Friday, October 31, 2014

Halloween

papers were returned and we read Upfront articles...discussing:

Thesis Statements
Author's Purpose
Support of thesis


Due Monday...Presentations
AND Library Contest Draft (11:59 PM)

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Halloween Costume Bonus

If you come dressed (appropriate for school...following all guidelines set by the school AND the class) as a FICTIONAL Character from a book,poem, or short story...you can be eligible for a bonus.

If you are "in costume" you will share with the class how you reflect the character.



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Tuesday and Block Day

Sorry the Tuesday post did not get up...my internet connection from home was spotty last evening...

In class Tuesday we continued to discuss MAUS:
Block 5: Sibling Rivalry and Artie's manipulation of his father's story

All Blocks:
6 words story
Tale...what is the moral/take away from this story...what part of this could be considered a "tale"

Block Day:
Blocks 3/5 Discuss Genres
ALL BLOCKS discuss Hyperbole and Litotes

Block Day we will conclude our Maus Discussion and continue the Upfront Discussion from Block Day last week...Upfront continues FRIDAY.

HALF of the class will be spent on the test.

AFTER THE TEST:
Read Brave New World...first assignment due Tuesday 11-11
The Brave New World Unit Assignments are posted on the blog...10-22-14

Monday, October 27, 2014

Monday 10-27-14

Today in class we had our final opportunity to work in our groups. Semester 1 Group Project is due on Monday next week...Monday 11-3-14. Papers must be uploaded to turnitin.com before class, projects must be assembled, and Prezis complete and ready to present as you walk in class!

The rubric is found on the papers page of the class website (1415English2Semester1Project).

Do not forget...

Maus Test on Block Day

October 31st...before school...Maze Runner Bonus ... Bring your movie ticket and parent signature on blog post that announced this bonus assignment and I'll give you the worksheet! When to arrive...NO LATER THAN 7:15 AM.


Library Paper Draft due Monday 11-3 by 11:59 PM (1415LibraryContestRubric) on papers page of class website.

Bring Brave New World to class on BLOCK DAY

Friday, October 24, 2014

Vocabulary Lessons 4-6

Our Final Vocabulary Stories for this semester will be lessons 4-5-6.

Lesson 4 story is due TUESDAY 11-11-4
Quiz Lesson 4 (Multiple Choice) Friday 11-14-14

Lesson 5 Story is due Monday 11-17-14
Quiz...Friday 11-21

Lesson 6 Story is due Monday 11-24
Quiz Friday 12-5 (YES...After Break...two short weeks = 1 lesson)


ALL Stories MUST:
Be in STORY FORMAT
Have a title that is 3-5 words and matches CONTENT of story
Be a length of 500-1000 words (include word count in parenthesis after last word
UNDERLINE or BOLD the vocabulary word as it is used.
Use 15 of the 20 words from the unit
Adhere to the topics (see below)
Be appropriate for school


BONUS: Include an illustration (not a computer derived image ...for example from a search of Google Images...the illustration must be of YOUR CREATIVITY and relate to/enhance story)

Lesson 4 Story Topic OPTIONS...PICK ONE:
1. Use one of the idioms found on the Idioms and Phrases Website. Use that idiom for inspiration to create your story. HIGHLIGHT the idiom as you type it so it is evident to the reader.

2. Create an idiom of your own...highlight it...and write a story that includes that idiom.

3. Irony is defined as the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. Include irony in your story in at least two places. Highlight the irony so your reader understands that you understand irony.

Lesson 5 Story Topic Options...pick one:
1. Use an IDIOM (not the same as last week) from Idiom Site. Highlight the idiom so it is evident to the reader. Use the idiom as inspiration for your story.

2. Satire is defined by Dictionary.com as the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc. Include satire in a story you write. Highlight the satire so the reader knows you understand the concept of satire.

