Monday, January 31, 2011

Our First iMovie!! Video Adaptation of Dylan Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"

The first poetry analysis I assigned was Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.

Student groups were asked to develop video adaptations of their assigned stanza. Through various class discussions they realized that "that good night" was a metaphor referring to death. They also identified that the speaker was talking to six men: old men, wise men, good men, wild men, grave mean, and finally his father. He gives each man a reason why he should "fight" death (i.e."don't go gentle...").

Enjoy!

Please leave constructive comments, praise, etc.




Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy New Year! New Year's Resolution #2: Step Your Game Up!!


It's good to be back!! This quarter is going to be FULL of surprises.
All I can say is...step your "technology game" up!!

Integrating New Technology

This year we'll be creating new ideas, foundations, and practices using the following:

Twitter
Edmodo
Blogger (Start thinking of a cool name for your blog...yes! Your OWN blog!)
Google Docs (trying to go paperless *hugs a tree*)
Skype
Cell Phones
EPals (hint: learn a few friendly phrases in French)
Wii
Voki (look up Avatars...not the movie...)
Ipods/mp3 players
Podcasts
Digital Camera's (any budding photographers/ videographers out there?)
MANY OTHERS...


We'll be using each and every tool above INSIDE and OUTSIDE the classroom!

My SMART goal for 2011 is to introduce and use one piece of new technology in the classroom per week. What's your SMART Goal?



WRAPPING UP QUARTER 2...

We'll be wrapping up Quarter 2 and beginning Quarter 3 with my most popular and requested unit *drumroll* 

The HIP-HOP Poetry vs. The Classics Unit!

One of the many texts we'll be using is:
Hip-Hop Poetry vs The Classics 

                                                               See what's inside here!

Make sure you bring your favorite music with you to class everyday for some extra inspiration.

You may be a POET and not even KNOW IT! (get it?...get it?) *smile*

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO...

Baby Girl :)
Marley Hendrix Totten

PLEASE POST A COMMENT!! :)