Fri 6/12

Sophomores
1. present Othello projects
2. HW: read your books, gather ten vocab words

Thur 6/11

Sophomores
1. Journal #2: find a key passage
2. finish Othello project
3. read or do extra credit

Wed 6/10

Sophomores
1. choice book journal #1: freewrite on one of these topics: characterization, setting, conflict, atmostphere, dialogue, foreshadowing, expostition, style
2. extra credit-- due Tuesday the 16th
3. time to read/write

Franklin High Student Accepted to MIT

Don't be a grade-grubber; work to maximize deep understanding. Ever since, "I focus on trying to retain the material and really learn it," he says, "not so much on getting an A."

Read more here.

Tue 6/9

Sophomores
1. create reading calendar
2. begin vocab assignment-- two words a night
3. time to read or work on Othello project

Mon 6/8

Sophomores
Choice book assignment-- read book by 6/17
work on Othello project--- due Friday

Fri 6/5

Sophomores
Work on Othello project

Thur 6/4

Seniors
speeches

Sophomores
Othello test

Ewan McGregor talks about Iago

You might recognize Ewan McGregor from the Star Wars films.

Othello (Anthony Hopkins): Iago tells of a handkerchief

Is Anthony the worst Othello ever? You be the judge?

Shakespeare in the ghetto, Othello

Othello directed by Alan Parker

Here's a clip for the film version starring Lawrence Fishburn as Othello.

Punch Shakespeare

Tue 6/2

Seniors
1. finish Like Water for Chocolate film
2. work time: study for the test, complete extra credit, revise final speech

Sophomores
film: Othello

Mon 6/1

Seniors
1. collect magical realism essay/story
2. "December" discussion
3. film

Sophomores
1. Othello project topics
2. film

Fri 5/29

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. "November" discussion
3. peer review of RD of magical realism story/ essay
4. begin film
5. HW: finish book

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. Othello Act 5-- drama time!

Thur 5/28

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. "October" discussion
3. triangles
4. work time: "Magical Realism" essay/story, speech, or extra credit
5. HW: read "November"

Sophomores
1. vocab review
2. discuss journal # 5
3. close reading and paraphrase: Emilia's speech
4. journal #6
5. cast Act 5

Wed 5/27

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. discuss "September"
3. time to write magical realism essay/ story

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. review journal #4
3. read aloud Act 4
3. HW: journal #5

Tue 5/26

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. discuss "July" and "August"
3. time to work on Magical Realism story/essay
4. extra credit: revise TFA essay
5. HW: read "September"

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Desdemona story circle
3. finish Act III
4. Magic in the Web
5. HW: journal #4-- How does "divinity of hell" embody the events of Act III?

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

In honor of Memorial Day, here is a short video from 1998 of my brother working at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Fri 5/22

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. "June" discussion and notes
3. Imaginative narrative story-- 50 pts
4. HW: read "July" and "August"

Sophmores
1. collect essays
2. vocab warm up
3. review Othello journal #3
4. Read Act III scenes 1-3 (scene 3 is round robin acting)

Thur 5/21

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. "May" questions and notes
3. journal #4: options
4. NB check
5. read "June"

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. finish Act II
3. picture this
4. Othello journal #3
5. lit terms: foil, paradox, comic relief, symbolism
6. HW: essay due tomorrow

Wed 5/20

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. "April" discussion and notes
3. journal #4: transcendental relationship
4. HW: read "May"

Sophomores
1. vocab review
2. review journal #2
3. Act II: review last night's reading, read scene 1, scene 2
4. HW: work on JLC essay

Tue 5/19

Seniors
1. collect essays
2. vocab warm up
3. Ch 3 "March" discussion, notes
4. HW: read "April"

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. "Ring the Changes"
3. finish Act I
4. Othello journal #2
5. Iago story circle
6. begin Act II-- read to page 60 line 175

Mon 5/18

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Chocolate ch 2 quiz
3. February study questions in groups, notes
4. journal #3: family legend
5. HW: read "March" and complete FD of TFA essay

Sophomores
1. Bardology 101 slideshow
2. vocab warm up
3. review journal #1 questions
4. chorale reading: the Othello love story
5. read to page 48 up to when Othello and Desdemona exit

Fri 5/15

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. essay peer review-- FD due next Tuesday
3. Chocolate January questions
4. Chocolate journal #2: family tradition
5. HW: read Chocolate ch 2

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. essay peer review-- FD due next Friday
3. Othello scenes 1,2
4. HW: read to p 39 line 47
5. HW: Othello journal #1

Wilson's grading method

In case you are wondering how I grade your essays, click here.

