English 10

Today we examined the style of Laurie Halse-Anderson.

Students handed in their pp. 22-46 sheet on Speak.

We noted three things that distinguished her writing style: she uses many, vivid figures of speech (e.g. metaphors, hyperboles, similes); she uses sentence fragments; she uses a disjointed narrative to show how Melinda's mind wanders.

English 12

Today I handed out a summary of Acts 3 and 4 of the play. In addition, I handed out a list of 21 quotations that need to be studied four our test on Hamlet (which will take place the first week of May).

Students worked for half an hour on either their creative project or their quotation study sheet.

The last half hour was spent on a mini-lesson on Sigmund Freud and, among other things, his belief in the psycho-sexual stages of development. Then we watched a snippet from the Mel Gibson version of Hamlet in which Hamlet's Oedipal complex is not so subtly revealed in his mother's bed-chamber.

English 12

Today we continued with our Shakespearean language skits. Well done.

We handed in our Act 3 questions from the beginning of the week.

We then read up to the end of Act 4 scene 6 ( p. 75).

Hamlet creative project will be due on Thursday, April 29th OR the following week.

English 10

Today we reviewed the last two classes with the TOC. We discussed the significance of the title of the novel Speak. In addition we introduced the topic of the symbolic nature of the tree.

Homework: read to p. 43 of the novel Speak and complete the pp. 24-43 questions.

English 12

Today we reviewed Act 3 by looking at some key quotations.

We then examined the Hamlet creative project. Students will have half a class in the library on Wednesday to work on that project.

There will be an Act 3 quiz next class.

We will commence reading of the first part of Act 4 next class.

English 10

Today we dicussed the new schools project.

I handed out a copy or "mock" English 10 provincial exam and we discussed the exam itself. Students completed the first reading and completed the first 9 questions.

English 12

Today we discussed the question, "Can one discuss or muse on suicide and NOT be suicidal?" Then we looked at Hamlet's to be or not to be speech and noted that he speaks about those who take their life. Is Hamlet suicidal? Students were left to make up their own minds.

We had a quick look on Youtube and saw Ethan Hawke read that speech and then compared it to Kenneth Branagh. Hawke was melancholy and irresolute, while Branagh seemed much angrier and determined.

A quick peek at The Lion King had a few people thinking about that connection.

We then read all of Act 3.

English 10

Today we watched a few high school projects on Youtube; they were movie summaries of the Chrysalids.

We finished watching The Village and we discussed how fear played a role in the movie (in the same way as the novel).

Up next, the novel Speak

English 10

Today we did the Chrysalids test (hope you looked at he blog beforehand for a few tips -- just like I promised in class!).

Then we watched a film called The Village (a scary, thriller where a seemingly isolated community is controlled by fear -- much the same way the people of Waknuk are controlled in their isolated community by the fear of what lurks beyond the Wild Country. I hope you enjoyed it and saw the parallel with the novel.

Prior to watching the movie we did these questions (each answer was one or two sentences long)

The Chrysalids -- The Village

1. In your own words, define fear.

2. How does fear affect your life?

3. Give an example, in your life, where fear shaped your behaviour.

4. Give an example, from the world, where fear shaped (or shapes) people's behaviour.

Flo, I rented this movie from the vid store. Maybe someone can rent it for you? Or, if you'd like, you can watch it one evening, once you return to Revelstoke.

English 12

Today we did a group activity that examined the life and times of William Shakespeare. We learned and took notes on Elizabethan Books, Homes, Heroes, Schools,Games, and one subject called Shakespeare Goes to London.

We discussed why WS is often considered the greatest of all English writers.

Finally we reviewed Act 1/2 in a handout and we read Act 3 (scenes 1 2) taking notes as we read.

English 10 Another test tip

Waknuk society values WHAT the most?

They value conformity (conformity in terms of thought and appearance).

(You're welcome)

English 12

I reminded students to get all outstanding work in this week (last week of term 1).

Passed back the Act 1 quizzes. We went over the answers.

We took a few notes on resolute/irresolute. We examined the allusion of Jepthah and why Polonius is like Jepthah.

We finished reading Act 2. Student should review events of Act 2 for next day.

English 10

Today we did an exercise where we sent thought shapes to one another (well, OK, we actually 'drew' thought shapes).

Then we worked on the chapter 14 questions on the board, and read quietly and prepared for the Chrysalids test next day, Thursday.

