Roy’s English Blog

 Summary: Today we did a test on the Langston Hughes poems we’ve done so far. After that we started on writing a second poem of our own, this time about our culture. Reflection: I don’t even know what my culture is, really. I was thinking about maybe writing something about how I’m kind of a combination of everyone I’ve talked to in my life, but I don’t know. Evaluation: On Tuesday, I had a wonderful realization that I am the only white male in the class. So in a way, I don’t know that I have a specific “culture”, because people like me have never had their practices suppressed. That might be a good poem theme. Reveal: I want this week to be over so I can stop being so busy

 Summary: On Tuesday, we read the poem “Let America be America Again”, also by Langston Hughes. The poem discusses how despite being known for its endless opportunity and values of freedom for everyone, America has not ever upheld these promises for people of color. Reflection: I’m writing this on Thursday BECAUSE Google would not work on Tuesday. I did not forget. I have never forgotten anything in my life; you would know! Evaluation: Thank you for letting me make these up this semester. I remember in August, I missed a few of these, and you said it had to be on the day-of. Reveal: Happy birthday to all you leapsters !

 Summary: Today we wrok Today we worked on the poem sheet from Friday. The other poems on the sheet were “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, “Mother to Son”, and “Refugee in America”.  Reflection: I thought we only had to choose one of the other ones and finish that side, but I was wrong and did everything but 2 parts of the last one.  Evaluation: I felt like I was repeating myself on these questions. I’m almost certain that’s a me problem but I think it felt redundant for me (I’m not good at interpretation). Reveal: The concert was good I got the vinyl I wanted and it was signed by both of them

 Summary: Today we kept with the “poetry” bit, and started a big analysis sheet on all the different Langston Hughes poems we’ve read. But because of time, we only did “I, too” today. Reflection: From my understanding, it was to prepare for the poetry thing on the EOC’s. I actually have no clue what to expect from those, but I’ve never really been worried about it- I can’t say why. Evaluation: I am such a lightweight that I drank a Diet Coke (46mg of caffeine) and couldn’t focus on anything today. So you may or may not have noticed that I was super jittery, but I assure you I 100% tried to read the poem. Reveal: AARMAND HAMMER CONTERT TOMORROW CANNOT WAIT 

 Summary: On Thursday, we explored the marvelous world of poetry. Langston Hughes,  “Mother to Son”  The poem was about a mother giving life advice to her son, likening life to a staircase, with many turns and landings. Reflection (keyboard broken): i lIked tHe oPening fOr tOday. iT wAs iNteresting tHinking bAck oN aLl tHe aDvice mY mOm hAs gIven mE tHrough mY lIfe. Evaluation: I completely forgot I put that song in one of my blogs. I think I must have done it in a blind rage. Don’t listen to it Reveal: I have the Armand Hammer concert this Saturday I’m actually so excited I am partially certain I am about to explode. Figuratively, of course! Literally, that would have been domestic terrorism, and I wouldn’t do that!

I swear I tried to crop the picture but my phone IS NOT WORKING! Summary: Today we reviewed the poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes. It was about the experience of a black person in the early 20th century, and his view of the future in America involving equality and brotherhood. Reflection: This one was complex to analyze for me, because the last 2 years of my life have been spent trying to answer the questions we asked today. “What does it mean to be an American?” was one of them. Although it was simple, my answer was something like “Someone who is active in America.” What I meant by that is someone- anyone- who participates in American society. I’ve heard propagandists say that being critical of America somehow makes you “anti-American”, which I think says more about what they’re trying to cover up than the person saying it; that’s what I am trying to convey by that.  Evaluation: I like yapping, and these questions are hard for me personally to answer without doing extensive yapping...

