Mr Maxwell’s Lessons

Revising Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice”

May 11, 2010 by neilmaxwell

Here is a great resource for revisng the novel Pride and Prejudice”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/proseprideprej/

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Form 6 Lit in English

February 4, 2010 by neilmaxwell

Here is a great resource to get you started before we study the film!

http://www.sparknotes.com/film/chinatown/context.html

Chinatown is a 1974 American neo-noir film, directed by Roman Polanski. The film features many elements of the film noir genre, particularly a multi-layered story that is part mystery and part psychological drama. It stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston, and was released by Paramount Pictures.

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More NSS Short Stories Resources!!!

October 10, 2009 by neilmaxwell

Check out this short film!!! (12 mins!!) A fantastic resource for NSS short stories! Students can write out the story after watching/during watching or make story boards for each section of the narrative. For weaker students it is like picture description and can reinforce the use of the present cont/present tense or adjectives while brighter students can add in details and description!
It can also display /scaffold elements of fiction such as plot (narative structure/climax etc) setting and theme! Even the use of music can be discussed in terms of supporting the narrative and as part of characterization!
As we have mobile learning in our school the students can work on it individually at ther own pace using ipod touch devices!!!!
Part 1 on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rslC_4qEQqU

Part 2 on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgWNqzU2Uiw&feature=related

The links below are for resources related to teaching about characters/characterization. They are ideal for F.1-2 Lit App,F.3-7 Lit and NSS Short Stories.

http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/literary_elements_devices/characterization.htm

http://greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/6-12/Tools/character%20study.pdf (Excellent ready made character maps!)

http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/literary_elements_devices/menu.htm (Literary Elements)

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I’m back!

September 15, 2009 by neilmaxwell

Its time to get this blog up and running again especially in light of the education reform here in Hong Kong! The NSS (New Senior Secondary) curriculum has just been launched and I hope to use this platform to share ideas with my students and teachers. Keep tuned for teaching and learning ideas!!!

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NSS Teaching English through Short Stories

July 2, 2009 by neilmaxwell

Hi there – its been too long since my last post. Here is an awesome website for your students to read….

http://www.inanimatealice.com/

‘Inanimate Alice’ tells the story of Alice, a young girl growing up in the first half of the 21st century, and her imaginary digital friend, Brad.

Over ten episodes, each a self contained story, we see Alice grow from an eight year old living with her parents in a remote region of Northern China to a talented mid-twenties animator and designer with the biggest games company in the world.

Go on check it out!

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The Oscars 2009 – What incredible stories lie behind the nominated films?

February 27, 2009 by neilmaxwell

Another year has gone by and many wonderful films have been produced and screened! This year what is most interesting are the insightful stories that these films portray! From poverty to gay rights these films dare to present struggles that many of us would rather ignore.

My favourite is definately “Slumdog Millionaire”. I was recently in Mumbai and got to see these slums where so many people live, or should I say exist. Poverty does exist and people are struggling day to day! Go watch the movie “Slumdog Millionaire”

Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik (Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India¹s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”

But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show¹s questions.

Each chapter of Jamal¹s increasingly layered story reveals where he learned the answers to the show¹s seemingly impossible quizzes. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show?

When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out.

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/slumdogmillionaire/

http://www.oscar.com/

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