Revisiting Shakespeare {Swagger Inventor}

We're revisiting William Shakespeare as we prepare for our class play, Zomeo & Kooliet (title inspired by a student (D.M. - the muse) and play written by me (Ms. D. - the playwright)), a modern retelling of his masterpiece Romeo & Juliet.

Will's Stats

born: 1564 * died: 1616

hometown: Stratford-Upon-Avon, England

parents: John & Mary

wife: Anne Hathaway

kids: Susanna, Judith, & Hamnet (J & H were twins, but sadly Hamnet died young)

works: over 150 sonnets & more than 30 plays

play categories: histories, comedies, tragedies, romances, & tragicomedies

acting company: 'Lord Chamberlain's Men' (changed name to 'King's Men' in 1603)

theater: The Globe (located in London, England)

Other Cool Facts

-Will created tons of words (literally thousands) that we still use today (for example: downstairs, watchdog, eyeball, leaky, luggage, majestic, moonbeam, priceless...).

-One of Will's words that he created was...(wait for it) =)... swagger!  Can you believe it?  Shakespeare invented that word!!!  He used it in some of his plays, like A Midsummer Night's Dream, King Lear, and Henry V. 

-In Will's day only men could perform/act in plays (all parts male or female had to be played by men or boys).

Shakespeare All Around Us

   

Nearly 400 years since his death, Shakespeare's words, plays, and poems are still being spoken, read, and explored.  Writers can change the world...

-Ms. D.

{all images via Pinterest}

We Survived TCAP! =)

Thanks for doing your best on the test!

Love,

Ms. Dawn

P.S.: How do you like the promotion countdown?

Yeah!!!

Happy Spring Break my dear students!  Please be safe, relax a little, have loads of fun... oh yeah, and look over your TCAP study sheet every now and then {sorry I had to put that in there}.  


Love, =)
Ms. Dawn


P.S.: Remember if you bring your TCAP review sheet back with a parent signature confirming that you did, in fact, study some you'll get extra credit in writing class!

To You...

My students are...

TCAP Testing Tips

What to do now...
1. have good attendance (we will be preparing each day for the big test, so don't miss out and do your best to not be tardy)
2. review at home
3. ask questions if you are still having a challenge with something covered in class (remember our class is a safe zone to share ideas and form questions)
4. be on your best behavior and stay focused during class time (even if you feel like you've got it together academically, the person next to you may not and it's unfair to take away from his/her education by being distracting)
5. take study notes on a topic that is challenging you so you can review them later

What to do on the test days...
1. get a good night's sleep each night
2. eat a healthy breakfast to jumpstart your brain daily
3. come to school on time (don't be tardy)
4. eliminate incorrect answers
5. underline key information in the questions
6. bubble in your answers completely (with a #2 pencil), making sure you are in the correct spot on your answer sheet
7. triple check your answers if you finish early
8. check the time periodically and pace yourself (if time is almost up and you have unanswered questions go ahead and bubble in an answer for each question, so you at least have a chance, and then if there's more time go back over them)
9. take deep breathes and stretch your hands/arms to relieve tension
10. believe in yourself and know that I believe in you, too   

Remember these tips!  I think you're going to do GREAT!

Love,
Ms. Dawn

William Shakespeare in the House!

AKA: Bard of Avon * 1564-1616

Some say, "William Shakespeare in elementary school?  What?!" However, in Ms. Dawn's writing class, we say, "Yes!" and work to prove naysayers wrong.


Fabulous quotes from the famous Stratford-Upon-Avon playwright:


"All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players."
-As You Like It

"This above all: to thine own self be true."
-Hamlet 

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt."
-Measure for Measure (This is one of my favorite quotes! -Ms. Dawn) 

"Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn, and cauldron bubble."
-Macbeth (Cauldron is one of our million $ words of the day!  A trio of creepy witches chant this quote in the bloody play of Macbeth.)

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
-Romeo & Juliet

"It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." (That's a metaphor!)
-Romeo & Juliet

Click HERE to watch the video we watched in class!
Click HERE for more Shakespeare fun!

Writing students, what else have you learned about old William Shakespeare?  Leave me a comment! =)

"Parting is such sweet sorrow..." (That's another quote from Romeo & Juliet.)
Ms. Dawn

(Image Source: Getty Images)

I Heart Poetry {Do You?}

There's something magical about written verse...  Here's a poem for ya... 
Think you don't like poetry?
Can't understand - the dancing words
Somersaulting, over and over,
White fields.
Looking crazy?
Spinning brain, let out that sigh.
It's okay.  You know poetry,
But you don't -
It's in that music that's booming 
That rap that's rhyming -
It's in the breeze that's blowing
Sweet zephyrs flowing -
In flowers blooming -
Fast crimson rides zooming -
It's in waterfalls, the moon, a simple tune -
In everyday life - azure skies - delight -
Poetry, my friend, is not so uptight.
Poetry, instead, is giving breath to life.

                                    -Ms. Dawn