Thur 5/14

Seniors
1. new vocab
2. Chocolate journal #1: ultimate meal
3. read Like Water for Chocolate chapter 1
4. HW: complete TFA RD

Sophomores
1. grammar final test
2. Othello vocab
3. Act One slightly cut script
4. HW: complete JLC RD

Wed 5/13

Seniors
1. essay workshop: RD due Friday
2. pick up Like Water for Chocolate books
3. work on essay

Sophomores
1. grammar review
2. improvisation #2: the lover, the girlfriend, the buddy
3. work on essay

Tue 5/15

Seniors
Essay workshop: RD due on Friday

Sophomores
1. grammar review: pronoun/antecedent agreement, active/passive voice
2. line tossing improvisations
3. HW: work on essay

Mon 5/11

Seniors
1. return speech drafts-- FD due 6/4
2. TFA test
3. essay workshop

Sophomores
1. grammar review: sub/verb agreement, past perfect tense
2. Bardology 101
3. line tossing

Fri 5/8

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. end of book passage: get reaction, Achebe purpose
3. essay topics and test study topics
4. HW: study for Monday's test

Sophomores
1. grammar review: semicolons, colons, dashes
2. essay workshop

Thur 5/7

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. TFA questions for ch 18-21
3. share Ibo proverbs- 10 pts
4. HW: finish book

Sophomores
1. grammar 14: test next Thur
2. essay workshop: RD due next Fri

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. ch 13-17 semi-pop quiz
3. passage response: (pages 1125-128) A. gut reaction; B. What is Achebe's purpose with this passage? What does he want to show us? What is he trying to get us to think or believe?
4. HW: read ch 18-21, Ibo proverb due tomorrow

Sophomores
1. grammar 13
2. essay tools, advice
3. finish film
4. HW: narrow topic, grammar 14

Tue 5/5

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. TFA NB questions for ch 11-13
3. Ibo proverb illustration-- 10 pts, due Thursday
4. HW: read ch 14-17

Sophomores
1. grammar 12
2. discuss "Double Face"
3. more film clips
4. HW: finish book; grammar 13; pick essay topic, review evidence, write a rough thesis

Mon 5/4

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. quickwrite: When is tradition a good thing? A bad thing?
3. TFA ch 8-10 discussion; new name: Obierika, Cheilo, Egwuwu
4. ch 8-10 NB questions
5. share freshmen proverbs
6. HW: read ch 11-13

Sophomores
1. grammar 11
2. discuss last four JLC questions
3. film clips, NB check
4. HW: read "Double Face" and grammar 12

Friday 5/1

Seniors
1. collect speech drafts
2. vocab quiz
3. TFA Ch 5-7: Ekwefi, Ezinma, Ogbuefi Ezeuda, Feast of the New Yam, Wrestling, the demise of Ikemefuna
4. NB questions for 5-7
5. complete freshmen proverb for Monday
6. HW: rread TFA ch 8-10

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. grammar 10
3. "Four Directions"
4. HW: grammar 11, read to page 287

Thur 5/1

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. TFA ch 3-4: Agbala, Week of Peace, Yams, marriage and family, Okonkwo's character, Ikemefuna's role
3. Freshman proverb: due Monday for 10 points
4. HW: read ch 5-7, complete speech draft

Sophomores (counseling visit)
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 9
3. "Rice Husband"
4. read "Four Directions"
5. HW: grammar 10

