Tuesday March 31, 2015

Honors 9- Today we analyzed the poem Calypso by Suzanne Vega, We also translated a stanza from book 5 of The Odyssey to practice working with the language of epic poetry.

English 10- Today we took pre-reading notes for Of Mice and Men. 

Monday March 30, 2015

Honors 9- Today we read the prologue and beginning introductions to Homer's The Odyssey. Here are the vocab words for the week. All the words come directly from the text:

•Formidable

•Ravage

•Profusion

•Adversary

•Guile

•Rancor

•Abominably

•Ardor

•Tumult

•Rapine 

English 10- Today we did small group work to discuss the great depression and prepare for reading Of Mice and Men. 

Monday March 23, 2015 to Friday March 28, 2015

Spring Break!!! Have a great break!!! See you Monday!!!

Friday March 20, 2015

Honors 9- Today we took vocab quiz #12. See me immediately after spring break to make this up if you were absent today. We also read the intro to The Odyssey. 

English 10- Today we will be doing our poetry presentations. Review the directions from previous blogs this week.

Thursday March 19, 2015

Honors 9- Today we completed our definitions of "Hero" and voted for them accordingly. The definitions that we chose will now be used to guide the rest of our unit on The Odyssey. Don't forget: We have a vocab quiz tomorrow!!!


English 10- Today we finished looking at Langston Hughes' poems (Harlem) A Dream Deferred and I, Too.  Don't forget: You need to present a poem tomorrow, either one that you wrote yourself or one that you choose from a different source. You need to be able to discuss the figurative language and theme. 

Wednesday March 18, 2015

Honors 9- Today we finished answering the questions "What makes up a hero?" and created our own working definition of what a hero is. This will support our thinking as we move into our reading of The Odyssey. Reminder: Vocab Quiz Friday! Make sure you are studying.


English 10- Toady we finished our analysis of Auto Wreck and started our look at Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance. Reminder: Poetry presentations are on Friday. See yesterdays blog for the requirements.  Here are the poems if you missed class today:

(Harlem) A Dream Deferred

by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

I,Too

 By Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides,

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

Tuesday March 17, 2015

Honors 9- Today we continued looking at the epic hero cycle and began to form definitions of what a "hero" is. This in preparation for our reading of the Odyssey by Homer.

English 10- Today we are continuing to analyze the poem Auto Wreck by Karl Shapiro. Remember we have poetry presentations on Friday. Here are the requirements:

•Friday you will be sharing either a poem you have written, or a poem written by someone else that you enjoy.

•All you have to do is read the poem and then discuss the figurative language and theme. So identify the figurative language and how it helps drive the poem. Then make a connection to the theme. 

Monday March 16, 2015

Honors 9- Today we went over vocab and began to analyze epic poems and the epic hero cycle. Here are the vocab words for the week:

•Hubris

•Assiduous

•Deleterious

•Demagogue

•Ostentatious

•Prosaic

•Sagacity

•Transient

•Hackneyed

•Enervating  

English 10- Today we started our week long poetry unit analyzing Auto Wreck by Karl Shapiro. Here are the requirements for Friday's poetry project:

•Friday you will be sharing either a poem you have written, or a poem written by someone else that you enjoy.

•All you have to do is read the poem and then discuss the figurative language and theme. So identify the figurative language and how it helps drive the poem. Then make a connection to the theme. 

Monday March 9, 2015

Honors 9- Today we worked on the 4th quarter reading and writing assessment. Here is the prompt if you need it:

Write an extended response comparing and contrasting the effectiveness of Atticus’ closing argument in To Kill a Mockingbird with Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech.

FCA’s

1.Clear organization for readability

2.All aspects of the prompt addressed

3.A minimum of three quotes used from either text

English 10- Today we continued to watch Food Inc. 

Friday March 6, 2015

Honors 9- Today we took the part 2 quiz. the 3rd quarter writing assessment is Monday. Complete the graphic organizer for Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech for home work.

English 10- Articles are due today!! We started the documentary Food Inc. to evaluate claim, evidence and appeal.

Thursday March 5, 2015

Honors 9- Today we went over the study guide and reviewed for tomorrow's quiz.

English 10- Today we finished the documentary 30 Days about minimum wage. We discussed claim, evidence and appeals that we witnessed in the film. Tomorrow we will start Food Inc. Remember: Articles are due printed out and in my hand tomorrow! No exceptions! This has been assigned for over a month!!

Wednesday March 4, 2015

Honors 9- Today we continued to look at the study guide and prepare for the quiz on Friday. Please have the study guide completed by tomorrow.  Questions for the study guide are posted under yesterday's activities.

English 10- Today we started looking at claim and evidence in different medias. This will continue through the end of the quarter.
NOTE: Article projects are due Friday. No Exceptions, this has been assigned for over  month! REMEMBER, your final project needs to be printed out! 

Tuesday March 3, 2015

Honors 9- Today we worked on the study guide for part two. Here are the questions:

Part Two Study Guide  

                                 

Chapter 23

1. Cite examples that demonstrate Jem’s maturity.

Chapter 24

1. What is ironic about the missionary circle’s conversation?

2. Why did Tom try to escape?

3. What insight do we gain into Aunt Alexandra’s character?

Chapter 25

1. Discuss the mockingbird symbol in relation to Tom Robinson.

2. Analyze the foreshadowing conveyed at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 26

Why is Jem unable to speak about the trial without becoming angered?

Chapter 27

1. What three incidents concerning the Ewells’ occur? From these incidents and from Atticus, what do we learn about Bob Ewell?

Chapter 28

1. What details in this chapter and the previous chapter add to the mounting tension and dramatic climax of Jem and Scout being attacked?

2. Discuss the attack and the events that follow.

Chapter 29

1. Discuss the credibility of Boo’s defense of Jem and Scout

Chapter 30

1. What insight is gained about Heck Tate’s character?

2. What situation do both Scout and Atticus recognize?

3. Analyze and discuss Scout’s comment about the Mockingbird in relation to Boo Radley.

Chapter 31

1. How does Scout demonstrate growth in the final two chapters?

English 10- Today we will be in the computer lab finishing working on the articles that are due Friday. NOTE: I will be available again today after school for students to type up their articles and print them off. 

Monday March 2, 2015

Honors 9- Today the Type 3 theme writing is due. If you tested for PARCC today, you may turn in your Type 3's tomorrow. If you were in class today, we started the part two study guide. We will work on this over the next couple of days to prepare for the part two quiz.

English 10-Today we are working in the computer lab. REMEMBER: your article projects are due Friday March 6. I am available after school today and tomorrow if you need to utilize the computer lab or printer. We are having issues with the printers in the English department, but we can figure something out.  NOTE: I will not accept hand written articles! Part of the assignment is to mimic a newspaper or magazine article.