Freshmen:
Vocab Quiz #5
Remaining time for SSR, to work on rough draft or book projects.
HW: Must have completed rough draft of OMAM essay on Monday!
AP Lit:
Vocab Quiz #5 (Duck or fish...)
Share rough draft with another student and offer constructive feedback: is the thesis clear?, is the entire prompt addressed?, is there adequate support?, is there need for clarification or expansion?, etc.
HW: Final drafts of essays due next WED.
Friday
Thursday
10/28/09
Freshmen:
Check homework-- prewriting.
Time to begin drafting your essay.
HW: Study vocabulary for Quiz #5 tomorrow. Bring SSR book or rough draft to work on after quiz!
AP Lit:
Turn in golden lines & assignment.
Discuss end of book: is there resolution? duck or fish or both? how is the book structured? what literary devices enhance the alienation? (plot structure, narration, metaphor, symbol, etc.)
HW: Study for vocab quiz. Bring essay rough draft tomorrow!
Check homework-- prewriting.
Time to begin drafting your essay.
HW: Study vocabulary for Quiz #5 tomorrow. Bring SSR book or rough draft to work on after quiz!
AP Lit:
Turn in golden lines & assignment.
Discuss end of book: is there resolution? duck or fish or both? how is the book structured? what literary devices enhance the alienation? (plot structure, narration, metaphor, symbol, etc.)
HW: Study for vocab quiz. Bring essay rough draft tomorrow!
Wednesday
10/28/09
Freshmen:
Made writing folders.
Began OMaM essay prewriting.
HW: DON'T write your essay! Bring your completed prewriting to class tomorrow. We'll spend time drafting in class. (Also, continue to read your SSR book and work on Project #1!)
AP Lit:
Golden lines assignment-- look back over your golden lines. Choose 5 that best show Holden's progression through the novel. Copy those 5 and explain what they show. This will be turned in along with your Golden Lines from the whole novel.
HW: Finish the golden line assignment if you didn't get it done in class. (Also, Alienation essay rough drafts on Friday!)
Made writing folders.
Began OMaM essay prewriting.
HW: DON'T write your essay! Bring your completed prewriting to class tomorrow. We'll spend time drafting in class. (Also, continue to read your SSR book and work on Project #1!)
AP Lit:
Golden lines assignment-- look back over your golden lines. Choose 5 that best show Holden's progression through the novel. Copy those 5 and explain what they show. This will be turned in along with your Golden Lines from the whole novel.
HW: Finish the golden line assignment if you didn't get it done in class. (Also, Alienation essay rough drafts on Friday!)
Tuesday
10/27/09
Freshmen:
Finished and discussed questions on "To a Mouse."
Handed out and reviewed Of Mice and Men essay guidelines.
HW: Keep working on SSR book projects!
AP Lit:
Assigned Alienation essay.
Handed out "Tips for essays about literature" and "scoring guidelines." Keep these to refer to.
HW: Think about... is Holden a fish or a duck? And, start working on your essays. Rough draft due in class on Friday. Final draft is due next Wednesday!
Finished and discussed questions on "To a Mouse."
Handed out and reviewed Of Mice and Men essay guidelines.
HW: Keep working on SSR book projects!
AP Lit:
Assigned Alienation essay.
Handed out "Tips for essays about literature" and "scoring guidelines." Keep these to refer to.
HW: Think about... is Holden a fish or a duck? And, start working on your essays. Rough draft due in class on Friday. Final draft is due next Wednesday!
Monday
10/26/09
Freshmen:
- New vocabulary words
- Handout for SSR Book Project #1
- "To a Mouse"-- read the poem, answer the questions on the overhead. Be ready to discuss tomorrow
HW: Work on reading your SSR books and project #1.
AP Lit:
- Reading Quiz #2
- New Vocabulary
- Discuss Catcher-- is Mr. Antolini a creeper, or are his actions fatherly and misinterpreted?
HW: Nope.
Friday
10/22/09
Freshmen:
- Vocab Quiz #4
- Finish watching the movie!
