9/29

Only a half day tomorrow!  Here's what happened (or will happen) though...

PW- Make sure you finish your questions for part one.  During the first part of the class period we will be interviewing teachers and students (if it's okay).  Remember your questions, be sure to take notes.

PA & Crew:  Your papers are due on Monday.  You need to turn in:

1. First Draft
2. First Draft Peer Editing Sheet
3. Second Draft
4. LARD formula sheet (filled out with second draft)
5. Final Draft (Quality!  Awesome!  Amazing!)

12ers: Read through page 118 and come up with three discussion questions for Monday.  We'll talk about a final project soon.  Again, check on your rec letters!

Soph: Do rewrites for your test if you need to.  You'll get up to five points back, but it has to be a quality piece of work.  Practice your Cotten Eye Joe dance for tomorrow.  Josh and Dalton don't need practice.

SS: Study your vocab!  I didn't assign you any reading, but I will give you a vocab test next week.

Cheyenne, Billy, Kesha-- You need to take your vocab quiz from TWO WEEKS ago or it will be a zero.  Remember to come in to see me!

FW: Testing today... the song options for homecoming are:
Love Shack
Build me up Buttercup
Sexy and I know It
Do Wah Diddy Diddy
We should vote tomorrow!  This is coming up soon.
I will have your tests graded by Thursday.

English 9: Read through Chapter 6 and write two discussion questions (reading check 5 & 6 on Thursday).  Study and complete your vocabulary.  There will be a test on Friday.

Crew: Drafts! 

English 12ers 9/27

Read through page 97 and write down one discussion question for tomorrow's class.

Pickle Weasel:
Get READY to see yourselves in the paper! 

Writing a thesis...

These two websites are helpful!  Check out the examples and try it with your paper topic.  Because I didn't give you a definite question to answer in your paper, you still need to pick your theme/area first.

http://johnmcgarvey.com/apworld/student/thesiscreator.html
http://tommarch.com/electraguide/thesis.php

First drafts are due tomorrow!  Get to work! :)

Some information about developing your paper...

We talked about thesis statements a little bit today.  You should do the following things:

1.) Pick the section of the play or character or relationship you want to analyze.

2.) Look closely at the text of the play, and the choices made by APT.  How are the similar?  How are they different?  What was lost or gained by APT's interpretation (or was it exactly how you read it)?  WRITE down specific lines, words, language that leads you to your interpretation (these will be used in the body of your paper.

3.) Write your thesis statement.  NOW that you've compared these two things... so what?  What do we learn from this?  In this paper, you TEACH ME how you came to your point of view (your thesis).

This may help in terms of thesis statements too:
http://daphne.palomar.edu/handbook/thesis.htm

9/26

PW: We are going to have to do some additional work on the newspaper article and take a better picture.  We'll talk more tomorrow and get back to The Hunger Games.

Juniors and Seniors:
Here is the paper assignment I gave you today:
This is a comparison paper: you’re comparing your impressions/visualizations from simply reading the play (considering language only), to ATP’s on-stage interpretation.  I am asking you to think critically about the performance—what did you like about it?  What didn’t you like about it?  Why?  Please, persuade and teach me something.

Tips and Resources

·         It will help to look at a specific character, relationship, or scene that you find particularly interesting.  It’s a complex play—narrowing your topic will enable you to write a tight analysis using specific language from the play AND images you saw at the theatre to back your claims.

·         Be sure to have a strong thesis.  “The character of Katarina is very different from how I thought she would be” or “1.1 was exactly how I pictured it” is not specific enough (not to mention boring).  What does it actually tell us about how Shakespeare feels about love, father/daughter relationships, courting, youth, deception, some other theme you found interesting here?  Take a stance!  Prepare yourself for expressing meaty, deeply gratifying English thought.

·         Check this website for help getting started.  I know it says the tips are for college students, but now is your time to shine: http://users.drew.edu/~sjamieso/Comparison.htm

·         This PDF about The Taming of the Shrew talks about some of the choices APT made when staging the play (largely about what it’s like to perform outside, but there is other useful information too): http://americanplayers.org/education/resources/.   You don’t have to use it (you can rely on memory only), but it might be helpful.  If you have a program from the play, that’s fair game too!

