Mon 2/22

Sophomores
1. Unity & Coherence
2. Textbook tools
3. Notebook and Homework check
4. Workshop& appointment time.
Rough draft due Friday! Remember, you can start over at any point in Mr. Wilson's "writing cycle" if you get stuck. If you can't find evidence to support your thesis or if you find evidence that contradicts your thesis, chances are you need to rewrite your thesis.

Seniors
1. The Wife of Bath's Tale
2. Test review

Fri 2/19

Sophomores
1. essay topics
2. free write on one topic: ten minutes
3. essay process, expectations
4. tools: graphic organizer and and outline
5. HW: complete either a graphic organizer or outline for Monday

Seniors
1. "The Pardoner's Tale"-- complete study questions
2. be sure to have all study guides completed before the Canterbury Tales test on Tuesday.

Thur, 2/18

Sophomores
1. Key Passages (140, 143, 155)
2. Survivor Film Clip
3. Key Passages (178 & 200)
Notebook check on Monday!

Seniors
1. Last characters
2. Last graphics
3. Wrap up prologue
4. Tomorrow: The Pardoner's Tale, Begin writing assignment
Test on Tuesday!

Wed, 2/17

Sophomores
1. Debate
2. Notebook Questions:
View #3 - What is your own view?
View #4 - What is Golding's view?

Seniors
1. Joe Sixpack
2. Last graphics
3. Review all part 4 characters (highlight doctor, parson, and plowmen)
4. Complete part 5

Tue 2/16

Sophomores
1. Finish Symbolism presentations
2. Review key passages
3. Debate intro & prep
HW: Read key passages on pgs 140, 143, 155. Choose one: "What makes this passage key?"

Seniors
1. complete character graphics: 3 key sentences/ phrases, 3 perfect adjectives, one symbol
2. review all parts 2/3 characters
3. complete all of part 4 study questions

Fri 2/12

Sophomores
1. HW check/signatures
2. Review key passages (62 & 63)
3. Symbolism
4. Symbolism presentations (to be continued...)
HW: Read the next three passages, choose one and write: "Why is this passage key?"

Seniors
1. Pilgrimage slideshow
2. Complete parts 2 & 3 of study guide

Thur 2/11

Sophomores
1. Collect signatures/check homework
2. Review
3. New lit terms: allegory, symbol, microcosm
4. Key Passage on p. 60
HW: Read the next two key passages (62, 63). Choose one and answer the question, "What makes this passage key?"

Seniors
1. Satire clips
2. Review opening paragraph of prologue
3. Read part 2 in study guide

Wed 2/10

Sophomores
1. Learn names
2. Sentence workshop (3&4)
3. Key passages intro
4. Key passage #1 (p. 31)
HW: Notebook questions (1 page total) -- What is causing the pause? How does this inform an important theme in the novel?


Seniors
1. Collect social conventions
2. Read background
3. Notes on key topics
4. Chaucer and the story (p. 137-140 in textbook)
5. Begin prologue

Tues 2/9

Sophomores
1. Collect signatures
2. Grammar Pre-test
3. Sentence Workshop (review HW)
4. Book Talk
5. LOF "gut reaction" discussion
HW: 3&4 in the sentence packet

Seniors
1. Seating chart
2. Freewrites: Part C
3. Defining satire
4. Seven deadly sins
5. Brainstorm satire topics
HW: Background reading - highlight 10 sentences

Mon 2/8

Sophomores
1. Seating Assignments
2. Lord of the Flies test
3. Go over the syllabus
4. Introduce Sentence Workshop

HW:
- Signatures/information on syllabus and parent letter
- Grammar worksheets 1 & 2 (large number in the corner)

Seniors
1. course description
2. intro to Canterbury Tales: satire, pilgrimage, art of description
3. brainstorm list of people you would like to describe
4. free write on a real or imagined person: A: physical appearance, actions and routines
5. HW: B: three perfect adjectives

Thur 2/4

Sophomores
Othello presentations

Juniors
TBL gallery walk
share and turn in memoirs

Wed 2/3

Sophomores
work on Othello projects

Juniors
work on TBL final, complete FD of memoir

Mon 2/1

Sophomores
Work on Othello projects

Juniors
begin TBL final project

Fri 1/29

Sophomores
1. finish state writing test
2. plan Othello project

Juniors
1. vocab warm up-- quiz Monday
2. TBL twiz
3. NB check for all TBL work
4. memoir peer review: FD due on Thursday

