All Boys, All Blogged: January 14, 2015

Focus: Whom do we trust? To what extent do we trust ourselves?

Please remind me to make an announcement about Chromebook switcharoos.


1. Warming up: The trust spectrum

•Are there people in this world whom you trust entirely? Do you fully trust your family? Your friends? Your teachers? Yourself?

•Explain what makes you trust person and what makes you distrust a person. Do you consider yourself a trusting person?

•Which is more dangerous—being overly trustful, or being skeptical of everyone?

Rank the following characters based on the extent to which you trust them: The witches, Macbeth, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, the former Thane of Cawdor, Malcolm, Roman Polanski (be prepared to defend your responses)

2. Finish reading Act 1 (hopefully) with a focus on trust and deception


3. Cooling down with your grammar assignment of the week: "I've Gotta Dash: A Lesson on Hyphens"

HW:
1. Complete your grammar assignment, "I've Gotta Dash: A Lesson on Hyphens," if you did not finish in class today.  All grammar lessons can be found on www.noredink.com

2. Continue creating word trace entries.  Everyone should have at least two entries (I think) by the end of Act 1.  PLEASE SHARE YOUR WORD TRACES WITH ME (Your last name Word Trace).  Don't be shy.

3. Banned book proposal, signatures, and actual book due this Friday.

All Boys, All Blogged: January 13, 2015

Focus: Whom do we trust and why? To what extent can we trust ourselves?


1. Warming up with a chance to improve your capitalization quiz


2. Finishing Act 1, Scene 4: What does this scene suggest about trust and deception?

3. Enjoying a brief musical interlude with Mumford and Sons: "Roll Away Your Stone"

Clues:

• In each stanza, highlight or mark what you see as the most significant line/phrase.
• What does the line, "Stars, hide your fires" mean?
• Who do you think the "you" is? In other words, to whom is the speaker talking?

Bigger picture:

• What do you think this song is about?
• Why does this song reference Macbeth? Find specific connections between the song and the play.

4. Getting to know Lady Macbeth

a. Interpreting an image of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

b. Acting out the rest of Act 1 with a focus on trust and deception.


HW:
1. Banned book proposal, signatures, and actual book due Friday.

2. Complete word traces for today's reading; PLEASE SHARE IT WITH ME (Your last name Word Trace)

All Boys, All Blogged: January 12, 2015

Focus: Whom do we trust, and what do we believe?

1. Warming up with happy Monday Boom cards

2. Glimpsing your own future

a. Looking ahead to banned books

b. Considering some (im)possible prophecies

• Each of you will receive two slips of paper: One with "a prophet" and one with "a prophecy." 
• Create a two-columned chart on your "Ye Ole Daily Log" document with "believable" on one side and "unbelievable" on the other side. 
•  As we pass around the slips of paper, decide whether not you find each "prophet" is believable, as well as which "prophecies" are believable. Write them in the appropriate columns.

c. Discussion: Which ones were believable and why? Which ones were unbelievable and why? What do we like to believe in?


3. Finish acting out 1.3

• How does Macbeth respond to the witches' prophecies? Why does he respond this way?
• How does Banquo respond to the witches' prophecies? Why?
• How would you have responded?

4. Act out 1.4 and 1.5
What do these scenes suggest about trust and deception?

HW:
1. Complete word trace entries for each time your word appeared in our reading today.

2. Banned book proposal and signatures due this Friday (see link in Friday's homework and handout from today). You should also bring a copy of your banned book.

3. Just a heads-up: Tomorrow we will have a "capitalization relearn" that will give you a chance to earn back points on Friday's quiz.

All Boys, All Blogged: January 9, 2014

Focus: How do the witches infect Act 1?

1. Warming up with a brief and enjoyable quiz on capitalization

2. Performing Act 1, Scenes 2 and 3

Directions: Each time you find a speech, a line, or even a word that responds to any of the questions below, please mark it with a sticky note.

The basics:

• What do we learn about Macbeth? What kind of guy are we dealing with here?
• What do we learn about the other characters?
• Which things happen by chance, and which things happen by choice? In other words, what is determined by the characters' actions, and what seems out of their control?

The big, deep question:

• Respond to the focus question: How do the witches infect Act 1, scenes 2 and 3? Try to find at least three specific moments in which you see the infection spreading.

3. Understanding the word trace and getting started on your first entries, perhaps?

4. Introducing your independent reading focus of second semester: Banned books


HW:
1. If your word has appeared in the first three scenes of Act 1, complete a word trace entry for each time it has appeared. Be sure to follow the directions and the example very closely.

