Canterbury Tales Pilgrimmages

For our Canterbury Tales project, the kids got into small groups and came up with six pilgrims (two from Chaucer's story, two from other literature, and two real people, though not necessarily living). They wrote descriptions for them, decided what sort of story they would tell, how they would get along, and did a visual. Many groups made Medieval food for their visual, so we had a day of good (and interesting...) eating!

Canterbury Tales Poetry

After finishing the Prologue of the Canterbury Tales, we wrote a poem based on a profession of our choosing. The ones below are a sampling of the creativity these two classes have.

OCD Artist
by Victoria
I take all the brushes from my cup
Line them all across small to large with points up.
My colors are arranged from the shades of the rainbow
And with everything set up perfectly I take my place in the studio.
Every stroke and shade counts
But one line out of place and I freak out.
With every little thing so precise
If not then it will never suffice.

The Assassin
by Tyler
Hooded and cloaked, black as night
Killing is his dream, passion, and delight
Climbing on rooftops high in the air
A daredevil without fear or slightest care
Moving so quick to his prey that draws near
The fate of a man becomes ever so clear
Pulling out a hidden blade in pristine condition
He leaps from the roof confirming his mission
A strike like lightning, it was fast and discreet
His work is professional, a mastery for the elite.

Rodeo Clown
by Brendan
Drawing attention with
Your foolish attire, witnessing
the Mist of the Bull you
Inspire... Racing your way
Quick be nimble...
Getting away a breeze
So Simple! Did I forget
to mention? He's big,
He's bad, You're boiling
the Tension! White painted
face, Air Jordans strapped
and Laced--> Sir Rodeo
Clown, a.k.a. the ACE.

An End and a Beginning!

I find it rather hard to believe that we are already at the end of another unit. Granted, it was a short unit, but still...

This week we will begin Unit 3, The Influences of Love and Power (Renaissance and Restoration period). Our essential questions for this unit include:
What changes take place in a society as advances in education and technology occur?
What is power and who has it?
Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?
How do the individual life philosophies of people affect day to day decisions?
What impact do those have on the social circles of which those people are a part?
Do religion and spirituality shape the way people view situations in life and the way they react to them?

Unit 3 is a loooooong one because it includes Macbeth. We will study the sonnets, Carpe Diem poetry (including a viewing of "Dead Poets' Society"), John Donne, Macbeth, and satire.

Macbeth is a play that is usually enjoyed very much by students. I would love to again attempt a cool activity with it (tried it last semester and it was a colossal failure...), so we shall see.

Monday, 1/30
Define vocabulary words (assimilate, cognizant, discursive, ennui, farcical, fortuitous, hyperbole, incognito, mesmerism, omniscient, adroit, allay, blazon, bravado, choleric, colloquy, despot, dirge, expatriate, feign) for Unit 2
Group Canterbury Tales adaptation presentations
SENIOR MEMORY BOOK CHPT 2 DUE

Tuesday, 1/31
4th period vocab presentations
Finish presentations over CT
Sir Gawaine and discussion

Wednesday, 2/1
Possible sub
Final Activity over Unit 2 (artistic creative response)

Thursday, 2/2
Unit 2 Test

Friday, 2/3
Unit 2 Vocab Quiz
Intro to Unit 3 and the Renaissance

Water, Water Everywhere!

Extra credit to the first person who can tell me where that reference (the title of this blog post) is from... HINT: It is British Lit.

What a nasty Monday we are having! Lots of you are out right now so I know that this blog post will get lots of hits because you will be very anxious to see what you missed... ahem...

This week we are getting deeper into The Canterbury Tales and starting a group project, which I hope you will enjoy. Schedule is below:

Monday, 1/23
Sr Memory Book Chapter 1 Due
Voice Lesson- Diction
Canterbury Tales Prologue- Discuss Part 1, Read and discuss Part 2

Tuesday, 1/24
Voice Lesson-Diction
"The Pardoner's Tale"
Begin Group Activity

Wednesday, 1/25
"Wife of Bath's Tale"
Group work

Thursday, 1/26
Finish up Canterbury Tales
Group work
Write a poem of your own based on prologue

Friday, 1/27
Arthurian Legends
JOURNALS DUE

GROUP PRESENTATIONS MONDAY

One Unit Down, Sixish to Go!

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 talked in this unit about heroes and the many ways to be a hero. Speaking up and speaking out is certainly one way. Be a hero to those around you who need a voice or a hand or a heart...

[Sermon over.]