Thur 1/28

Sophomores
complete state writing test

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. "The Amen Corner" question review
3. complete DER #5
4. HW: complete RD of memoir
5. HW: finish reading TBL

Wed 1/27

Sophomores
1. pick teams and topics for Othello projects
2. begin state writing test

Juniors
1. share key sentences from key passages
2. complete four questions on last night's reading and turn ini
3. read TBL to page 268

Tue 1/26

Sophomores
1. Othello
2. finish film

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. two key passages: answer three questions and turn in
3. workshop: draft memoirs, read to page 252

Mon 1/26

Sophomores
continue Othello film

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. discuss last night's passages
3. workshop in library: draft memoirs or read books
4. HW: no new pages to read-- catch up!

Fri 1/22

Sophomores
1. notebook check
2. test study guide
3. Othello project topics
4. film

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. TBL: episodes as models
3. Citizenship in the School-- look for passages
4. memoir instructions: drafting
5. workshop in library
HW: read to page 228

Thur 1/21

Sophomores
1. Othello act 5
2. Othello slideshow
3. intro searchable Shakespeare
4. clip of Othello monologue

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. reminder on powerpoints
3. DER #3 on Citizenship in the Home, and share
4. HW: pick one memoir topic, to a pre write on sensory details
5. HW: read to page 191

Wed 1/20

Sophomores
1. finish act 4
2. paraphrase Emelia's speech
3. Othello journal #7
4. cast act 5

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. warm up new vocab words
3. review last night's reading, key passages
4. memoir instructions
5. HW: read TBL to page 168, complete list of 10 possible memoirs topics

Tue 1/19

Sophomores
1. journal #5 review
2. magic in the web
3. act 4
4. HW: read to page 149, do journal #6

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. check DER #2
3. read aloud "A Whole New Deal"
4. intro to memoir writing
5. HW: list three possible topics for your memoir, read pages 95-144

Thur 1/14

Sophomores
1. review Othello journal #3
2. Picture this: "divinity of hell"
3. lit term: comic relief
4. Acting: act 3 scenes 1-3

Juniors
1. complete powerpoints in computer lab
2. Journal: cool, uncool
3. get to page 56 in This Boy's Life by Friday

Wed 1/13

Sophomores
1. cast act 2
2. Acting! Perform rest of Act 2
3. HW: journal #3

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. names
3. notes on last night's reading
4. read pages 22-33
5. DER #1
6. HW: read 37-56

Tue 1/12

Sophomores
1. finish state reading test
2. review end of act 2 scene 2

Juniors
1. TBL vocab warm up
2. epigraph predictions
3. Journal: transformation
4. HW: read to page 22 of This Boy's Life

Mon 1/11

Sophomores
State reading test

Juniors
Workshop time for powerpoints

Fri 1/8

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. review journal #2
3. review last night's reading
4. HW: read to page 65 end of scene
5. Monday meet in Libaray lab for reading test

Juniors
1. poem, eulogy peer review-typed final draft due Monday
2. choice book assignment- 50 pts
3. workshop
4. Monday meet in Libaray lab to design webpage/ powerpoint

Thur 1/7

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. lit terms: aside, soliloquy
3. act 1 scene 3-- complete
4. HW: Othello journal #2
5. HW: read pp 52-60 (trumpets)

Juniors
1. grade update
2. workshop: RD of eulogy or poem due tomorrow

Wed 1/6

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. review Othello journal #1
3. more lit terms: imagery, pun, double entendre
4. choral reading: Othello love story
5. HW: read pages 35-48

Juniors
1. finish Raisin film
2. Act III discussion
3. more instructions on poem, eulogy
4. HW: complete poem, eulogy by Friday

Tue 1/5

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Othello scenes 1 and 2
3. begin Othello lit terms: paradox, dramatic irony
4. HW: Othello journal #1

Juniors
finish A Raisin in the Sun film

Monday 1/4

Sophomores
1. January letter
2. vocab warm up
3. review Othello details, Act one slightly cut script
4. begin Othello scene 1
5. HW: look up first four vocab words