Wed 4/29

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. TFA names to remember: Okonkwo, Amalinze the Cat, Unoka, Umuofia, Mbiano, Ikemefuna, Nwoye, Ibo
3. Okonkwo's character, Ibo culture
4. advice to freshman brainstorm
5. proverbs
6. HW: read ch 3-4-- possible quiz tomorrow

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 8
3. JLC discussions
4. finish writing test
5. HW: grammar 9, read "Rice Husband"

Tue 4/28

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Things Fall Apart anticipation questions
3. TFA background reading
4. read TFA ch 1-2
5. HW: work on speech-- draft due Friday at the beginning of class on Friday-- no late papers!

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 7
3. complete state writing test
4. HW: grammar 8, read "Two Kinds"

Mon 4/27

Seniors
1. vocab warm up: quiz Friday
2. speech workshop
3. get new book: Things Fall Apart-- no reading tonight
4. HW: work on speech: typed draft due Friday, 10 points, no late papers

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up: quiz Friday
2. grammar 6
3. collect autobios
4. state writing test
5. HW: JLC reading-- catch up!
6. HW: grammar 7

Fri 4/24

Seniors
1. conventions quiz #2
2. The Stranger twiz-- 20 pts
3. introduce speech assignment-- typed draft due next Friday

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. discuss "Rules of the Game"
3. autobio self assessment-- due on Monday with your FD
4. HW: read "Voice from the Wall" and "Half and Half"
5. begin state writing tests-- rules and topics

Thur 4/23

Seniors
1. conventions warm up
2. quickwrite # 4: Why do we fear death? Should we or shouldn't we?
3. complete all NB questions
4. Camus' afterword
5. HW: study for The Stranger twiz: 20 pts

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 5
3. discuss "The Moon Lady"
4. HW: read "Rules of the Game"; grammar 6; finish autobio FD (for Friday or Monday)

Which NBA player is 42 and which is 21?

Dikembe Mutombo or Greg Oden?

Tue 4/21

Seniors
1. conventions warm up
2. discuss Stranger part 2 ch 3-4
3. Quickwrite #3: What makes life worth living?
4. Sisyphus and absurdism
5. HW: finish reading the book-- we will complete NB question in class tomorrow

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #4
4. "The Red Candle" discussion
5. peer/self review for autobios
6. HW: grammar 6, read "The Moon Lady", FD of autbio due Friday or Monday

Mon 4/20

Seniors
1. conventions warm up-- quiz Friday
2. discuss The Stranger part 2 ch 1-2
3. Quickwrite: Are we free? How do you know you are free/ not free?
4. Existentialism: What is it?
5. HW: read part 2 ch 3-4 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up-- quiz Friday
2. dashes
3. last student sample autobio
4. essay topics
5. discuss first two stories
6. HW: read "The Red Candle", grammar 4, and complete RD of autobio

Fri 4/17

Seniors
1. conventions quiz: capitalization, apostrophes
2. The Stranger semi pop quiz
3. discuss end of part one of The Stranger
4. subjectivist, objectivist, relativist survey
5. HW: read The Stranger part 2 chapters 1-2 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. colons
2. sample autobio
3. words, words, words-- choosing the right words in your autobio
4. Begin Joy Luck Club: vocab, eight fold notes, key essay topics
5. HW: grammar 3, read JLC to page 42, look up first 3 vocab words

Thur 4/16

Seniors
1. conventions warm up
2. discuss The Stranger ch 2-4
3. complete philosophy reading
4. HW: read The Stranger part 1 ch 5-6, do questions 15-19

Sophomores
1. semi colons
2. share student sample
3. drafting instructions
4. workshop time: typed RD due Tuesday
5. HW: grammar #2, colons

Wed 4/15

Seniors
1. conventions warm up: apostrophes
2. The Stranger ch 1 discussion
3. comics: ultimate questions from Charlie Brown
4. continue philosophy reading
5. HW: The Stranger-- read to page 39, do questions 4-14 in NB

Sophomores
1. free-writing #1
2. instructions for autobio stories
3. free-write #2
4. sample: Zippy
5. HW: grammar-- semi-colons; do free-write #3

Mon 4/14

Seniors
1. 3rd quarter grades
2. conventions warm up-- capitalization
3. more philosophy reading
4. get books
5. HW: read The Stranger, ch 1, and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. 3rd quarter grades
2. grammar pre-test
3. introduction to Semi-Auto bio story
4. memory mining in NB

Bad grammar advice

This is a great article on grammar advice: Click here.