Lesson 6 Story Topic Options...Pick One:
1. Imagine you were given the opportunity to travel through time and visit a person in a past era. All you have to do is apply for the opportunity and get accepted! Where would you go? What era would you visit? What historical person would you wish to meet? Write a story that you would include in your application. Explain to the reader where you want to go, whom you wish to meet, why you wish to meet the person, and what you wish to get from the experience.
2. Imagine you had a superpower, and it was just available to you for a 24 hour period. What would the superpower be and what would you do with the power for the 24 hour time span?
3. Imagine you had the opportunity to meet ONE of the characters we read about this semester at Starbucks after school. This would be your opportunity to talk to this person about anything that you have on your mind. What questions would you ask this character? What insight would you like to get from this character? How would your life benefit from meeting this character as opposed to any of the others?

Our FINAL TEST on these words will be part of the SEMESTER EXAM

Friday 10-24-14

Today we have the MAUS II Quiz and Grammar Quiz (review lesson 19 and new information from 21). After the quiz there will be time to read the new Upfront Magazine.

HOMEWORK:
Read instructions for the next paper - LIBRARY PAPER - draft due uploaded to turnitin.com by Monday 11-3-14. The rubric is on the papers page of the class website and called 1415LibraryContest.

Blocks 5 and 6 read comments on CATE final draft (turnitin.com) by NOON Sunday 10-16-14

UPCOMING:
Monday we will work in the library on the GROUP PROJECT - Due Monday 11-3-14. Remember with this project YOUR INDIVIDUAL report is due uploaded to turnitin.com before you come to class on 11-3-14. The group needs to present ONE PREZI to the class on 11-3-14 and TURN IN ONE report...everyone's compiled. RE-READ the rubric to make sure all details are followed. Print the rubric and bring to class MONDAY 11-3-14. (1415Semester1Project)

Tuesday...final Maus discussion and discussion of Upfront Articles...Writing with a Purpose and Author's Tone from Block Day this week.

Block Day - MAUS Test...and Bring BRAVE NEW WORLD. The Brave NEw World unit details are detailed on a previous blog post from THIS WEEK.

Friday 10-31 - Poetry and Upfront Discussion

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

BRAVE NEW WORLD UNIT

Bring Brave New World to class starting the day of the MAUS TEST.

The Brave New World page of the class website has key topics for discussion as well as the reading guide (1415BNWReadingGuide.docx).

ACTIVE READ the BOOK ... Complete the Activities...both written and creative

We will have TWO BNW Quizzes...the TEST for the book will be part of the semester exam.

DUE DATES:
BLOCK DY Wednesday/Thursday 11-12/3
WS 1 : Chapter 1 - up to and including Chapter 6 PART 2
Tuesday 11-18 WS 2: Chapter 6 PART 3 -up to and including Chapter 9
Tuesday 11-25 WS 3 : Chapter 10-end

QUIZ DATES: Friday 11-14, Friday 11-21

Link to AUDIOBOOK

There is a link to an ONLINE version of the book on the right hand column of the blog...under HELPFUL LINKS.

Thursday 10-23 I will miss Tutoring Hours

due to my field trip that is during the lunch hour.

FOR THIS WEEK...I will hold tutoring hours FRIDAY 10-24 before school. I will be in my classroom from 7:00-7:30 if you have any questions.

Block Day 10-22 and 10-23

Block 6 10-22

CATE rubrics were collected and the class read, completed, and corrected the Writers Choice section on QUOTATION MARKS. (Exercises 20-21-22)

I returned papers.

We discussed: MAUS Sibling Rivalry and Artie's manipulation of his father's story

We finished the day discussing the Ebola story in the NEW UPFRONT MAGAZINE that I distributed. We read the story aloud and started to work in table groups on our reading handout (due on Friday).

Blocks 1-3-5 on 10-23 ....
I have an AP Art History Field Trip and will miss the end of BLOCK 1, all of BLOCK 3, and the start of BLOCK 5.

All blocks will begin with turning in the CATE rubric and working on the Writers Choice activity.

Block 3 will discuss the MAUS topics on Tuesday. Block 5 MAUS discussion will occur when I return to class.