Juniors
1. January letter
2. return essays: extra credit draft due next Monday
3. introduce Raisin final assessment
4. continue Raisin film

To B or not to B

Thur 12/17

Sophomores
1. grammar final
2. vocab warm up
3. finish improvs
4. Othello background chart/map
5. get books
6. HW: finish FD of JLC essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. act 2 questions and discussion
3. finish play
4. HW: read choice books

Wed 12/16

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. last grammar review-- test tomorrow
3. line tossing improvs- perform them
4. The lover, the girlfriend, and the buddy improvs
5. HW: work on your essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. 20 minutes for choice book
3. finish Raisin act 2, begin act 2 questions in NB
4. HW: read choice book

Tue 12/15

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar
3. Bardology slideshow
4. line tossing
5. prep improvs for tomorrow
6. HW: essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. choice book: 20 minutes
3. Choice book journal #1: What is one American ideal you see so far in your book?
4. Raisin quickwrite #1: "Used to be freedom was life... now it's money." How much do we need for "the good life'? What are we willing to do to get "the good life"?
5. continue Raisin Act 2
6. HW: read your choice book

Mon 12/14

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. Bardology 101
4. HW: work on FD of essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. 20 minutes to read choice book
3. Read Act II of Raisin
4. HW: read choice book and be ready for first journal

Fri 12/11

Sophomores
1. grammar review: pronoun/antecendent agreement
2. essay peer/self review
3. last JLC film clip

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. 20 mintues to read choice book
3. act 1 study questions in NB
4. watch act 1 of Raisin

Thur 12/10

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. grammar review: p 615 ex c, p 702 ex 12
3. film clips
4. essay workshop
5. HW: complete RD of JLC essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. 20 minutes to read your choice book
3. finish Act I
4. answer questions 1 of Act I study sheet in NB
5. HW: complete FD of OMAM essay

Wed 12/9

Sophomores
1. vocab review
2. grammar 14
3. film clip
4. essay workshop
5. HW: work on RD of essay

Juniors
1. book check
2. vocab warm up
3. read aloud Raisin act 1 scene 1
4. HW: work on FD of essay

Tue 12/8

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 13
3. film clip: "The Red Candle"
4. essay workshop
5. HW: grammar 14, work on essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. read "Harlem" by Langston Hughes-- metaphors, a dream deferred
3. Journal #1: $50,000--- What would you do if you were suddenly given it? What if you were from a poor family?
4. Journal #2: Rooms--- How many people live in your home? How many rooms in your home? List the rooms
5. Read the setting description for A Raisin in the Sun

Tue 12/7

Sophmores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 12
3. sample thesis
4. film clips
5. RD due Friday
6. HW: grammar 13, RD of thesis statements

Juniors
1. peer review/ FD due Friday
2. new vocab
3. get new books
4. HW: select choice book title and bring book to class every day, last revision of Gatsby paragraph

Fri 12/4

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 11
4. HW: finish book
3. read "Magpies"
5. HW: grammar 10

Juniors
1. In the libary to draft Of Mice and Men essay
2. RD of OMAM essay due Monday
3. next draft of Gatsby paragraph due Tuesday
4. choice book assignment: pick a book and complete reading by Jan 5

Thur 12/3

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 10
3. "Without Wood" and "Best Quality"
4. read "Magpies"
5. HW: grammar 10

Juniors
In the libary to draft Of Mice and Men essays

Wed 12/2

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 9
3. "Rice Husband" and "Four Directions"
4. read "Without Wood" and "Best Quality"
5. HW: grammar 10

Seniors
1. Of Mice and Men test
2. collect Gatsby paragraph
3. sample thesis statements from Gatsby, thesis statement formula
4. sample Huck essay
5. HW: complete outline for Of Mice and Men essay

Tue 12/1

Sophomores
1. autobio self assessment
2. new vocab
3. grammar 8
4. discuss "Two Kinds"
5. HW: grammar 9, read "Four Directions"

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. finish Of Mice and Men film
3. HW: complete essay prep #3

Mon 11/30

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. grammar 7
3. review "Voice from the Wall" and "Half and Half"
4. read "Two Kinds" and "Rice Husband"
5. HW: FD of stories, grammar 8

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Gatsby paragraph revision: due Wednesday
3. OMAM essay topic
4. continue OMAM film
5. HW: essay prep questions 1,2