Sesame Street - James Earl Jones recites the alphabet

Fri 4/10

Seniors
1. collect All Quiet essays
2. conventions warm up: capitalization
3. introduction to existentialism: top ten books, films
4. philosophy free write, share
5. begin philosophy reading: first two pages for Tuesday

Sophomores
1. notebook check
2. key passage analysis, on demand

Twilight. I'm confused. By Channing Frye.

Twilight. I’m confused.

Posted using ShareThis

Thur 4/9

Seniors
1. essay checklist
2. FD in my hand beginning of block Friday or it is late (10% per day)
3. turnitin.com: submit by Friday 11:59 pm; 0/100 if it is not submitted to turnitin.com by Tuesday 8 am.

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz: make your own
2. key passages review discussion

Wed 4/8

Seniors
essay workshop

Sophomores
1. route 66 sample fro word choice
2. Journal 5: word choice passage
3. HW: make sure you have your ten vocab words for tomorrow
4. HW: follow the reading schedule

Tue 3/7

Seniors
1. essay workshop
2. essay samples
3. HW: work on essay draft, check esis for grade update

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. key passage discussion in groups
3. Journal #3: Free write on one of the passages you discussed in your groups. Which literary devices are demonstrated in the passage? How are those devices used to help express a theme?
4. follow reading schedule

Mon 4/6

Seniors
1. All Quiet test
2. sample essay
3. HW: complete an outline/graphic organizer
4. HW: sign up for turnitin.com

Sophomores
1. sample key passage on The Crucible
2. follow your reading schedule

Fri 4/3

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. finish film
3. essay expectations, essay sample--First Draft due next Thursday, FD due next Friday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. share invented passages from yesterday
3. in teams: pick a key passage, discuss it for all reasons it is key, Journal #3 is to free write on your discussion in NB
4. follow your reading schedule

Thur 4/2

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. last two chapters-- NB
3. finish film
4. HW: gather quotations you can use in your essay

Sophomores
1. Pick one of these settings: The Island; Doaker's House; Salem, 1692.
2. Pick one character in your current book.
3. Compose a new passage for Lord of the Flies, The Piano Lesson, or The Crucible featuring your character.

Wed 4/1

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. do ch 10 questions w/ partner
3. Ch 10 key passages
4. begin film
5. HW: finish reading book-- we will finish NB questions tomorrow

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Journal #2: Key passage. Pick a passage from what you've read so far that you think might be key. Write page number and first three words. Answer this question in NB: What makes this passage key?
3. read!

Tue 3/31

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. ch 9: answer questions in NB
3. review ch 9 key passage
4. HW: read ch 10: we will do question in NB tomorrow in class

Sophomores
1. collect essays
2. read first 5 pages of choice book
3. journal 1: Write what you imagine the last paragraph of your book would be.
4. plan reading calendar
5. reading time
6. HW: pick one good vocab word
7. HW: turnitin.com-- don't forget

Mon 3/30

Seniors
1. return Hamlet essays
2. vocab warm up-- quiz Friday
3. ch 7 questions aloud for participation
4. ch 8 key passage response in NB
5. HW: read ch 9: This is they ultimate chapter, so pay attention. You only have to read tonight; we'll do the questions in class tomorrow
6. check esis

Sophomores
1. collect extra credit
2. begin choice book assignment: pick title, make a reading schedule for 8 days and 10 nights.
3. HW: complete final draft of Crucible essay
4. check esis

Fri 3/20

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. discuss ch 6 of All Quiet
3. watch clips of Operation Homecoming
4. HW: read ch 7, 8 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. essay workshop: including quotations
3. HW: complete FD of essay by Tuesday March 31
4. extra credit: due Monday March 30

Thur 3/19

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. discuss All Quiet ch 5
3. NB: prep page for essay-- pick a topic, list three key passages
4. read ch 6-- it's long!

