September 29

Today I introduced lesson 8 vocabulary words and we went over the paragraphs on pages 94 and 95. Tomorrow we'll do the same for lesson 9.

After doing so I passed back the vocabulary test and gave students time to correct in class (homework if not done) then let students read from their OR book as I met with students about their paper drafts. (Tomorrow I have 2 people to meet with in block 5).

Block 4 students were given their copies of Survival in Auschwitz and In My Hands Memories of a Holocaust Rescuer today. Tomorrow blocks 3 and 5 will get their books.

Remember ... vocabulary quiz Friday is on lessons 8 and 9 ... words will have to be used in sentences based on the topic the class is given. Each class will have a different topic.

Monday 9-28-09

Today several of you were absent...here's what we did:

Students turned in homework and worked on Vocabulary lessons 8 and 9 words and definitions (that quiz will be Friday...sentence format. After students did this they read their Outside Reading book. I met with students and discussed paper drafts. Some students need to resubmit a draft by 10-1-09 ... check SOTW by 4 pm today to confirm if that is you.

Final draft of the paper is due Friday 10-9-09.

Tomorrow I'll pass back the vocabulary test and corrections will be due on Wednesday. I'll conference with people I have not meet with re: papers. Then we'll discuss The Management of Grief

Update as of Thursday 9-24-09

Tomorrow is the vocabulary test on lessons 1-7...with an emphasis on 6 and 7. It will be Multiple Choice.

After the test, you will read from your literature book and answer questions. What is not done in class is homework:

ACTIVE READ Bharati Mukherjee's (image above) The Management of Grief in your literature book (starts on page 224). Complete the questions (typed in paragraph form)that follow the story. Answers that do NOT include textual evidence will not be graded. Always support your response!

Next week...we'll discuss the story, introduce vocabulary lessons 8 and 9, get our paper drafts back and work on grammar.

Don't forget...holocaust books in class Monday 10-5-09.

Homework over the weekend...what's coming up

Today we took the vocabulary quiz on lessons 4 and 5. Next week we'll have a test on all words thus far...1-7 (Friday 9-25-09).

After the quiz ... the assignment was to skim Literature book pages 1144-1186 (what I recapitulated in class) BUT NOTE...correct...updated MLA format is on OWL site. Skimming these pages may help with writing the rough draft.

The rough draft of the first paper - EXPOSITORY - is due on Wednesday 9-23-09.
Outside Reading book title needs to be chosen by Wednesday 9-23-09.

Have BOTH Holocaust book titles in class Monday October 5th. Those that ordered through class will have there by then.

Grammar concepts this week and next:
Active and Passive Voice of verbs
Parallel Construction
Shifts in tense, form and voice of verbs
Mood of a verb

Homework due Thursday

Turn your paper topic idea into a more developed draft...

Write a Thesis Statement
Write the intro sentences to the body paragraphs (at least three body paragraphs).

This will be collected tomorrow and returned before your vocabulary quiz on Friday.

Make sure to check to see if you can access the library's online collection!

Wednesday 9-16-09

Wednesday at 6:30 PM is Sophomore Parent Night.

Homework due Wednesday:
1. Look over Expository Paper Guidelines on class website
2. Come up with a topic, write it down. It could be as developed as a thesis and outline. It could be as general as I want to write a paper about...
3. Look at the Saints WEBSITE and go to the Library page. Check to make sure your password works to use ebrary and the other PRIMARY AND SECONDARY sources that the school provides for you.

Start working now...the paper draft is due Wednesday the 23rd...your BEST work is not done the night before!! Don't let the comic strip become your reality.

Week of September 14

Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 3 was given back on Monday 9-14-09.If corrections were not finished in class they will be homework - Due Tomorrow.

The vocabulary quiz for lessons 4 and 5 will be Friday. It will be both multiple choice ad sentence creation format. Be ready for both.

This week we'll discuss stories from our literature book, discuss the paper draft that is due NEXT WED 9/23/09 and vocabulary.

Grammar this week will include verbs: Active vs Passive voice.

Friday 9-11-09

Friday will be the Vocabulary Quiz (Multiple Choice) for lesson 3.

After the quiz you are to ACTIVE read from your literature book the story by Amy Tan called A Pair of Tickets. The story commences on page 166. By Monday have read the story and completed questions 1-3 on page 181 (typed, in paragraph form and using textual evidence to support your response).

September 8 and beyond

Today I passed back vocabulary quizzes. Corrections are due tomorrow. Friday we'll have a multiple choice quiz on lesson 3.