- A few minutes for SSR
HW: Read your SSR book. You need to finish it by the end of the grading period (about two weeks)! Instructions for Book Project #1 will be given out on Monday.
AP Lit:
- Vocab Quiz #4
- Discuss Catcher-- Holden and Phoebe's relationship? James Castle? What is a "Catcher in the Rye"? Why is Holden crying? His hunting hat?
HW: Finish reading the book. Make sure you have golden lines selected for each chapter...we'll use them next week.
Thursday
Extra Credit #2!
Coincidentally, both of the classes I teach (freshmen and AP Lit) are reading books right now with titles derived from the same poet's work. To claim your extra credit, email me with your name, period and answers to the following questions.
1) What is the name of the poet whose poems inspired the titles for the two books my classes are reading?
2) What are the titles of the two poems that the book titles are taken from?
3) When,and in what country, do they celebrate this poet with a special "supper"?
4) What is the name of his most famous song that is traditionally sung at his "supper" and also traditionally sung on New Years Eve?
You must answer ALL of the questions to receive your credit. Happy searching!
1) What is the name of the poet whose poems inspired the titles for the two books my classes are reading?
2) What are the titles of the two poems that the book titles are taken from?
3) When,and in what country, do they celebrate this poet with a special "supper"?
4) What is the name of his most famous song that is traditionally sung at his "supper" and also traditionally sung on New Years Eve?
You must answer ALL of the questions to receive your credit. Happy searching!
10/22/09
Freshmen:
Of Mice and Men Final Test today. (Did it make your hand and your brain hurt a little bit? I hope so. That means it was a good test.)
HW: Study for your vocab quiz tomorrow.
AP Lit:
Papers and grades for period 6. (Glad the senior meeting wasn't as long as expected!)
Discussed Holden's "left-outness." (Great ideas on this!)
HW: Vocab quiz tomorrow. And, be ready to discuss chapters 21-23 tomorrow...especially your thoughts on Phoebe.
Of Mice and Men Final Test today. (Did it make your hand and your brain hurt a little bit? I hope so. That means it was a good test.)
HW: Study for your vocab quiz tomorrow.
AP Lit:
Papers and grades for period 6. (Glad the senior meeting wasn't as long as expected!)
Discussed Holden's "left-outness." (Great ideas on this!)
HW: Vocab quiz tomorrow. And, be ready to discuss chapters 21-23 tomorrow...especially your thoughts on Phoebe.
10/21/09
Freshmen:
Continued watching the OMaM movie.
HW: Test tomorrow! Look over your study guides. Bring your book.
AP Lit:
Papers and grades for period 3.
A few more likes/dislikes.
HW: Read chapters 21-23 for Friday.
Continued watching the OMaM movie.
HW: Test tomorrow! Look over your study guides. Bring your book.
AP Lit:
Papers and grades for period 3.
A few more likes/dislikes.
HW: Read chapters 21-23 for Friday.
Tuesday
10/20/09
Freshmen:
Talked briefly about the test, then watched more of the OMaM movie. (But, Lennie seems so harmless!)
AP Lit:
New vocab words: subversive, angst, pensive, melancholy, plight.
Answered questions about Modern-Day Holden assignment. Again, the goal is to try writing in a conversational/spoken word style. It's okay to use slang, incorrect grammar, swearing (within reason!). Try to tell your story and make it sound like you actually think and speak, and hopefully, have fun with it!
I talked at you a little, also, about Shakespeare. Sorry if I went on too much, but I'm an English teacher and I love this stuff.
HW: Finish writing.
Talked briefly about the test, then watched more of the OMaM movie. (But, Lennie seems so harmless!)
AP Lit:
New vocab words: subversive, angst, pensive, melancholy, plight.
Answered questions about Modern-Day Holden assignment. Again, the goal is to try writing in a conversational/spoken word style. It's okay to use slang, incorrect grammar, swearing (within reason!). Try to tell your story and make it sound like you actually think and speak, and hopefully, have fun with it!
I talked at you a little, also, about Shakespeare. Sorry if I went on too much, but I'm an English teacher and I love this stuff.
