Happy Holidays from Father Festivus!

The end of civilization as we know it!

Now this is true savagery!

Fri 12/21

Sophomores
1. Festivus Activities
2. grammar review: dangling modifiers
3. JLC: eight fold notes, Swan Feather vignette key phrases, What is Joy Luck?
4. Othello RD peer/self review

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. review last two chapters of Like Water for Chocolate
3. Like Water for Chocolate test
4. NB check

Thur 12/20

Sophomores
1. grammar: parallel structure
2. essay workshop: RD due tomorrow

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. review September and October chapters
3. discuss triangles
4. HW: finish book, complete FD of TFA essay

Happy Festivus

My favorite holiday is coming up on December 23rd. Learn more about it here.

Wed 12/19

Sophomores
1. get JLC books, read to p 32 by Friday
2. workshop

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Journal: rebellion
3. July and August questions review
4. Sept and October questions
5. finish book

Tue 12/18

Sophomores
1. grammar
2. essay sample, how to include quotations
3. workshop

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. discuss "May" and "June"
3. do "July" and "August" questions
4. HW: read "September" and "October"

Mon 12/17

Sophomores
1. finish Act V of Othello
2. essay instructions: topic, theme, lit. device, thesis, reviewing the text, etc.
3. essay workshop

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. journal: nurturing
3. "May" and "June" questions in NB
4. HW: read "July" and "Aug"
Notes: Friday is a big day. We have a vocab quiz, Like Water for Chocolate test, and your final draft of Things Fall Apart essay is due

Teachers and District reach tentative agreement

Good news. This means no strike. Thanks to all those students who came out and supported us at the school board meeting on Thursday.

Othello (Anthony Hopkins): Iago tells of a handkerchief

You be the judge. Is Anthony Hopkins a good or bad Othello?

Fri 12/14

Sophomores
1. Othello paraphrase quiz
2. score NBs
3. Othello film

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. ch 3-4 quiz
3. essay RD; 10 pts
4. ch 4 questions
5. HW: read ch 5 and 6

Thur 12/13

Sophomores
1. grammar 12
2. Othello essay assignment
3. begin Othello film

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Mexican revolution
3. ch 3 questions and discussion
4. Chocolate journal 3 or 4: family legend or transcendental relationship
5. HW: read ch 4 of Chocolate, complete RD of TFA essay

Wed 12/12

Sophomores
1. Othello slideshows
2. Searchable Shakespeare
3. grammar 11
4. discuss Act V
5. HW: be sure notebook is complete

Seniors
1. Ch 2 quiz
2. vocab warm up
3. Ch 2 questions and discussion
4. film clip: wedding cake
5. HW: read ch 3, work on TFA rough draft

Gandhi Wilson

Tue 12/11

Sophomores
1. cast Act V, homework check
2. Emilia's speech
3. Act V
4. HW: Act V study guide, questions 1-11

Seniors
1. Chocolate quiz #1
2. vocab warm up
3. magical realism
4. ch 1 questions in NB
5. Chocolate journal #2: family tradition
6. HW: read ch 2, work on TFA essay

Mon 12/10

Sophomores
1. complete Othello Act IV
2. HW: complete 1-8 on Act IV study guide, complete Othello journal #4 if you have not done so already

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. speeches: tips, put in your "drawer" till January
3. Chocolate journal #1: Describe the "ultimate meal" you would serve for yourself and friends. Go into detail. How would it taste? How would it make you and your friends feel.
4. HW: read ch 1 of Like Water for Chocolate"; work on RD of TFA essay

Friday 12/7

Sophomores
Complete key passage analysis for you choice book

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. share freshmen proverbs
3. essay instructions from purple book
4. essay workshop; compete planning sheet #3
5. get new book: Like Water for Chocolate

Thur 12/6

Sophomore
1. grammar 10
2. HW check: journals and study questions
3. Act IV
4. HW: finish choice book, print passages

Seniors
1. HW check
2. vocab warm up
3. sample essay: All Quiet sample
4. planning sheet 2 and 3, complete freshman proverb, study vocab, draft essay

Wed 12/5

Sophomores
1. grammar warm up
2. the history of a handkerchief: paraphrase
3. lit term: symbolism
4. finish Act III
5. Act III essay journal
6. HW: read choice book, visit blog and leave comment for participation

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Happy Meal
2. gut reaction: ending
3. discuss irony of ending
4. essay topics
5. HW: complete freshman proverb for Friday, complete essay planning sheet 1 Thursday

Othello's handkerchief and Islamic art

Here are some images of Islamic textiles that I mentioned in class. Note the elaborate work, with images of animals, flowers, scripture and geometric patterns. The last two images might give you a good idea of what Othello's handkerchief might have looked like.

Tue 12/4

Sophomores
1. grammar 6-7
2. Othello Act III
3. HW: choice book and passages; read Othello to page 109, grammar 8-9

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. share proverb illustrations
3. review ch 18-21 in small groups, answer questions in NB
4. advice for Freshman: write your own proverb for Thursday. Examples: The unchained gate swings wide and often. The guard who learns to trust the unchained inmate keeps the most secure prison. The thirsty dog is willing to drink muddy water. The sniper's bullet is worth a thousand from an ordinary soldier.
5. HW: finish TFA