We we have been and where we are going:

We are working on our career fair and look forward to seeing you on April 9th. Students have started and will continue looking at possible future careers while building public speaking skills.  

We will be wrapping examining the impacts of the Holocaust on the world and history via Amplify, as we investigate those impacts students will explore the experiences of survivors, witnesses, and citizens of the world. Finally the unit will end with a small exploration into poetry, the importance of remembering the Holocaust, and a visit from historian Ronda Hassig.  

Core texts we will read include:

• Romeo and Julie

Followed by a dip into Shakespeare. Students will use Amplify and other sources to explore the play Romeo and Juliet and begin working with the language of Shakespeare, as well as learning a bit about the man himself.  Students will read excerpts of the play, work on memorization and develop strategies  to understand what is happening. Students will spend time looking at a few speeches and scenes in depth. As the year ends students will revisit their growth and understanding in both writing and reading.  

A note from Amplify:  In this unit,   students explore and closely read several of its most famous scenes. After working their way through the unit, students will be able to spot and follow an extended metaphor and translate Shakespearean English into their own words. The lessons will spark a curiosity about the whole play, providing the foundation for a deeper dive when students study Romeo and Juliet in a later grade.

When students recite Shakespeare, they begin to understand the meaning behind the words and feel the rhythm of the language. With that in mind, students memorize and recite lines from the play’s famous Prologue at intervals throughout the lessons. This activity is approached with a playful, experimental attitude which fosters a willingness to participate and reduces tension around tackling a work by Shakespeare.

There are many opportunities for students to translate Shakespeare’s words into contemporary language. At first, students work with individual words, then progress to paraphrasing lines and passages. The class discussion following this activity reveals the strategies and arguments students brought to bear as they made their language choices.

In several lessons, students focus on the form of Shakespeare’s language, including reading two Shakespearean sonnets. These lessons teach students concrete facts about such sonnets (14 lines, 3 quatrains, and a couplet, etc.), but their primary intention is to show students the surprising and intriguing connections between what Shakespeare’s characters are saying and the way in which they say it.

Sensitive Content

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet addresses the topics of murder among feuding families and suicide between two lovers. Some students might be sensitive to these topics, so plan to provide them with opportunities to discuss their reactions and feelings. Remind students that they are expected to treat this subject matter with sensitivity and respect. In both instances, it is important to point out that the characters’ decisions to resort to violence or cause self-harm only bring more strife and sadness. Consider discussing how characters could have dealt with their situations in a way that was less harmful and destructive. Plan to investigate local resources for violence prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health intervention, and make this information available for students. Additionally, it is important to know your district’s requirements and how you will provide support should it become apparent that a student, or someone a student knows, is experiencing mental anguish, is the victim of violence, or is considering self-harm.

KITE State Assessments: April 10th-11th.

OTL: April 23rd

Fastbridge testing: April 24th