Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Week 9 Semester 2, Work Due March 7th

Weekly Usuals


A reminder-----bring the following to class:

Their Eyes Were Watching God 
Your Poetry Journal


*We will have a quiz on the Fitzgerald background, Zora Neale Hurston videos, and chapters 1-10 of  Their Eyes Were Watching God. Also, there will be a poetry journal check.

A. Poetry Journal/Carl Sandburg Poetry Contest   (45 minutes)


Discuss with your parent(s) whether you'd like to participate in the Carl Sandburg Home poetry contest.  Entries must be faxed or postmarked by next Wednesday, March 7th. 

If you choose to participate, print and fill out this sheet, following the directions.  Remember that your parent is your teacher, so they will sign the release. 
General guidelines and information about the contest can be found here.

Participation in the contest is enthusiastically encouraged!  

If you choose to participate, that will count as your journal entry for this week.  Just write "I chose to participate in the poetry contest" and have your parent sign that journal entry.

If you would rather not participate, I'd like you to choose one of the poems on this week's wall and write an analysis of the poem in your journal.  You could discuss what the poem is about, the rhyme scheme, rhythm, meter, figurative language, theme(s), etc.  Be sure to identify the poet and name of the poem at the beginning of your analysis.




B. Poetry Wall---Harlem Renaissance

Harlem Renaissance 10:00
Harlem Renaissance 12:15

Other Work

Watch this TED Ed video on the hero's journey. Although this version of the hero's journey has 12 steps (there are many variations), the basics are quite similar (4 minutes).  Read through 8 stage handout I gave you about the hero's journey.  We will talk more about the hero's journey next week.  
You should begin to look for "stages" in Janie's journey as you read.

Watch this biography of Zora Neale Hurston

Read Their Eyes Were Watching God--Chapters 1-10

Here is a free audio version that may help you become accustomed to the dialect.   

Use this sheet to guide your observations/annotations while reading TEWWG. 



Here is the slideshow of Asheville history and the Fitzgeralds  for those who are interested/wish to review.  I regret we didn't have time enough for me to go through it with the 12:15. Look for my notes beneath the slides, or if you want the presentation bigger, go under "View" then select "Present" to click through. I wish I had time to talk you through all of it as I am fascinated by local history! Both Asheville and the Fitzgerald's flourished in the 1920's.  Sadly, both fell apart in ways during the 1930's.  The city of Asheville experienced economic depression when the booming real estate market collapsed and incurred staggering amounts of debt.  As we talked about in class, the Fitzgeralds' lives fell apart in the 1930's due to Zelda's mental illness and Fitzgerald's alcoholism. Maybe I could squeeze it in sometime if there is interest...

On a happy note, if you would like to learn more about a local man who worked hard and experienced success instead of tragedy, here's a link to an Asheville Citizen Times article about Mr. Ricker.  Mr. Ricker is Kelsey Walker's grandfather.  He hosted our Gatsby party and showed us his vintage cars.  I thought you might enjoy learning more about him because he's a great example of what perseverance and right priorities can accomplish.

Look what I found in the Buncombe Library news:
Who knew that there was an annual "Zelda Sayer Fitzgerald Day" in Asheville, and it's right around the corner!  As part of this, it looks like Pack Library will host a presentation on Highland Hospital where Zelda Fitzgerald stayed on and off for 12 years.

March 10th, 2018 marks the 70th anniversary of Zelda's untimely death in the Highland Hospital fire. Highland Hospital was located in Montford.















Monday, February 26, 2018

Gatsby Pictures

Hello Everyone,

Our Great Gatsby movie night was a "great" success!  Parents--thank you for taking time out of your busy weekends to shuttle your students to and fro---I know much driving we all do.  A special thanks Kelsey Walker's mom and her grandparents who hosted our evening.

Here are some pictures from the night.

The whole crew


Sparkling grape juice "champagne"


Marytaylor & Susanne


Zelda, F. Scott, & Scottie in Fitzgerald's sports coupe, 1923
Mr. Ricker showed us his Model A (1927-1931 production) and helped us into the rumble seat!

Love the lights and grill---sharp car!

Mary and Ellen ready to go...

F. Scott & Zelda

Catherine & Lori


Part of the crew


Eva & Nick

F. Scott & Frances "Scottie"