Maus TEST rescheduled to BLOCK DAY 10-29/10-30

We will need 10-28 to conclude our discussion

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Tuesday 10-21 SECOND QUARTER BEGINS

Today we completed and corrected Writers Choice pages 759-764 (exercises 24-26-27 ODDS)

We discussed MAUS ... symbolism and sibling rivalry

REMINDER: CATE poem due tonight, bring rubric to class BLOCK DAY
REMINDER: MAUS Quiz and Grammar Quiz FRIDAY

MONDAY 10-27-14 GROUP PROJECT WORK DAY in the Library...PROJECT DUE MONDAY 11-3-14

HOMEWORK FOR BLOCK DAY: Come in with TWO concrete examples of sibling rivalry

Monday, October 20, 2014

BONUS I READ ABOUT...DEADLINE NOVEMBER 11th 7 AM (EASTERN)

From the New York Times THE LEARNING NETWORK (the same people that make the VTS that we do on a weekly basis)

Read the details of the Second Annual 15 Second Vocabulary Video Contest

If you wish to follow the directions they establish for the contest and do submit...provide me with a link to the submission so that I can see that you fulfilled all steps in the process and submitted the work according to the guidelines.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Friday 10-17

Today we completed and corrected the ABBREVIATIONS section in Writers choice...pages 767-769. Exercise 28 and 29 were done.

Then we continued to characterize ARTIE using WALTER.

We began making a text-to-text connection with Tuesdays with Morrie.

Next Week's Discussion Topics:
Symbolism in Maus
Text-to-Text Connections
Literature...Inform and Entertain
Categorization...Graphic Novel, Comic, Historical Fiction, History

Thursday, October 16, 2014

THURSDAY 10-16

Today in class we completed and corrected Writers Choice page 768-770 exercise 31 (all)

We were reminded of upcoming due dates listed on the board and SOTW...for next week that includes:
CATE final Draft due 11:59 PM Tuesday 11-21
CATE Rubric brought to class BLOCK DAY next week

FRIDAY 10-24
Maus II Short Answer Quiz
Grammar Quiz - Multiple Choice Unit 21 with a review of Unit 19

REMINDER to those students that have not viewed connects on the author paper...the comments need to be read by 8 PM TONIGHT!

IN CLASS Maus Discussion we discussed Artie - performing a WALTER character analysis. We will finish tomorrow and discuss SYMBOLISM

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Tuesday 10-14

Today we corrected Vocabulary Book page 46 idioms and peer edited.

Thursday we will work on Writers Choice and continue discussion Maus

Remember...Spirit Dress Wednesday (PSAT)

CATE Bonus Points

If you correctly use 5 Vocabulary Words (BOLD and in parenthesis number of exercise 1 - 2 or 3) + 5

If you correctly use 5 words from the VIVID word choice handout (BOLD the words) + 5 points

Up to 20 bonus points

Monday, October 13, 2014

Monday 10-13-14...

Friday I was away...In class Grammar Quiz Lesson 19 and Maus Book 1 quizzes were taken. After the quiz Vocabulary Book pages 45-46 (Idioms) were completed.

Today we started by correcting Vocab. page 45 Idioms
We spent time in the library today working on the group project due NOV 3rd (1415English2Semester1Project).

Tonight the CATE draft is due uploaded to turnitin.com (1415CATEContest)
Tomorrow you need to print the draft and rubric and bring to class for peer editing

AUTHOR LETTER is NOT DONE until you log in and read comments on turnitin.com. DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY 10-15-14. This is the final part of the Author Letter PAPER GRADE. It is part of the quarter 1 grade.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

PAPER 3... Author Letter

Your final step in PAPER #1 is to READ comments I made on turnitin.com. If you have questions...my final step is to answer them.

You will be GRADED on this. Make sure you read comments.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Block Day...Writers Choice and Maus

Today we completed and corrected Writes Choice pages 750-751 and 757-758, exercises 17, 18, and 23 (odds)

We discussed MAUS...Characterization(WS) as well as Characterization va WALTER

Characters...
Words
Actions
Looks
Thoughts
er...(Other Character's) Response

We found COW to support ADJECTIVES used to describe characters...Vladek, Artie, Anja, and Mala

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

AUTHOR LETTER ... do you want to submit to the contest ... $1,000.00 cash prize to the winner!

If you wish your author letter to be mailed to your author, please print it and bring it to me (signed).

