Happy Holidays!

Today we wrapped up Poetry Out Loud (amazing!) and decided on books for the next unit. You have no homework over break but to check your email for updates on the POL finals and the next unit.

Poetry Out Loud

Today we spent the period revelling in poetry. It was amazing!

Poetry Out Loud: Round 1

Today we spent the entire period reading and reciting poetry. It was amazing! Recitations will continue Thursday with the end of Round 1 and the start of Round 2.

We will take a break from poetry tomorrow to wrap up Frankenstein.

POL, LC Books, & Frank

After some last-minute Poetry Out Loud practice, we talked about the three possible books—Beloved, by Toni Morrison; Ceremony, by Lesli Marmon Silko; and As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner—for the literature circle project we will start after break, and then spent the rest of the period on Frankenstein.

Some Frank Talk

Wednesday & Thursday

Wednesday, students spent the period revising essay drafts while working through the Essay Revision Checklist at Google Classroom.

Thursday, after selecting their poem order, students spent the day in response groups.

POL, Ashland, & Frank

After a bit more POL practice, I finally announced this year's Ashland trip (handout here) and then we worked a bit more on Frankenstein in discussion groups. 

A Hodge Podge

After a quick Frankenstein quiz, students practiced the POL poems, we talked about the essay (and I changed the draft due date by a day to 12/9), and we wrapped up the period writing about Frankenstein.

Essay Structure & Frankenstein

After a bit more poem time, we talked about general essay structure a bit, and then talked about Frankenstein, focusing on the Uncanny Valley and the book's subtitle, "The Modern Prometheus."

Topics and Tone

After spending some quality time together in the parking lot thanks to our unplanned fire drill, students took a few moments to focus their essay topics, sharing them with me.

For the rest of the period, students spent some time considering how to infuse their poem recitations with emotion and energy, by studying Maya Daniels' recitation of "Apollo" and marking her emotional and tone choices on this handout. The tone list here may be helpful.

POL, Essay Topics and Creepiness

Students began the day by sharing their POL poems aloud with their partners. We then spent some time working on narrowing essay topics.

Finally we wrapped up by watching this video about why things are creepy

and doing a bit of writing about how it applies to Frankenstein.