Act 1 Scene 1 & Act 1 scene 2

Today students copied down a graphic organizer including major characters in the play and their relationships to one another. We then continued our reading of scene 1 and finished scene 2 (well, not quite in period 6).

Draw thy tool!

Today we completed the great prologue race--won by 5th period in scintillating 48 seconds!--and then actually began the play. Mrs. Nystrom and "performed" the first 60 lines or so of the play and then we read much of the rest of act 1, scene 1. More tomorrow.

By the way, the complete text of Romeo and Juliet can be found here.

What's the Story?

Monday and Tuesday were spend preparing to read Romeo and Juliet, mostly by getting familiar with the basic story. Monday we did a little acting and Tuesday we ran through the Prologue to the play. Students worked on a sonnet review activity for part of Tuesday (available here).

Sharing Stories

Today, after a quick self-evaluation of their completed HMS books, students spend the period sharing their work (and some food and drinks as well).

What did you call me?!

Today, after finishing the syntax work from yesterday, we had a bit of fun with Shakespeare's language, specifically his rather creative insults. Nice work to all who participated today!

The Return of Mr. Staiano

Today we continued our introduction to Shakespeare by reviewing the webquest from yesterday and then taking a look at Shakespeare's syntax. Visit the handouts page to get all these assignments.

It's All About the Accessories

Today, after returning The House on Mango Street, we talked a bit about the accessory pages for the book project. Samples are available at the handouts page. Students spent the rest of the period working on their projects.

Monday & Tuesday: Project Time

For the past two days, we have been working on the HMS book projects in class. Students should be revising their personal narratives for inclusion in their books. Tuesday, students wrote up a short paragraph explaining their current concept for their project (see below).

Concept Paragraph:

• General Concept. What will it look like? How big will it be? Typed or handwritten? What kind of art will it include?
• How/Where will you get materials?
• What is your time line?

HW: Have at least three narratives revised (and typed if necessary). Due 4/8.

As the Quarter Ends

Today we began the day with a bit of analytical writing on HMS and then I collected warm-ups. The rest of the day was spent discussing next week's Mango Street Book Project.

HW Begin Narrative Revisions

Mango Says Goodbye

Today we warmed up with a look at some of the central themes of The House on Mango Street. Following this we finished the book! Wrap up and project introduction tomorrow.

Man the end of this book is bleak!

Today we worked through the next four vignettes, from "The Monkey Garden" to "The Three Sisters."

HW Personal Narrative #8

• a time you helped someone less fortunate then yourself
• If you began your own quiet war, what would you fight for? How? Why?
• something you quit for the wrong reasons and wish you hadn’t
• a place like the monkey garden
• someone old who shared their wisdom