Wing and a Prayer

What I love about this gig is that I can do what I love most: design and create a curriculum. From "scratch" almost. Of course, I have the state curriculum guidelines, but this group of kids... their range and experience makes the word "differentiated" an instructional challenge.

I have spent hours and hours and hours researching dramatic duets that are at their reading level, of high interest and yet, still appropriate for their age. Then, in order to be efficient with my classroom time and management, have tried to study the rosters of kids I've know for barely three weeks to pair them. It's a rough sketch... it will change once I'm sitting in front of them, of course... but some structure needed to be put into place to put an effort into efficiency. Those who don't speak English or have challenges that completely inhibit them from reading/speaking will be the pairs' "directors".

Just now, I had the crazy idea to take Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene and the fight scene and break it down (not change words)... just edit/whittle... and create six opportunities for pairs to try. Not all of the pairs will be offered these Shakespeare scenes.  I'm seriously throwing this out there to see what works. They have been singing Sonnet 18 for three weeks... it's not completely out of context...

but it may be beyond their reach and so what? Even if they merely stumble over the words... exposure. Perhaps it will be a shining moment. If it begins to be too frustrating by mid-week, we'll switch gears and grab another duet.

I'm off to buy plastic swords. That should entice the boys. I hope.