KPTP FrEnZy

As I'm sure my fellow student-teachers can attest to, the Spring Break of your senior year has been something of a huge let down - Thanks Hollywood! Instead of one last hoorah (as seen in the movies), it has been a frenzy of working extra hours in order to live up to my assistant manager title at work, throwing together graduation details that I'll never get around to once school starts, and the all too wonderful KPTP...

Oh, KPTP...I've learned over the last week that 1) Apparently, I was one of very few people who actually started it over winter break (this included my boyfriend, who I've been nagging to start it since winter break!), 2) No matter how long you work on it and how far you get, you are never - EVER done, 3) It's designed to make young student teachers question their every move in the classroom, which might or might not be a good thing, and finally 4) Watching Shocker basketball during March Madness is the only thing in the world that could possibly be more stressful.

Currently, I'm just out of reach of the light at the end of the tunnel: I'm down to counting the boxes that remain empty (23 - which is actually next to nothing in a document like this). Hopefully, all of my classmates are progressing nicely, but just in case they feel as though they are running short on time, here are some helpful sources:

• Although everyone should have this website in their toolbars, here is the link to the Kansas State Standards that everyone will need for their KPTP's and the lesson plans included within.
• Here are the Content Guidelines that I wish I had more time to read over as I've been working.
• Remember to take a Break every once in awhile.
• And don't forget, THIS is what the KPTP is inspiring us to become. 

Good luck, everyone! Stay Classy :)

"When the hurlyburly's done..."

After many struggles and adaptations due to snow days and frustrated students, my American Dream unit with the juniors is finally coming to an end. I feel like everyone who reads that sentence should be applauding right now, because I was beginning to think it would be impossible to complete it before Spring Break, which I feel is essential to me finished my KPTP.  And, while you're applauding me, let's also send youtube a huge thanks for being an invaluable resource to teaching.  Part of me wonders if the creators ever expected it to be used in a classroom...

I thank them (and my CT for coming up with the idea) because instead of having the juniors trudge through the last three chapters of the novel over the past week while attempting to complete their American Dream Interview Projects and fit in a test, I had the students watch them.(Chapter 7-8/Chapter 8-9) This particular version was made in the 40's so it had some rather cheesy parts but almost instantaneously, their interest in the book skyrocketed! Now, we are able to review for their test on Monday before spending the rest of the class period preparing for their presentations on Wednesday.

Macbeth is going surprisingly well also! The students have really taken to it even though they openly admit that the language is complicated. However, we are going through it slowly; taking out time so that they can really experience the language and grasp the meaning behind the words. Youtube has also been instrumental in their learning.  To help them examine the themes, I had them watch a compilation of three different versions of Macbeth (Hurlyburly Exercise) and compare the visuals seen in each.  They loved being able to actually see the play in action, even if it was the first scene over and over again.

I also hope to include a funny little clip from Studio C (Shakespearean Therapy) so that they can laugh at the absurdity of some of Shakespeare's characters, then write their own therapy session with either Lady Macbeth or Macbeth.  Tomorrow, I'm bringing in props to have them act out a bit of the murder scene.  The play I performed in 6th grade (which I'm trying to hunt down to show them as their "movie" version) has a sword fight at the end with specific choreography that I would like to have them act out in April.

Clearly, I'm bursting with ideas for Macbeth and very excited because I am not on such a time crunch with the seniors like I am with the juniors.  The seniors are also much easier to do fun things with because their classroom management is effortless. I am definitely looking forward to having some fun with my seniors!

"Double, Double, Toil and Trouble"

I will begin my Macbeth unit for the seniors tomorrow and I have a feeling it will either go extremely smoothly or be the most unkempt farm road ever. First, because I will now be in charge of all of my CT's classes until Spring Break. This means not just double the workload, but quadruple! Second, my CT and I are unsure on just how much experience the students have with Shakespeare but are certain that they will struggle quite a bit with the language.  As a result, I've decided to use an abridged version of the play. This is also due to the fact that I'm using the play to continue my CT's unit of ethics so the play is not the main focus. The students have just finished watching the movie "A Few Good Men," in which the characters are up against the federal government/U.S. Marines in a hazing scandal that resulted in a man's death. Although it is quite the jump back in time, Macbeth has the similar ethical themes of standing up against the ruling force for what you believe in. (I would share my abridged version of Macbeth, but I cannot seem to find a way to post it. If you'd like it, I'd be happy to email it to you!)

In preparing for this unit, I've done a lot of online searching for ideas and resources...There is plenty out there, but I haven't found a great deal to be of use. I'm a bit torn when it comes to www.folger.edu. They have a great deal of resources and lesson plan suggestions for a variety of subjects...None of them so far have really been for me, though.  However, that does not mean that they can't be useful in a different classroom. :) I did find one source that I would love to incorporate ideas from: Macbeth Unit. If I have time, I would love to get the SmartBoard out and and try some Shakespeare Jeopardy!
The part of this unit that I am most excited about is the final project I have developed.  I took an idea from one of the KPTP workshops I attended and tweaked it to suit my needs. I have four senior classes (about 80 students). I plan to break them all into small groups and assign each a scene from the play that they will then develop into a children's book in modern English. They will be asked to identify/use such things as foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony if necessary.  I will then compile each group's pages into a book (probably digital).  I'm hoping this will encourage them to put a great deal of effort into the project because some of the art projects I've tried with the juniors have had rather sad results when it comes to effort.