Here's a nugget of information for the test: the title of the novel is a reference to perhaps, two things. A Chrysalis is a cocoon, right? A Chrysalid, then, could be a reference to the telepaths -- they are themselves, symbolically, like butterflies emerging from a cocoon. They are completely different than the rest of the people of Waknuk and, now that their telepathy is known to everyone, they have emerged different than the rest of Waknuk -- in the same way that a caterpillar metamorphoses into a butterfly.

Or you could also say that the telepaths who go to Sealand in the helicopter are exiting the cocoon of Waknuk and are going to emerge as their true selves in Sealand.

And, if you think about it, you yourself are a "Chrysalid". You are in the cocoon of adolescence and, when all is said and done, you'll emerge as a beautiful, thoughtful, intelligent adult.

NOTE: The word chrysalids or chrysalis is never used in the novel.

English 10

Today I handed out a sheet entitled 'Examinable Terms and Devices in Literature' from the BC Education website . We went over and discussed many/most of the terms. We've encountered most of them either this year or last in English class. Students were advised to study these words and keep this handout for studying purposes for their English 10 final exam.

Students handed in their short story assignments.

Students read quietly and worked on Chapter 14 questions on side board.

Florina, you can print off the 'Terms' sheet by going to this linkhttp://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/specs/grade10/en/09_terms_device.pdf

Chrysalids novel test on Thursday.

Next unit will almost certainly be a study of the contemporary novel Speak by Laurie Halse-Anderson. We'll begin this at the end of the week. Florina, do you have a copy of this?

English 12

Today we reviewed the play thus far by examining the two families in the play.

We reviewed, at length, Act 1 scene 3 (the scene that you were to read for homework for today). We discussed again that the audience of the time would have automatically known that Hamlet would have been angered that HE wasn't on the throne of Denmark.

We watched three different versions of the "I am too much I' the sun" speech.

Then we finished reading Act 1.

Act 1 quiz on Monday. Study the notes we've taken, particularly some of the dates and places that are central to the plot of Hamlet.

English 10

Today much discussion occurred around the particular nature of the telepathy that the characters in the novel possess.

We spoke about the importance of the information that Petra reveals in Chapter 11 and how THAT is what rockets the novel forward in the second half.

We read quietly and worked on our short story assignment which is due on Monday.

Students should be reading for homework. The novel must be finished by Thursday April 15th, the day we will be having our final novel test on The Chrysalids.

English 12

Today we handed in our short story assignment (hmm . . . only three students out of 28 had them ready to hand in . . . hmm).

We began our study of Shakespeare's play Hamlet the Prince of Denmark. We took notes and discussed the background and context of several aspects of both Elizabethan England and the setting of the play (11th century Denmark). Students took notes on this (study them -- they may come up in quizzes and tests!).

We read the first two scenes of the play. Students were handed out a set of questions which we, together as a class, began answering.

Homework: students were asked to read the next scene at home (that is, Act 1 scene 3).

We also worked on our grad write-ups and DPA logs. Grad write-ups are due on Friday of this week!

English 10

Yesterday we continued with our notes on the fundamental terms to know when discussing literature: so, to review, we've taken notes and discussed the concepts of plot, setting, character, and theme. Most of the ideas should be a repeat of what you've learned in grade 8 and 9.

Quiet reading time was given.

I read out the paragraphs you wrote when I asked you "What did you learn" last week when we read and discussed at length the article on the conjoined Hensel twins. Interesting stuff and you all continued to impress me with your understanding of the central theme to our studies this year.

Students were advised that the short story assignment that was assigned over a week ago, will be due on Monday, April 12th. Our final novel test on The Chrysalids will be Thursday, April 15th.

We then read some photocopied notes I prepared on How to use direct quotations properly in literary writing. Along with those notes were ten example sentences (the sentences were all punctuated incorrectly; students corrected them and then we went over)

Also, and very importantly, we spend the second half of our long block on Wednesday working on an in class paragraph assignment. This assignment was In CLASS and was handed in at 11:30am. And, it's important to note, that for this assignment, I once again wrote, myself, three example paragraphs for you to read (a failing paragraph, a marginal paragraph, and a superlative one!)

Florina, the handouts and assignments mentioned in the last two paragraphs (above) are in the box here at school and you'll get them ASAP. (Also, the Hensel twins article is being sent up to you also.)

English 12

Here is our short story assignment that we are working on (Click here). The earliest that this story will be due is Wednesday, April 7th.

We began class by looking at one of my favourite websites Woot.com . Then we corrected the multiple choice section of our example provincial practice exams that we worked on last day.

Students also handed in their Poem on Poetry assignments.

Today we also did an in class assignment on Green Day's song "Holiday" which was handed in.