Check Out These Extra Credit Projects

Great Expectations: Thoughts on Reading

Write a few paragraphs describing how you enjoyed and made it through the novel. 
Write at least two complete, thoughtful paragraphs for this blog post.

1. Once you have finished reading the book, write your own personal reaction to the novel. What did you think of the story, the characters, the settings, and the writing? Did you enjoy Dickens as an author? Did you sympathize or identify with Pip or any other characters? How much of the mysteries were you able to solve with powers of deduction and inference, without the aid of Sparknotes or loose-lipped sophomores?

2. Also, comment on the physical act of reading outside of class. Did you read the entire book? Include details about your reading habits. You probably recall my habit of getting up at 5:30 am and reading each day's assignment before school. I've really enjoyed the dark, quiet, coffee-fueled morning reads and although I guess it is a form of procrastinating, with class just a few brief hours away, it's helped me have the reading fresh in my mind each day. Did you have a "routine" for getting reading assignments done on time? Or was your reading more haphazard, finding the time along with the rest of your homework each evening...or cramming a hundred pages at a time to catch up? In a lengthy, candid paragraph, discuss when and where you completed the assigned out-of-class reading and what effect it had on your overall comprehension of Great Expectations.


Feel free to make any stray comments about this unit and the novel in general.

Please wait to write this blog until after you are completely finished reading the book. Due Saturday, April 2. Enjoy your spring break!

Welcome Ms. Smith! Get-To-Know-You Survey

Ms. Smith will be with us through the month of May. Please read her introduction to you and complete the following get-to-know-you survey.


Hello students and families! I am very happy to be joining you all at Olympia High School this spring. I will be teaching in Mrs. Gilman's classroom through May. During this time I will be teaching Romeo & Juliet. 

A little bit more about myself:

• I graduate with my Master's in Teaching Degree this June
• My favorite color is red
• I love writing 
• I don't have any pets, but I will be getting a cat soon. 
• I have lived in Australia
• My favorite food is Pad Thai :)
• I'm from Portland, OR
• I have been learning about education and working with youth for 10 years (Yikes!)
• I went skydiving to help get over my fear of heights....sadly, this made it worse. 
• I go to musicals whenever I get the change (Wicked is one of my favorites!)
• Someday I want to teach high school sociology (If you don't know what that is, come ask me.)
• I'm a lefty...see the constant pencil/marker/chalk stain on my left hand
• When I was 13, I had back surgery for scoliosis, and now I have a metal rod on my spine....don't worry, I only rarely set off metal detectors. :) 
• I love teaching!

 Alright, enough about me. I want to know more about you. I look forward to being in your community this spring!


Get-To-Know-You Survey
What: A short survey

When: By Monday the 28th

Why am I taking this survey?: So I can be the best teacher possible for you. Your opinions, ideas, and lives matter to me.

To take the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySurvey_EditorFull.aspx?sm=qTq6O%2buFjFbUYVxXdYbDq%2fI4gPjBcizq2EFK892KUIU%3d

(Note: If you are not able to link to this website, copy and past the URL.)

Great Expectations Photo Post

Post a photo on your blog that relates to an important concept throughout the first two stages of Great Expectations. Explain how your photo specifically relates to the novel - showcase your insightful understanding of the reading through your choice of photo and discussion of its relevance to the novel. Make sure your discussion of the novel reflects the novel through chapter 29 and is not limited to "little Pip."

Be creative! Originality definitely counts for this.

Due Saturday, March 26.

Making Connections and Posting a Picture

For this week's blog post, think of another story that you think has similar themes or messages about life to Great Expectations. This can be a story, novel, or movie. Describe similarities between Dickens' work and this movie or story. How are the characters in this work's experiences similar to those of Pip? Write several paragraphs connecting the themes and messages about human nature in these two tales.

Be sure to discuss thematic connections rather than just similarities in plot or setting.

Also, post a picture that depicts characters or ideas in your connecting story/movie that enhances its relevance to Great Expectations.

Post by Saturday, March 19 and comment on a classmate's blog. Your comment should remark on the similarity or connection between the writer's idea and the novel.

If you've read ahead, be careful not to spoil the ending for those students keeping up with the reading schedule in class.

Hard at Work Writing Literal and Inferential Questions

Great Expectations,the Second Stage

While it may not seem like much is happening during  the second stage of Great Expectations, there are many literary techniques at work. Consider:

• How new characters help to enhance the themes and motifs established during the first stage.
• The many contrasts or "doubles" introduced and how they relate to the themes and motifs established during the first stage.
• How Pip's character develops in relation to his new setting and interactions with new characters.

Identify something that happens during the second stage (chapters 20-39) and relate it to themes and motifs discussed in class. Write two paragraphs - the first paragraph identifies the idea from the novel to be discussed, giving context and showing your clear understanding of what happens and the second paragraph relates it to a theme/motif discussed in class. Relate this event to something that happens in the first stage that also enhances this theme or motif.

Be sure to show your understanding of the novel and its characters and settings, as well as you're comprehension of our lengthy Q-and-A style discussions from the past few weeks.

Post and comment by Saturday, March 12.