Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Black Day

Honors English
1. We finished "The Lottery" discussion with notes on symbolism, typological names, adherence to tradition, and Tessie Hutchinson
2. We began "In the Twilight" by Wallace Stegner. To start with, we played "two truths and a lie" as we discussed how we can make deep thinking inferences about characters. For next class, read the story, and take PHYSICAL notes on types of inferences you can make about the character Bruce....

Public Speaking
1. Guest speaker Officer Josh Veilleux presenting on public speaking, confidence, and staying cool under pressure. If you missed this, you missed a great class!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Orange Day

ALL CLASSES: Guidance came by today to talk to all of you seniors. They had MANY important things to tell you/give you. If you missed this due to the yearbook ad drive, make sure you see your guidance counselor SOON! We will resume our "academic" schedule on Wednesday, which is an early release day....

CP English: Make sure you read section 2 of Beowulf: "The Battle with Grendel's Mother." Quizzes are always fair game

Honors English: Our vocab test will be on FRIDAY due to guidance coming today, and the half day on Wed.

English 12: Be sure to read part 2 of Beowulf: "The Battle with Grendel's Mother." If you are missing any notes, be sure to get them!!!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Black Day

Honors English
1. De-briefed guidance visit....we talked about lots of burning questions and issues regarding the college application process
2. We took the vocabulary test #2
3. The Lottery: We started our discussion of the story, going over contrasting images, symbolism, and "the box." On Monday, we'll finish our notes and discussion of the story. You should prepare yourself by bringing 1) a working understand of the story 2) a list of "weird" and eccentric traditions

Public Speaking
1. Teaching Project Presentations

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Orange Day

College Prep English
1. Took vocab test #2
2. Reminder that guidance will be in class on Monday. Get your college stuff together and come with questions!
3. Beowulf: We did in class work finding NERVOUSNESS OF MEN, RELIGIOUS UNDERTONES, GREATNESS OF BEOWULF, and EVILNESS OF GRENDEL. We worked in groups to provide textual evidence of each. We then discussed part 1 of the story. If you missed, get the notes! For WEDNESDAY, please read part 2 (The Battle with Grendel's mom) and write a paragraph where you research a superhero of your choice. The three things you must include are a) strengths and talents b)arch enemy c)fatal flaw/weakness

Honors English
1. Reminder that vocab test is WEDNESDAY because guidance is coming Monday
2. The Lottery: We started by working in groups to discuss contrasting images AND a prevailing literary device found in the story. We then discussed the story and took notes. If you missed, copy the notes! Finally, we discussed the responses that were due TODAY, and we talked about traditions that we have that don't necessarily make any sense.
3. There was no new story given, since guidance will be here on Monday. We will resume Wed..

English 12
1. Guidance is coming Monday. As a participation grade, bring AT LEAST THREE questions to ask them.
2. Beowulf: We started with a "daily" writing response: a) Do you need to be arrogant to be successful? AND b) Describe an arrogant celebrity. We discussed those and they were passed in as a participation grade. We then took notes on Beowulf. If you missed class, these notes are WICKED important to get! You must read section one (The battle with Grendel) for homework.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Black Day

Honors English
1. Guidance came to talk to class today. They imparted LOADS of VERY IMPORTANT information for you to hear. If you missed, go see guidance IMMEDIATELY. Even if you were in class today, go see guidance. You'll feel a lot less worried if you do. Also, come talk to me with ANY college questions you might have!

Public Speaking
1. Back-to-Back activity: Test your talents for your clear, articulated direction giving as you pair up with a classmate to perform an awesome drawing....
2. Check in with "teaching project." Remember, this project is to be presented on FRIDAY. Pay close attention to the TIME LIMIT which is 3 minutes MINIMUM!
3. I began to model the teaching project by performing the world's best card trick....hear the solution on Friday....

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Orange Day

College Prep
1. We took our literary terms test today
2. REMINDER OF VOCAB TEST #2 ON THURSDAY
3. We began Beowulf today. We took background notes on the historical context involving Beowulf, as well as the story itself. Several new "terms" were introduced with Beowulf. You should be studying these notes for the test

Honors English
1. New vocabulary words were given today. The test will be on Monday
2. Short story unit was begun. I passed out "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. We discussed the idea of "contrasting images" in literature. The story was assigned to be read for Thursday. In addition, please respond to the following prompt: "Traditions are often seen as having a positive impact on our culture. But do you think traditions can have a negative affect too?" This should be typed.

English 12
1. We started with a clip from "The Thomas Crown Affair." Students analyzed the literary devices present in this ten minute clip. Participation grade
2. Literary Terms test was taken in class.
3. Beowulf was started. No notes were given today, but for next class you need to write a paragraph research a "modern day hero." You should address three things in this paragraph: 1) strength and skill 2) arch enemy 3) fatal flaw/chief weakness

Orange Day

Monday, September 21, 2009

Black Day

Honors English
1. We got new vocabulary words for a test that will be FRIDAY
2. "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson was started in class. For FRIDAY (because guidance is coming in on Wednesday) please do the following:
a. read the story
b. write (TYPE!) your answer to the following response: Is the idea of "tradition" in our
culture more harmful than good? Traditions have the "intent" of being positive parts
of our life....but can they be totally negative things? Discuss.
c. compile a list of "traditions" we have in our life that we do....even though they might make
little sense (Halloween, Easter egg hunts, etc) to us.