HW: Finish writing.
10/19/09
I was out with Noah, thanks for being kind to my sub, Mr. Jay.
Freshmen:
Copied new vocab words: jeering, bewildered, discontent, rigid, appraise.
Turned in Ch. 5&6 study guide.
Began watching OMaM movie.
HW: Nope. OMaM test will be on THURSDAY!
AP Lit:
Pop quiz to check who's been reading.
Assigned "Modern Day Holden" writing.
HW: Modern Day Holden, due on Wed.
Freshmen:
Copied new vocab words: jeering, bewildered, discontent, rigid, appraise.
Turned in Ch. 5&6 study guide.
Began watching OMaM movie.
HW: Nope. OMaM test will be on THURSDAY!
AP Lit:
Pop quiz to check who's been reading.
Assigned "Modern Day Holden" writing.
HW: Modern Day Holden, due on Wed.
10/16/09
Freshmen:
Vocabulary quiz #3, then SSR time.
HW: OMaM study guide for chs. 5 &6 due Monday.
AP Lit:
Vocabulary Quiz #3
Discuss some more Catcher.
HW: Be through Ch. 20 for Monday.
Vocabulary quiz #3, then SSR time.
HW: OMaM study guide for chs. 5 &6 due Monday.
AP Lit:
Vocabulary Quiz #3
Discuss some more Catcher.
HW: Be through Ch. 20 for Monday.
Thursday
10/15/09
Freshmen:
We read Ch. 5 in OMaM together. (Poor puppy. Poor Curley's wife. Poor Lennie.)
HW: Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow and bring your SSR book.
Finish reading OMaM and complete the study guide by Monday.
AP Lit:
Continue our discussion of Catcher: the prostitute, religion, shakedown, daydreams, etc. We didn't quite get to the suitcase and the nuns...
HW: Read through Chapter 20 for Monday.
We read Ch. 5 in OMaM together. (Poor puppy. Poor Curley's wife. Poor Lennie.)
HW: Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow and bring your SSR book.
Finish reading OMaM and complete the study guide by Monday.
AP Lit:
Continue our discussion of Catcher: the prostitute, religion, shakedown, daydreams, etc. We didn't quite get to the suitcase and the nuns...
HW: Read through Chapter 20 for Monday.
Wednesday
10/13/09
Freshmen:
Checked Ch. 4 study guides for credit.
Discussed chapter 4.
HW: Vocab quiz on Friday.
AP Lit:
Due to the college fair during 3rd period, we just called today a work day. We'll continue our discussion of Catcher tomorrow.
HW: Read chapters 13, 14 and 15.
Checked Ch. 4 study guides for credit.
Discussed chapter 4.
HW: Vocab quiz on Friday.
AP Lit:
Due to the college fair during 3rd period, we just called today a work day. We'll continue our discussion of Catcher tomorrow.
HW: Read chapters 13, 14 and 15.
Tuesday
10/12/09
Freshmen:
Finish discussing OMaM Ch. 3
Begin reading Ch. 4 and study guide.
HW: Finish Ch 4 study guide. Due Wed.
AP Lit:
Discussed more Catcher and golden lines. Be keeping track of these for each chapter. You will be accountable for turning these in eventually.
HW: For Thurs. read chapters 13, 14 and 15.
Finish discussing OMaM Ch. 3
Begin reading Ch. 4 and study guide.
HW: Finish Ch 4 study guide. Due Wed.
AP Lit:
Discussed more Catcher and golden lines. Be keeping track of these for each chapter. You will be accountable for turning these in eventually.
HW: For Thurs. read chapters 13, 14 and 15.
10/11/09
Freshmen:
New vocab words: nuisance, subdue, disarming, indignation, console
Share descriptive writing-- at least one phrase or sentence.
Discuss OMaM Ch. 3
AP Lit:
New vocab words: manifest, irreparable, pacify, gesticulate, haughty
Discuss more Catcher, add to likes/dislikes chart and motifs list
New vocab words: nuisance, subdue, disarming, indignation, console
Share descriptive writing-- at least one phrase or sentence.
