Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Wednesday, February 20th, 2013

Dear Juniors,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

EVERYONE SUBMITTED THEIR "OUT, OUT" POEM  Extra-Credit was given for those that felt comfortable in sharing their piece with the class.

1. Crampton returned the poetry analysis for the piece that you worked on together in groups. Half of you did well with this assignment, and the other half STRUGGLED. We looked at a poor example together, and discussed ways that we could improve the analysis.

POOR EXAMPLE:
                This poem is explaining about a little boy that just found out that Santa is not really real.
The simile says "he feels as if a monster's fist has grabbed his heart and won't stop squeezing." He is telling us that Santa is dying from a heart attack. Another simile says "Rudolph's nose blinks like an ambulance's light." Ambulance lights are bright colored, just like Rudolph's nose. This poem is really sad because everyone believed in Santa when they were little, and when you found that Santa was fake, you felt like you were having a heart attack. This poem is sad, but really true.

2. We then continued by looking at three new poems.

HOMEWORK:
1.  Select one of the piece that we did not discuss in class and complete an analysis for it.
2. Final Exam for poetry is quickly approaching.

Monday, February 4, 2013

If you missed Friday, February 1st....

Dear Juniors,

REMEMBER TO WEAR WARM CLOTHES on TUESDAY; we will spend some time OUTSIDE, and I don't want you to "catch a cold."

STOP MISSING CLASS, cute kids! I don't have an extra 80 minutes to assist you in "catching up!" Visit with someone that was in class, so you can returned prepared.

1. We completed identifying the elements for TPCASTT. The meaning for each letter is easily accessible on-line; you can "Google" TPCASTT. You will need to do this before completing your homework assignment.

2. We then practiced evaluating a poem entitled "We Real Cool; Seven at the Golden Shovel" using the TPCASTT method. Everyone that was in class, received participation points for this poem.  You will need to use flex time in order to make up the missing participation points.

We real cool; Seven at the Golden Shovel
by Gwendolyn Brooks

We real cool. We
Left school. We

Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We
Die soon. 


3. Students were then given a copy of the following poem, and asked to evaluate it using the TPCASTT method.

On Reading Poems to a Senior Class at South High,” by D.C. Berry

Before
I opened my mouth
I noticed them sitting there
as orderly as frozen fish
in a package.
 
 Slowly water began to fill the room
though I did not notice it
till it reached
my ears

and then I heard the sounds
of fish in a aquarium
and I knew that though I had
tried to drown them
with my words
that they had only opened up
like gills for them
and let me in.

Together we swam around the room
like thirty tails whacking words
till the bell rang
puncturing
a hole in the door

where we all leaked out

They went to another class
I suppose 
and I home
where Queen Elizabeth
my cat met me
and licked my fins
till they were hands again.

Homework:
1. Complete the evaluation of "On Reading a Poem to Seniors at South High" for Tuesday. Use the TPCASTT method. Record your ideas for each letter (TPCASTT) on the right hand side of the poem.
2. Wear a jacket to class for Tuesday.

Cheers,
Crampton