Spanish classes

My Jr. High Spanish kids have been writing up Restaurant scenarios. I am very happy with their efforts and creativity. We have two teams. Each team has added in bits of their own humorous lines into a basic structure and scene that I prepared for them ahead of time. Team A performed their skit last week, Team B is up this Friday. When we're all finished, we will celebrate by eating Flan! My assistant and I will have ours with cafe con leche :-).

In Spanish I, my nine students are taking their Unit 2 test this week. I'll give the oral comprehension section aloud in class Friday, then take them home to grade. It's almost time for end of semester grade averaging and progress reports. I am more caught up and prepared for it, than I was at mid-semester! The curriculum is a little hard to follow sometimes, and directions are unclear. It's almost as if the program was written in Spanish, or the directions for the actividades were thought up by a native speaker, because something gets lost in the translation or phraseology in English! Once I figure out what was expected, or decide how many points to give to an unclear section, then my assistant and I can grade fairly well. Sometimes, the section directions are very unclear, so we don't count off at all. We have less than one hour to grade during our grading period on Fridays, so we have to stay focused.

Those who are wondering which program we're using for Spanish I so you can be warned: We are using Spanish is Fun by Amsco publishing.
Understand that each curriculum has its weaknesses, I've simply shared a couple of them here. There probably is no perfect curriculum, although I'd love to find the one that is close. For my Jr. High class, I bought, and am reviewing El Español Fácil-The Easy Spanish. I'll write more about it when I've had a chance to really try it out on the kids.

Emily Dickinson

We have been reading a couple of poems each from Whittier, Holmes, Longfellow, Lowell, and Dickinson this past week. The high school kiddos will find examples of Romanticism in each poem.

I added this one to the list, because it is one of my favorite Dickinson poems. Well, of those that I've read. She DID write about 1700 poems, and I've not quite read all of them (grin).

XXI

HE ate and drank the precious words,
His spirit grew robust;
He knew no more that he was poor,
Nor that his frame was dust.
He danced along the dingy days,
And this bequest of wings
Was but a book. What liberty
A loosened spirit brings!

~Emily Dickinson

Will Rogers

Funny quote by a fellow Okie, Will Rogers. His birthday was Friday, Nov. 4th...the same day as my Dad, another great Okie. Except my Dad is only 69.

"See what will happen if you don't stop biting your fingernails?"
Will Rogers, to his niece on seeing the Venus de Milo
US humorist & showman (1879 - 1935)

More on Bryant

I'm attempting once again to repost one of the editorials written by Bryant in 1839, for Sherry and others who may be chomping at the bit to read it. This editorial by Bryant originally appeared in the New York Evening Post, Jan. 11, 1839. Bryant was the literary editor of the NY Eve. Post and worked with the Post for 50 years. I know the context of this is referencing America's [lack of] national literatutre, but similar thoughts were shared along a broader scale, fifty years after Bryant's essay. The following one by Henry Cabot Lodge briefly includes art, architecture, and fashion in his discussion, with and even stronger statement against Colonialism in politics and it's lingering effect in literary circles. It is called "Colonialism in the United States" by Henry Cabot Lodge. Read both and see what you think. I am stoked by the connections I am learning along the way. It's very interesting that even now, at the beginning of the 21st century, we have been plagued yet again by the thoughts of "What does Europe Think?"

Now, to be fair, I have been blessed to enjoy Europe multiple times over the last twenty years, but hey, I still prefer my homeland. Only in Europe (Italy this last time) will the waiter snub you if you think his capuccino is far too expensive in St. Mark's Square and calmly assert to him, "No thank you!" When you realize what other food you could buy with $8.40 European dollars, it's pretty easy to state your thoughts. Heck, you can buy a whole large package of Italian espresso (maybe two!) to take home and enjoy multiple cups of Java with foam later...on your OWN linen tablecloth. $8.40, simply because famous people throughout history have supped or taken afternoon coffee there. Normally, I like to blend in to the country I'm visiting, speak the language as much as possible, be a quiet visitor, instead of the steriotypical "obnoxious, loud American" (and I have seen those, while traveling) But, $8.40 for one small cup off capuccino???? That is where I draw the line! hrrrmmmppphhhh!

