Bad news and good news
Before I begin, let's have a moment of silence. Will Eisner died yesterday. One of the greatest American artists no one really knows about is now gone. Pay your respect.
* * *
In other news, I visited the school I get to teach at this next semester (Jan. 31 - June 17). I'm teaching three classes, but only two preps. In other words, two Sophmore English classes and one Freshman class. And what, you ask, do I start off teaching? Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar! Now, that might seem terrible to some of you, but it excites me to no end. Of course High Schoolers hate Shakespeare, but part of the challenge of teaching is getting kids to love stuff they think they don't like. And there's no one worth liking more than the Bard.
MAN! I am seriously excited about this. What I am not excited about is having to grade over 70 essays on these two plays when all is said and done. But I have the feeling it will be worth it for the chance to get kids excited about the Montagues and Capulets.
"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows do with their death bury their parents' strife." (R&J, Prologue)
The real challenge will be to get the kids to feel sorry for Brutus.
Man, I'm being such a nerdy teacher right now but I am incredibly excited. This is why I want to teach!
* * *
In other news, I visited the school I get to teach at this next semester (Jan. 31 - June 17). I'm teaching three classes, but only two preps. In other words, two Sophmore English classes and one Freshman class. And what, you ask, do I start off teaching? Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar! Now, that might seem terrible to some of you, but it excites me to no end. Of course High Schoolers hate Shakespeare, but part of the challenge of teaching is getting kids to love stuff they think they don't like. And there's no one worth liking more than the Bard.
MAN! I am seriously excited about this. What I am not excited about is having to grade over 70 essays on these two plays when all is said and done. But I have the feeling it will be worth it for the chance to get kids excited about the Montagues and Capulets.
"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-crossed lovers take their life; whose misadventured piteous overthrows do with their death bury their parents' strife." (R&J, Prologue)
The real challenge will be to get the kids to feel sorry for Brutus.
Man, I'm being such a nerdy teacher right now but I am incredibly excited. This is why I want to teach!