Today we caught up on some reading time and went over the last few chapters you've read for homework. I also went over some requirements regarding the term organizer. I will be collecting it tomorrow, so make sure you complete it tonight. Email me if you have any questions.
Reading completed in class today: Pages 144-166
Reading for homework tonight: Pages 166-186
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Freshmen - Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Hey, folks. Ten days and counting!!! In the meantime, we have a LOT to do. Today, I gave you a nifty little Shakespeare cheat sheet that helps define some of his most commonly used language (download below.) I also collected your Act I Study Guides and handed out your Act II Study Guides to work on. These will be due on Thursday. We continued reading and discussing the play, so if you were absent, see me. In the meantime, read Act II on your own and use additional resources for help if you need it. We will be continuing in class tomorrow. Juniors - Monday, May 11, 2009
Today we analyzed and discussed a strange but cool poem, "Attack of the Crab Monsters" by Lawerence Raab. After reading and annotating it independently, you got into small groups and discussed it together. Each group shared their notes and interpretations, and then we watched a short video clip about the poem and discussed its connections to the novel. If you were absent, download the poem below, annotate it, and answer the following questions: 1. Who (or what) is the speaker? Who do you think he/she is referring to?
2. What is the tone of this poem? (underline words or phrases that you think contributes to the tone.)
3. What do you think is the overall meaning or message of the poem? What do you think the speaker is talking about?
4. What specific connections can you make to The Beach? (hint: think themes and also physical space...)
Freshmen - Monday, May 11, 2009
Today you had some time to work on your Act I Study Guide before we continued reading and discussing the rest of Act I and the first few scenes of Act II. If you were absent, catch up with the reading and don't forget to complete your study guide. All the literary terms and additional information can be found by scrolling down to Friday's post and viewing the Terminology power points. You will likely have to search beyond that for some information.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Juniors - Friday, May 8, 2009
Today we did some in-class work with some key terms relating to the novel. Whatever you did not finish is homework. In addition, there is some reading for this weekend - I created a packet for you to take home and finish reading. If you were absent you can download the reading below (pages 116-144). Have a great weekend! PS. For some reason my brain was on vacation and I forgot to post what we did on block days this week. After holding a round table discussion and recap of the discussion questions you recorded on Tuesday, we took a quiz on pages 1-100. If you were absent, you have until Tuesday to make it up.
Freshmen - Friday, May 8, 2009
Happy Friday!! Today we went over and worked on our Act I Study Guide that I handed out today. You may complete this independently, using your own resources and the following power points (located below) as your guide. Have this ready to discuss and turn in by Tuesday. In addition, we also finished Act I in class. We will be closely analyzing some passages from Acts I, II, and III in class next week. Since we are reading this entire play during class time, take advantage of the great resources (like study guides, summaries, and analyses) that are online to help you better understand it. Personally, I would recommend Sparknotes. These are very helpful, especially when reading a challenging text like R&J. For homework, please visit the post titled "Bloggin Bout the Bard." This will contain all of the instructions you need for your blog assignment, which is due via post by Friday. And don't forget: Your Act I Study Guide is due Tuesday.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Freshmen - Wednesday/Thursday, May 6-7
Block days this week were spent diving headfirst into Romeo and Juliet....yay!!! I am so excited to end the year this way. You simply cannot go through life without having read/experienced/enjoyed this famous work of Shakespearean genius. After a discussion around your introductory activities (the social offenses sheet and prologue summary,) I showed you a brief power point about Elizabethan spelling conventions and quirky Shakespearean language. Download by clicking here. The rest of the period was spent reading, listening to, and discussing Act I, Scenes I-III. I originally told both classes that there would be some homework waiting for you on this post today. Just kidding. It will be weekend homework, and I will go over it with you in class on Friday.
Juniors - Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Today with the substitute you completed some in class reading of pages 65-81 in The Beach and recorded some discussion questions and quotes on an index card (which you will turn in on block day.) You also got started on some homework - some more chapters (pages 82-100) along with three guided reading questions, which will be collected on block day. Freshmen - Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Today I was not in class because a bunch of us English teachers got together to grade the District Writing Assessments. You guys did some work in small groups around the Social Offenses survey and then independently completed the Romeo and Juliet Prologue Summary activity, which will be collected in class on block day. Click below to download. Friday, May 1, 2009
Juniors - Tuesday - Friday, April 28-May 1
This week was spent discussing and doing a lot of in class reading of The Beach. Power points that outline each day's discussion and guided reading questions will be posted next week. Please remember that you need to be keeping up with your two-column notes - I will be checking them on Tuesday next week, and there will also be a quiz. If you were absent at all this week and need to get caught up, download the last few days of reading here. Please email me with any questions. Enjoy your long weekend!! Freshmen - Tuesday - Friday, April 28-May 1
The last three class periods have been devoted to our District Writing Assessment. If you were absent, please see me as soon as possible to schedule a time to make up this assessment. This is also part of your grade in class, so don't slack on this! Have a great weekend! When we return, get ready for a busy few weeks. We're in the home stretch!!
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