The End of Act 1: Probably My Last Post Until 12/7

Today we finished reading act 1 of Romeo and Juliet and students added a few things to their notes. The complete text is available here.

Wednesday & Thursday

We began Romeo and Juliet yesterday and got part way through act 1, scene 3 in most classes today.

The Prologue, Sort Of

Today we finished our discussion of theme and just scratched the surface of the prologue to Romeo and Juliet.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,
Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;
The which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

Friday and Monday

We spent these two days having a bit of fun with Shakespeare's language. Friday we played with some of Shakespeare's most excellent insults and even had a bit of a competition. On Monday, we acted out the whole play in 5 minutes (with some time for practice). We wrapped up the day looking at the theme questions we did on Global Classroom last week.

Thursday: Shakespeare Here We Come

It wasn't seamless, but today most of us learned to access our Gaggle accounts and created an account at Global Classroom. We also managed two assignments. A short activity on Shakespeare's syntax and a poll at Global Classroom on the themes of the Romeo and Juliet.

Poetry Exam

Today we wrapped up our poetry unit with a test.

The Gallery Walk

Today, after getting new seats, we spent much of the period perusing and commenting on the poetry project posters. We wrapped up the day by looking at two of the poems on the overhead and reviewing for tomorrow's test.

HW Study for Tomorrow's Poetry Unit Final

Surveys & Poetry Projects

Thursday
We spend much of the period today on the state student health survey. The rest of the time was spent on poetry projects.

Friday
Students had the entire period today to complete poetry project posters and analyses. Both were collected.

Poetry Projects and a Visit from Counseling

Tuesday
Today students spent the period finishing their analysis of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 18" or working on the analysis of their self-chosen poem for the poetry project.

HW By the start of class Wednesday, students should have both poem analyses complete.

Wednesday
Today we spent most of the period talking with the counselors about graduation requirements, college and quarter grades. Students then had some time to start working on their poetry project poster.
HW Continue the Poetry Project

Shakespeare & Poetry

Today we began our slow transition to Shakespeare with a look at his "Sonnet 18." After reading, taking some notes, and talking about the poem in general, we introduced the poetry project.
HW Find a poem for the poetry project. Due ASAP.