Thur 1/29

Seniors
1. give commencement speeches
2. complete Siddhartha map

Wed 1/28

Seniors
1. "The Ferry Man" and "The Son"
2. the river, time, eternity, symbolism
3. map work
4. finish the book

Sophomores
1. Joy Luck Club final

Tue 1/27

Seniors
1. "Samsara" and "By the River"
2. What is ennui? What is oblivion?
3. map work
4. HW: read to page 123

Sophmores
1. vocab quiz
2. Jong family, Woo family, other topics
3. prep for final

Mon 1/26

Seniors
1. discuss "Kamala" and "Amongst the People"
2. what is Nirvana, Samsara?
3. map work
4. HW: read to page 100

Sophmores
1. vocab warm up
2. autobio self evaluation
3. discuss motifs for Hsu and St. Clair families
4. HW: finish book

Fri 1/23

Seniors
1. collect magical realism story/essay
2. review ch 3,4: the four noble truths, etc
3. begin map assignment, due next Thursday
4. HW: read ch 5,6

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. autobio peer/self review
3. discuss "Without Wood" and "Best Quality"
4. read "Magpies" and "Waiting Between the Trees"

Thur 1/22

Seniors
1. Like Water for Chocolate test
2. most important words
3. What is "om"?
4. review ch 1,2, begin taking notes for map assignment (50 pts)
5. HW: read to page 42

Sophomores
1. check NBs, vocab warm up
2. "Four Directions"
3. read "Without Wood" and "Best Quality"
4. work on RD of autobio stories

Wed 1/21

Seniors
1. magical realism essay/story peer review
2. Siddahartha background/ quiz
3. HW: read to page 24, work on story/essay FD

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. "Rice Husband" discussion
3. read "Zippy" sample
4. HW: read "Four Directions" and work on your autobio stories

Tue 1/20

Seniors
1. November/ December questions, discussion
2. last film clip
3. HW: complete RD of magical realism story/essay

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. freewrite #3
3. begin drafting stories-- RD due Friday
4. group discussion: "Half and Half" and "Two Kinds"
5. HW: read "Rice Husband

Fri 1/16

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. October
3. triangles
4. film clip

Sophomores
finish state writing test

Thur 1/15

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. September passages
3. film clips
4. begin Magical Realism essay/story draft-- RD due next Wednesday
5. HW: read October

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. begin State writing test

Wed 1/14

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. August questions
3. magical realism reading
4. begin Like Water for Chocolate writing assignment, samples
5. HW: read September

Sophomores
1. grammar final
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss "Rules of the Game" and "A Voice from the Wall"

Tue 1/13

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. July questions in groups
3. film clip: the wedding cake
4. HW: read August

Sophomores
1. complete state wide reading test
2. HW: read "The Voice from the Wall"

Mon 1/12

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. May and June questions
3. HW: read July

Sophomores
state wide reading test

Fri 1/9

Seniors
1. collect TFA essay
2. vocab quiz
3. Chocolate questions, chapter 4 in groups
4. chocolate journal #5: nurturing or rebellion
5. HW: read May and June Chapters

Sophomores
1. collect Othello essay
2. vocab warm up
3. last grammar review
4. "Moon Lady" questions
5. freewrite #2
6. HW: read "Rules of the Game"

Thur 1/8

Seniors
1. vocab warm up-- quiz tomorrow
2. magical realism
4. ch 3 questions in groups
5. journal #4: transcendental relationship
6. HW: read ch 4 and complete FD of essay

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. "The Red Candle" in groups
4. memory mining topics: I lost my temper, battle wills, scar
5. freewrite #1
6. read "Moon Lady"
7. HW: complete FD of essay

Wed 1/7

Seniors
1. collect January
2. vocab warm up
3. ch 2 discussion groups, magical realism
4. journal #3: family legend
5. HW: read ch 3, work on essays

Sophomores
1. collect January
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss "Scar"
4. the semi-autobiographical unit
5. memory mining: list noteworthy memories in NB
6. HW: read "The Red Candle" and work on your essay

Tue 1/6

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. share Chocolate journal #1
3. Chocolate study questions in groups
4. Chocolate journal #2: family tradition
5. HW: read ch 2
HW: extra credit Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: 604 ex 2, 608 3,6,13-20
3. JLC: eightfold notes, vignette topics, Joy Luck topic
4. HW: read "Scar"

Awesome is banned!

Thanks to Stephen Thompson for finding out that "awesome" was a banned word back in 2007.

Here is the link, and here is an excerpt:

AWESOME -- Given a one-year moratorium in 1984, when the Unicorn Hunters banished it "during which it is to be rehabilitated until it means "fear mingled with admiration or reverence; a feeling produced by something majestic." Many write to tell us there's no hope and it's time for "the full banishment."

Mon 1/5

Seniors
1. extra credit: January letter
2. essay RD peer/self review: FD due Friday
3. Chocolate journal #1: ultimate meal
4. read Like Water for Chocolate chapter 1

Sophomores
1. extra credit: January letter
2. essay RD peer/self review: FD due Friday
3. grammar review: semicolons
4. HW: read first story in The Joy Luck Club

Punch Shakespeare

This is funny. Thanks to Justin for sharing it.