·         Impress me!!!  I know you can.

It should be 3-5 pages.  First draft due Wednesday at the beginning of class for peer editing (we’ll talk about the LARD FORMULA—my favorite).  During editing, remember to be a constructive critic, not a laziness enabler or unwarranted self-esteem booster.

Final draft due Friday.  Three to five pages, Times New Roman 12, normal margins (1” on all sides).  We’ll be working in class all week.

12ers:  Keep plugging away at the book and journaling.  We'll discuss more tomorrow.

FW: TEST TOMORROW!  Be sure you study, it's important.  Also, FIX your packet if necessary.  Some of you did not turn in your best work.

SS: Be sure you finished your music analysis of Desperado (ick).  Read Chapter Five. 
Why does Ponyboy think Darry doesn't love him?  Give specific examples.  Start thinking seriously about what songs you are going to choose for your soundtrack.

Crew: See paper info above.

9/21

PLAYGOERS: Wear something warm.  Bring a notebook to take notes on the play for your paper.  Remember your lunch and/or lunch money.  I need your pink slip before you can go!  We leave at 8:00 from the Gym doors (meet in my room).

PW: Continue reading tomorrow (through 103)

12ers: Reading and Journaling (through 64)
FW: Catch up!  I will collect your packets at the beginning of class on Friday.  Be sure you know what your group members wrote.
SS: Read three and four, write a half page journal entry for each.

Sub Notes 9/20

First Hour English 10: The Hunger Games

·         Collect/check/discuss homework (they were supposed to read through page 72 and answer two questions in paragraph form). 

·         Have them read through chapter six (page 85).  They’ve been really good about reading quietly during class.

Second Hour English 11: The Taming of the Shrew

·         Remind them to get their permission slips signed and filled out.  We leave for APT at 8:00 on Thursday Morning.

·         Give them ten minutes to study vocabulary (they got their lists yesterday).

·         Pass out handouts. 

·         Ask for volunteers to read the insulting conversation (handout three).  Have three pairs read it (one as A and one as B) in front of the class (don’t be afraid to pick on people, they’re not shy).

·         Give them the rest of the time to write their advice column to a celebrity.  Encourage them to be creative and pick someone interesting.  It is due at the end of class.

Third Hour English 12: Things Change

·         Play Born in the USA with lyrics (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhwROO2M6lw).  Ask them to respond to the lyrics in their journals. 

o   What is this song about?

o   Based on what you’ve read so far, how do you think this message might relate to the book?

o    Are there any specific lines that stuck out to you?

·          Ask to see journal entries for yesterday’s reading (half a page responding to what they read).

·         Assign tomorrow’s reading (through 38).  Ask them to briefly write about where they think the story is headed (yesterday they said it seemed like a cheesy love story).

Fourth Hour: Prep

Fifth Hour English 10

·         I give them time during each class period to share their literature circle entries in groups, and then read.  Please look at see that they have completed their assignment.  One group usually goes to the library, one sits in the hall.  As long as they are working, I let them have these privileges. 

Sixth Hour: Study Hall (I tend to be very relaxed if they are caught up in my class.)

Seventh Hour Freshman: The Outsiders

·         Handout reading quiz right away at the beginning of class.  Please watch them to make sure they are working on their own.  Ray was absent yesterday. Please give him an anticipation guide and ask him to read the first chapter.

·         Yesterday students worked to complete an anticipation guide.  At the beginning of class, have them pair with someone next to them and discuss their answers (this should only take about ten minutes and they’re REALLY chatty). 

·         Assign chapter two and let them read silently.  If they talk, have them read aloud as a class instead.

Eighth Hour English 12: The Taming of the Shrew (same as English 11)

·         Remind them to get their permission slips signed and filled out.  We leave for APT at 8:00 on Thursday Morning.

·         Please give them ten minutes to study vocabulary (they got their lists yesterday).

·         Pass out handouts. 

·         Ask for volunteers to read the insulting conversation (handout three).  Have three pairs read it (one as A and one as B) in front of the class (don’t be afraid to pick on people, they’re not shy).

·         Give them the rest of the time to write their advice column to a celebrity.  Encourage them to be creative and pick someone interesting.  It is due at the end of class.

