good one, in my opinion. Topped off, of course, with the coolest Monster cake ever!!! :) I am very excited to get to Macbeth this next week. I think you will enjoy it and I am anxious to see how you compare it to Hamlet. We are heading into the home stretch and I just want to tell you all that I am very proud of this class. I wasn't sure at first how you all would be because you seemed a little... let's say... negative. But I can honestly say that I have not enjoyed teaching AP this much ever. I think this is my sixth year to teach it and I have had a ball with you all this semester. You are fun, your discussions are (typically) good, and you seem relatively concerned about your grade and what you learn. Thanks for making it this way!!!

Monday, March 9
Opening Seminar to Macbeth

Tuesday, March 10
Act I

Wednesday, March 11
Act II
DUE: Frankenstein essay

Thursday, March 12
Catch up, activity

Friday, March 13
Act III
DUE: Journals

Week of March 2

2009-02-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

Little bit of this and a little bit of that this week...

Monday, March 2
Define Unit 4
Shakespearean sonnets
AP Poetry prompt

Tuesday, March 3
Frankenstein as a Gothic

Wednesday, March 4
Frankenstein test, seminar

Thursday, March 5

Friday, March 6
Vocab Quiz 4

Week of February 23

2009-02-20T10:34:00.000-08:00

Did you love Hamlet? Because I do. :) Can't wait for the seminar. I am loving the comments and the debate that is going on. I really keep wanting to jump back in but I know that you have heard what I have to say so I am trying to resist. (And I am pretending that you care. So please give me that one small dignity...)

Monday, February 23
Hamlet Seminar
Hamlet In-Class Essay

Tuesday, February 24
Watch "Hamlet"
Passage Work

Wednesday, February 25
Finish "Hamlet"
DUE: Creative Projects

Thursday, February 26
AP Practice- Open/Prose Question

Friday, February 27
Shakespearean Sonnets (BRING GREEN BOOK)
DUE: Journals

Canterbury Tales Poems

2009-02-19T10:43:00.001-08:00

These were a couple of the best poems from "The Canterbury Tales".

"The Real Estate Agent" by Emily
As we continued I met the doctor's spouse
Well versed on the ways of dwellings
She spoke of mansions, cottages, and houses
All of which she wouldn't mind selling.
To any man that could be convinced
A hole in the wall, never fear
Have a dog? the yard is fenced
No late night lover's quarrels will you hear.
For these walls are nearly sound proof
Don't fret about that mouse scurrying by
Or the shingles falling off the roof
She assured perfection with every choice
Well seasoned in the ways of deceiving
On closing day, her clients rejoiced
Months later they were left weeping
Because they revealed all the flaws
This lady had kept so well hidden.
Against her actions, there should be laws
For how they're left with a broken home to live in.

"The Foreign, Viciously Mean Talent Contest Judge" by Jake
Since the birth of reality television
Every contest has had to feature
This rude, snobby, and usually British,
Horrid little creature.

Humiliating you on live TV
Must be his only passion
His tight v-neck and sharp crew-cut
Mark his terrible sense of fashion.

"That was excrutiating!" and "Worst I've ever heard!"
Are his favorite lines to quote.
Try as you might, America,
You will never get his vote.

He laughs on the inside as he mocks your performance
With an evil little scowl.
Good luck getting Hollywood
If you sing for Simon Cowell.

"The Elementary Gym Teacher" by Paulina
He has no suit or fancy tie to wear to work each day
Shorts, t-shirts, and tennis shoes are his way.
From early morning to three in the afternoon
He wishes that his day would end soon.
He works hard sitting in his classroom
Yelling out commands for one to do.
Teachers are grateful when they drop the students off with a smile
To have these children out of their hands for a little while.
From kindergarten to fifth
All their antics he has to deal with.
And make sure they aren't still too long
And he makes corrections when they jump rope wrong.
Many stories he has to tell
And they all begin with the ringing of a bell.

Week of February 17

2009-02-19T05:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry this is so late!

Tuesday, February 17
Define Unit 3
Act IV

Wednesday, February 18
Hamlet, Act V

Thursday, February 19
Hamlet Memorization

Friday, February 20
3 Quiz
DUE: Senior Memory Book 7

Gertrude and Claudius

2009-02-10T11:08:00.000-08:00

Foil Characters in Hamlet

2009-02-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

Week of February 9

2009-02-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

SHORT WEEK!!!!!! SHORT WEEK SHORT WEEK SHORT WEEK SHORT WEEK!!!!!!!

:)

Monday, February 9
Hamlet, Act II

Tuesday, February 10
Hamlet, Act III

Wednesday, February 11
Hamlet, finish Act III
"Love" activity
DUE: Journals, SM 5, Character Analysis

Enjoy your LONG break while we are here working our little fingers to the bone...

