 Welp. The will it/won't it conversations can now cease. Our days of being like "omg it might snow, did you hear it might snow?!" are over. The snow is falling and it's beautiful. And annoying. We've got things to do, y'all! Besides looking for information on Remind and staying up to date on Google Classroom, here's a breakdown of what needs accomplished between now and the next time I see you face-to-face back in Room 729.  ENGLISH 10 HONORS & ENGLISH 11 Had we been in school today, we would've spent another day drafting our Literacy essays on Darkness. Your deadline was set for tomorrow. But the way it's looking outside, we'll likely have another day in our pajamas. So, here's the situation: Your final revised essay is DUE the day we return to school. To be on the safe side, plan to submit your paper Thursday. You also need to cozy up with your My Reading Life Book 2. And remember, this should be a book you actually want to read and hang out with. My kiddos at home are reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle and a wacky looking book called Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey. I'm currently reading What You Are Getting Wrong About Appalachia by Elizabeth Catte. There's nothing quite like the quiet of a fresh coat of snow to get in the reading zone. Oh! Oh! Speaking of reading on a snow day, a few years ago when we had a snow-cation, my students took clever reading selfies in the snow and tweeted them at me for a few bonus points. Anybody want to play? If yes, tweet me a reading selfie @karlahilliard and use #myreadinglife to score a few extra points. Now, everybody good? Good. Papers. Darkness. Thursday. Google Classroom. Reading. Yes...check, check. Here's to snow!  AP LITERATURE & COMPOSITION
You guys. You GUYS. Insert all the emoji faces here. We've had such great momentum built and broken with Hamlet. It's a turbulent relationship full of indecision. Kind of like if your uncle murdered your father, then married your mother, and assumed the role of your father, only to find your dead ghost dad one night asking you to avenge his death, but you're actually a pretty smart, albeit contemplative guy who's like, c'mon now, I'm in love and in college and have friends and people really like me (except for my girlfriend's father and brother, but that's a different story), but like, I've got to somehow manage this horrible deed and I hate my uncle-father aunt-mother so bad! Like that, right? The agony! Ok, for real. Here's what you need to do. Listen closely. You'll need to finish up Act 4 work AND take care of some reading. You have 3 options for Act 4 work. Please choose whichever option is most helpful to you. OPTION 1: If you were diligent over the weekend and have ample annotations and evidence of your close and careful reading, you may forego the in class assignment and show me your annotations our first day back in school. OPTION 2: Continue the Act 4 work from class. Using the packet provided of "greatest hits" lines, for each SCENE (and this is a change for 7th period, so heads up), record your NOTICINGS & your CONCLUSIONS. Create a bulleted list of no fewer than 5 noticings and 2 conclusions per scene. OPTION 3: Continue the Act 4 work from class. Using the packet provided of "greatest hits" lines, for each BOX (and this is a change for 6th period, so heads up), record your NOTICINGS & your CONCLUSIONS. You may be briefer since you are giving your attention to each excerpt. Now, let's talk about reading... For now, carefully read, annotate, and be ready to discuss Act 5.1. IF, we see that we'll be out of school for an extended number of days, I may ask you to finish the reading on your own. Oy vey. The end is so much fun to read together! But alas, the show must go on. Er, play. You know what I mean. Questions? Holler at me on Remind. You got it. The readiness is all, Horatio. (You'll get that joke soon....) Love to all and see you soon(ish)!
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Today is Day 8 of the West Virginia Teacher Strike. Make no doubt, it is a cause I believe in with my whole heart. When I consider my colleagues -- your teachers, I am reminded of the hard work, heart, and aptitude I witness each and every day. I have tremendous respect for my fellow educators, and I'm fighting to keep them here -- at home in the Wild and Wonderful. But, that's for another post... This post is to catch you up to speed with Hamlet, so we can hit the play button whenever we (joyfully) return to school. I'm not sure yet when that will be, but I am more than ready to get back to 729. Today, some of us met up at Panera for some Hamlet reading, discussion, coffees, teas, and various impressive pastries.
 Step 1 of the off-campus catch-up was...hugs!
Step 2 was to review where we left off before we parted ways -- the end of Act I. Remember how I drew that fairly elaborate, yet hastily sketched character map on the board? Remember how King Claudius is Hamlet's "uncle-father" and Gertrude his "aunt-mother"? Also, remember how Claudius was pretty insulting to Hamlet and his grief? Remember how Ghost Dad Old King Hamlet is like, hey son, your uncle was the real snake in the garden and poured poison in my ears and it was wicked gross, so like, you've got to go avenge my death? Remember Polonius and Laertes and Ophelia (the latter, Hamlet's gal who she promises is behaving honorably)? Remember, importantly, Hamlet's "antic disposition" he says he'll put on after he talks to Ghost Dad Old King Hamlet? Yes, of course you do. Step 3: We jumped into not only the pastries but the play. We successfully covered Act 2 scene i and the first half of the verrrrryyyy long Act 2 scene ii. Besides the absence of the white board, we had class. We read around the circle and stopped for clarification, notices, and discussion. So, what now? Act 2 is now officially independent study. Access whatever resources you need to accomplish this goal. When we return, of course, we'll make sure we get square and everyone feels confident before moving on, but...the show (or play, rather) must go on. I am beyond excited to reconvene in our classroom, and I'm grateful to those of you who were able to attend today's meet up. Missed today? If we are still on out on Wednesday, plan for another meet up! Same time, same place. Until then, do something you enjoy, pick up a book, make some time to hang out with the Prince of Denmark. Much love to all. Mrs. H |
