Wednesday March 20

So today was an odd day. The hockey players were away, so it was quiet.

(I just put that on there to roast them a bit. As of the writing of this post, they are doing quite well.)

We did three or four Poet (Task 3) presentations today. I did remind others that they have yet to read poems or present their poets.

Never one to sit on my rear end, I posted a WebQuest for the next unit ... it's a helpful self-paced assignment for the background of the novel we are reading next.


Here it is:

1.     Sparknotes https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mocking/

Who is the main character?

What kind of life does she lead?

What are two other characters mentioned in this novel?

What kind of community is this story set in, anyway?

Find and watch the trailer for the film version of this novel. (it’s posted on the course blog under “Helpful TKAM links”. In a carefully worded informal piece of writing of about 50 words, let me know what you think about this novel, the film or just the trailer.

2.     What kind of person was Harper Lee? (Please do not click and paste the Wikipedia or some other biography of her; perhaps read the Wikipedia biography and give me YOUR impression of her.)

3.     In a well written 100 word(ish) informal piece of writing, tell me why you think that I would choose this novel to be in the Grade 9 class.



...and here are the poems my students told me are not yet on this blog

A bit of talcum
Is always walcum. 

Ogden Nash

The Cow  by Ogden Nash

The cow is of the bovine ilk; One end is moo, the other, milk.

Mother to Son

BY LANGSTON HUGHES

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

But all the time

I’se been a-climbin’ on,

And reachin’ landin’s,

And turnin’ corners,

And sometimes goin’ in the dark

Where there ain’t been no light.

So boy, don’t you turn back.

Don’t you set down on the steps

’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.

Don’t you fall now—

For I’se still goin’, honey,

I’se still climbin’,

And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.