Sophomores
1. vocab review
2. essay workshop: outline, begin drafting
3. HW: work very hard on your essay! RD is due tomorrow at the end of the period

Wed 3/18

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. All Quiet discussion: ch 3, 4-- start listing key passages
3. HW: read ch 5 and do NB

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grade NB (Crucible study guide)
3. finish film
4. return Piano Lesson visuals, sample thesis statements from Piano Lesson
5. HW: choose topic, list key passages/ quotations in NB, write a draft of your thesis statement

Mr. Bill's Political ad

David After Dentist

Tue 3/17

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. All Quiet Ch 2 discussion
3. essay topics-- start gathering passages, quotations
4. read Ch 3, 4 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. check essay free writes-- narrow down to one topic
3. watch Crucible film

Mon 3/16

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. reflections on war: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and "Knolt Hoheimer"
3. discuss All Quiet ch 1
4. read ch 2
5. HW: complete FD of essay of definition

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Act 4 study guide: complete with partner
3. discuss end of Crucible
4. essay topics: choose one
5. HW: one page free write on one essay topic

Thur 3/12

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. peer review of essay of definition: FD due Tuesday
3. All Quiet: share background, numbers, video clips
4. HW: read ch 1 of All Quiet and do study guide questions in NB

Sophomores
1. grammar final test
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss Act III
4. HW: finish play

Wed 3/11

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. conventions warm up: verb tenses
3. new unit: Reflections on War- read "Henry V" speech and Johnny Got his Gun excerpt
4. read WWI background, highlight 10 items of most interest
5. HW: complete essay of definition RD

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar questions-- test tomorrow
3. read The Crucible Act III
4. HW: complete Act III study guide

Tue 3/10

Seniors
1. conventions: fragments, run ons
2. Hamlet essay instructions
3. Workshop: plan, begin draft-- RD due Thursday
4. get All Quiet books
5. HW: check esis

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. grammar questions
3. discuss Crucible Act II
4. read act two scene two

Mon 3/9

Seniors
1. Hamlet test
2. return Canterbury essays/ stories, go over areas of improvement
3. read essay of definition sample: "Tact"
4. HW: check esis for grade update

Sophomores
1. grammar review: test Thursday
2. vocab review: quiz Tuesday
3. essay notes: sample, areas of improvement
4. Crucible Act 2 study guide: complete in class
5. HW: check esis

Thur 3/5

Seniors
1. Hamlet vocab quiz #2
2. view Hamlet 5.2 version 2
3. test review-- test Monday!

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. prep for gallery walk (10 minutes)
3. Piano Lesson gallery walk
4. check of Crucible books from library
5. complete and discuss Act I study guide
6. NB check
7. HW: read Act II

Wed 3/4

Seniors
1. Hamlet 5.1
2. vocab review
3. Hamlet 5.2
4. HW: Act 5 reader log

Sophomore
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. finish Crucible Act I
4. Crucible study guide
5. HW: complete Piano visuals

Tue 3/3

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Rocket review: Hamlet 4.1-4.4
3. read 4.5-4.7 aloud
4. view: Crazy Ophelia
5. HW: Hamlet Act 4 reader log

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: pages 829, 831
3. Crucible: three settings, security vs. freedom
4. aloud: begin Act I
5. HW: Piano visuals

Mon 3/2

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. review Hamlet 3.3, finish act 3 aloud
3. Act 3 reader log
4. view 3.4
5. HW: read 115 to 128 line 74

Sophomores
1. grammar review: p 865 ex 4
2. vocab
3. Crucible debate

Fri 2/27

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. notebook check
3. read "The Mouse Trap" and view two versions
4. read to Hamlet to page 104