Class 9/19

PW: Read to the end of chapter five and answer the two questions provided.  Write at least a paragraph!Alec, here they are:
1.) How does the fact that the tributes are always on camera affect their behavior from the time they are chosen?  Does it make it easier or harder for them to accept their fate?  How are the "career tributes" different from the others?
2.) Why are the "tributes" given stylists and dressed so elaborately for the opening ceremony?  Does this ceremony remind you of events in our world, either past or present?  Compare those ceremonies in real life to the ones in the story.

PA: Finish the play!  Get your permission slips signed! And...
1.) Rewrite Kate's final speech in modern English (you can paraphrase, but choose some key images)
2.) Consider the frame created by the inductions at the beginning.  If Sly was in the end of the play, what would he have said?  Did he learn a lesson?  Does he go back to his old life?
Also, complete your synonyms worksheet.  Here are the words that you need to know: allege, animate, antecedent, ardent, banal, enumerate, eternal, evaporate, feeble, gulf, irksome, learned, mercurial, perverse, profane, prudent, sanction, speculate, sublime, utensil

12ers: Read through page 24 in Things Change and write a half page journal entry commenting on and predicting the story (you already said you think it's a love story...)

FW: Get well!  We're all sick.  Keep plugging away at those novels.  Update your literature circle packets.  Read the directions!  Make sure you did everything you were supposed to do!

SS: Complete the anticipation guide and then read chapter one!  There will be an accountability quiz tomorrow!

PA: Finish the play! Get your permission slips signed! And...
1.) Rewrite Kate's final speech in modern English (you can paraphrase, but choose some key images)
2.) Consider the frame created by the inductions at the beginning. If Sly was in the end of the play, what would he have said? Did he learn a lesson? Does he go back to his old life?
Also, complete your synonyms worksheet. Here are the words that you need to know: allege, animate, antecedent, ardent, banal, enumerate, eternal, evaporate, feeble, gulf, irksome, learned, mercurial, perverse, profane, prudent, sanction, speculate, sublime, utensil

9/16

PW: Your questions (write complete answers please) are due on Monday.  I think most of you got them done in class.  We are going to be talking more about the standardized testing taking place for your class in November.

PA: I really liked having some new people reading today!  I didn't grade your quizzes yet, but you'll get them back on Monday.  I couldn't get the permission slips today (they have to make copies) but I will have them for you on Monday.

12ers:  Your resumes and cover letters look really good.  We're going to start reading Things Change on Monday.

FW: Please please please try and catch up!  I know the fair is this week but I'm disappointed that so many of you aren't keeping up with your work. 

SS: Chocolate RAAAINN... I hope to get your essays graded by Monday. 

Crew:  No HW.  I couldn't get the permission slips today (they have to make copies) but I will have them for you on Monday.

Update on 9/15

PW: It's interesting to see what you think about your classmate's survival skills.  The books finally came in, so you can start reading on your own.
PA: Good job in class today!  I think we're going to make our deadline for the play!  I really enjoyed reading your Biebs essays. :)
12ers: Cover letters and resumes (edited!) due tomorrow.  We'll begin a novel unit next week.

FW: Keeping plugging away at your novels.  Practicing reading is one of the most important things you can do.

English 9: Good speeches again today! Tomorrow we'll do something more fun before we begin our unit on The Outsiders next week.

Crew: Don't forget to practice vocab.  Missed 1/2 of you today.

9/14

PW: Today we tried to decide who in the Sophomore class would survive The Hunger Games if you all went in together.  Tomorrow we'll read chapter four, and talk about class rankings.

Police A: Finish reading Act Three and write a summary for me!  Don't forget to study your vocab.

12ers: Mock interviews today.  Kesha-- I have greenhouse specific questions for you to answer tomorrow.

FW: Read and complete your packets for tomorrow.  I'll be checking them.  Josh-- I got your book for you and gave it to Taryn.  It's in my name so don't lose it!

SS:  Good speeches again today, but three detentions.  Try to control yourselves!

Crew: 3.2 summary.  Your music taste is marginal... but at least we agree on Biebs and Luda.

Everyone Else 9/13

12ers: Your cover letters are due at the beginning of class tomorrow!  I will turn them back with corrections on Thursday.

