Final, Day 2

Took the second part of the final. Have a great summer!

Final, Day 1

Today in class we completed the constructed response portion of the final. Tomorrow we will complete the multiple choice/short answer portion of the final. Good luck!

Romeo and Juliet Test

Today in class we took our unit test over Romeo and Juliet. Afterwards we presented our memorized lines from the play. Next week we will take the district final in two parts: constructed response on Tuesday and the multiple choice/short answer part on Wednesday. Have a great weekend!

Romeo and Juliet Review

Today we spent time preparing for tomorrow's test over Romeo and Juliet. We started with a crossword of some of the important terms associated with the unit. The crossword can be found on the counter. Then we developed timelines of important events from the play. Directions for the timelines can be found here. The crossword, timelines and all study guides are due tomorrow before the test. Memorization performances of lines are also due tomorrow.

Romeo and Juliet, Act V

Today's bellwork is here. We finished act 5 of Romeo and Juliet and so finished the play. We spent some time working on the act 5 study guide and watched a bit of the film, Romeo + Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet, Act V

Today's bellwork is here. Today we read scenes 1 and 2 from act 5 of Romeo and Juliet. We also did another cold read in anticipation of next week's English 1 district final. We spent some time working on our act 4 study guide and writing our our lines to be memorized. Tomorrow we will finish the play. Friday we will test over Romeo and Juliet and recite our memorized monologues.

Romeo and Juliet, Act IV

Today's bellwork is here. We finished reading act IV, by reading scenes 3-5. We worked on a cold read #2A (which is available on the counter). Finally we worked on the act IV study guide.

Romeo and Juliet, Act IV

Today's bellwork is here. We read the first two scenes from act 4 of Romeo and Juliet. Then we made love notes using lines from the play. Examples can be found in class for students who were absent. Finally, we went over the Romeo and Juliet monologue assignment, which can be found here. Students should plan on performing on Friday of next week.

Romeo and Juliet, Act III

Today's bellwork is here. We finished act III of Romeo and Juliet and worked on the act III study guide. Please turn in the study guide as soon as you finish, but all study guides must be in before the test a week from tomorrow. We finished up the day by watching a few scenes from Romeo + Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet, Act III

No bellwork for today. We did a cold read, #6B, available on the counter. We read scenes 2-4 from act 3 of Romeo and Juliet. We also took a look at a few 17th century pick up lines and tried them out on each other. The rest of the time was spent finishing up our act 2 study guide. Absent students should make up the cold read and the reading from the book.

Romeo and Juliet, Act III

Today's bellwork is here. We read the first scene of act III as a class today. We spent a few minutes working on our act II study guide from yesterday. We went over our To Kill a Mockingbird tests. Finally we spent a few minutes watching act II from the film, Romeo + Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II

Sorry, I've missed a couple of days here.

Thursday, May 13th:

Today's bellwork is here. Today was a shorter day due to the Memories Assembly. We read act II, scene 2 and watched the first Act of Romeo + Juliet.

Friday, May 14th:

Today's bellwork is here. We read scenes 2 and 3 from act II. We also played charades with several lines from act II, scene 2 that contained strong analogies.

Monday, May 17th:

Today's bellwork is here. We read scenes 4-6 from act II. We also spent some time with iambic pentameter. Make sure you understand iambic pentameter for your test. Finally we began working on our act II study guides.

Romeo and Juliet, Act I

Today's bellwork is here. We read scenes four and five as a class. We then worked on our Act I study guide; a copy of which is here. We then watched some scenes from Act I of Romeo + Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet, Act I

Today we read through the first three scenes of Romeo and Juliet as a class. We also completed a KWL (Know/Want to Know/Learned) over William Shakespeare and the biographical material on page 292.

Romeo and Juliet Pre-Reading

Today's bellwork is here. We did a couple of activities based on the reading from pages 926-928 in our textbooks. This work cannot be made up, but make sure you have read and know the material on these pages. We also read the first 75 lines of Romeo and Juliet from Act I, Scene 1.

To Kill a Mockingbird Test

Today's bellwork was a freewrite. We took our unit test over To Kill a Mockingbird. If you were absent, plan on making this up on Tuesday during Chief Time or Wednesday morning. On Monday we'll begin Romeo and Juliet. Have a great weekend!