Public Speaking
1. Debrief George Lessard "talk"
2. Introduced "teaching project" speech which is to be delivered on FRIDAY
3. We started the discussion about the idea of "direction giving" and clear articulation in speech. There were handouts here if you were absent. The handouts had many good (and bad) examples of direction giving.
4. The "Back to Back" activity was postponed....we'll do it on Wednesday. We were missing several folks, and we didnt have enough time to adequately do it. Instead though, Little G entertained us with his adventure stories.....

Friday, September 18, 2009

Orange Day

*******ALL CLASSES: REMEMBER TO MAKE UP YOUR WORK!!! YOU HAVE TO SEE ME THE DAY YOU RETURN IN ORDER TO MAKE UP YOUR WORK. IT ISN'T JUST DONE AT "YOUR CONVENIENCE." THERE ARE RULES HERE. ALREADY, STUDENTS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS. YOU ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR WORK*******

College Prep English
1. We went over the literary terms review sheet, and we created original scenarios involving FOIL and DRAMATIC IRONY. We shared them as review.
2. The test on Literary Terms is TUESDAY!!!
3. New vocabulary words given for test next THURSDAY

Honors English
1. We reviewed the literary terms review sheet
2. Test taken on literary terms
3. We will begin our short story unit on Tuesday

English 12
1. Shared group work examples of how symbolism, conflict, irony, etc show up in modern films and shows
2. Did review sheet in class as a participation grade*
3. STUDY FOR TEST ON TUESDAY!!! This test is on all the literary terms we've been learning!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Black Day

Honors English
1. Go over literary term review sheet. We'll answer questions on any of the "scenarios" on the sheet
2. Literary Terms Test: IF YOU MISSED CLASS (as several of you did today) make sure you make this up ASAP!

Public Speaking
1. George Lessard's fantastic antique talk. He modeled the type of project you will do for next week. I will assign this project "officially" next week. Today, we just listened, enjoyed, and learned

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Black Day

Hi everyone!

A reminder: MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR MAKE UP WORK! YOU HAVE AS MANY DAYS AS YOU ARE ABSENT TO MAKE UP YOUR TESTS/WORK/ETC.

Honors English
1. Finish literary terms, taking notes and providing examples for each one
2. In groups, create examples for all eleven literary terms--base these examples off of movies, television, or real life situations you know
3. Do review example sheet for class on Thursday
4. LITERARY TERMS TEST THURSDAY!!!

Public Speaking
1. Fire Drill....haha
2. Read the article "Taking the Terror out of Talk"
3. Answer the questions off the board. This will be handed in for a participation grade
4. Discuss the article, article questions, and the importance of hooks (introductions, anecdotes, first impressions, etc)
5. For Thursday, prepare a short anecdote or joke (CLEAN!) to deliver as a "hook."
** On Thursday, we will have guest speaker George Lessard model your "teaching project," as he delivers a speech about antiques and antique collecting

Have a great day!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Orange Day

****Remember to check the blog daily for updates and assignments****
**Sorry for the "interruption" in blog posts. We should be back on track now!**
COLLEGE PREP
1. Take Vocabulary Test 1
2. Begin discussion of literary terms. We will use these all throughout the year. If you were absent, get the notes you missed. We went through about half of the list. THERE WILL BE A TEST (probably on Friday)!! Stay tuned for this!


HONORS ENGLISH
1. See C.P. English. Essentially the same plan, as you had a vocab test 1 today. We began discussion of lit terms today. You are to make a list, highlighting what you already know from last year

ENGLISH 12
1. Vocabulary test 1
2. Literary Terms discussion. Over the next short story unit, we will be discussing many short story literary terms. You will need to know these terms for our discussion. No matter where you were last year or who you had, I want all of you to be on the same page. We got through about half of the list today (we ended with "point of view")

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Black Day


Honors English


1. Aim is due! Go around and share experiences. Hand in papers


2. Dar Williams


a. re-listen to song


b. discuss observations, thesis statements, etc


c. thesis statements should "defy ordinary!"




3. Vocab test #1 is on Friday! Study for this




Public Speaking

1. Daily-"Everyone should know how to...."

2. View portion of "Dwight's Speech" and "Boom goes the dynamite." Discuss as a class what we can learn about how to (and how NOT to) deliver a public address

3. Begin discussion of "Taking the Terror out of Talk"



Friday, September 4, 2009

BLACK DAY


Honors English


**Don't forget your "Aim" due on Wednesday of next week!


1. Vocabulary List 1: New words PLUS discussion of "connotation" and "denotation"


2. Dar Wiliams song "The End of the Summer" activity

a. revisit idea of thesis statement

b. listen/analyze song, music, lyrics, etc

c. discussion of key points

d. Write in class-your own thesis based on the song


Public Speaking


1. Discussion of "Bad Speakers" and their "idiosyncrasies."


2. View "The Office" and watch the episode called "Dwight's Speech."


3. For a participation grade, hand in notes/observations as we discuss what we can learn about how to (and how to NOT) deliver an effective speech


4. "Taking the Terror Out of Talk" article