Wednesday in class we'll discuss MLK article that you did summaries for, discuss active reading. We'll read from our Literature Books. Homework will be Hemingway's Hills Like White Elephants (starts on page 114). Active read and answer questions 1 and 2 (page 117-118) in paragraph form.

Continue to bring Summer Reading Books with you to class.

Don't forget Mass Thursday and Pep Rally on Friday.

Week of September 7th

Have a great day off on Monday!!! Enjoy the long weekend.

Tuesday the 8th you'll need to bring in your lit book along with your other books. If you have not turned in your book order form it needs to be in today as well.

Did you create your GMAIL account? If not, do so before you come to school on Tuesday.

VOCABULARY this week...lesson 3. The Quiz on Friday will be multiple choice. Part of it will be "book" style questions and part of it I will write.

Week of August 31st

Monday we'll start our vocabulary book with lessons 1 and 2. Friday we'll have our first quiz. The quizzes will vary in format from week to week. The first quiz will be multiple choice/fill-in-the-blank format.

Due Tuesday: Paragraph #1 in lessons 1 and 2
Due Wednesday: Sentence Completion Lessons 1 and 2 EVEN #'s. TYPED. Underline the portion YOU ADD. ALSO look at the class website. On home page find document attached ... Letters from Birmingham Jail by Marti Luther King Jr. Print out, read, summarize (type) and bring to class tomorrow.

During the course of the week we'll also discuss concepts from summer reading and grammar. Bring all books to class.

Monday Sept. 7th there is no school...Labor Day. Tuesday the 8th you need to have your Literature Books in class and book orders turned in with $ or a note saying no thanks.

Books

Remember...

Vocabulary Book needs to be purchased from the Turtle Shop and be brought to class beginning Monday 8/31/09

Literature Book needs to be ordered to have in class for 9/8/09.
Book Order forms due 9/8/09

Next Steps...

Today we will take the Summer Reading test. The rest of the week bring your grammar book and summer reading books. Next week bring those along with your vocabulary book.

After you take your Summer Reading Test do the following...due TOMORROW:
Page 5, 32, 33 Follow directions as they are written in the GRAMMAR book.

Welcome to English 2 with Ms. MacVay

your FIRST homework assignment is to:
1. Bookmark this blog
2. Bookmark the class website (found under the links section of the blog)
3. Become a follower of the blog.
4. Read the syllabus and sign it/share with your parents and have them sign it and return it for Tuesday August 25, 2009

This blog is where all homework assignments will be posted, updates given, etc. Make it a habit to check it on a daily basis - it's our connection - especially if you miss class due to illness, sporting event, etc.

I'm looking forward to working with each of you this year!

Summer reading for incoming 10th Grade Students

Summer Reading is posted on my website http://sites.google.com/site/english2macvay/ (the link is on the right hand side of this website under my profile). Go to the link on the left side of the website that is titled Summer Reading.

Email me at renemacvay@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS FOR ALL INCOMING 10TH GRADE STUDENTS...ALL CLASSES...ALL TEACHERS.

June 4th

Final Grades Are Posted. thanks to all who donated books to the classroom library/10th grade students next year!

Have a great summer!

June 3rd

As you clean out your locker...

Grammar Book...return to the Turtle Shop
Literature Book...KEEP...use next year
Vocabulary book...keep or Recycle...can't find a recycle bin...use the two in my room.
Novels...class ones or OR...take home or donate to the classroom library

Many Many finals are graded...check online after school or stop by...more are graded than what is online as of now...I'll work on that today!

June 2nd

Your final is from 8:30-10:00 Good Luck!

MOST of Block 5 grades are posted...a few block 4 as well.

Final Exam

Today you took the grammar and poetry portion of the final...tomorrow Literature.

Bring pencils and pens - don't forget CONCRETE TEXTUAL evidence for your essay.

Block 3...go to room 320
Block 4............. 322
Block 5............. 321

Last week of class approaching

My migrane has almost run it's course...finishing up the final exam/study guide right now.(1 pm)

What's in store for next week:

1. Return Papers
2. Complete Portfolio reflection (if not done in class Friday). Put papers in PSP's if not already in them (portfolio)
3. Discuss Dover Beach and Tom Sawyer

The Grammar and Poetry Final will be in class on June 1st
The Literature and essay final will be during Finals time on June 2nd...check blog post below for complete details. when room assignments are finalized I'll post that as well.