Monday, 3/3/14

* Open

• Period 1: Reread and answer in your notes
• Why is bread better than crackers/biscuits? 
• Why is cheese so awesome?
• Find one thing your can learn from Chesterton to make your own writing better: list it. 

• Pray

• Recitation: Robert Frost

* Writing this Week: The Quarterly Creative Writing Portfolio (CWP)

* Joy to the Group

* Party Sign Ups On Board Starting Tomorrow...but Musical Moves us Once More

Bread and cheese test #1: You can't eat real cheese this way.

HW:  Poetic Ponderings

Extra Cheesy Block

8 Week Old Baby Reno - Alive and Heart-Beating in the Womb

* Open

• Read this essay in preparation for our party next block day.  
• Recitation
• J15 Readings

* Group Work

* Back to your posters.

HW: Age the cheese

Wednesday: Poetry

Open

• Share J15 poems (Schwager) 
• Reno's classes will share on block day when he returns.
• Reno's classes to meet in your groups 
• Reno's groups
• Review ten forms (see yesterday's post for guidelines)
• Select one and write your group and form on the board
• Reminder to all groups: 
• your group does NOT need to write a collective poem that displays your form.
• Rather, you need to select an example that a poet has already written and copy it onto your poster board.
• The poem you will write: for the CWP, students will write their own poems using the form their groups selected. If you were part of the "Dirge" group, then you will write your own dirge.
• Work on your contest entry 
• Contests
• Reminder, sophomores sign up for classes during advisory:
• A-O Choir Room
• P-Z Band Room

* Group Work

HW: Get Poster Items (poster, pens, pencils, etc.)

Tuesday: Poetic Formation

* Open

• Please copy your last memorization poem for quarter 3 into your notes
• "The Aim was Song" by Robert Frost
• Then, in your notes, answer the following questions
• Give an educated guess for the meter of this poem. 
• How does the form of this poem reinforce the theme of this poem?

• Pray
• Update: The Quarterly Creative Writing Portfolio (CWP)

* Work on your contest entry

* Introduce the poetry form project

• Groups of 3-4
• Research 10 forms together; choose one to teach us; write your group # and form on the board to claim it. 
• Alexandrine
• Aubade
• Ballad
• Concrete poetry
• Dirge 
• Elegy
• Epithalamion
• Occasional poem  
• Ode 
• Pastoral
• Sestina
• Spenserian stanza 
• Terza rima
• Rondeau
• Rondel (roundel) 

• Spend at least one day reading different examples of your verse form.  
• Create a poster with a large illustration to aid in learning your verse form. 
• Present to the class
• Poster board (someone in your group will need to get this and bring it to class)
• Form (your chosen form to teach us)
• Definition (be sure you're accurate, consult multiple sources)
• Example (choose one that helpfully illustrates your form; make sure it is on your poster)
• Memorable Image (your drawing should aid in remembering your form)
• Grade: 25 points
• 5 Points for Including All Requirements
• 5 Points for Design and Beauty
• 5 Points for Grammar (Sentence Structure, Spelling, and Punctuation)
• 10 Points for Class Presentation
• Poise
• Transitions (everyone needs to present some part)
• Length: about 5 minutes

• Please List all Names for your Group and Period on Your Poster Front Somewhere
• Due
• Volunteer presentations begin Tuesday, March 4
• Due date is Wednesday, March 5

  HW:

1. Research
2. Finish J15

Monday: Buongiorno!

* Open

• Grammar:
• Fix punctuation and spelling, please: 
• "Late august given heavy rain and sun
  For a full week the blackberies would rippen."
• Pray
• Any remaining recitations

* Trips!

• Check out some of our pictures

* Begin reviewing your assignments

* Work in Class

HW: Journal 15 Due Wednesday

Feb-Term Week

Dear students,

It's time to work on J15 and enter the AG Poetry Contest.  This will get two assignments out of the way early!  Please work the entirety of both periods on these assignments.  You may work with a friend to edit and discuss BRIEFLY...but then get back to writing!

• Journal 15 (updated): You will compose at least two poems (not one).

• First, write either a limerick or a clerihew.
• Next, write either a triolet or a villanelle.
• Compose on paper with your pen or pencil. No typing on your iDad (and no looking up rhymes).
• I want you to edit and rewrite.
• Let a friend read them, enjoy them, talk of them, edit them.
• You will read one to the class in two weeks (when Mr. Schwager returns with an Italian accent and Mr. Reno maintains the same ol' boring one).

•  AG Poetry Contest
• The time has come for you to write your own poem for the quarterly contest assignment!
• Write your poem.  Again, have a friend help you edit it in class.  Write multiple versions.  Make it awesome!   
• Once you have a poem, print it, and address your envelope (see poster).
• Once you make your entry, take a screen shot of your envelope.  Show me the screen shot in person when I return, and your assignment is complete for quarter 3. 
• Be sure to send it right away as the contest deadline is the 26th...so you should send it by Friday the 21st of March. 

Student asks: "What if I'm done early; what is next the project coming up besides the journal and contest entry?"

• I decided to switch from a poet presentation to a poetry form presentation done in groups.  You group will present on a poetry form that we have not covered.  You will be making a poster to hang in class. If you'd like to consider forms early, here is a sweet list to explore.  As far as the presentation and poster work goes, we'll treat that when I return.  Please pray for us!  Blessings, my friends!

Cl-E-rihew, you Clod!

Sorry!  I had the form spelled two different ways in the posts; please fix your notes; it is Clerihew.  My apologies, Mr. S. 

A Block of Nonsense

* Open

*St. Valentine:

Feastday: February 14
Patron of Love, Young People, Happy Marriages
Died: 269
"Valentinus was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius the Goth [Claudius II]. Since he was caught marrying Christian couples and aiding any Christians who were being persecuted under Emperor Claudius in Rome [when helping them was considered a crime], Valentinus was arrested and imprisoned. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus made a strategic error: he tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't do it, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate [circa 269]" (Catholic.org/saints).
* Quiz
* New Forms

• Limerick
• Clerihew

* Journal 15 (updated): You will compose at least two poems (not one).

• First, write either a limerick or a clerihew.
• Next, write either a triolet or a villanelle.
• Compose on paper with your pen or pencil. No typing on your iDad (and no looking up rhymes)
• I want you to edit and rewrite.
• Let a friend edit them.
• You will read one to the class in two weeks (when Mr. Schwager returns with an Italian accent and Mr. Reno maintains the same ol' boring one).

HW: J15

AG Contest: Call for Poems

Do this and get your quarter three contest assignment taken care of!

1. Write a sweet poem with a local, agricultural theme. 
2. Follow the instructions below. 
3. Send it in next week. 
4. You could do it on the two days Mr. Schwager is abroad. 
5. The winner gets cash and their poem printed on placemats in local restaurants. 
6. If the poster does not show below, see instructions here.

Examples of agricultural poems:

Though these focus more on people in their relation to an agricultural setting, you may also write more directly on something you enjoy or are interested in related to local agriculture (strawberries, artichokes, farmers, farm workers, etc.).

• The Tuft of Flowers by Robert Frost
• Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney 
• The Apple Tree by Wendell Berry
• Prayer After Eating by Wendell Berry