Alexa and I finished our reading and studying of Act IV. We used the study guide questions as a springboard for our discussion. We started to discuss what Alexa will do for her final project on the play. We talked about the character of Lady Macbeth and doing a visual/artistic portrayal of her complete with textual evidence to support her drawings.

Alexa and I continued our study of the play. We read two scenes in Act IV. We then answered the accompanying study guide questions as a springboard to our discussion. Alexa does quite well interpreting the difficult language and universal themes.

Took a close look at Vlad's "Three Men in a Cave" essay. Discussed particular ways the essay could be improve. Implemented changes in wording and phrasing.Taught appropriate grammar and punctuation lessons. Took a close look at Vlad's "Donald Trump" essay. Discussed how to set up a better introductory paragraph, how to set a question as the thesis for the paper, how the title and the thesis establishes the writer's promise to the reader. Discussed how the Trump essay could be organized and what would go into developing each section of the paper. Last, discussed the purpose of the concluding paragraph and how it could be structured.

Alexa and I worked on some career correspondence that she needed to write for her acting career. We discussed that purpose for writing. We then finished reading and studying Act III of MACBETH.
We answered the accompanying study guide questions and used them as a springboard for our discussion of Act III. I introduced Act IV, and we just began reading scene i.

Reviewed the full curriculum for the fall and spring semesters, emphasizing the writing strategies that will be taught. Had Vlad complete handout "Things That Interest You." Discussed Vlad's responses. Had Vlad complete handout "When I think of ______, these thoughts come to me." Used Vlad's responses to set up model 5 paragraph personal / persuasive essay. Had Vlad discuss the two portraits he put up on his office wall. Very good discussion of both photos. Discussed what would go into an essay analyzing one of the portraits or the more sophisticated essay comparing the two photos.

Alexa and I were to continue our study of the play.

While symbols are often inanimate objects, we discussed how a character can also embody or symbolize a human condition or an idea. I placed a list of the main characters on the whiteboard, and we discussed what the bigger than life imaginative characters in the novel might represent or symbolize. As Hester confronts her erstwhile husband,Chillingworth, in the chapters under review ,we further discussed the abandoned marital relationship between Hester and Chillingworth and why Hester believes she was more wronged by the marriage than Chillingworth was by her adultery. Olivia did a good job analyzing figurative language and recognizing the theme of illusion vs reality in the scene where Pearl sees her reflection in the flowing brook in the forest. As Olivia was out last week, we addressed a schedule for next week's work. There will be a test on Chapters 1 -17 on Wednesday, and a written assignment elaborating on today's discussion of symbols due in one week,on Thursday. As Olivia is still working on last week's test essay, and last week's vocabulary work ,for homework due Monday : Complete the essay; complete the vocabulary work; and read Chapter 17.

Alexa journaled for the first few minutes of class. She shared what she wrote. We then continued our study of the play. We read Act III scenes I and ll. We discussed both scenes, and we answered the accompanying study guide questions. I am amazed at the insight Alexa shares about the play.

Alexa and I previewed Act III. We read Act III scene 1. We answered the accompanying study guide questions and used them as a springboard for our discussion. Up until this act, the text provided a translation. This act there was no translation. Alexa did a super job of interpreting Shakespeare's language herself.

Alexa and I were to continue reading Act III.