2. Start considering what you might read for your banned book; complete the proposal and get your parents' signatures by next Friday, January 16.

All Boys, All Blogged: January 8, 2015

Focus: How do the witches infect Act 1, scenes 2 and 3?


1. Warming up: Performing a close reading of a witchy, witchy picture and explaining how participation works for this unit


2. Turning in signed class policies and recapping any capitalization issues you're having


3. Introducing the Macbeth word trace (handout and example given in class)


4. Performing Act 1, Scenes 1 through 3


Directions: Each time you find a speech, a line, or even a word that responds to any of the questions below, please mark it with a sticky note.


The basics:

• What do we learn about Macbeth? What kind of guy are we dealing with here?
• What do we learn about the other characters?
• Which things happen by chance, and which things happen by choice? In other words, what is determined by the characters' actions, and what seems out of their control?

The big, deep question:

• Respond to the focus question: How do the witches infect Act 1, scenes 2 and 3? Try to find at least three specific moments in which you see the infection spreading.

HW:

1. If your word has appeared in the first three scenes of Act 1, complete a word trace entry for each time it has appeared. Be sure to follow the directions and the example very closely.


2. Prepare for your quiz tomorrow on capitalization.

3. Respond to today's focus question on the class blog if you did not finish doing so in class.

All Boys, All Blogged: January 7, 2014

Focus: What does the opening scene of "The Scottish Play" reveal to us?


1. Warming up with a few dark inferences about Macbeth

• Sharing yesterday's research
• Finishing this statement: In a word or two, Macbeth seems to be about...

2. Interpreting four versions of Macbeth's opening scene:

• Describe the three witches’ physical appearance in each film.

• Describe the setting of each film; what effects does the setting have on the tone (the emotional undertone) of the film?

• What are they saying? Which words strike you?

• What do you think is happening in this scene?

• Try to find one symbol in each scene and make an inference/form a question about what it might represent.

3. Reading 1.1 together with questions and interpretations

(Note to class: I need a thunder guy.)

Sticky note challenge:
(1) Ask one good question.
(2) Make one observation about the way the witches speak.

4. Revisiting today's opening question on the blog and going over the class syllabus/expectations

HW: 
1. BRING STICKY NOTES TO CLASS.

2. By tomorrow, complete the first www.noredink.com assignment of the semester: CAPITALIZATION.  We will have a brief quiz on Friday.


3. By tomorrow, please return the signed class syllabus and policies.

All Boys, All Blogged: January 6, 2015

Focus: To what extent are we controlled by our superstitions?


1. Opening: Yes, no, sometimes--which superstitions do you adhere to?

Please discuss the following questions in your new "I Like People" groups.  For each question, tally how many yes's and no's in your group that you get.  Also, discuss your philosophy behind your responses to each question.  Make sure everyone gets to speak.

Do you believe in beginner's luck?

Do you avoid stepping on cracks?

Do you refuse to open umbrellas indoors?

Do you go out of your way to avoid walking under ladders?

When you blow out your birthday candles, do you make a wish?

Before a big sports game, performance, test, etc., do you perform some kind of ritual or carry a good luck charm?

Do you try to avoid the number 13?

Do you ever cross your fingers?

Do you ever knock on wood?

When you see a penny, do you pick it up for good luck?

Do you believe that bad things happen in threes?

Do you consider yourself to be a superstitious person?

2. Investigating the witchy, superstitious world of the play that shall not be named


Directions: Please start a new folder in Google docs and call it Macbeth (or The Play that Shall Not Be Named). Then start a new document and call it "Superstitions." Please take careful notes on your research in response to the questions below. Enjoy!


a. Why won't people in the theatre business refer to this play by its name? Describe some of the "incidents" that have played into this superstition.


b. What is this play's reputation? Hint: It is referred to as Shakespeare's " ___________ iest play."


c. Was Macbeth a real person? Where did Shakespeare find the inspiration for this play?


d. Roman Polanski produced one of the most famous film versions of this play. What horrific event happened just before he created this film?


e. Based on your research so far, make a prediction: I think that Macbeth is about...


3. Overviewing second semester" Spring syllabus and expectations


HW:
1. If you're a bit iffy on the Shakespeare stuff, consider purchasing the Shakespeare Made Easy version of Macbeth.

2. By Thursday, complete the first www.noredink.com assignment of the semester: CAPITALIZATION (Connor--see me after class and I'll explain)

3. By Thursday, please return the signed class syllabus and policies.


Optional: If you're curious about why humans are drawn to superstitions, click here.