CORONATIONS

HEAR YE!   HEAR YE!   

More  CORONATIONS!  

The Right and Honorable Lidia Echeverria, William Rhyumann, and Jayson Cummings  have read, watched or listened to SEVENTEEN-- Yes, SEVENTEEN of Shakespeare's plays. 

They have moved from peasant status, of no plays, through Commoner, one play, surpassed Guilds man of two plays, Magistrate--three plays. She has ridden past Knight at four plays, Baron and Baroness at five, passed Count/Countess at six, March/Marchioness at seven, Duke/Duchess at nine and Prince/Princess at twelve and become a QUEEN/KING at seventeen!

We know that there are others watching, reading or listening to the plays of Shakespeare, and we are excited to be planning more CORONATIONS.

WHY is ROME just like AMERICA?

Candy Challenge:

Wanna know how Rome and Current America are alike?

Read the following points from this article to find out! 

Rome is a Mirror of Current America –  Excerpts taken from article by Oliver DeMille  AUGUST 28, 2013 Studying history is always the best way to understand our current world and current events. The more things change, the more they stay the same.  "If we don’t read history, we are doomed to keep making the same mistakes,"-- Burke

Back then:  Senators were originally the heads of clans, who spoke for their people and had as much power collectively as the king. Another name for Senators was “Fathers,” or patres, and their descendents were called the patrician or noble class.  Now:  Families are the basis of all free nations, but class systems are always the enemy of freedom. We need to find ways to promote the family, not just the families of the wealthy, in society.  Also, we need our Senators to truly act like fathers and great leaders. Rome was founded with three branches of power: the Senate, the commons, and the executive (who controlled the military). One had money, another population, and the final, military might. It’s the same today. War is unjust unless undertaken to require restitution for wrongs.  They believed war should always be formally declared by all branches of govt.  Under this definition, we haven’t had a just or righteous war since World War II.

The Roman king Tarquin was the first to go out and campaign for votes and give a public speech trying to get popular support. He was known as a tyrant, and these techniques of public campaigning were looked down on for centuries. The American founders knew this history and largely shared this view. We should consider this today.

Tarquin also tried to add members to the Senate when those already there wouldn’t follow his lead.  Franklin D. Roosevelt later attempted a similar approach when he tried to increase the size of the Supreme Court that thwarted his programs.  At one point, Rome created a system where every citizen had a vote but only the very wealthy and powerful had any real power. Thus the people were highly impressed with their democratic system, but the power was in the hands of elites.   “Men who are fighting for their own liberty and prestige are very different creatures from men who are called upon to use their judgment, unclouded by passion, when the fight is over.” What we need today is a lot more judgment and wise thinking from our regular citizens. Citizens were given unferrered freedom, but no vote “complete freedom of action, if not political rights.”  The people were much happier during this era than when they had votes but no real power. Both types of government are bad for freedom in the long term

“The passions of the mob are notoriously fickle.” Then as well as now, voters swing one way now, and the other at the next election. Again, this is our current dilemma when we go with whoever promises us the most. Many Romans really believed in a class system-- some people are just plain better than others, simply because of who their parents are. This view of class led them to justify slavery, aristocracy, and different rights for different classes. The American founders argued that rights are inalienable and must be equal — for everyone. Period. Today, we seem to be returning to a class view of society--a great danger to our freedoms, from both the Left and the Right. When the kings and Senate in ancient Rome fought each other to the point that neither could get anything done, they finally created the office of the Censor, and gave him power to just do whatever was needed — regardless of the executive or the Senate.  But because the Censor was just one person, he was easily attacked by the other branches of government. So the Censors created a huge bureaucracy, and this ran Rome and made most of the decisions no matter what the executive or Senate wanted to do.  Today the bureaucracies in America and many other “free” nations actually exert much more power than our elected officials. This is a serious problem, and the main reason things change very little when the voters put a new party in office. In ancient times the military tribunes had their answers ready waiting until the people were out of town and they secretly recalled the senators and got a decree passed in the absence of the people.  Really?  Secret courts, secret decisions, secret tribunals that benefit military-industrial-complex and skirt the oversight of our representatives?  Not going to happen now right?  Say FISA.   “Rome was no longer a monarchy; she enjoyed free institutions. The people of Rome would sooner open their gates to an enemy than to a king. There was not a man in the city who did not pray that the end of liberty, should it come, might also be the end of Rome.”  This reminds me of Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech. Today a majority seems to prefer socialism to liberty.  “Human nature, does not change...” The American founders believed this, and they wrote the Constitution to protect us from the weakness and power of man, regardless of technological and societal advancement.

“...angry men must also be strong, if they would achieve their purpose.” If we’re frustrated about the current steady stream of scandals in Washington, we must do something effective to make a difference.