Now, on to the Bryant editorial from 1839...

vocabulary: animadversion - hypercriticism, judgement, hairsplitting

"Sentsitiveness to Foreign Opinion"

Cooper's last work, "Home as Found," has been fiercely attacked, in more than one quarter, for its supposed tendency to convey to the people of other countries a bad idea of our national character. Without staying to examine whether all Mr. Cooper's animadversions on American Manners are perfectly just, we seize the occasion to protest against this excessive sensibility to the opinion of other nations. It is no matter what they think of us. We constitute a community large enough to form a great moral tribunal for the trial of any question which may arise among ourselves. There is no occasion for this perpetual appeal to the opinions of Europe. We are competent to apply the rules of right and wrong boldly and firmly, without asking in what light the superior judgement of the Old World may regard our decisions.

It has been said of Americans that they are vainglorious, boastful, fond of talking of the greatness and the advantages of their country, and of the excellence of their national character. They have this foible in common with other nations; but they have another habit which shows that, with all their national vanity, they are not so confident of their own greatness, or of their own capacity to estimate it properly, as their boasts would imply. They are perpetually asking, What do they think of us in Europe? How are we regarded abroad? If a foreigner publishes an account of his travels in this country, we are instantly on the alert to know what notion of our character he has communicated to his countrymen; if an American author publishes a book, we are eager to know how it is received abroad, that we may know how to judge it ourselves. So far has this humor been carried that we have seen an extract, from a third- or fourth-rate critical work in England, condemning some American work, copied into all our newspapers one after another, as if it determined the character of the work beyond appeal or question.

For our part, we admire and honor a fearless accuser of the faults of so thin-skinned a nation as ours, always supposing him to be sincere and well-intentioned. He may be certain that where he has sowed animadversion he will reap an abundant harvest of censure and obloquy. He will have one consolation, however, that if his book be written with ability it will be read; that the attacks which are made upon it will draw it to the public attention; and that it may thus do good even to those who recalcitrate most violently against it.

If every man who writes a book, instead of asking himself the question what good it will do at home, were first held to inquire what notions it conveys of Americans to persons abroad, we should pull the sinews out of our literature. There is much want of free-speaking as things stand at present, but this rule will abolish it altogether. It is bad enough to stand in fear of public opinion at home, but, if we are to superadd the fear of public opinion abroad, we submit to a double despotism. Great reformers, preachers of righteousness, eminent satirists in different ages of the world--did they, before entering on the work they were appointed to do, ask what other nations might think of their countrymen if they gave utterance to the voice of salutary reproof?

William Cullen Bryant

Today in history marks the birthdate of William Cullen Bryant, one of our American Fireside Poets. I had a great post all typed up, with links to some of his most popular poems, such as "Thanatopsis" and "To a Waterfowl." Then, I typed up some stunning sections from an essay he wrote called "Sensitiveness to Foreign opinion," which could also be renamed "Don't worry about what Europe thinks." But alas, Blogger lost the whole post! ACK!!!

So, Happy Birthday, Mr. Bryant...

The the ink impression is of Bryant in his library at Cedarmere from my book Homes and Haunts of our Elder Poets, D. Appleton & Co., New York, 1881.

Good day, all.

One Year Blogging

Happy Anniversary to the Books-n-coffee house. I've had this home on the web for one year, today! It is the chapter in my life that began after a mid-life crisis of sorts...the first of our children becoming a more assertive teen-ager.

My wish for you all today is that you take some time for a cup of Java (or tea, if you prefer it) and kick your feet up with a good book, poem, or essay...enjoy God's blessings in your life.

With His Love,
Javamom

"Growth is the only evidence of Life." ~Cardinal Newman

Do you agree or disagree?

Romanticism: New England

All this reading about the New England Renaissance recently had me dreaming (a couple of nights ago) about our old house where we lived in Belmont, between Concord and Cambridge...near Boston, in early marriage. I dream't that my boss (now much grayer than he used to be) asked me to come back to work at his office part-time, and he also became our landlord at our old house. It was so real, I almost believed it as I awoke slowly to autumn's crisp air wafting in through our window.

The temperature outside is the same as when we first moved up there. I am more of a romantic, and remember those times fondly. I wish we could afford to live there as a family! I'd take the kids to Walden Pond all the time and take classes at Orchard (Alcott) House or visit (one of) Thoreau's Houses...