Sophomores
1. grammar review: italics and quotations marks
2. work on The Piano Lesson visuals: due next Thursday

Thur 2/26

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. review Hamlet 3.1
3. "to be" close reading
4. NB: freewrite on one "to be" topic
4. view two versions of "to be"
5. Hamlet 3.2, read to page 88 line 145

Sophomores
1. grammar review: apostrophes
2. Workshop: The Piano Lesson visual response
3. search for key passages, sentences, phrases
4. compose your thesis statement
5. design/ draft your visual

Wed 2/25

Seniors
1. collect essays/stories
2. vocab quiz
3. crazy Hamlet video clips: Is he really crazy?
4. review rest of 2.2 and do close reading of Rogue soliloquy
5. Hamlet log #2
5. Hamlet 3.1, close reading of "to be or not to be" soliloquy

Sophomores
1. finish film/ reviewing the text
2. form teams, get topics, begin planning visual

Tue 2/24

Seniors
1. vocab warm up-- quiz tomorrow!
2. review Hamlet 2.1
3. 2.2 aloud/ silent
4. HW: complete FD of essay/story

Sophomores
1. grammar 11, 12
2. The Piano Lesson journal #4
3. introduction of The Piano Lesson final assessment
4. begin The Piano Lesson film-- review for key passages, details
5. HW: pick your top 3-5 topics

Mon 2/23

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. ghost scene: review, view two versions
3. begin reader log (do 1 topic for each act)
5. read Hamlet 2.1 and 2.2 to page 55

Sophomores
1. grammar 10
2. The Piano Lesson NB #3
3. Finish reading The Piano Lesson
4. HW: grammar 11, 12

Fri 2/20

Seniors
1. vocab: palpable, rectify, retrograde
2. run on sentences, part two
3. essay/story peer review: FD due next Wednesday
4. Hamlet: first soliloquy
5. Rocketbook for 1.3
6. aloud: Hamlet 1.4-1.5

Sophomores
1. turn in FD of essays
2. finish reading The Piano Lesson 1.2
3. complete NB on 1.2
4. HW: read to page 80
5. HW: grammar 10

What is the Irene Kaufman Settlement House?

Berniece sends Maretha to the Irene Kaufman Settlement House? What is a settlement house? Read about it here.

Parchman Farm

What is the Parchman Farm? Boy Willie says he and Lymon spent three years there. Read about it here. And here are some pictures:

Thur 2/19

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. run on sentences- part 1, indentification
3. review Hamlet 1.1 characters, details
4. read 1.2 aloud
5. Hamlet's first soliloquy jigsaw
6. HW: read 1.3, complete essay/story RD

Sophomore
1. grammar 9
2. review details of The Piano Lesson 1.1
3. begin reading alout The Piano Lesson 1.2
4. HW: complete FD of Lord of the Flies Essay

Wed 2/18

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. get books
3. Rotten Denbark
4. Act 1.1-- words, phrases, questions, complete the reading
5. Rocketbook for 1.1
6. HW: read Hamlet, Act 1 scene 1
7. work of RD of story/essay

Sophomores
1. grammar 5,6
2. review, discuss The Piano Lesson background and context
3. HW: grammar 7, and read Act I scene 1 of The Piano Lesson

Tue 2/17

Seniors
1. Canterbury writing assignment: RD due Friday
2. writing workshop

Sophomores
1. essay self evaluation: FD due Friday
2. read The Piano Lesson background and highlight 10 things
3. get new books
4. HW: grammar 7,8

Fri 2/13

Seniors
1. discuss Wife of Bath's Tale
2. review for test
3. Canterbury Tales test

Sophomores
1. grammar 3,4
2. unity and coherence
3. complete outline, draft essay-- RD due on Tuesday

Thur 2/12

Seniors
1. Pardoner's Tale discussion (participation points)
2. Wife of Bath's Tale: quickwrite, listen
3. NB: page 188, all reading check questions, and thinking critically # 5,9,11,12,13

Sophomores
1. grammar 1,2
2. unity and coherence
3. essay workshop: topics, graphic organizers, review theme in textbook, begin outline
4. RD now due next Tuesday instead of Friday

Wed 2/12

I was out for the day. Here are the sub plans I left:

Block 2: Senior English

1. Student will listen to “The Pardoners Tale” (track 6 on the CD that is already in the CD player in the front of the room). They should follow along in the text, which starts on page 168. They should read lines 1-40 first since the CD recording doesn’t start until line 41 when the tale actually begins. Have students follow along and do the eight activities listed on the worksheet. Be sure to pause the CD at times the worksheet indicates so students can do work along the way.