FW:  Dalton!  Don't forget to pick up the book from the library.  Mr. Anderson is coming in to lead a discussion about disability tomorrow, and then we'll have more literature circle time.

SS: Very good speeches today!  Remember to bring in your materials for tomorrow!

Crew: Keep practicing vocab.  I think I am going to preview a movie version of the play for you if you're interested...

1&2 9/13

PickWeas: Missed you today Tone.  Read chapter three and turned in questions for two. 

PolAc:  You need to practice your vocab before Friday!  You quiz today counts for five points; Friday it will count for fifteen.  Don't forget to complete your summaries for Act 2!  If you suspect you are missing homework (or know you are), come talk to me.  If you do not have your late work in by the end of the unit, I will not accept it.

Yayyy!

Scott and now Kesha have joined!!!!  How awesome. :)

9/12

Good near evening all,
PW: You're doing a good job in class.  Still no books, but I'll collect the questions for chapter two of The Hunger Games and start reading three tomorrow.  More standardized testing prep.

Hi PA: We will finish Act 2 tomorrow.  Be sure to study your vocab tonight.  I am also missing assignments from quite a few people.  You need to turn them in by the end of the week or I will not give you credit.  And yes, Shakespeare was dirty sometimes.

12ers:  I will have the final edit of your resumes ready by tomorrow.  We're in the lab again.  Make sure you have a job picked out and know some specifics about it so you can write a cover letter.  I changed the due date of the letters to give the recommenders more time to complete them.  Dylan-- REMEMBER TO ASK THEM!

FW:  The first real day of literature circles tomorrow.  If you do a thorough job, the final test will be easier.  I will check completion tomorrow.  Don't let your classmates down!

SS:  If it is your day to speak tomorrow, be sure to have a completed, typed outline and remember your materials!  I am worried that many of you did not follow the instructions for this speech.  If you get a grade lower than a B, I will be emailing your parents about your performance and talking with them about makeup work.  Do your best!

Crew:  Study your vocab-- the quiz will be different than second hour's quiz... so be sure to review!  Moira and Cheyenne: today we read through the end of Act Two.  Also, decide if these words are synonyms, antonyms, or unrelated.  You may need to use a dictionary.  If you'd like, you can take the quiz on Wednesday-- we had some time to practice these in class.
Bombastic/Quiet
Garrulous/Verbose
Heinous/Loathsome
Exculpate./Extravagant
Succinct/Terse
Acquit/Vindicate
Premonition/Foreboding
Taciturn/Malignant
Loquacious/Surreptitious
Repugnant/Repulsive

Everyone Else :) 9/9

English 12ers: ASK YOUR REFERENCES!  Monday we will finish resumes and start working on cover letters.  Find a job you might actually be interested in applying for.

FW: Books have still not arrived, but we will start literature circles on Monday.  TCIoTDiNT: I will either find copies or make photocopies of your first planned reading assignment.  Sorry this isn't working out how I planned.

SS:  Practice speaking this weekend!  Your speech needs to be three to five minutes long.

5+ minutes= No penalty (within reason)
3-5 minutes= No penalty
2-3 minutes= Dropped one letter grade
1-2 minutes= Dropped two letter grades
1 minute or less= Let's talk... you'll probably have to redo your speech.

Be sure to look at the rubric that I gave you.  It shows all of my grading criteria. 
Quinton, Ray, David, Mikey, Chanse, Carver and a few others: You talk too much.  Your grade is beginning to reflect it. 

The English Crew: No homework!  I had a lot of fun reading with you guys today.  :)  I think maybe on Monday we should get Petruchio (Scott) and Katharine (Cheyenne) to battle it out in front of the room... just a suggestion.

Have a great weekend everyone!

9/9 Hours 1&2

PW- ACT practice and more discussion/reading of The Hunger Games.

PA - Stick with it!  I know some of you don't feel like it is relevant now, but you're going to have to trust me on this one (at the very least it builds vocab).

Homework questions for 1.2:
1.) How are Katharina and Bianca's reputations further clarified? Find specific words/phrases.
2.) What does Petruchio's monologue (pg. 44) reveal about him?
3.) What specific images are tied to Kate's wooing? Obviously the shrew is one, but there are others...

Shout out to Bill/Grumio!  Ne'er give up!