The Wife of Bath

2009-02-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

Week of February 2

2009-02-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about getting to Hamlet this week. I just wish that I would be here with you for the first part.

Monday, February 2
Prologue Recitation
Discuss "Wife of Bath's Tale"
Read for homework

Tuesday, February 3
Discuss "Le Morte" and "Sir Gawain"
Write poem in class

Wednesday, February 4
Medieval Quiz
Begin Hamlet

Thursday, February 5
Hamlet Act I

Friday, February 6
Vocab Quiz
Hamlet
SM 5 due

Remember that your Character analysis is due on 2/11.

Six Characters...

2009-01-28T06:50:00.001-08:00

"Defiance"

2009-01-23T09:00:00.001-08:00

When Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel was asked why Jews did not fight during the
Holocaust, he replied "...the question is not why all the Jews did not fight, but
how so many of them did. Tormented, beaten, starved, where did they find the strength-spiritual
and physical-to resist?"

Just a reminder, I am going to see "Defiance" on Monday at 4:20 PM at Premiere Theater. If you want to go, you are welcome to. It is certainly not required. If you do go, or if you have seen the movie on your own, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Week of January 26

2009-01-23T08:31:00.000-08:00

We will finish the Anglo-Saxon period this week. Get ready, because Hamlet is coming up!

Monday, January 26
Discuss Exeter Book
Archetypes
Practice Multiple Choice (AP Test)

Tuesday, January 27
Anglo-Saxon quiz
Canterbury Tales intro and notes
Canterbury Tales Prologue

Wednesday, January 28
Vocabulary Quiz
Canterbury Tales Prologue Part 2

Thursday, January 29
Write own character poem
"Wife of Bath" intro and reading

Friday, January 30
"Pardoner's Tale"
Canterbury Tales Discussion
DUE: Journals
SM 4

On Monday, I will give you the memorization assignment for the Canterbury Tales. However, if you would like to go ahead and work on it, here it is.

Epic Heroes (and small-town heroes)

2009-01-23T08:18:00.000-08:00

We finished Beowulf today and most of you seemed to get it and even somewhat enjoy it. (I know, I know, Tanner, you didn't.) I would like to know what characteristics of Beowulf as an epic hero do you think are still respected in our society today? Are there elements of the Anglo-Saxon code of honor that are held dear in America in 2009?

Thoughts on History

2009-01-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

More than any other group, you all should be closely watching the current national climate. Yesterday was certainly a history-making moment. What are your thoughts on this time in our nation's history? I have linked the text of the inaugural address below, if anyone wants to link to it and comment on any aspect of the speech itself.

Inauguration '09

Week of January 21

2009-01-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

First of all, I am so happy that we are only here for THREE DAYS!!! Life is truly good at CHS. :)

Wednesday, January 21
Define Unit 1
Anglo-Saxon notes
Read section 1 (18-30) of Beowulf
DUE: SM 1 and 2

Thursday, January 22
Discuss section 1
Epithets
Assign sections 2 and 3

Friday, January 23
Archetypes
Discuss Beowulf
Assign Exeter Book
DUE: Final draft of College App Essay
SM 3

There is a lot to discuss with Beowulf. I hope that you all are on board for a great discussion.

Classics

2009-01-09T10:14:00.001-08:00

The classics have often been defined as old dusty books written by dead Western white men. I think, over time, that view will change. Our discussion over the classics and criteria for classics went so well that I thought we could continue it on the blog. What books have you read that stand out in your mind in this context, either as a certain classic or as certainly not a classic? What part of the criteria relates to your text selection?

Week of January 12

2009-01-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

Well, two days into it and I think we're going to make it! This week is going to be a little more mix and match stuff until we start Beowulf at the end of the week.

Monday, January 12
AP Practice
DUE: Self Assessment

Tuesday, January 13
Group AP Grading

Wednesday, January 14
In-Class College Application Essay
DUE: Resume

Thursday, January 15
Biblical Allusions Discussion
Peer read College Application Essay

Friday, January 16
Anglo-Saxon notes
Begin Section one of Beowulf
DUE: SM 1 and 2 check

Welcome to Class!

2009-01-07T12:29:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, welcome to the AP blog! I am really excited about this semester. I have to admit, it's an odd feeling to not only know but have already taught the majority of the class! I have great feelings about this semester. I think that you guys might just be the AP class I have been waiting on for six years!!! :) You all will need to post at least one comment per unit. It needs to take the part of an online discussion with each other. I will try to give you a couple of options per unit. This is required in the class. I also might occasionally post things on there that I forgot to tell you or didn't emphasize in class. I would probably make this blog my stopping off point each afternoon/evening if I were you. Well, I am anxious to have a wonderful semester with you guys!