2. After students finish activity eight (ranking evil) have them share their rankings on the board. If you can, try to have the class discuss and come to consensus on their rankings.

3. Any remaining time students can use to review characters from the prologue for the test on Friday.

Block 3 and 4: Pre IB Sophomore English

1. Students should do the first two pages of the grammar packet I am leaving.

2. After completing the grammar, students can use the rest of the period to work on their essays. They should at the least complete the graphic organizer I gave them on Tuesday. However, don’t collect them; they can show me this graphic organizer when I return on Thursday. I’ve left a few extra copies on my desk.

Tue 2/10

Seniors
1. Review part 4 of Canterbury Tales. Read aloud The Parson.
2. Complete part 5


Sophomores
1. discuss last three passages
3. essay instructions, topic
4. HW: choose an essay topic

Mon 2/9

Seniors
1. complete and share graphics
2. review characters: Merchant, Oxford Cleric, Lawyer, Franklin, Guildsman
3. Complete Day 4 work


Sophomores
1. Lord of the Flies debate
2. In NB: What is your view on human behavior? (view #3); What is Golding's view on human behavior? (view #4). Feel free to borrow ideas from our first two views.

Fri 2/6

Seniors
1. Pilgrimage slideshow
2. review characters so far, read aloud Friar
3. complete part 3 of study guide
4. begin character graphic: name, 3-5 perfect adjectives, best quotation, symbol (finish tomorrow)

Sophomores
1. symbolism: present answers for your symbol, include facts from text to support answer
3. discuss HW key passages: 113, 140, 143, 155
4. prep for Monday's debate
5. HW: What makes the passage key? (178, 200)

Thur 2/5

Seniors
1. more notes on satire: irony, wit, dirision
2. watch youtube satire clips
2. review opening paragraphs of Canterbury Tales
3. complete all study guide quesitons up to and including the Monk

Sophomores
1. discuss passages from last night's HW
2. new passages: 88, 109
3. allegory, symbolism, microcosm-- in groups, four questions, complete and share tomorrow
4. HW: What makes the passage key? (pages 113, 140, 143, 155)

Wed 2/4

Seniors
1. review background: Normans, Feudalism, Magna Carta, The Church, Knights, Crusades, New City Classes, Thomas Becket, The Plague
3. pages 135-140: Chaucer and the story
4. begin prologue: pages 142-143

Sophomores
1. Lord of the Flies gut reaction
3. Introduction to key passages
4. discuss first passage
5. NB: What is causing the pause? How does this one moment inform us of an important theme in the book?
6. HW: read three passages and answer this question on one of the passages: What makes the passage key? (pages 60, 62, 63) (Also don't forget to hold the knife up and pause!)

Tue 2/3

Seniors
1. seating chart
2. share free writes
3. discuss definition of satire
4. seven deadly sins activity
5. brainstorm satire topics
6. Read Canterbury Tales background on Middle Ages

Sophomores
1. grammar pre-test
1. review sentence workshop
2. Lord of the Flies gut reaction discussion

Welcome to 2nd semester!

Mon 2/2

Seniors
1. course description
2. Introduction to Canterbury Tales Unit: satire, pilgrimage, the art of description
3. Brainstorm list of people, real or imagined, who you want to describe
4. Free write on one person from the list: A. physical details- head to toe; B. Show how physical details reveal personality

Sophomores
1. seating chart
2. Lord of the Flies test
3. course description
4. HW: complete sentence workshop