CORONATIONS A Queen A Queen ! ! ! !

CORONATIONS A Queen A Queen ! ! ! !

HEAR YE!   HEAR YE!   

COME  ONE !     COME ALL !!!!

JOIN THE FIRST CORONATION PARTY!  

OCTOBER 3, 2013

We have our FIRST coronation scheduled for THIS WEEK! 

The Right and Honorable Miranda Wilson has read, watched or listened to SEVENTEEN-- Yes, SEVENTEEN of Shakespeare's plays. 

She has moved from peasant status, of no plays, through Commoner, one play, surpassed Guilds man of two plays, Magistrate--three plays. She has ridden past Knight at four plays, Baron and Baroness at five, passed Count/Countess at six, March/Marchioness at seven, Duke/Duchess at nine and Prince/Princess at twelve and become a QUEEN at seventeen!

She is NOW A QUEEN but not any queen but a HIGH QUEEN as she is the first to finish the royalty race!

We know that there are others watching, reading or listening to the plays of Shakespeare, and we are excited to be planning more CORONATIONS.

Feel free to bring her gifts of adulation from the common folk.  Gold or jewels will suit best however chocolate will suffice.

Shakespeare Presentations Schedule 2013

Shakespeare Presentations Schedule 2013

This semester our students are presenting information to the group using a variety of presentation skills like power point, internet programs but not limited too these. Use your imagination and let your creativity flow!  We have presentations scheduled on the following dates:

Shakespeare's Life                                                                             Sis Echeverria  9-12

Weapons                                                                                           William   9-19

Witches, Fairies, and things that go bump in the night                           Jessica  9-19

What the heck is a fork? Food and dining customs                                Sage  10-3

War of the Roses                                                                                Kim  10-3

The Life of Queen Elizabeth                                                                  Miranda  10-10

Myths, Legends and Mysteries                                                             Lidia  10-17

Roles of the Sexes                                                                               Johnny  10-24

Off with his head! Unemployment, crime, and punishment                        Aidan  10-24

Death, Burial and Ghosts                                                                      Chandra  10-31

What did people wear?                                                                          Makella  11-7

IF YOU ARE DOING A POWER POINT PLEASE LET SIS LYLE OR SIS ECHEVERRIA KNOW AHEAD OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE EQUIPMENT READY.

FYI about Shakespeare Conquest Lesson Plan:  This course  offers youth the opportunity to present a topic from the 15th Century, Renaissance period.  The topic is consistent with the period and a suggestion list is offered in the Shakespeare student binder on page  .   It is also one of the TEN STEPS for achievement awards.

The following topics are also open:

Religion of the Times
God, Religion and Superstition
The King James Bible
Natural Order and Social Position
Mysticism and Animals
Who is Who in the Arts
Mental illness and retardation
Body and Mind

The Ruling Class

The House of Tudor

The Geography of England

Theater and Acting in the 16th Century

All in a day's work

The Four Humors

Who's Who in the Arts

Who gets an education

A man's home is his castle

Let William know ASAP which topic you want and he will get you a date. Don't miss this opportunity to teach us.

Writing Assignments

Writing Assignments

Shakespeare Conquest gives youth the opportunity to write on specific topics weekly.  These assignments follow the Play and each Act's reading assignment.  It also encompasses the discussion topics and these are in the student's binder on page 21 .

Some are:

Great Leaders

Acting vs Reacting

Decisions that lead to destruction

Characters in play, what relation to Caesar?

Superstition, is it a part of your life?

Effect of emotions on your actions

Brutus vs Cassius as leaders

Mob Rule

Anthony, Friend?

This is an option students may explore on their own level at their own proficiency.  While one page may suffice, we encourage the student to stretch himself in whatever capacity and strive to become  better  at the critical skill of written expression. Remember this is your opportunity to make this a SCHOLAR class and for you to shine in your talents.

10 Step Pass Offs

10 Step Pass Offs

A reminder of what they are:

1. Read and discuss the play - Julius Caesar for 2013
2. Watch/Read/Listen to seven of Shakespeare's Plays
3.  Personal Vocabulary List (20 words) 
4. Participate in Shakespeare Fair- November 23, 2013
5. Participate in Spring Play- May 17, 2014
6. Poetic, Strategies Vocabulary
7. Iambic Pentameter:  Explain/Write/Discuss  
8. Present - Shakespearean topic
9. Recite Set-piece - Mark Anthony, from Act III, scene 2
10. Write a Summary of the Play

Shakespeare Conquest offers students the opportunity to use the incentive system to reward and encourage themselves to excel.  We hope to attend the Renaissance Fair with students who complete these ten steps this spring. We only had 4 students go last year, let's step that up a bit and ALL make it! Ready, set, GO!!!!

