Lesson 82

We read through two key scenes - III. v. and IIII. i. and then continued viewing the film.

Our last block will be a viewing/celebration party - snacks and games welcome!

Lesson 81

 We read to the end of Act III Scene IV, then watched some of the film.

Lesson 80

 Students received their quiz marks for the last quiz, and we read through to the end of Act III, Scene II.

Well done, readers!

Lesson 79

 We finished Act II, did a quick quiz, and then watched the film right through "A plague on both your houses!!!!!"

We will continue reading next class.

Lesson 78

 We opened today's class with a reading of two very strong, but very different narrative essays.

Students received their essays, followed by progress reports for the term (they also saw a breakdown of the weighting of each assignment etc.)

We finished the block by watching the film - but neglected to finish our reading of Act II.

We will complete that reading at the start of next block, after which students will write their final quiz - centred on Act II. Students should have no trouble finding the last few pages of the Act online in their preparation for the quiz :)

We will then continue with the film, and reading of Act III.

Lesson 77

 We are nearly through Act 2! We read up to II. iv. 52, and will finish the scene and continue with the film next class. 

That means that the quiz for Act 2 will be on Thursday!

Have a wonderful weekend. 

Lesson 76

 We opened the class with a quick quiz, before moving back to the text.

Students read up to Act 2, Scene 3, line 23.

Lesson 75

 We opened with a look at the statue of Juliet (pic taken by a student's parents on a recent trip to Verona) then watching the film up to the end of the first act.

There will be a quiz on the first act next block - basic plot points, character names, and dramatic terms/devices we have covered during the past few classes are all fair game - it will be multiple choice. 

We then continued reading - beginning with a deconstruction of the Prologue for Act Two

Lesson 74

We discussed issues with AI use in trusted publications, and society writ large, via this article about the Chicago Tribune.

We then finished reading Act 1, before starting Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of the play.

Next week, though not on Monday, we will do a quick quiz on terms and key ideas/characters from Act 1.

 

Lesson 73

 Today's lesson was varried, to say the least.

We talked about the controversy surrounding Zeferelli's film (and the fact that I no longer show it)

We looked at how R&J can be used to build community after genocide.

We had a gander at Juliet's balcony in Verona.

We discussed sonnet form, rhyming couplets, iambic pentameter, allusion, imagery, and the racism of certain imagery from the work. 

After a brief review, students read very well - right through to Romeo's first glimpse of Juliet at Capulet's mansion. 

Any who missed the block should ensure they are caught up before next class.

 

Lesson 72

 We opened the block with the Indigo Girls' "Romeo and Juliet."

We finished reading the play up to the end of Act One, Scene 2. Any students who missed the block should ensure they read the text online, and know what has happened so far. 

Best wishes for a fabulous long weekend!

 

Lesson 71

 We started today's class by looking at a series of songs - we used them as a jumping-off point for a conversation about why this title captures the imagination:

• Pointer Sisters
• The Judds
• Taylor 

 We then talked about everything students think they know about the play - and contrasted it with this Insta post:

We looked at the towers of San Gimignano, in Tuscany - we talked about their origins, and the origin of the term vendetta.

We talked about the evolution of English - and that Shakespeare's Early Modern English is intelligible...that intonation and context can offer us a lot (and that insults were accessible last class, despite the challenge of the language itself).

We discussed what iambic pentameter is, and students learned the term aside as it pertains to plays.

We read only read as far as I.i.62

 

Lesson 70

Finally! After lots of hard work, we are moving on to some play (and study) with Shakespeare and poetry. 

Today's class was focused on reminding folks about the context of the writing, and connecting to what knowledge they already have of Shakespeare's day.

We then set about using our voices - loudly - passionately - to playfully insult friends, just as Shakespeare would have us do. 

Next class, we begin work with Romeo and Juliet and poetry. 

Lesson 69

Students finished their final drafts during today's class.

Next week we move into lighter, more play-ful work 😀

 

Lesson 68

 Students began their final drafts today, and will have the entirety of Thursday's block to complete them. Those needing more time, but not advice, should be attending tutorials.

 A number of students missed Friday's class, but came in this morning to do their peer edit work - well done. 

Next week, we begin work with Shakespeare and poetry - a light end to the year, after an intense period of writing. 

 

Lesson 67

Today was peer-editing day. Almost everyone had their papers read by two peers, and some by three. They sat in groups for reading, and evaluated the narratives using both a checklist for specifics, as well as a 6-point scale.

Students who missed today's class should be in tutorial on Tuesday morning, at 8:30, ready to read and  provide further feedback. 

Regardless of the level of completion of drafts, we will begin final copies during Tuesday's block. 

Have a wonderful weekend, and GO TO THE PLAAAYYYY!

 

Lesson 66

 Today's was the last in-class draft day, though students are welcome to attend the Writing Lab - and/or tutorials - before Friday's block.

Students should have a complete draft ready for Friday's block - they will be able to get the most benefit from peer editing by doing so.

ANYONE WHO MISSES CLASS ON FRIDAY SHOULD TOUCH BASE WITH ME, AND COME TO TUTORIAL ON TUESDAY MORNING - They may also need to work through Tuesday lunch, if tutorial time turns out to have been too short.

Lesson 65

 In the interest of having students write the best draft they can, we're adding an extra day to the process. Students had a full block of drafting today, and will have another on Wednesday - this will be followed by peer editing on Friday.

Students are welcome to come work during tutorials, and/or in the writing lab on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at lunch. 

 

Lesson 64

 Students continued drafting today, and will have ONE MORE CLASS BLOCK to do so on Tuesday, at which point they will move to peer editing work.

Students are encouraged to attend  the Handsworth writing lab for 1-to-1 writing support, and some extra writing time. Their drafts will be there waiting for them. 

Lesson 63

 WE ARE DRAFTING!      

Students should be well into their draft work at this point. There will only be two more drafting  blocks before the peer edit/final draft shift.

Extra time available includes:

• Any tutorial
• The Handsworth Writing Lab - Tues/Wed/Thurs - essays will be there and available to students to work on three days a week.