Wed 11/25

Sophomores
1. vocab review-- quiz Monday
2. grammar 6
3. "Moon Lady" and "Rules of the Game" discussions
4. HW: read "Voice From the Wall" and "Half and Half", grammar 7, FD of story due Tuesday

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. review end of book-- ch 5, 6
3. complete study guide and turn in
4. HW: dream chart: concrete and abstract dreams of characters
5. begin film

Tue 11/24

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 5
3. story peer review
4. HW: read "Rules of the Game", grammar 6, complete final draft of story for next Tuesday

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. review ch 4: American dream, possible symbolism, round characters
3. read aloud ch 5
4. HW: finish book-- read ch 6

Mon 11/23

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 4: subject/verb agreement
3. last page of story textbook
4. "The Red Candle" discussion
5. HW: read "The Moon Lady", complete RD of story, grammar 5

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. new vocab list
3. ch 3 review
4. read ch 4 (to page 83)
5. HW: ch 4 studyguide

Fri 11/20

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. dashes
3. metaphors, etc. for your stories
4. JLC discussion groups: "Scar"
5. HW: read "The Red Candle", grammar 4, draft stories

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. review ch 2: forshadowing, jargon
3. read ch 3 (to page 65), complete conflict study guide

Of Mice and Men Audio

Here is a site for an Of Mice and Men audio if you want to listen to the book: link

Thur 11/19

Sophomores
1. colons
2. student sample
3. words, words, words
4. Begin JLC unit: vocab, 8 fold notes, What is Joy Luck?, essay topics
5. HW: look up vocab words, grammar 3, read "Scar", work on story draft

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Ch 1 quiz, HW check
3. complete characterization from ch1
4. read ch 2
5. HW: ch 2 studyguide

Wed 11/18

Sophomores
1. semi-colons
2. student sample: "Arrival"
3. drafting instructions
4. get books
5. workshop time: rough draft due next Tuesday
6. HW: draft stories, Joy Luck Club pages 5-33, grammar 2

Juniors
1. collect Gatsby paragraphs
2. vocab warm up
3. Guthrie music
4. OMAM ch 1, study guide

Tue 11/17

Sophomores
1. grammar data
2. freewrite #1
3. autobio instructions: showing instead of telling, evoking emotion
4. freewrite #2
5. Zippy sample
6. HW: grammar 1, freewrite #3

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Of Mice and Men background
3. get books
4. OMAM slideshow
5. Gatsby film clip
6. HW: Gatsby paragraph

Mon 11/16

Sophomores
1. first quarter grades
2. grammar pre-test
3. intro to semi-autobiographical story
4. memory mining

Juniors
1. check Gatsby notebook-- final grade for quarter one
2. Of Mice and Men vocab list-- quiz this Friday
3. Gatsby paragraph-- 20 points, due Wednesday
4. Gatsby film clip
5. first quarter grades

Tue 11/10

Sophomores
Key passage analysis on choice books

Juniors
1. Gastby ch 9 review and discussion
2. Gatsby comprehension test

Gastby index

This is a good index to allusions in The Great Gatsby: link

Mon 11/9

Sophomores
1. list books and passages
2. Grapes of Wrath sample passage on word choice
3. last chance to discuss key passages with your team

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. Gatsby ch 7 and 8 review, Rocket Notes
3. Gatsby film
4. HW: read Gatsby ch 9
5. Tomorrow: Gatsby test, turn in extra credit, NB check

11/6

Sophomores
1. collect Crucible essays, don't forget to turn your essays in to turnitin.com
2. theme vs. moral: What's the difference?
3. practice key passage using passage from The Crucible
4. HW: read your books, look for key passages

Juniors
1. return Huck essays: extra credit of 10 pts for a revising essay by Tuesday
2. review ch 7 first half
5. watch first part of film
4. HW: read Gatsby to page 163
(class cut short 10 minutes by assembly)

Thur 11/5

Sophomore
1. Journal #7: Meet with team, list key passages, discuss one, freewrite on your discussion
2. read and revise-- FD of essay due tomorrow

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. journal: Cars: Why do we like them? What is your dream car? How/why are they important to Americans? How/why are they important in the novel?
3. ch 6 questions/DVD review
4. HW: read ch 7 to page 125