 Summary: Today we had a shorter class period, because of the Black History Month performances. But in the time we had, we talked about two poems, both about freedom and liberty. Reflection: I may or may not have also done the CommonLit today too. Because, truth be told, I physically did not have the energy to talk yesterday, let alone read and comprehend a 1930s novel. Evaluation: There really isn’t anything we could’ve done today. And even at the performance I couldn’t see because of some WINGNUT completely blocking my view. Reveal: i’m sick

 Summary: Today we talked about the Harlem Renaissance and started reading poems by Langston Hughes. The one we read today was called “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”. Reflection: I like when I can understand poems. I also like when I can finish the day’s assignment in 5 minutes. Both of which were done today. Evaluation: My favorite part of the class was when I asked you when the recording of him reading the poem was taken and you nodded at me and then started talking to the guy next to you Reveal: I can’t stop thinking about this  https://on.soundcloud.com/xaigWRtoSFLp2vZU9

 Summary: Today he wasn’t here. Poor guy got captured by a syndicate of feral toddlers, and couldn’t make it on time. But, in the meantime, we had a CommonLit assignment about chapter 8. Reflection: Chapter 8 really tied the plot together for me. It was pretty poetic how Tom’s affair with Myrtle led to Daisy killing Myrtle using Gatsby’s car and Mr. Wilson wrongfully taking it out on the one guy involved with nothing but romantic misfortune. Evaluation: I like short assignments keep doing them🙏Also the FRQ on there was fun to answer. Reveal: Today is slow and depressing. But not in an “I’m depressed and want to die” way, more like a more generally downtempo, yet ultimately good way. One could say I am using too many words to describe the word “slow”

Summary: Today we did another Black History Month opener, regarding respecting culture and what not to do. After, we finished the presentations that were left after yesterday. Reflection: Nobody did anyone but Daisy or Gatsby, which is awesome. Just know that I thought of it first and everyone else is copying me 100%. Reveal/Evaluation: You were right! I was able to just chill today! Which would’ve been awesome if I didn’t feel so weird today, in a way words cannot describe😅😅😅

 Summary: Today we started the presentations for the projects. I was first again 🦅 and it went exactly as I thought it would. That isn’t to say it was bad; I knew Gangster Spongebob is an acquired taste. Reflection: Being the first one also helped me because I never have to do that again . I also have established that Gatsby is a “hustler”!  Evaluation: It was fine! I’m bad at presentation, and also when I made the presentation, I was completely out of my mind, in the most sober way you can imagine. Reveal: I’m writing this in the middle of 2nd period. Teacher isn’t supposed to know that though, so don’t tell him. It’s also my mom’s 48th birthday today, that’s what’s going on in my life.

 Summary: Today we took more time to work on the projects. But also, we had to read chapter 7 and answer a set of questions on it. Reflection: Today in 5th period I did the entire planning sheet in one class and now my right hand hurts a lot. I also did the entire question sheet and I was only supposed to do half of it. Evaluation: Please never make me do an entire planning sheet like that again. At least put it on Canvas for digital submission or something, I don’t know. Reveal: Other than that, I’ve had a good day today. I got a lot of work done.

Summary: Today we took the class to work on the project I said I’d do on Friday. And I got halfway through it today, so I’m not too worried for that part. Reflection: I don’t know what was going through me when I did them, but the slides I did this morning were straight terrible. I will defend them, however, because Jay Gatsby would 100% use Hustler’s University and get scammed. Evaluation: Assigning things on a Friday is never cool but that’s made up for by giving us Monday for it, I guess. I almost forgot to check the websites I was putting on there, and I’m glad I didn’t, because some of the stuff on one of my scrapped websites was absolutely wild. Reveal: I was put into NHS last year and nobody told me about it so today I got a letter about how I haven’t earned a single point for the club I didn’t know I was in

 Summary: Today we did another common assessment, this time only with 5 MCQs. Other than that, I finished the chapter 6 notes from yesterday LIKE I SAID I WOULD! Reflection: We also got assigned a project, which I don’t feel like starting right now; that will be a 5th period me issue. But, I got about 3 times the amount of work done in one class than I did yesterday morning somehow. Evaluation: The test was easy enough. Some of the questions didn’t really make sense, but I eventually got them. I would say I’m worried for the EOC too, but I can’t really be worried for something from which I don’t know what to expect. Reveal: For the last two Fridays in a row, I’ve gotten bad mood swings around 5th period for no reason. So, today I will be locking in, and remaining strictly positive all weekend.

 Summary: Today the teacher wasn’t here, so we just had some discussion questions and nothing else. We also had the sub that reminds me of Wally from Papa’s Pizzeria. Reflection: I remembered early into the class that I hadn’t yet finished the questions from yesterday, so that’s what I did first. Then, I started the new ones, but I never finished them. I’ll start them when I get home. Evaluation: I typed that entire last paragraph while not looking at my phone. Anyway, I have nothing to evaluate for today.