Current in the Classroom
Poetica Dramatica: Daily Plans, Materials, Audio, Videos, Handouts, etc. Over the course of 14 classes precision poetry drill teams are picked, poems chosen, re-arranged, memorized, choreographed, and performed. Teams incorporate solos, unison lines, body strikes, choreography, dynamics, and tempo changes. Do not mistake this for a poetry reading -- teams transform their poems into performance pieces. It's more like a concert than a reading: loud, energized teams perform poetry with a focus on the sound and rhythm of their pieces. This assignment is transformative for students' understanding of poetry and themselves. Read some blog posts to see what students thought about the project, what problems they faced, and the successes they had:
Watch some of the videos of past performances to get a feel for the project, and see what you'll be doing:
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Formerly in the classroom: Kira-Kira, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Videos, Art, Handouts, Supplemental Reading, and Such
Essential Question: How do communities and their expectations shape our lives? Overarching Theme for the year: How can we understand things (stories, novels, situations, people) better by looking at them from another person’s perspective? Introduction: During this unit students will choose which novel best suits their interests, either Sherman Alexie’s Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and Cynthia Kadohata’s Kira-Kira. Students will develop fundamental skills for independent learning including how to read a text (novel, poem, article, documentary, news story, etc.) and communicate clearly about their ideas on the pieces read. They will also develop collaborative skills based upon listening to other students’ ideas, evaluating those ideas, and building new understandings and questions based on the results of the process. The essential question students will consider throughout is: “How do communities and their expectations shape our lives?” While considering this, students will compare and contrast their own experiences to each novel’s protagonist in an attempt to understand themselves and their own communities, as well as the characters’ lives in the novel. We will also explore the themes of race and identity, prejudice, growing-up in the face of adversity, and how hope and hard work is essential to any success. |
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Or Visit Our Class Youtube Channel to Watch the Poetica Dramatica Playlist
http://www.youtube.com/andreeinstitute
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The "Think First" Short Film Project
At the JHS students worked with a problem-solving model this year called Think First where students when confronted with a problem would “Keep Cool” (stay calm and don’t react immediately), “Size Up The Situation” (which is basically trying to understand what’s happening), “Think It Through” (figure out possible solutions and reactions), and “Do The Right Thing” (from all possibilities make the best choice).
I Am The Bed Wetter! What would you do if someone spread a rumor that you slept in footy pajamas, with a teddy bear, and most humiliatingly -- wet the bed? Think first. I Am The Bed Wetter! (wmv med resolution) I Am The Bed Wetter! (mp4 high resolution download)
The Stick What would you do if you were alone in the woods with a monster, and only a stick to save yourself? Think first. The Stick (wmv med resolution) The Stick (mp4 high resolution download)
Big Bad Problems What would you do if you met this big bad wolf in the woods? Think first. Big Bad Problems (wmv med resolution) Big Bad Problems (mp4 high resolution download)
No Talent Show What would you do if some no talent losers threatened you and your friends? Think first. No Talent Show (wmv med resolution) No Talent Show (mp4 high resolution download)
Listen to Yourself What would you do if you were alone and two creepy guys were following you? Think first. |
The Rhetorical Myth Project Read a few of the top myths students created that sought to support a societal practice or value, or disrupt a societal problem by targeting a specific audience and designing a story to shape their perceptions and actions. |
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Life As A Mythical Creature by Albertine Arnfield
The first bubble came to me as I was getting ready for bed a week after my best friend Sam disappeared. It just sat there, floating above my face. I’m thinking, “Weird…” And then the bubble talked. In Sam’s voice. Read the words off the note, in my head. But the voice came from the ceiling somehow. No, the floor. The bed. The wall, the chair, the window. Even the pencils, pens, clouds, and cat were talking. They were talking to me. The voice came from around me, sweeping me up, up, up yet leaving me petrified in the middle of my room. Sam’s voice. |
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Wither Away by Emily Ziino & Aubrie Isabelle
Here I am. Sitting cross-legged on the cold bathroom countertop reading the pages of a magazine that’s not supposed to exist. I focus my gaze on the people in it, skinny models who have flawless bodies, flawless hair, flawless smiles. Too much flawlessness. I close my eyes and shake my head to rid my mind of them, but they are too stubborn to go away. They stay there, giving me an image of what I will never be. |
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The Peasant Lord by Nick Ferreira
The Peasant-Lord Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Agraddor, there lived a powerful lord who had all he could ever need. Every day, he would walk through the streets of the towns to watch his peasants. He did not care whether they were sick or cold or even hungry. |
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Visit the Andree Institute Blog and Puruse Sept 2012 "Hint" Book Reviews
Get some ideas from current classmates on free reading books you might want to read. |
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Mr. Kocur Taunts His Last Student
A glimpse of the Geek Club's trailer "The Genetix" directed by Kyle Costa |
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Geek Club information on upcoming activities, and links to materials
Check Back for Updates on when Geek Club might begin meetings
Geeks Teach Juggling!
Learn the romantic art of juggling! Never be bored in a supermarket or at a party again! Yes, you too can aquire the massive skills that these geeks now wield, and learn those skills from the formerly uncoordinated geeks themselves. Don't waste another moment -- change your life with this free instructional video now! Juggling Trailer (get a glimpse of what's in store for you) Geek Juggling Class (Instructional Video) Created by Kyle Costa |
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Visit Our Class Youtube Channel and Share on Social Media
http://www.youtube.com/andreeinstitute
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