The End Is Near...

Although the end of the school year is near and the weather is very nice now, don't be fooled into quitting early! Keep up with your class work and homework. Don't slack off now, not when we only have 27 days left (I think it's 27...).
Since most of you didn't check my last post as was your homework assignment, you didn't come to class prepared for today's art work. Therefore, we will begin tomorrow and you will need to bring the following:

• Paper for your art (you chose the type, but seriously, notebook paper will NOT cut it. I can provide some with the help of our art teacher, Mr. Delach.
• Any pencils, pens, markers you want to use.
• You may use paint if you can keep it clean.

When you come into class tomorrow, get started right away - the power to create is all yours! I will be around to guide you and answer questions, but I can't and won't tell you what you should create. Remember that I'm not grading on artistic ability but on the accurateness of the details in your god's or goddess's depiction.

Some of you are now involved in extra-curricular sports and activities. I know this puts a strain on your free time but keep in mind you are not in danger of failing or being graded for those sports or activities. English and your other core classes should be your priority right now. Be prepared when you come to class tomorrow for I will be adding or deducting points from your final grade! I look forward to working with you all.

Your next steps...

If you have not yet handed in your rough draft for your report, valuable time (and points) have passed, so get to it! On Wednesday this week (4/22/09), we will be looking at some of your rough drafts on the Promethean board so that we as a class can:

1. Edit for clarity
2. Proofread
3. Make changes to the papers
4. Review the final writing steps before publishing

By Monday (4/27), I want your final drafts - typed. On that same day, we will begin working on the second part of your report - the art. For those of you who enjoy art, I know this part of the project will be enjoyable. We will be working in class on these posters, so bring any materials you want to use. Just remember our time is limited in class so some homework may need to take place. For those of you who detest working on anything artistic, well, this might not be your cup of tea, but you have to learn to step outside your safety zones and stretch your imagination. Trying new things is a part of life; it's inescapable. For these reasons you must complete this part of the project. Good luck. I'm here if you need guidance.

You've got great comments...

The kids from period 2 have come up with some great questions that need to be addressed so add this information to the assignment:

• Do NOT work on this at home. I want you working on this in class so that I can answer questions and offer help. Do NOT come into class tomorrow with your final draft typed and ready for me to grade. Follow my deadline schedule please.
• You can type or hand-write your rough draft, but it has to have the five paragraphs.
• Submit your final draft on your blog only. Please don't post your rough drafts online. Thanks!
• Gods and goddesses have abilities or traits that make them special. In your report you have to write about a god's or goddess's "power" - I mean their ability(ies).

If other questions are posed, I'll update my blog to clarify. Feel free to submit your questions by commenting on my blog!

Relationships - The Odyssey

The epic poem, The Odyssey, is riddled with the mythology of Greek gods and goddesses. So far in this unit, we have touched on a few of these deities. Since most of you seem to have a real interest in the powers and personalities of these immortals, I want to give you an opportunity to explore this in an assignment (insert groans and mumbling here).

Part 1 (50 pts.): Choose a god or goddess to research and write a five paragraph report detailing his or her origins, life, and powers. Be sure to edit your writing and proof-read it before turning in the final paper. It needs to be typed, size 12 font, Times New Roman style; double spaced. For those of you who remember the password to your blog (and your blog title), you may submit via posting it on your blog. The requirements still apply if you post it. Five extra points will be awarded to those who remembered to keep a record of his or her blog information.

Part 2 (30pts.): Create a poster of a picture of your god or goddess. Be sure to include details of the deity's characteristics based on the descriptions you researched. You may use online pictures to guide you or come up with your own artistic masterpiece. You will not be graded on artistic ability but on the accuracy of the god's or goddess's traditional description. We will be working on these in class; more details about the due date for this will come later.

You will begin working now! Start by going to http://www.greek-gods.info/ or http://www.godchecker.com/ to check out the history of Greek mythology and a general introduction and listing of the Greek gods. Since you have time, use today's class to look at several immortals and make an educated, well-thought out choice. By Friday, 4/17, you will have a rough draft ready. Please do not write your first draft and turn it in as your final. That is not the writing process you've learned, and I will grade you down for it.