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 29-31

Today's bellwork was to write a paragraph in reaction to th novel's ending. We spent some time discussing To Kill a Mockingbird. Then we went to the computer lab to complete the MSIP survey and stopped by the Art Show on our way back. Be ready for the To Kill a Mockingbird unit test tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 28

Today's bellwork is here. We took a quiz over chapter 28 and discussed. We took some time to answer each other's vocabulary sentence for yesterday. We also worked on a cold read. Finally, we began reading chapters 29-31. The book should be finished for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 26-27

Today's bellwork is here. We took a quiz over chapters 26 and 27 of To Kill a Mockingbird and discussed.

We then wrote ten sentences, using one of the vocabulary words. Additionally, the sentences must relate to the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. For example, "Boo Radley is a ____________ to residents of Maycomb County because he never comes out of his home." The answer would be "recluse." Please make up these sentences if you were absent today.

Please read chapter 28 for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 24-25

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapters 24 and 25 and discussed the chapter and the symbol of the mockingbird. We read some vocabulary stories from Friday before reading. Chapters 26 and 27 are due for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 24 and 25

Today's bellwork is was a freewrite. You should have five journal entries for this week. We took a reading quiz over chapters 22 and 23 and discussed them. We also discussed French and American stereotypes with our French guests. We spent some time writing vocabulary stories. Finally, we began reading chapters 24 and 25, which are due for Monday.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 22-23

Today's bellwork was to write a paragraph in reaction to the jury's decision on Tom Robinson in To Kill a Mockingbird. We then took a reading quiz over chapters 20 and 21 and discussed. We watched a couple of scenes from the film, To Kill a Mockingbird, before reading on to chapters 22 and 23, which are due for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 18-19

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapters 18 and 19 of To Kill a Mockingbird and discussed. We also listened to Max and Nicholas tell us a little about live in France. Then we began reading chapters 20 and 21, which should be read for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 17

Today's bellwork was to write a paragraph comparing any two characters from To Kill a Mockingbird. We took a reading quiz over chapter 17 and discussed the chapter. We spent some time reading. Expect a quiz over chapters 18-19 for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 15-16

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapters 15 and 16 and discussed. We worked on a cold read that is available on the shelf. We also did a second round of vocabulary charades that cannot be made up. Finally, we began reading chapter 17, which should be completed for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 13-14

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapters 13 and 14 and then discussed the chapters as well. We spent some time acting out our unit's vocabulary with a charades game. Finally, we took time to read chapters 15 and 16.

Work Day

Due to much of the class being out at the Talent Show, we took today as a work day. There is no work to be made up, but students should plan on a reading quiz over chapters 13 and 14 from To Kill a Mockingbird tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 12

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapter twelve of To Kill a Mockingbird and finished up the annotated reading work. This is available on the counter. Please read to chapter 13 for tomorrow and to 14 for Thursday if you'll be at the talent show tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird, Part One

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapters ten and eleven of To Kill a Mockingbird. We began an annotated reading assignment that we'll finish tomorrow. Copies of this can be found on the shelf near the door. Have chapter twelve read for tomorrow.

A Class Divided

Today in class we watched the documentary, A Class Divided. The assignment was to write at least a full page in response to two of the reflection questions.

Have a great weekend!

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 10

Today's bellwork is a freewrite. We took the chapter nine reading quiz. We then went over our comparison/contrast essays. As we read chapter ten of To Kill a Mockingbird, we worked on some questions about the quote from which the novel gets it's title. The questions are available on the counter near the closet and should be made up.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 7-8

Today's bellwork is here. After our bellwork, we worked on a cold read and went over it. Then we took a reading quiz over chapters seven and eight. Finally, we took some time to read chapter nine, which should be completed for Thursday.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 5-6

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over chapters five and six. We read some of the vocabulary stories from yesterday and worked on using the context to find the word's meaning. Chapters seven and eight should be read for tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary Stories

Today we had a bellwork about summer. We took a reading quiz over chapter four of To Kill a Mockingbird. We wrote and passed around stories that used vocabulary from our unit. Finally, we read from To Kill a Mockingbird. Chapters five and six are due tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Vocabulary Pass-Arounds

Today's bellwork is here. After the bellwork, we took a short quiz over chapter three. The day's activity was a vocabulary pass around activity that cannot be made up. Please have chapter four read for Monday. Have a great weekend!

Caricatures

Today's class was shortened a bit by the Spring Sports assembly. We finished up our caricatures for To Kill a Mockingbird characters and began reading chapter 3. Expect a quiz over the chapter tomorrow.