Tue 11/3

Sophomores
1. Journal #3: Put your character in one of these settings: The island, Salem, MA, Doaker's house
2. Journal #4: Take a character from one of these books and put him/her in your book: Lord of the Flies, The Crucible, The Piano Lesson
3. read and revise
4. HW: follow your reading schedule

Juniors
1. vocab quiz/ new vocab words
2. scavenger hunt details an winners
3. Gatsby ch 4 questions in NB
4. HW: look up vocab words, read ch 5

Mon 11/2

Sophomores
1. peer review of Crucible essay: FD due Friday
2. Journal #2: pick a key passage from last night's reading. Question: What makes this passage key?
3. time to read books or revise essays
4. HW: follow your reading schedule

Juniors
Collect Huck Finn essays!
1. vocab warm up-- quiz tomorrow
2. ch 3 questions
3. video quiz/review
4. ch 3 scavenger hunt
5. HW: read ch 4 of Gatsby

Fri 10/30

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. Choice book journal #1: T-chart on exposition and foreshadowing; Write the last paragraph of your book based on the information on your T-chart.
3. using quotations for Crucible essay
4. workshop: read your choice book or work on your essay
5. HW: RD of Crucible essay due Monday

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Huck Finn essay peer review: 10 points for RD
3. MLA style final draft
4. Gatsby-- ch 2 questions, character web
5. Gatsby Rocketbook review
6. HW: complete FD of Huck essay, read Gatsby ch 3

Thur 10/29

Sophomores
1. library-- pick out books
2. extra credit-- due next Thursday
3. essay workshop
4. HW: work on RD of Crucible essay, read first 5 pages of choice book

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Gatsby-- semi-pop quiz
3. ch 1 questions in NB
4. HW: read Gatsby ch 2, complete Huck Finn essay RD

Wed 10/28

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. sample essay
3. check Crucible study guide
4. essay workshop
RD of essay due Monday

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. conventions #2
3. Gatsby background: "New Morality" and slideshow
4. read Gatsby ch 1
5. HW: finish ch 1 and work on Huck essay

Tue 10/27

Sophomores
finish Crucible film

Juniors
1. Gatsby vocab list
2. essay workshop
3. pick up Gatsby book

Mon 10/26

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. essay details: conventions, quotations, sample thesis statements
3. Crucible essay topics
4. watch film, review details
5. HW: narrow down essay topics to two

Juniors
1. conventions #2 warm up
2. organizations, textual evidence tips
3. essay workshop in library

Wed 10/21

Sophomores
1. grammar retake
2. read Crucible Act IV
3. HW: Act IV study guide-- turn in whole study guide on Monday
4. return LOF essays

Juniors
1. convention #2 continued
2. essay instructions
3. essay workshop
4. HW: complete an outline or graphic organizer on your essay topic for Monday

Tue 10/20

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. Act III study guide- share answers
4. begin Act IV-- finish tomorrow
5. HW: study for grammar retake

Juniors
1. Huck Finn test
2. Huck Finn essay topics
3. NB: free write one page on any one topic
4. essay details, expectations

Mon 10/19

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. read Crucible Act III
4. HW: look up next three words, complete Act III study guide

Juniors
1. conventions #2 continued: commas
2. complete section 4 of Huck Finn study guide
3. notes on last reading
4. HW: study for Huck Finn test!

Study for Huck Finn test here

Here are a couple of links to help you review for the test:

Huck Finn plot summary
Huck Finn characters

Huck Finn on Audio

To listen to Huck Finn click here. Once you go to the website, scroll to the chapter you want to listen to.

Fri 10/16

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. grammar review
3. get books
4. complete Act II study guide
5. cast Act III

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. conventions #2 continued
3. notes on last night's reading: preview of essay topics, especially concerning the ending of the book and Jim's portrayal
4. HW: finish the book for Monday

Thur 10/15

Sophomores
1. grammar review
2. vocab review: quiz tomorrow
3. complete study guide discussion
4. read Crucible Act II

Juniors
1. vocab review: quiz tomorrow
2. begin conventions #2: commas
3. notes on last night's reading
4. HW: read to page 265 in Huck Finn

Wed 10/14

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. Crucible Act I study guide/ notebook check