If you wish to submit your letter to the contest. Please see me for details as an "entry form" must be completed along with a printed copy of your letter.

DEADLINE...October 24

Maus Discussions

Monday we discussed the relationship between Artie and Vladek and why it was strained before the book was written. We discussed how the book brought father and son back together.

Tuesday we made a list of methods Artie used to AUTHENTICATE his father's MEMORY.

We also discussed the different ways the book can be categorized:
Graphic Novel
Comic
Historical Fiction
War/History
Diary/Memoir

Tuesday 10-7-14

Suggestions for this week...

Since we have no nightly homework:
1. Read CATE directions. Rough Draft must be submitted Monday 11-13-14 (11:59 PM). It is 1415CATEContest on the papers page of the class website.

2. Work on your group project. It is 1415English2Semester1Project on the papers page of the class website. We have Monday 11-13-14 to work in the library with our group.

3. Post on Cross Country Connections Blog...TWO Posts are required during the month of OCTOBER re: MAUS. Respond in 100 words and sign your name as follows:
(word count, INITIALS, Block # SAHS)

4. Start an OUTSIDE READING BOOK...get it approved by me..and your parents!

You can respond to the main prompt or to a peer from one of the other schools. ONE POST MUST Be done by 10-12, 1 post by 10-22.

Respond to the prompts from THIS school year...

During class:
VTS "answer" was discussed as well as papers returned. We completed and corrected Writers Choice page 749 Exercise 16 all (DASHES)

NEXT BOOK...BRAVE NEW WORLD...the first assignment will be due the first week of NOVEMBER.

Also by Art Spiegelman...In the Shadow of No Towers
Read about a COMPOSER's Musical Rendition of the story...Mohammad Fairouz' In the Shadow of No Towers


Disclaimer: I have not read the book

Monday, October 6, 2014

Monday October 6th

Today we discussed this week's VTS then corrected the grammar exercises from Friday. We discussed Maus.

FRIDAY...Maus I quiz...short answer AND Grammar unit 19 Quiz...Multiple Choice

NO NIGHTLY HOMEWORK:
Work on Semester 1 Project...work day in the library next Monday
CATE paper draft due Monday at 11:59 PM...see me if you have questions...Tuesday 11-14-14 is a Peer Edit Day.

NEXT BOOK...Brave New World

Perhaps start an Outside Reading Book...Get it Approved first!

CATE paper/rubric is listed as 1415CATECOntest on the Papers Page of the class website.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Friday 10-3-14

Today we turned in our rubrics for the Author Letter (paper deadline 11:59 tonight)

Vocabulary Test Units 1-3

After Test: Read WRITERS CHOICE (commas) pages 740-748
Complete EVENS exercises: 9-10-11-12-15 (HOMEWORK if not done in class)

NEXT WEEK ...MAUS I quiz and Grammar Unit 19 quiz Friday

USE the time with no nightly homework to work on:
1. GROUP PROJECT - Library Work Day 10-13-14
2. Start CATE paper - draft due MOnday 10-13-14 11:59 PM
3. Read an outside reading book
4. PSAT practice tests

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

October Writing Bonus

Stage of Life has a writing contest each month. This month's prompt: The Story of a Scar. In 500 words or less, enter this month's writing contest by sharing a personal story that talks about a physical or emotional scar you carry.

For this to count as a bonus...

Post to stageoflife no later than (nlt) October 29th. Forward to me the email confirmation you are sent AND send me a copy of your submission. Word count must be 350-500 words.

BLOCK DAY

Vocabulary Quiz THREE was passed back for study purposes...Test 1-3 Friday

Vocabulary Book pages 42-44, 47-48 we completed and corrected and BINGO BONUS was used as a review

We discussed how to view comments on papers in turnitin.com...someone pulled up their "view" to demonstrate in class.

We discussed the article "Can Your Phone Testify Against You" from the Upfront Magazine
We identified the FOCUS and THESIS STATEMENTS

PSAT books were distributed

Author Letter TYPO in Rubric

Final Draft ... 400-1000 words is FINE...the FINAL DRAFT does not need to be longer than the rough draft