Discuss OMaM Ch. 3
AP Lit:
New vocab words: manifest, irreparable, pacify, gesticulate, haughty
Discuss more Catcher, add to likes/dislikes chart and motifs list
Wednesday
10/7/09
Freshmen:
Assigned and explained Descriptive Writing: Part 2. (see link for more info.)
Checked Chapter 3 study guides for credit.
HW: Bring rough drafts of descriptive writing for Monday. Be ready to share some.
AP Lit:
Turned in Metacognitions.
Discussed our first impressions of Holden. His likes, dislikes, contradictions and our first "Golden Lines."
HW: Read through Chapter 12 for Monday.
Assigned and explained Descriptive Writing: Part 2. (see link for more info.)
Checked Chapter 3 study guides for credit.
HW: Bring rough drafts of descriptive writing for Monday. Be ready to share some.
AP Lit:
Turned in Metacognitions.
Discussed our first impressions of Holden. His likes, dislikes, contradictions and our first "Golden Lines."
HW: Read through Chapter 12 for Monday.
10/6/09
Freshmen:
We discussed more of chapters 1 & 2 in OMaM and began reading Chapter 3 together.
HW: Finish reading Chapter 3 and complete the study guide.
AP Lit:
Any more papers? Questions about Metacognitive Response?
Checked out The Catcher in the Rye and started reading it together.
HW: Read through chapter 4 and take notes, especially, for each chapter choose a "golden line."
We discussed more of chapters 1 & 2 in OMaM and began reading Chapter 3 together.
HW: Finish reading Chapter 3 and complete the study guide.
AP Lit:
Any more papers? Questions about Metacognitive Response?
Checked out The Catcher in the Rye and started reading it together.
HW: Read through chapter 4 and take notes, especially, for each chapter choose a "golden line."
Monday
10/5/09
We were on an assembly schedule today, so classes were a bit shorter. And, don't forget that there are no classes on Thursday and Friday this week either.
Freshmen:
Checked OMaM study guides. Beginning next week these should be finished and will be checked at the beginning of the period they are due for full credit. After this, we began talking about Chapters 1 & 2. We'll continue our discussion and begin Chapter 3 tomorrow.
HW: No new work. Those who have been absent, use this time to get caught up!
AP Lit:
Well, we lost pretty much the whole period to a visit from Ms. Cornell to talk about grades, transcripts, graduation, financial aid, testing and other important things seniors (and juniors) should be aware of and begin planning for.
HW: With the few minutes we had left, I collected papers and distributed the handout on Metacognition. Your first Metacognitive Response, about the process of writing your group paper will be due on Wednesday. This is an individual endeavor, not another group paper, so while it certainly may include items relating to your whole group, the focus should also look specifically at your own writing and what you contributed to the final product.
Freshmen:
Checked OMaM study guides. Beginning next week these should be finished and will be checked at the beginning of the period they are due for full credit. After this, we began talking about Chapters 1 & 2. We'll continue our discussion and begin Chapter 3 tomorrow.
HW: No new work. Those who have been absent, use this time to get caught up!
AP Lit:
Well, we lost pretty much the whole period to a visit from Ms. Cornell to talk about grades, transcripts, graduation, financial aid, testing and other important things seniors (and juniors) should be aware of and begin planning for.
HW: With the few minutes we had left, I collected papers and distributed the handout on Metacognition. Your first Metacognitive Response, about the process of writing your group paper will be due on Wednesday. This is an individual endeavor, not another group paper, so while it certainly may include items relating to your whole group, the focus should also look specifically at your own writing and what you contributed to the final product.
Friday
Week of 9/28 to 10/2
Oh, dear! What a crazy week. Sorry, for the lack of updates but, like so many students and colleagues right now, I was home sick for most of this week. So, in an effort to get us all organized and back on track, here is the recap of this week and a bit of a look ahead. Hopefully, we'll all get healthy soon and remain that way.
Honors Freshmen:
Monday 9/28-- Took Literary Terms Test
Tuesday 9/29-- Looked at photos/slides and talked about the 1930's, the Great Depression, background for reading Of Mice and Men.
