Hey everyone!

WOW the week has FLOWN by!!

So, I'm curious...has anyone been practicing their insults on anyone?? Have you taught your younger siblings how to spar those insults?? Keep practicing!! The INSULT BATTLE will be Nov 12th. That will be our first class that everyone will be meeting together in the main classroom. Here is a link (Thanks Emily!!) to have some fun with insults: insults

The reading assignment is for Act 4 scenes 6-7. Next week the reading is for the entire Act 5, so it might be a good idea to read a little ahead.
Keep working on the summery of King Lear. There are only 5 more classes that you can turn it in--along with the other papers for the Conquest.

Did everyone hear me???

There are only 5 more classes to turn in and to pass off all of the requirements for the 10 step Shakespeare Conquest and to finish the RACE.

This includes the papers, iambic pentameter, reciting the setpiece, present a presentation, EVERYTHING. NO EXCEPTIONS!! :--)

I am going to forwarn you of how we are going to discuss the reading this week. I'm bringing the candy jar, of course, and if you participate then you can pull something out.
This is how you particiapate, you need to bring a question about the reading. Not a trivia question but a feeling or a thinking question. In other words...you begin the question with "What did you think about when.....," or "How do you think it felt when...." or" What would you have thought if ..." These are some difficult questions to come up with, so I am going to be getting some cooler candy for the jar.--any suggestions??? I will bring some to Nikki's class so that you can have your candy asap, and not have to wait. You can have a piece if you bring a question AND you can have a piece if you choose to pull a question out and answer it. What do you think??? YES the questions MUST be about KING LEAR and most preferably about the reading. You can earn up to 4 pieces this way. This limit does not include the "papers candy" (which you can earn up to 3 if you are all caught up) or the game from the previous post (which you can earn up to 3 also.)

Make sense? Any questions??

WOO! We have some SUPER fun things planned for the rest of the semester and I can hardly contain my excitement!! We are SO CLOSE to start getting ready to become Shakespearean Actors! It will be here sooner than you think!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT..and a game

Class will now begin at 12:30 and end at 2:30.
DON'T FORGET!!

For class this week the reading is Act 4 scenes 3-5.

For the writing assignment you are to begin writing your summery of King Lear. You will have a couple of weeks to finish this while you finish reading the play.

Bonus Question....Who are the Gods that are always being referred to?

Remember the Nicholas challenge.....Be the first class to finish all 10 of your writing assignments and the other class will provide the class with a treat of some sort.

And here is a little aside for you.....I can't wait to talk about bantering this week. Bwaahaa haaaa
You all should be very afraid.

Anyone up for a game???....here we go!

This is a personal vocab challenge....post THE CRAZIEST Shakespeare word you can find. It doesn't have to be in King Lear, it can be from any of your reading.

Post the word AND the definition.

The word MUST be a word that IS NOT used in today's language. A word that is unique to Elizabethan times only.

For example......

WAXEN means to hiccup
or
REECHY means dirty or smokey.

Each word must not be a word that has not been given already. Each word you give with the correct definition grants you a piece of candy from the candy jar--you can earn UP TO 3 PIECES of candy but do as many definitions as you like.

Get that personal vocab out!! Lets do this game through NEXT thursday the 29th.

Are you ready for class???

I can't wait for class tomorrow! There will be a special announcement!! You will have to wait and see!!
But here is the assignments for tomorrow in case you have forgotten......

1. Read Act 4 scenes 1-2--READ READ READ!! I really hate sending you to the back to finish! So please read! :--)
2. Writing assignment: Research a mythical character and write a short description. Any mythical character...it doesn't have to be related to Shakespeare.
3. Bonus Question: What does 'bear affliction' mean??

How are your vocab lists coming? Do you have any questions so far?

I will be posting on friday evening most likely, and I plan to post a new game! So get ready!!

This week's writing assignment...

This week's writing assignment is a little different. It is to write a character sketch. A character sketch is an outline of a character. The sketch includes the character's outward appearance, family members, personality, interests, and beliefs. When you write a character sketch, you are trying to introduce the reader to someone. You want the reader to have a strong mental image of the person, to know how the person talks, to know the person's characteristic ways of doing things, to know something about the person's value system. Character sketches only give snap shots of people; therefore, you should not try to write a history of the person.

As you work on this paper, you should decide what kind of emotional reaction you want to have in relationship to this person. What kind of details can you select to create that emotional reaction? Avoid making broad characterizing statements; instead, let the details you give suggest general characteristics.

These are some questions that might be helpful for you to get started.

1. What is the name of your character?
2. What is the age of your character?
3. What does your character look like?
4. What interests does your character have?
5. What does your character like to do the most?
6. What is your character's least favorite thing to do?
7. What are your character's beliefs?
8. Is your character outgoing or shy?
9 Do other people enjoy being around your character?
10. Is your character a man or a woman?

11. Is there any other information about your character that you need to know?

Thanks Nikki for coming up with this information!

psst...I'm bringing the candy jar on Thursday....just in case you wanted to know....

The Fool

This week in our reading, (Act 3 scenes 5-7) we will see one of our favorite characters for the last time. This is the fool. In Shakespeare's writing, he does not explain what happened to him. In various versions there are different explanations. In the show on PBS version that you can click to over on the right, there is a very sad scene that is added to the play--it is not in the original Shakespeare play.
But is it what really happened???
What do you think?
Put your thinking caps on and tell us what you think REALLY happened to the FOOL....
Every different entry you place you can pull one thing from the candy jar in class next week.

YEAH!! Let's have a party!

Ok..here is a map to the get together....

MAP



529 S. Woodsview Circle

Directions from St.George Boulevard

Head west on St George Blvd
Turn right at N Bluff St
Turn left at W Sunset Blvd
Turn left at N Valley View Dr

Head south on N Valley View Dr
Turn left at Woodsview Dr- "The Woods" subdivision
Go straight back and look for the large house.

If you are coming from Bloomington you will want to take Dixie Downs to Valley View Drive, then turn into "The Woods".

We will eat lunch, play games and swim from 12-2.

Please bring either a bag of chips or a salad.

Looks like it will be the one of the last hot days of the summer.

See you Tuesday!!

Let me know if you have any questions.

Party?????

In the next couple of weeks we would like to have a party with both classes. We are trying to brainstorm some ideas. If you have any suggestions of INEXPENSIVE party ideas let's have them! Is there a particular party game or theme that you like?
Post an idea and I'll bring the candy jar for each idea that you give.
Your ideas MUST cost little or no money to qualify...sorry..we can't go to Disneyland!

So what do you like to do?? Do you want another party where we watch a Shakespeare movie? Go to a park and play games?? What do think?? Let us know so we can plan a couple of AWESOME parties. :-)

And just a reminder.... reading assignment is ACT II Scene 4.
Writing assignment: Are older people wiser than younger people? Why or why not???

And the bonus question????..hmm....should I tell??
ok ok its: Are there swamps in England??? Super easy one! Its just a yes or no answer. :-)