Symbolism

Have any of you taught symbolism in your classes? I discuss it with students and have had them look for and interpret symbols in their books, but am looking to take that a step further and have them make their own symbols in some sort of project. Have any of you done a symbolism project before? Anyone have any resources they think I should check out? I'm thinking of spending a few days on Edgar Allen Poe, hence the picture of the raven, and some other writers known for their use of symbolism.

House Hunt Thoughts

My wife and I have been house hunting for the past two months and are struggling with where we should settle (hopefully for the rest of our days). I teach in South Portland (Maine), she teaches in Westbrook (Maine). The trickiest part of the equation is my son. Jared is 13 months old and will be going to my sister's for daycare in Cape Elizabeth, so our house would hopefully be in a location that makes going to drop him off, to school, get him, and then to home, reasonable. This is of course a problem that only exists until he goes to school, so it is not an absolute factor, but is still one. I am personally drawn to a large yard, and dream of spending my summers tending vegetable plots. My wife desires a nice house and insists on public water and having Jared be able to ride his bike around a nice neighborhood. With all of these factors put together, we are having a hard time finding and agreeing on many properties.

If any of you have advice or thoughts on this I would greatly appreciate it.

The three pictures attached are three options we are currently considering. If you have any thought on those I would also appreciate it.

Schooner rd- South Portland -MLS#: 969439

Wagner Farm- Gorham- MLS#968869

Qunicy Drive- Gorham- MLS#972692