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. section 3 of study guide/ notebook check
3. clip: Ken Burns "Mark Twain"
4. HW: read to page 239, compete book by Monday, test Tuesday

Tue 10/13

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: quotations marks
3. finish reading Crucible Act I

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. journal: hard choices (factors and influences, describe one experience)
3. notes on last nights reading
4. read to page 219

Mon 10/12

Sophomores
1. 10 minutes to prep for gallery walk
2. Piano Lesson projects gallery walk
3. vocab warm up-- quiz Friday
4. begin Crucible Act 1


Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar
3. passage analysis (157-158)
4. HW: read to page 197

NY Times article

Here is that article on Michelle Obama's slave ancestry:link

Thur 10/8

Sophomores
1. grammar review: italics vs. quotation marks
2. begin vocab: look up first three words, quiz next Friday
3. Crucible debate
4. three settings lecture
5. HW: complete Piano project for Monday

Juniors
1. vocab quiz: Huck Finn #2
2. notes on last night's reading
3. Epic discussion: Is Huck Finn an epic?
4. HW: read to page 172

Wed 10/7

Sophomores
1. begin grammar review: apostrophes
2. last day to work on Piano project: due Monday
3. HW: prep for Crucible debate: choose a poistion, write one supporting statement

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. share answers from section 2 of studyguide for participation
3. teacher's notes on last night reading
4. HW: read Huck Finn to page 146

Tue 10/6

Sophmores
1. sample thesis statements and visuals
2. workshop time on Piano project

Juniors
1. vocab warm up/ grammar warm up, page 13
2. Close reading of chapter 16: pp 88-89, p 90, p92-- Summarize the passage. Analyze the passage (What does the passage say about theme, satire, Huck's character?
3. read aloud pp 105-117
4. Do studyguide section 2
5. HW: read to page 127

Mon 10/5

Sophomores
1. grammar 11,12
2. finish film
3. begin planning project
4. HW: gather textual evidence for your topic

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Huck Finn, ch 15 close reading: A. reread passage B Answer this question about the passage: What does this passage show about the development of Huck's Character?
3. Read Ch 16 aloud-- finish to p 105 for HW

Friday 10/2

Sophomores
1. turn in FD of LOF essay
2. begin The Piano Lesson film
3. HW: submit final draft of essay to turnitin.com.

Juniors
1. vocab quiz
2. review Huck Finn reading
3. begin Huck Finn studyguide in NB, 1-6 for section 1
4. HW: read Huck Finn to page 87 (ch 15)

Thur 10/1

Sophomores
1. grammar 9,10
2. last Piano questions in groups/ review end
3. Piano journal #1: What makes this passage key/ (pick a soliloquy from Act 2 scene 5
4. pick teams, topics
5. HW: complete FD of LOF essay

Juniors
1. vocab warm up
2. review last night's Huck reading
3. bus evacuation drill
4. Huck aloud: to page 59
5. HW: read Huck to page 76

Wed 9/30

Sophomores
1. grammar 7,8
2. discuss last night's reading
3. finish play
4. HW: grammar 9,10

Juniors
1. conventions twiz
2. vocab: next three words
3. Huck: ch 3-6 close readings
4. aloud: Huck ch 7
5. HW: read Huck to p 48

Tue 9/29

Sophomores
1. grammar 5,6
2. finish Piano 1.2
3. complete Piano journal #2
4. HW: read Piano to page 80, grammar 7,8

Juniors
1. conventions- run ons
2. vocab warm up
3. finish Huck background
4. discuss Huck ch 1
5. aloud in class: ch 2,3
6. HW: ch 4-6

Mon 9/28

Sophomores
1. grammar 4
2. self/peer evaluation-- FD due Friday
3. begin The Piano Lesson 1.2
4. HW: grammar 5,6 and work on essay

Juniors
1. conventions: more run on sentences
2. read "The Battle with Mr. Covey" and take comprehension quiz
3. get Huck books
4. Huck preview notes
5. HW: read ch 1

Fri 9/25

Sophomores
1. grammar 3
2. lit terms: motif, symbol, conflict, foils
3. read The Piano Lesson Act 1, scene 1
4. The Piano Lesson journal #1: write on one of the lit terms as it appears in Act 1
5. HW: grammar 4, RD of LOF essay

