"Starting the Day" by Andrew Deslauriers

talk
meet
discuss
define life
is this all we do
why not sit still
and go slow
for a change
find love
in simple things
and see
what happens

BRIDGER'S BRILLIANCE!!!

Love & War


TO THE WORLD...
More love and less war
Iraq and Darfur
Everyone not loving and always hating
Peace is definitely not what we are demonstrating
We should not be mad and all get along
The way we are living is really wrong
People shouldn't discriminate because of beliefs or race
These are just a few of the problems we face
Imagine the world all full of love
Everything would be nice like a hand in a glove
We would be able to take off and soar like a dove
So next time you are mad don't push and shove
Open up your heart and share the love...

AGENDA MAY 19-23

Foci: Poetry Terminology and Graduation Speech

Notes:

*Students will be taking the MAP Test in Language Usage all periods on Tuesday, May 20

*Homework Help Tuesday after school

*Enrichment Credit Finalization on Monday -- all enrichment credit is due June 2nd

*NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY, MAY 26 for Memorial Day

*Talent Show is May 20 from 12:30-2:30

Weekly Homework:
Speech Outline is due on Friday
Bring photos, music, videos from home on flash drives for your Powerpoint

Students are compiling their graduation speeches this week, which will be given next week. They have found a quotation or anecdote to frame their speech around, and will be completing a structured outline, a written draft, and a Powerpoint Presentation. Students can bring tangible photos and data on flash drives to scan into their PPTs. The goal is to push Powerpoint skills by attempting more complex approaches such as layering slides, animation, graphics, including video clips, sound background, photo collages, etc. There is a lot of room for creativity here!!! Speeches should be about five minutes long. Please help your student practice for this!!!

MONDAY:
Powerpoint Making for Graduation Speech
Begin outlining speech

TUESDAY:
MAP TESTING ALL DAY

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY:
Draft Speeches

FRIDAY:
FINISHED SPEECH OUTLINE DUE!!!
Finish drafting
Peer Edit
Teacher conferencing on speeches

One more day after this to finish peer editing and finalizing on Tuesday. Speeches will be given next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

AGENDA MAY 12-16

Foci: Poetry Terminology and Public Speaking

Notes:
*All enrichment credit due by June 2
*Bronx Masquerade Roundtable Discussion will be held on Thursday, May 29 at lunch

Weekly Homework:
1) Read over graduation materials carefully. Consider the aspects of effective speeches.
2) Find a quote a a story to frame your graduation speech -- due Friday.
3) Write an original 'apostrophe poem.' Who could you address? What might you say? Use Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" to guide you.

MONDAY:
Introduce graduation speech project and review assignment guidelines
"Oranges" by Gary Soto (textbook pp. 408-409) and interpretation exercise

TUESDAY:
Watch performances on videotape from last week.
Identify strong and weak aspects of personal performance.
Review performance techniques.

WEDNESDAY:
"Mirror" and "Fish" by Sylvia Plath
Poetry Terminology
Dueling

THURSDAY:
Powerpoint Review and Practice in Media Center -- this is a required element of your graduation speech!!!

FRIDAY:
Share quotes and stories for speeches
Share apostrophe poems.
Bronx Selection

AGENDA MAY 5-9

Foci: The Harlem Renaissance & Performing Poetry

Notes:
*Mary Oliver will be speaking at Walk Festival Hall Thursday, May 8.
*WNB 17-25 due on Friday, May 9
*Bronx Masquerade Roundtable Discussion will be held on Thursday, May 29 at lunch
*All 4th Quarter Enrichment Options must be complete by June 2
*Poetry Performances Wednesday and Thursday
*Post PAWS Pizza Party Wednesday (Periods 1 and 4)/Thursday (Periods 5 and 6) -- style="font-weight:bold;">STUDENTS NEED TO BRING MONEY FOR THIS BY TUESDAY!!!

Weekly Homework:
*Finish Society Poem (WNB 24)
*WNB due of Friday

Essential Questions:
*What are some of the main themes evident in Harlem Renaissance poetry?
*What are some effective ways to perform poetry?
*How is poetry a form of communication?

Monday:
Mini-Performance Workshop: Eye contact, gestures, intonation
Keep working on WNB 24 - we will share "Society Poems" on Friday

Tuesday:
Women of the Harlem Renaissance
"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
Work with partners on annotation and final practice

Wednesday:
POETRY PERFORMANCES
P4 Party for Periods 1 and 4

Thursday:
POETRY PERFORMANCES
P4 Party for Periods 5 and 6

Friday:
***FINAL WNB DUE -- ENTRIES 17-25***
Share Society Poems (WNB 24)

Kat's Magnetic Poem

Kat 1st hour
Magnetic poem
Extra Credit

I wish of the storm to whisper
Peace to arrive at the summer window
Mad or gentle
Cry
Magic take who you want
Quiet sky
Fly
Grow Green
Laugh
Sing
Love
I wish of the storm to whisper

Shelly's Magnetic Poem

I race her in the rodeo, rope and ride.
She is a barrel horse, a beautiful chestnut mare.
We full trot bareback to the arena, then run across.
Always wild, fast and gentle.
Her mane and tail flying.
My girl has a white blaze and a buck.
So beautiful, loving. majestic, graceful, and willing.