This week we test over Unit 1 (The Hero) and move right along into Unit 2 (The Individual versus Society). Unit 2 will cover the Canterbury Tales, Arthurian Legends, and "Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight".
Essential Questions for this Unit:
How do we as individuals reflect the society in which we live?
How are our values and beliefs formed and shaped by society?
OR
Do our values and beliefs shape our society?
What is the role of literature in preserving a society?
Can literature be an agent for social change?

Tuesday, 1/17
Define Unit 1 Vocabulary
banal, bellicose, finesse, glib, lampoon, lugubrious, nefarious, nemesis, pseudonym, purloin, abject, admonish, commensurate, distraught, euphemism, nebulous, phlegmatic, propriety, prosaic, revile
Hero Final Activity- Create your own Grendel
Wednesday, 1/18
Vocabulary presentations by 1st period
Unit 1 Test
STUDY
Thursday, 1/19
Intro to Middle Ages
Friday, 1/20
Vocab Quiz
Canturbury Tales Prologue, Part 1

I'm Baaaaack!!!!!!

After a pretty long class blogging hiatus, I am back this semester to give it another go. This blog will serve as an English IV blog this semester, since that is the grade level class I now teach. Welcome to the LAST SEMESTER OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER! That has to feel good, huh? As I told you, I had taught sophomores for years and just had English IV for the first time last semester. I thoroughly enjoyed the curriculum and hope to improve on it even more this semester. Both 1st and 4th period seem to be really great groups and I am excited about the coming semester. (I am also thrilled to have smaller classes for the first time in nine years!!!)

This week we begin Unit 1, The Hero. This unit will cover Beowulf and The Exeter Book, which are two of my favorites in British Lit. Our essential questions for this unit are:
What constitutes a hero?
What differences exist among cultures with regard to their concept of a hero?
Would people all over the world agree?
Which people in your life are heroes?

This week's schedule:

Monday- Introduction
"Troy" scene, discussion, Hero analysis (quotes and small groups), artwork

Tuesday- Beowulf music video, Anglo-Saxon guided notes, Read section 1 of Beowulf ("Jaws" scene)

Wednesday- Beowulf Sections 2 and 3, discussion, "Jaws" scene

Thursday- Beowulf Last Section, last scene of "Jaws"

Friday- Exeter Book notes, read "Seafarer", "Wanderer", and "Wife's Lament", small group discussion on tone, story, and memorable line, class discussion

Week of November 16

We are finishing the Holocaust unit this week and moving into Animal Farm. I hope you feel like you have gained sufficient information from this unit to change your mindsets about certain things.

Monday, 11/16
"Life is Beautiful"

Tuesday, 11/17
Culminating Activity

Wednesday, 11/18
Animal Farm

Thursday, 11/19
Animal Farm

Friday, 11/20
Animal Farm test, discussion
DUE: Journals

Late (Great!) Caesar Projects

Sorry it took me so long to post. Here are a few or my great Caesar projects.

Thank You, American Heroes.

Thank You, American Heroes... from English II, Fall 2009

"Dear Veteran,

No matter how many times I hear about the World Wars, Civil War, or even the world today, I've learned to appreciate and love the people who served in them and fought for our country. I want to deeply and gratefully thank you for your sacrifices and that I appreciate what all you, and your team, has done for my freedom. It's a debt that I could never repay, No matter what I could ever do or try. I may not know how hard the sacrifices you made were, and what kind of sacrifices you made were, or what hardships you had to face and encounter, but I do know and BELIEVE, seeing as we're a FREE and INDEPENDENT NATION, they were a great tribute and don't go unnoticed. I personally wouldn't fight because I don't have what it takes: guts or bravery for a king. But if I have no choice, I will proudly and gladly stand up, and do what it takes to keep my homeland safe, just as you sacrificed to do. I thank God you chose to fight and serve us. You have give the ultimate sacrifice and showed the greatest love, honor, friendship, loyalty, spirituality, courage, strength, and character. You have the right to be called a hero."
~Kyle

Week of November 2

Well, we are now in the unit I feel most passionate about.  I hope you all will gain life-long insights from this unit.

Monday, 11/2

Expert Groups

Propaganda

Tuesday, 11/3

Nazi Germany notes

Photo activities

Wednesday, 11/4

Children/Butterfly

DUE:  Research paper

Thursday, 11/5

Finish photo activity

Final Solution notes

Friday, 11/6

Rescue/Resistance/Liberation

Triangle

Responsibility

DUE:  Journals