English 10

Today we reviewed the metaphor the author used in the phrase "I closed the door".

Then we spoke about the recurring image of the tree. We discussed what the tree can represent and determined that it can symbolize growth and knowledge. It was also important to note that trees change in the seasons much the same way as a person can change and develop.

Finally we discussed the tree in Melinda's yard (near the end of the novel) and how that tree represents Melinda herself .

I collected the David Petrakis journal assignment -- a few students STILL did not hand it in.

Then I handed out our final project.

The final novel test will be next Thursday, our long block.

English 12

Today we completed our final Hamlet test.

Then students watched the Mel Gibson video or chose to work on their Hamlet final project -- final project will be due on Friday.

Up next George Orwell's influential dystopian novel 1984 and, eventually, a unit on children's literature.

English 10

We re-read p.120-123 and discussed significance of the last sentence: "I closed the door."

After much discussion students learned that the author uses this phrase not only to describe how she shut Mr. Freeman's car door, but also to describe how Melinda 'closes the door' to Mr. Freeman's offer to listen to her problems.

Then students wrote their own "I close the door" poem. Students used this phrase as a refrain (a repeated line) to describe how they or Melinda or anyone 'shuts the door' to people who try and offer help. In some cases, poems ended positively with the speaker in the poem learning to 'open their door' and receive help.

The poems were read aloud.

After break we worked on pp. 95-116 questions and the David Petrakis journal assignment -- THIS IS DUE ON FRIDAY , May 7th.

Final Speak novel test will likely be Tuesday, May 11th.

English 10

Today we continued with our work on Speak. We handed in the questions pp69-94.

We looked at the references to Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlett Letter. We listened to a short summer of the novel. We discussed how Hester Pryn's silence and the silence of Reverend Dimsdale is similar to the silence that surrounds Melinda.

We also read the chapter where Hairwoman discusses the symbolism in The Scarlett Letter. In that chapter we see Rachel/Rachelle punished for speaking out which helps to further emphasize why Melinda is, at this point anyway, refusing to Speak.

There was no homework assigned.

English 12

Today we read up to the last section of the last scene of Hamlet. Hamlet and Laertes are just about to engage in their exhibition duel, which, as many of you can imagine, will be anything but exhibition.

Our Hamlet final test will now be re-scheduled for Wednesday's class. Remember -- study the yellow quotations sheet. In addition, study the notes we took -- we took quite a few notes in our intro (have a look back at our lesson on the life and times of Shakespeare -- remember, we did those presentations?) and during the reading of the three acts. Especially know thing like allusions to Hyperion and Satyr, along with key quotations like "of the chameleon's dish. I eat the air promise-crammed you cannot feed capons so".