Juniors
1. Declaration test-- 25 pts
2. conventions: run on sentences

Thur 9/24

Sophomores
1. grammar 2
2. The Piano Lesson background and slideshow
3. get books
4. HW: grammar 3, work on essay

Juniors
1. more on fragments
2. finish paraphrasing Declaration (parts 4,5)
3. HW: complete FD of Journey letter

Wed 9/23

Sophomores
1. HW check
2. grammar 1
3. unity and coherence
4. workshop: RD due Monday
5. HW: grammar 2

Juniors
1. conventions
2. Declaration part 2 paraphrase review as class
3. Declaration part 3 paraphrase
4. HW: work on FD of Journeys letter

Tue 9/22

Sophomores
1. essay instructions: quotations, key pages from purple book
2. graphic organizers and outlines
3. HW: complete graphic organizer or outline
4. HW: complete grammar 1
5. HW: check grade on esis

Juniors
1. conventions: lie/lay, sit/set, rise/raise
2. freedom and responsibility graph
3. begin Declaration: paraphrase part 1
4. HW: paraphrase part 2 of Declaration

Mon 9/21

Sophomores
1. HW check: Golding's view
2. discuss last two passages
3. essay topics
4. essay expectations
5. HW: choose one topic and free write for one page (use writing to think!)

Juniors
1. conventions warm up
2. Journeys imaginative writing peer review-- FD due Friday
3. American dream brainstorm: words and phrases, pick our top three
4. share American Ideals famous quotations
5. HW: work on FD of Journeys writing

Fri 9/18

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

Juniors
1. begin conventions: usage problems (page 1)
2. read "What is an American?", list of traits
3. NB: true or not true t chart
4. watch "Made in America", discuss typical, not typical American traits of family
5. HW: complete RD of journeys imaginative writing assignment

Thur 9/17

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 tomorrow's debate
5. HW: What makes the passage key? (178, 200)

Juniors
1. HW check
2. intro to Journeys imaginative writing assignment
3. writers' workshop

Wed 9/16

Sophomores
1. HW check, review passages
2. new passages: 88, 109
3. allegory, symbolism, microcosm
4. HW: read these passages and write one of them: 113, 140, 143, 155 (Questions: What makes this passage key?)

Juniors
1. begin American Lit scrapbook
2. review "Plymouth" and collect graphic organizers
3. read aloud "Equiano"
4. HW: NB: Despite the fact that he is an unwilling immigrant, what experiences and qulities does Equiano share with the other immigrants we have read of? (Stewart Wickham, William Bradford)
5. HW: read "Wet food, dry foot"

Tue 9/15

Sophomores
1. complete sentence workshop, share bad writing examples
2. discuss first passage
3. first NB questions: What is causing the pause? How does this moment inform us about an important theme in the novel?
4. more key passages; read the next three passages (60, 62, 63) and answer this question on one of them (in NB): What makes this passage key?

Juniors
1. discuss Ellis Island story: complete four questions in NB
2. begin textbook work
3. read "Plymouth" pages 119-127 and complete graphic organzier

Mon 9/14

Sophomores
1. collect signatures, names, complete grammar pre-test
2. sentence workshop-- page 3
3. Lord of the Flies: gut reaction, begin key passages
4. HW: finish sentence workshop (page 4)

Juniors
1. collect signatures, names, rights and responsiblities
2. "New Collossus": questions, key phrases, line by line
3. NB questions: Is America a welcoming place? How much do you know about how you became an American?
4. HW: Read Ellis Island story

Fri 9/11

Sophomores
1. learn names
2. finish highlighting syllabus
3. grammar pre test
4. review sentence workshop

Juniors
1. learn names
2. "The New Collossus": vocab review, lit term review, questions
3. HW: answer these questions on "The New Collossus" in your notebook: What does the poems say about America? What kind of place, according to the poem, is America?

Welcome back!

Welcome Back! Please bookmark this page so that you can use this blog to check for work when you are absent. Leave a comment below to let me know you were here. Also, have a look at today's agenda so you can see what to expect each day on the blog.

Thur 9/10

Sophomores
1. seating chart
2. Lord of the Flies test
3. course description
4. class meetings
5. HW: first two pages of sentence workshop

Juniors
1. seating chart
3. course description
4. class meetings
5. HW: read "The New Colussus" and look up assigned vocab words