Caricatures

Today's bellwork is here. After bellwork, we took a reading quiz over Chapter 2 of To Kill a Mockingbird. We discussed some of the characters we've been introduced to so far in the novel. Then in groups we found quotes and used those quotes to develop caricatures of the major characters in the novel. We'll finish these caricatures tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Ch. 1

Today's bellwork is here. We took a reading quiz over Chapter 1 of To Kill a Mockingbird and discussed. Then we took some time in class to read Chapter 2. Be prepared for another reading quiz tomorrow.

To Kill a Mockingbird Pre-Reading

Today's bellwork is here. We analyzed some pictures from the 1930s and brainstormed some important events/issues of the time period. This work cannot be made up. Chapter one of To Kill a Mockingbird should be read for tomorrow.

Comparison/Contrast Paper

Today's bellwork is here. Yesterday we spent the class period typing our comparison/contrast papers. Today we did a bit of a peer review of those papers and turned them in. We also presented and turned in our book reports. On Monday we will begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird.

Comparison/Contrast Paper

Today's bellwork is here. Today we began to work on our comparison/contrast papers. We started by filling out this guide. Then we spent a few minutes writing in the lab. Tomorrow we will spend most of the block working on typing our papers.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Today we finished watching O Brother, Where Art Thou? and completed the graphic organizers that were given out yesterday.

Tomorrow we will outline our papers and begin typing them in the lab.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Hope you all had a good spring break!

Today's bellwork is here. Today we began to watch the film, O Brother Where Art Thou?. Later this week we will write a comparison/contrast paper, comparing the film to The Odyssey. You can watch the film online here. Complete this chart as you watch the film.

Odyssey Review

Today's bellwork was a cold read. You may make up the bellwork by writing a paragraph-long freewrite about whatever you wish. We worked on a graphic organizer in review of The Odyssey. The graphic organizer is due tomorrow when we will test over The Odyssey.

Odysseus's Resume

Today we did our bellwork on St. Patrick's Day. Then we went to lab to work on resumes for Odysseus. Remember to complete the resume as if you were Odysseus, listing his basic information, work experience, skills and references.

The Odyssey

Here is today's bellwork. Today we finished our reading of The Odyssey by reading Books 22 and 23. Our tutor, Chris, shared a little bit about resumes as tomorrow we will be making a resume for Odysseus in the lab.

The Odyssey

Sorry for the delay on updates.

On Wednesday (3/10) we did the following bellwork. Then we finished reading the first part of The Odyssey, including Books 10, 11 and 12.

On Thursday and Friday (3/11 and 3/12), we worked on the our Personal Itinerary Projects in the computer lab.

Today, Monday (3/15), we started with the following bellwork. We spent some time reviewing the first part of The Odyssey and then began the second part. Students who were absent should check out a textbook and read Books 16, 17 and 21 of The Odyssey.

Remember quarter grades go out Friday and that is you last chance to turn in any missing work!

The Odyssey, Book 9

Today's bellwork is here. In class, we read and discussed Book 9 of the Odyssey, from pages 1110-1123.

The Odyssey

Today's bellwork is here. After bellwork we read pages 1088-1089 and watched a short film on The Odyssey. We took some notes on the reading and film that cannot be made up. We also read Books 1 and 5 of The Odyssey.

Mythology Unit Test

Today we took a couple of surveys in the library before taking our unit test over mythology. Afterwards, we had time to read. If you were not present today, plan on taking your mythology test during Chief Time on Tuesday.

Myth-Writing

Today's bellwork is here. In class today we wrote myths. A guide to this assignment is here. Then in groups of three we acted out one of our myths for the class.

Toga Party

Today we went and worked with the special education class. We wore togas, ate grapes and drew and presented our gods and goddesses. Be ready to test over the gods and goddesses on Friday!

Pandora

Today was a shorter day due to the early release. He was our bellwork. Then we discussed the Pandora myth and some of the similarities with the Adam and Eve story. Be sure to be familiar with this story for your test.

Don't forget bed sheets for tomorrow's toga party!

Sisyphus and Tantalus

Today we did this bellwork. Then we finished up our god/goddess Barbie doll illustrations. Then we heard from a couple more book reports. We took some time to talk about the myth of Sisyphus and Tantalus. Student who were absent should get notes from a classmate. Finally we got new MO Gateway books to read and had a few minutes to start reading them today in class.

Plan on having our Mythology test on Friday and plan on our toga party with Special Ed on Wednesday.

Book Reports and Action Figure/Barbie Gods

Today's bellwork is here. Today we turned in and present to the class our book reports. Afterwards we worked on designing an action figure/Barbie doll based on a Greek god/goddess. The instructions are here. We'll finish up our action figures/Barbies on Tuesday, but you'll only have 15 minutes of class time to work on it, so if you need more time, you'll need to do some work on it over the weekend.