Visit this informative page: A Concord Chronology, 1820-1890, to see just a few reasons why we loved living literally just down the road from Concord. We rode our bicycles there and to Lexington often, for sight seeing, visiting the old graveyards, or for coffee or ice cream.

Ah, to dream and remember! I already warned hubby that it is time to take the kids there to visit our old haunts and meet our old bosses and neighbors...see if Andros Diner (best Greek food) is still a couple of short blocks away from our old place. I just checked...Oh my, oh *MY.* Andros Diner IS still there!


Javamom

Edgar Allan Poe

A slightly different look at the man some think of as the creepy poet...sad poetry about lost love. He lost the three most important women in his life to early deaths.
His young cousin/wife died of TB, and possibly it is her that he refers to in this poem..."chilling and killing" my Annabel Lee. Dr. Arnold Weinstein of Brown University says that this phrase refers to tuberculosis.

Poe was the father of detective/mystery stories, and the genesis of modern sci-fi. It is said by some scholars that his influence on Western poetry shaped the course of modern poetry. In literary circles, he is most respected for his literary criticisms. At the same time, some (perhaps Emerson) called Poe "The Jingle Man" because of his repetition of words and rhymes in his poetry. They were not necessarily saying that that was a good thing, LOL. Now, to the poem!

Annabel Lee
by Edgar Allan Poe, 1849

view the original "Annabel Lee" Script

It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love -
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.

And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulcher
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,
Went envying her and me
Yes! that was the reason (as all men know, In this kingdom by the sea)
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.

But our love was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we
Of many far wiser than we
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide,
I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
In the sepulcher there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.

Studying...

Nathaniel Hawthorne. We read some of Hawthorne's works a year or two ago...Tanglewood Tales, A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys, The Snow Image, The Great Stone Face. But this year, Dd (Pippi Longstocking) and I are tackling some of his short stories, then we'll read The Scarlet Letter together. The first short story: The Birthmark. Such a sad tale that strikes at the heart of the dark side of man's desire for perfection.

"...but seeing her otherwise so perfect, he found this one defect grow more and more intolerable, with every moment of their united lives. It was the fatal flaw of humanity, which Nature, in one shape or another, stamps ineffaceably on all her productions, either to imply that they are temporary and finite, or that their perfection must be wrought by toil and pain."

On my own, I am planning to read Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales, and absorb his thoughts...or perhaps more acurately, the questions he raises, but does not answer--that is for us to wrestle with--about (often the dark side of ) humanity in early America, politics and living.

My hubby has taught this material for about 15 years...now I finally am entering more into his "teaching" world by teaching/reading a lot of the same authors and works that he has studied and grappled with for so long. We are having some thought provoking discussions.

He likes the ideas given (for the most part...) in James Stobaugh's American Lit. Guide.
I'm glad I can bounce ideas around with him, ask questions, and receive experienced input.
The only complaint I have with the program is that it just skims in overview fashion over these major American authors and works. (One week for The Scarlet Letter? No way!) My preference and philosophy is to go more slowly and carefully over our classics and living books in our home school. I realize that means we cover things more deeply...uncover probably a lot more details than one might find in a standard school plan, but there-in lies one of the beauties of the freedoms we have. But... all of my hs readers already knew that.

I'm off to read more Hawthorne...

Fall Fest

Our kiddos want to dress up for our church's Fall Festival. 14.5 yo daughter is going to dress up as Pippi Longstocking. What's perfect is that we won't have to buy a wig, or put fake freckles on her face! I just learned that Pippi Longstocking was a coffee fiend! Since She is Sweedish, that should come as NO surprise.

10 yo Androcles wants to be Spaceman Spiff...of Calvin and Hobbes fame :-).

16- (going on 30) -year-old son and our 12 yo son have not said anything about dressing up. That's okay, we won't push anything. I would not be surprised, though, if the oldest decides to dress up as Martin Luther or as a geek or nerd.

12 yo wouldn't mind dressing up as something with a cool, antique weapon.

*Update* No, 16 yo decided not to dress up, after all, and 12 yo dressed as a mercinary...with a cool hat and weapon.

I'm relieved that it's the weekend. My Spanish classes went VERY well today, including the extra class for which I substituted.

Whew. I--my whole family--made it through a tough week.