TGIF: Polishing, Publishing, and Blogging!

We've had a full week, haven't we? Today you'll have an opportunity to polish and publish. I think there will be enough time to blog as well, but as always we'll regroup before the class ends and see where we are.

You've had some very interesting posts this week. Many of you shared your poetry, and many of you talked about how much easier it is when you already have a picture or image in mind; I can't wait to see them all.

As we've continued our reading, I noticed a lot of you wrote on the blog about the characters you would befriend or avoid. Some of you chose characters who are no longer in the play, and some of you chose to blog about characters that we've just met.

Stella has words of encouragement for all of us, and many of you responded to the warm up poetry activities....And to all of you, Katie and I say...happy reading and happy blogging!

Collaborative Poetry: Sharing, Editing, Revising!

Warm up today will offer another opportunity to play with poetry and talk about revision. It always amazes me to see how uniquely each of us uses words.





I missed you all yesterday. Ms. Higgins said you had some questions about the Friar's garden, so we'll have to pick up there. We should be ready to dig into Act III today. Act II ended on such a sweet note with the two lovers getting married, but Act III finds the young guys of Verona out on the streets looking for action. The weather is hot and so are tempers, too. From this point in the play, things become even more complicated, and the pace of the play moves even faster.

Tomorrow we'll use the laptops again. We'll work on publishing the poetry we composed this week. Until then...can't wait. "Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds..."

Your Teacher Missed You Today!

Reading over the blogs posted today, it sounds like you all really did get to read the rest of Act II, scene four, and you got to watch it as well. I heard you lost power in the room often. Bummer. Your teacher missed you today. I had to take care of the house and all the critters while she was in Columbia with other teachers. Watch out...she may have new ideas!



Tomorrow you'll warm up with a poem! It should be fun. Rest up. You'll finish Act II and plan out the rest of the acting for the play. Adieu!

In the Grey Eyed Morn Wedding Plans Are Set!

As you continue to read, remember that even though so much has happened very quickly in the play, it is really only the second day of action. The opening street brawl happened on Sunday morning, the Capulet ball was that same night, and now it is Monday, and the plans for a wedding are set! Read on!

Act II scene four is your reading for tonight. Friar Laurence's long speech at the beginning of scene three details the goodness derived from the earth, herbs, medicinal cures, and so forth, but he goes on to warn that these same cures can also do harm if misused. Earth can bring goodness or harm, just as man can. This, of course, is a forshadowing of what's to come. It seems like Friar makes an abrupt change at the end of this scene when he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, which he explains might be a way to end the feud. Still, he warns that moving too fast can cause one to stumble.

As you look at scene four, you'll see that Romeo's friends are still at it, or at least Mercutio is still joking around and teasing Romeo about Rosaline and love. When they run into the Nurse, Mercutio really gives her a time, teasing her about looking as big as a barge (ship) and procuring a love for her lady. The Nurse's servant Peter is no help defending her. Stage directions don't say, but we can imagine that he is enjoying watching the guys giving the Nurse a hard time. The Nurse and Romeo, nevertheless, set up the wedding plans and Romeo asks her to wait for his man (Balthasar, his servant) to come back with a rope ladder (tackle stair) for him to climb for the honeymoon. We'll read over these lines tomorrow and watch more of the film version.

Our readers have done a wonderful job. Meantime, I'm anxious to see your poetry! If you have additional pictures for your poem, and you'd like help getting them uploaded to your folder, bring them to class before Friday so that we can work on publishing Friday through Photo Story or Power Point. There's a scanner in the business lab, and we'll be sure that everyone has a chance to save pictures for your poem.

Until then, good morrow! See you in class!

Beautiful Poetry, Beautiful Imagery, and Katie's Favorite Scene

Many of you will recognize lines from the famous balcony scene, which we are reviewing today in class. Of all our discussions about imagery, Katie hopes you noticed the light imagery in this scene. When Romeo first sees Juliet, he thinks of her as teaching "the torches to burn bright." Now here on the balcony, he compares her to the sun, the source of love and warmth. He compares her eyes to twinkling stars. As opposed to Rosaline - the moon - Juliet outshines the heavens and brings Romeo to life. (Remember, when he thought he loved Rosaline, he shut himself up in the darkness of his room, but Juliet has shown him love, the sun, and light!)

Do Romeo and Juliet realize how dangerous their love is? Yes! Juliet fears for Romeo's life and says their love is "like lightening." (more light) Despite all the danger, the lovers promise to marry.....Let's see...What day is this? The play started out on a Sunday morning, and this scene begins on Sunday night, or you may say in the wee small hours of Monday morning! I guess their love is as fast as lightening!

Aye me. If sad hours seem long, happy hours must fly!

We will warm up today with a look at poetry revision and form. Tomorrow our poem packets are due: first draft, conferencing notes, final draft with revisions highlighted, and letter of reflection on top.