Class 9/8

PW: Today we did paragraph editing (commas and semicolons), and started reading chapter two of The Hunger Games.  Alec, you should really read the first chapter when you get the chance.  It's good.  Ethon, awesome job summarizing.  And Tone, Happy Birthday!

PA: Just further reading today of 1.1 (Bill/Tranio, I covered your part). Homework is to write a summary of this scene.

PPET: Your homework is to ask your references to write you letters of recommendation!  They're due next Friday.  I edited your resumes.  We'll talk about them tomorrow.

FW: Today we divided the reading and assigned roles for each day of literature circles (Of Mice and Men, Flowers for Algernon, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time). We have a library day tomorrow. I am really hoping the books will be here soon!

SS: You will be giving your demonstration speech Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday!  If possible, bring in materials.  Remember, no knives, other weapons, or live animals!  I do not have a stove or a blender!  The time is 3-5 minutes.

EC: Rocked it again today.  Keep doing what you're doing.
Homework questions for 1.2:
1.) How are Katharina and Bianca's reputations further clarified?  Find specific words/phrases.
2.) What does Petruchio's monologue (pg. 44) reveal about him?
3.) What specific images are tied to Kate's wooing?  Obviously the shrew is one, but there are others...

I will have everything graded and returned by Monday!  Remember, I am grading you on participation!  Some of you need to talk more, and some of you need to talk much much less (to each other, that is).  Mark, you're not fooling me.

Class 9/7

Hello and sorry!  I neglected to update yesterday, but here it is for anyone who wants to see it:

PW: Read Chapter One of The Hunger Games and completed the anticipation guide.  The link to the story is: http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/media/hungergames-chapter1.pdf.  Books should be here soon.

PA: We talked about the two inductions to the play (weird, I know), and started reading 1.1.  No homework tonight, but reading roles are the same for tomorrow.

PPET: Started working on resumes.  A lot of you said you had yours from Careers class last year.  Bring them!  They need to be update.

FW: We (sort of) talked about the article and ranked books for reading groups.  Pick up your discussion game please!  It's killing me.

SS: One minutes speech topics were fun today.  We have four people left, including Quinton whose topic is Justin Bieber.

EC: You seemed to have a good grasp of the induction.  We started reading in class-- you did a great job.  No homework.

Class 9/6

Pickle Weasel:
Today we started the Hunger Games anticipation guide!  Don't forget to bring it to class tomorrow.  We're going to read Chapter One of the novel and fill in the last column.

Police Academy:
Finish your analysis of Under My Thumb if you didn't during class. Read pages 17-27 of The Taming of the Shrew (the first two inductions) and answer the three questions on the back of the song lyrics sheet. If the language is difficult, don't worry! We'll talk about it tomorrow.
Don't forget your Scold's Bridles. Haha.

Pretty Pink English 12ers:
Fill in the interests section of your career portfolio packet.  I am especially interested in your dream jobs.  Please pick up a three ring binder if you have the opportunity.  Think about who you want to write your letters of recommendation.  You need three.

Freedom Writers:
Read Nancy Mairs' article, Disability, that I gave to you in class.  Answer questions three and four of the Meaning section, and one and two of the Purpose section.  Use complete sentences.  We are going to begin class with a fishbowl discussion of this essay.  Tomorrow you will choose books for literature circles.

Squint Squad:
Your assignment for tomorrow is to come up with a topic for your demonstration speech, and list the materials you need.  You topic has to be pre-approved by me.  Kind of a rowdy day today... I might dream about a seating chart tonight.

The English Crew:
Finish your analysis of Under My Thumb if you didn't during class. Read pages 17-27 of The Taming of the Shrew (the first two inductions) and answer the three questions on the back of the song lyrics sheet. If the language is difficult, don't worry! We'll talk about it tomorrow.

Are you at all interested in doing more music analysis?  I know most people probably aren't checking my blog, so I'll ask tomorrow... but it'd be great if you brought in pertinent songs.

Day One

A good first day... all six of my classes have great new names:

Hour One: Pickle Weasel
Hour Two: Police Academy
Hour Three: The Pretty Pink English 12ers
Hour Five: Freedom Writers
Hour Seven: Squid Squad
Hour Eight: The English Crew

You know who you are (I hope)!