"I have an exposition of sleep come upon me" -Midsummer Night's Dream And so started our Reader's Theatre class this week as students shared their diary entries from their Dream Journal Challenge homework assignment. Students were asked to log their dreams this past week. Was there a pattern to their dreams? Were the dreams triggered by their daily life events? We heard some wonderful and insightful dreams, including a few that others had commonly shared at one point or another in their life. One in particular I thought was interesting was dreaming that they are in a public school and realizing that since they are homeschooled they didn't need to be there! Other commonly shared dreams were meeting their idol, and dreams when you are not in control -- you are being pushed to the edge and you can't wake up! We discussed how some dreams are pretty obvious that they have something to do with what occurred in your day or week, for example, the audition or tryout you may have recently experienced. Later in your dream, you actually find out if you made the team (or not) or maybe everyone has heard the results but YOU! We have all experienced dreams like these. But it's the crazy, wild, inexplicable dreams that the students expressed didn't have ANYTHING to do with their daily lives (no way -- it's too weird!) I suggested that maybe some of those crazy monsters or aliens might be a representation of something they are fearing in their lives or an event in the future that they are dreading, therefore, the dream helps them fight the monsters and overcome those fears!  If your student wants to learn a little more about dream interpretation here is a book that might be helpful, or, if they just want to learn a few more tips on interpreting their dreams this might help a little. Either way, dreams can be a wonderful window into our deepest desires and fears. Why all this talk about dreaming you ask? Because, as one of Shakespeare's characters in Midsummer Night's Dream, Puck, would say… "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend" Happy dreaming! On with the show! Pyramus and Thisbe We had our final run through yesterday and took most of the class time to work through kinks and stumbling blocks. And I'm happy to report the student actors are well on their way to their final performance next week. They are excited and nervous about performing Midsummer for you, but there's nothing like a little pre-show jitters to get their acting muscles in shape! We really explored "over the top" acting in this run-through. Like Hamlet, Midsummer also has a "play within a play" scene. The play is called "Pyramus and Thisbe" and has a feel like that of Romeo and Juliet. In this particular version, the actors really exaggerate their parts and are very self indulgent…over the top! This was a little challenging to evoke from the students, but they did step outside of their comfort zones and took on the challenge. This is the case with all of the students who came face to face with their fears of bringing their characters to life. Once again -- Bravo, Brava! Final Assignment and Important RemindersFinally, students were given a handout and assigned one final homework challenge. See the handout for full and complete details. The finished assignment will need to be emailed no later than Sunday, May 19th, to Mrs. Harris and copied to Mrs. Martz for final semester evaluation. The evaluations will then be emailed to parents by June 15th. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Mrs. Harris or Mrs. Martz -- we are happy to help. A note about "double spacing": double spacing simply means to type leaving alternate lines blank. Click the link above for a visual. Also, for performance day, this is very critical:
 A special note* As we close the books on Shakespeare and Greek Mythology and our exploration into Reader's Theatre, it is with deep gratitude that I wish to say thank you to all the Mosaic families and students. I appreciate the opportunity to share the amazing world of theatre with your children. They are an inspiration and joy to watch, listen, and interact with…their energy and desire to learn is contagious. They are all shining stars with endless possibilities waiting to happen! Thank you for this wonderful moment in time. I will treasure it always. Susan Martz
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