2013 Course of Study: Julius Caesar

2013 Course of Study: Julius Caesar

This first semester the 2013 course of study will be the Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar.

Conquest recommends the following texts:

• Julius Caesar - The play in the form of Cliff Notes, The Complete Version

Everyone should already have this and a student manual. If you do not please let me know asap.

Welcome and Daily Overview

Welcome and Daily Overview First Semester 2013

Shakespeareans,

Sister Lyle and I would love to welcome all of you to Shakespeare this semester. We are very excited to dive into Julius Caesar with all of you.  In the whirl that has been the last few weeks, we would like to give you an idea of the daily course schedule. We understand that you need a small break after engaging in the study of our founding fathers however,

  IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU ARE ON TIME

Here is a synopsis of the course study for a typical day.  This is very specific and all of the games, plan and purposes are specified for us in the mentor manual. Everyone should already have a student manual and a Cliff's complete of Julius Caesar. 

Typical Day:

15 minutes:      Gathering Activity – Drama Warm Ups actor training.

                        These are very specific and outlined for us in the mentor manual.

15 minutes:      Lecture:  Intro to Shakespeare  Topics like Shakespeare’s life, poetic language, iambic pentameter, prose vs verse, couplets, imagery, soliloquies, mythology, Asides, Quibbles and Banters.

15 minutes:      Reading Discussion:  Over the previous week’s assignment

15 minutes:      Vocabulary assignment for next week:

Share vocab. discussion from previous week

15 minutes:      Writing Topic for the next week

15 minutes:      Student Presentations: ie. Elizabethan Life, ruling class, mysticism, Food and dining customs, death, burial and ghosts, Clothing, Weapons,  The Four Humors, Religion, superstition      26 topic suggestions are given

                        Each student can sign up for a date and make one of these. 

15 minutes:  Ten step pass-offs -

We are so frantically busy getting all of this stuff in and the excitement level and enthusiasm is so strong that there is not much time for peripheral socialization on side topics, but the youth will build relationships and it is that positive direction and skill building that builds confidence and engenders leadership skills.  

Iambic Pentameter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qv-sjQHgZ8

Library Book Request

Ah Hem,  ah hem, 

(Imagine a nasal, whiny, yet queenly drawl)

"This is the end of the year request for the return of all library materials... or the school will be forced to withhold your report card, and send you to bed without dinner, which will affect your graduation and that will end in the utter anniliation of the entire world as we know it."

(Okay, so no real threat.)

The books that are still out are:  

# 1 Comedy of Errors  

#14 Taming of the Shrew No Fear

#22 Manga Othello

#16 Romeo and Juliet Manga

#25 Thomas Jefferson for Teens

We are also missing movies,

#9V Taming of the Shrew (and something else that I can't remember, but that would require that I run up the stairs and sort through the box again, and that's too much.)

"So each and ever denizen of the town is hereby ordered by the court..."

Anyway,  everyone look in their closets, under beds and in your showers for these and return them back to their naturalized summer hybernation site at the next party?  

Hugs, 

Miss You Everyone, 

QuEen  DrAma DaRcey

Three Pigs by Shakespeare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxoUUbMii7Q

EXTRINSIC REWARD for MEMORIZED LINES

It SHOWS TRUE LEADERSHIP if we encourage ourselves rather than punish ourselves later.  So, let's run a reward plan rather than a desperation plan at the end.

So Shakespearians,  What can we as mentors do as incentive to encourage all of you to do your best in the next two weeks to memorize all your lines?  

HMMmmmmmmm,   If anyone has an idea, please let me know and we will seriously consider it!   

Let me know,   Sis. D. 

Props Link

Act	Prop	Scenery	Actor
Act 1 Scene I	Horse		Tranio
		Tree	Sis Harper
	Hat/Cloak		Tranio/Lucentio
		Stool	Katarina – strike it
Scene 2		Door ??	Hortensio’s house
Act II Scene I	Books		Lucentio
	Broken Lute		Hortensio
	Bandage/head		Hortensio
	Rope		Bianca/Katharina
	Broom		Servant/William
	Lute		Hortensio
Act III Scene I		Two Stools
	Big Book		Lucentio
	Lute		Hortensio
	Sword		Grumio
Act IV Scene I		Chair Covering
		Two chairs
		Fireplace
	Tray /drink/meat		Grumio
		Wood	Curtis
Scene II		2 stools	Jayson strikes after
	Cane ?		Merchant/pedant
Scene III
	Dress form in dress to tear		Tailor
	Head with hat		haberdasher
Act V
Scene II	Stools		Five guys
	Food/plates		All Players except front
	Hat	To toss off and stomp	Katharina