HW: Read the handout on Steinbeck and the historic context and be ready for a quiz over it
Wednesday 10/1-- Quiz over the Steinbeck handout. Checked out Of Mice and Men (OMaM) from the bookroom. Read the first few pages together noticing the descriptive elements of writing.
HW: Write a short descriptive piece of writing (2 or 3 paragraphs) that describes a favorite place using lots of sensory details.
Thursday 10/2-- Students selected and shared their favorite sentence or phrase from their writing. Then, began reading Chapter 1 OMaM.
HW: Finish reading Chapter 1 and complete the study guide.
Friday 10/3-- Vocabulary Quiz #2 (every Friday!) and then SSR time (again, every Friday we'll do this too.)
HW: Read Chapter 2 OMaM and complete the study guide.
Next week we'll continue our study of the novel...answer questions, discuss study guides, etc.
****SPECIAL NOTE****
PLEASE, if you choose to read ahead in the novel, DO NOT RUIN THE BOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE by blurting out significant events that they haven't gotten to yet. That's not nice or fair to others. If you read ahead and can't contain yourself and just have to talk about it, come talk to me, I know how it ends already!
AP Literature
Monday 9/28--Assigned "Bartleby" group essay, divided into groups, organized tasks.
Tuesday through Thursday-- work time for essay writing, revising, editing, etc.
Friday 10/2-- Vocabulary quiz #2, and finally, I had a chance to check in with each group on their paper. Thanks for the papers I got today. Most of the rest of you should have yours done by Monday. If that is not the case, I expect a status report on Monday.
Next week, we'll jump back into some literature with a little Catcher in the Rye. So, if you wanted to purchase your own copy of this novel to use, try to track one down by Monday. If not, we'll head to the bookroom to check them out early next week.
I really hope everyone has a great weekend and gets healthy or stays healthy. Thanks for your flexibility with having a sick teacher!
Honors Freshmen:
Monday 9/28-- Took Literary Terms Test
Tuesday 9/29-- Looked at photos/slides and talked about the 1930's, the Great Depression, background for reading Of Mice and Men.
HW: Read the handout on Steinbeck and the historic context and be ready for a quiz over it
Wednesday 10/1-- Quiz over the Steinbeck handout. Checked out Of Mice and Men (OMaM) from the bookroom. Read the first few pages together noticing the descriptive elements of writing.
HW: Write a short descriptive piece of writing (2 or 3 paragraphs) that describes a favorite place using lots of sensory details.
Thursday 10/2-- Students selected and shared their favorite sentence or phrase from their writing. Then, began reading Chapter 1 OMaM.
HW: Finish reading Chapter 1 and complete the study guide.
Friday 10/3-- Vocabulary Quiz #2 (every Friday!) and then SSR time (again, every Friday we'll do this too.)
HW: Read Chapter 2 OMaM and complete the study guide.
Next week we'll continue our study of the novel...answer questions, discuss study guides, etc.
****SPECIAL NOTE****
PLEASE, if you choose to read ahead in the novel, DO NOT RUIN THE BOOK FOR SOMEONE ELSE by blurting out significant events that they haven't gotten to yet. That's not nice or fair to others. If you read ahead and can't contain yourself and just have to talk about it, come talk to me, I know how it ends already!
AP Literature
Monday 9/28--Assigned "Bartleby" group essay, divided into groups, organized tasks.
Tuesday through Thursday-- work time for essay writing, revising, editing, etc.
Friday 10/2-- Vocabulary quiz #2, and finally, I had a chance to check in with each group on their paper. Thanks for the papers I got today. Most of the rest of you should have yours done by Monday. If that is not the case, I expect a status report on Monday.
Next week, we'll jump back into some literature with a little Catcher in the Rye. So, if you wanted to purchase your own copy of this novel to use, try to track one down by Monday. If not, we'll head to the bookroom to check them out early next week.
I really hope everyone has a great weekend and gets healthy or stays healthy. Thanks for your flexibility with having a sick teacher!
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