Please welcome the Creative Writing kiddos

This year, I have a ninth period Creative Writing elective with 13 writers from the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades.  Four boys, nine girls.  They're an eclectic mix of personalities and temperaments, and you will not have to take my word for it.  They are creating their own blogs this unit that will soon be linked to this one.  They will be required to write three blog entries each week until mid-April; if they continue to blog after that is entirely up to them. 

So, coming soon, the Individual Blogs of:
Damian
Daniella
Juana
Sophia
Delvia
Ana & Miranda
Jahaziel
Valeria
Anthony
Alexia
Allison
&
Jorge

A Raisin in the Sun -- Viewing Questions

Answer both of the following questions to receive extra credit on a quiz grade.  Please complete this by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30.

Who is the main protagonist of "A Raisin in the Sun?"  In other words, which character do you most want to see achieve his/her dreams, and why?
 

Consider the qualities that each actor contributed to the interpretation of his/her character.  How did your opinion or understanding of a character change after seeing a live version of him or her?  In other words, did you become more or less sympathetic to someone, and if so, why?  Cite particular scenes or lines that impacted your opinion the most.
 

 

Images from the past week

We certainly needed some wacky adventures this week.  Here are some pics I snapped.

 

 

 



In Cold Blood, Part II

For those of you in 1st period who were unable to participate in our Socratic seminar Friday, please post your thoughts here. 

Summer readin', had me a blast

Greetings, rising seniors.  As promised, this blog now rolls over to you, the Class of '13.  As you work through your essay anthology, this is the place for you to write your observations.  Remember that each of you in the AP course is expected to complete one post by 11:59 p.m. on July 1, and a second post by 11:59 p.m. on August 1. 

The assignment is deliberately open-ended.  For your first entry, choose one of the essays in the anthology I distributed to you.  Comment on the author's tone, the argument of the piece, words or phrases with which you felt a connection, memories the piece sparked, ask questions (and attempt to answer them).  If you feel stuck, each essay does have questions that follow it, and you may use those as a jumping-off point, but it is not required.  In short, there is no "wrong" way to respond, except not to respond at all.

Enter your analysis/comments/observations/questions in the comment area below this post to receive full credit.  Bonus points to the brave soul who goes first.

YES Class of '08 Graduates College

I have a soft spot for the Class of '08.  They were my third class of seventh-graders back in the 2002-03 school year.  Now, about 30 of them have graduated from colleges and universities around the country.  I've been copying graduation pictures from Facebook and have included them below.  Congratulations to each of you.  The entire YES family is hugely proud of you.

Aaqilah (right), Barnard '12

Cecilia, Weslayan'12

Fareedon, Creighton '12

Flavio, Franklin and Marshall '12

Alonso, University of Tulsa '12

Jenny, Alba, and Nora, St. Mary's University '12

Keara (2nd from left), Harvard '12

Nicole, Syracuse University '12

Carlos, Columbia '12

Spring Semester Round-up

And now that school is out, we reach the time where I email myself all the photos on my phone that I've been taking all year. Here's hoping I'm better at keeping up with this in the 2012-13 school year. Let's start with pics from the Second Annual Author Night, March 8, 2012:

Alexia's presentation on Kazuo Ishiguro



Samantha and Ana's presentations


Joselyn's presentation on Lisa See


Juan poses with his Michael Crichton project


Jessica's lovely Kingsolver display


Paty and her gorgeous display about Willa Cather. Now I need to read some Willa Cather.

Fast forward a month, when I received the most beautiful birthday card ever, a la Elsih and her amazing art skills.


And Alexia put kiwi on my birthday cake! Genius.

We love our new pavilion, we love dueling each other, and we love the bodies hitting the floor in Hamlet!




We celebrate college acceptances at the Toyota Center.



Perhaps my favorite text of the year



Mind-mapping the day before the exam



Brenda and I twinning it up at the Astros game.  Someone else just had to get in on the pic.  Photobomber!

Now I know that I posed with about 40 of you, sweat and all, so put them on FB when you have a chance.