Good luck!

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." Charles Schultz

Okay, I haven't posted in months, so I've been lacking. One of my resolutions should be to stay on track with all of my responsibilities - key words "should be". I'm trying, I've just got to try harder with an eye on results. After all, isn't that what I tell my students?
As this new year begins, I begin blogging with my Advanced English 9 classes. It won't be any suprise to my students when I say the ninth grade classes are all good kids and very smart. They have some of the highest PSSA scores on record here at the Fort. I can also swear that this has been a very enjoyable year for me with the English classes. They're just a bunch of fun kids.
For any parent reading my blog, and I hope you are, please monitor your child's progress and work as they post on his or her blog (or web log). Each student understands it is his own responsibility to keep up with the assignments and that posting on the internet is also a responsibility to be taken seriously. I encourage the students to interact with others in my classes by checking out their blogs and leaving appropriate comments. This not only gives them time socializing with friends, but helps them practice writing and communicating. It's all-around good exposure to the techno-friendly world we exist in.
Coming in future posts: a Shakespearean unit ~ Romeo and Juliet. Do I hear a collective groan out there???

"My friends are my estates." - Emily Dickinson

Summer is in full swing already with temperatures here reaching in the mid-90s. School is out for the kids, but I'm here in a class with other devoted teachers who are trying to travel into the 21st century by taking a Classrooms for the Future course. We're here June 9-12 soaking up some knowledge to prepare us for another stellar year here at the Fort.

I'm happy that I'm in with a pretty entertaining group of "kids" - Kevin Center, Ben Maxin, Mandy Gordon, Chris Hallowich, and Mike Slates. Jodi Kioalicas is our ever-patient facilitator/teacher. We as teachers do not make the best students. Just like our teenage students, we teachers talk when we're not supposed to, get easily frustrated with something doesn't work (computers!) and don't listen when we should. Jodi is SO patient. We are all creating a blog to be used for educational purposes. As it stands, if you're interested in visiting any of these amazing teachers' blogs, I'm making a list of their links:

http://kccenteroftheuniverse.blogspot.com/

http://mslates.blogspot.com/

http://mrsgordon.blogspot.com/

http://maxinsenglish.blogspot.com/

Right now most of the teachers are fooling around on youtube to find funny video clips to include on their blogs. So that I may keep up, I'm including a link that I find so funny that I tend to laugh so hard I snort. Take a look if you dare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzRH3iTQPrk

I can't think of much that is educationally relevant to post at this point, so this is the end of my blogging today.

"The best is yet to be" - Robert Browning

There are only 20 days left before summer break!

Now that you have finished reading Romeo and Juliet, it's time to assess what you've learned. This is no easy task because I can ask you questions based on the reading, such as those below, but does that really tell me what you've LEARNED? So, let's get started.

Answer these "review" questions based on Act 5 of the play (you do not have to write in complete sentences unless that's your preference). Please put the answers in your notes, NOT your blog.

1. What is the cause of Romeo's failure to receive Friar Lawrence's message about the "big plan"?

2. Who delivers the bad news of Juliet's death to Romeo?

3. How does County Paris die?

4. How does Romeo come to have such a potent, deadly poison if it is illegal to sell in Mantua?

5. In the play, what is the result of Romeo's and Juliet's suicides?

6. What is your interpretation of the message being sent from this play?

You should be able to finish answering the review questions in class. You should also get a good start, if not finish, posting your answer to the following:

What role has FATE played in William Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet?

I want you to first type the question in your blog and then answer it in a minimum of two paragraphs. However, an intelligent, well-thought out and expressed answer cannot be given in just two paragraphs, in my opinion. It will require you to ponder the meaning of the question, and come up with strong, logical examples as proof. If you are unable to finish it in class, please complete it as homework.

Just a reminder: your culminating project on this play is due Wednesday, May 7th. Good Luck!