Shamchuk's PK English Blog

SECOND SEMESTER BLOG

shammy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:33:34 +0000

This semester, I’m test-driving a blog over here, so this blog will lie dormant for a while. Pay a visit to the new house!

ALL CLASSES: Final Marks

shammy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:26:02 +0000

English 30-1AP: Your final marks have been available since last week.

English 10-1: Your final marks will be available by WEDNESDAY, January 25 at 3:00 pm.

English 20-1: Your final marks will be available by FRIDAY, January 27 at 5:00 pm.

English 30-1AP: Teaching The Great Gatsby with the New York Times

shammy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:34:13 +0000

Wow, I wish I’d come across this set of articles and resources sooner than the after school before the Diploma Exam!

ALL CLASSES: Over the Holidays…

shammy — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:21:53 +0000

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everybody! Some reminders about where we’re at and where we’re going…

English 10-1: Over the break, you can tidy up anything in your notebook that hasn’t been completed.

English 20-1: Your novel project is something you can work on over the break if you so choose.

English 30-1AP: Remember that the Blindness reading quiz is on the FIRST DAY BACK (Monday, January 9). Be sure to finish up whatever you have left in the novel. You can also work on essay outlines and email me over the break if you so choose (totally optional).

Have a great Christmas break — see everyone January 9!

English 30-1AP: Jude Law on Hamlet

shammy — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:48:14 +0000

I came across this Charlie Rose interview with Jude Law talking about playing Hamlet. If you’re thinking of using the play for the Diploma Exam (or if you’re just interested), it’s a good interview — Law says a lot of interesting things about his interpretation of the character and the play!

English 10-1: The Romeo and Juliet…burger?

shammy — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:06:41 +0000

An ad executive who tried a bit too hard to make a connection, I think! I assume that Romeo was the “hot” burger side, because he has a tendency to be over-emotional…!

English 30-1AP: The Gatsby vlogbrothers Video

shammy — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:45:24 +0000

For some reason, I can’t embed this one. But here it is.

English 30-1AP: Historical Context for Gatsby

shammy — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:07:43 +0000

Here’s a quick intertube roundup of items related to the larger historical/social/cultural context of the novel:

Julia Stern talking about the novel (a bit university-sophisticated, but an interesting listen)

Gatsby Webquest

http://bookstove.com/classics/time-and-place-in-the-great-gatsby/

A couple of PowerPoint presentations that cover the basic context of the 1920s:

http://www.mrcoia.com/school/units/gatsby/gatsby_pres_files/gatsby_pres.ppt#256,1,Cultural

http://www.slideshare.net/mrsdenglish/the-great-gatsby-2822980

And, information on the REAL West Egg and East Egg (with maps!):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_Point,_NY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Neck,_New_York

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sands_Point,_New_York

East Egg vs. West Egg

A map of New York and Long Island

English 20-1: Article Assignment Suggestions

shammy — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:15:25 +0000

You’re handing in your notebook on TUESDAY, November 1. It needs to have the article assignment completed. Looking for some articles to use? Refer to the menu on the right — Interest Audio, Interest Reading, Interest Viewing — and find a program, a presentation, an article that interests you. REMEMBER that they need to be articles other than straight news stories — feature articles, opinion columns, etc. Here are a couple of suggestions to get you started:

Offensive Play: How Different are Dog-fighting and Football? (This is one of the best articles I’ve read about the issue of concussions and brain injury in sports, particularly football)

The Idea of Genius (What is genius, and where does it come from? A CBC radio program on the subject)

The New Economics of the Music Industry (A Rolling Stone article on how musicians are making money in the world of downloading and YouTube)

TED Talks (these are generally really interesting, and there’s a wide variety of topics and presenters. Check it out!)

English 10-1: Romeo and Juliet Audio Performance

shammy — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:17:42 +0000

Speak the Speech is a non-profit theatre company that has put together a bunch of audio performances of Shakespeare’s plays, including Romeo and Juliet. Click this link to go to their website, and you’ll find a full audio performance of Romeo and Juliet. This is a great resource for reviewing the play at home, as you study for the exam and as you put together your project and prepare for your in-class paper!