Don't forget to bring a bed sheet for Monday's toga party! It's worth points! I'll also give extra credit if you bring more than one!

Gods/Goddesses Presentations

Yesterday we began our God/Goddesses presentations and today we finished those up. If you were absent for either of these days, be sure to get the notes from a classmate. We used our remaining class time to work on our book reports which are due tomorrow. If you are absent tomorrow, you should have your book report for me on Monday.

Gods/Goddesses Project, Part 3

We put off our Gods/Goddesses Presentations for a little bit more time to research. We also spent part of the class discussing our short stories and working on our book reports. We'll present our Gods/Goddesses Presentations tomorrow and book reports are due Friday.

Gods/Goddesses Project, Part 2

Today we continued to research for our Gods/Goddesses Project and will present our research to the class tomorrow.

God/Goddesses Project

Today's bellwork was a freewrite. Then we took some time for freereading. Remember that your book reports are due next Friday (2/26).

Then began our work on our God/Goddess Projects. We watched an example presentation on Zeus before beginning to research our own god/goddess. We also took notes on the presentation and will do so for our own presentations. For our research we are using these questions as a guide.

Folk Hero Presentations

Here is today's bellwork. After bellwork we presented the folk heroes we researched to the class. If you were absent, you need to make up the bellwork, but the presentation and the notes from the presentations cannot really be made up.

Folk Hero Research

There was no bellwork today. We spent the day in the lab researching for our folk hero presentations and using these questions as a guide.

American Myths

Today's bellwork was to evaluate the short story unit.

Then we read a partner's short story and did some evaluation of it. This cannot be made up, since short stories have now been turned in. If you have not turned in a short story yet, it needs to be turned in to Mr. Sotheran as soon as possible and will be considered late.

Finally, we discussed myths and how American heroes are examples of myth. Tomorrow we will be researching an American folk hero to present to the class.

Short Story Unit Test

There was no bellwork today. Instead, we took the first few minutes of class to prepare for the test.

To make up the test, you'll either need to arrange to take the test during Chief Time on Tuesday (see me and I can write you a pass) or you'll need to come early on Wednesday morning and take the test in the library. Either way arrange it with me.

Be prepared to type your short story tomorrow in the lab and have it turned in by the end of class.

Wednesday 2/10

On Wednesday, we started the day with a freewrite bellwork, so make sure to write at least one paragraph on any topic.

Then we read the short story, The Star, and looked and discussed the 2nd person point of view. No work needs to be made up, but I'd like you to read the story if you get a chance.

Vocabulary

We didn't have bellwork today. Instead we jumped right in with an Act-A-Word activity with sniglets. Then we acted out vocabulary words from this unit. Afterwards we did a Pass Around vocabulary activity. Today's work can't really be made up, but won't count against students who missed.

Make sure you are starting to get some of your short story down on paper. We'll take our unit test on short story on Thursday and type our short stories on Friday. Your short story will be due at the end of the day on Friday.

Something That Happened Story

Today's bellwork was the plot out your short story idea according to the five elements of plot. So what will be the exposition of your short story? The rising action? The climax? The falling action? The resolution?

Then we read the story, Something That Happened, and answered these questions over it. This activity is good practice for what I'll ask you to do on your unit test on Thursday!

Short Story Brainstorming

Today's bellwork was a freewrite. Please write for at least a paragraph on whatever you like.

Then we worked on a brainstorming activity for our short stories. On Monday you will need to come to class with a short story idea that you feel comfortable with.

We spent the last few minutes of class reading from our MO Gateway novels and playing a round of Balderdash.

Descriptive Writing

Today's bellwork was to write at least a paragraph describing the object at your table. Each table had a different fruit/vegetable to be described. To make up this bellwork, please write in description of any object. Remember to use more than one of the five senses and vivid vocabulary.

After the bellwork we read the story, Island Morning, from p. 516 in our orange textbooks and answered questions #1-3 and #6 in our journals.

Theme/Description

For today's bellwork, I asked students to summarize the plot of a film and then tell me what the film's theme might be. Make sure you right at least a 4-6 sentence paragraph. Afterwards we discussed our films and talked for quite a bit about theme.

Then we went over description from this powerpoint. Afterwards, students took a magazine and chose one image or picture from the magazine that they liked. Then I asked students to write a half page describing the picture. I am looking for students to appeal to more than one of the five senses (sight, smell, sound, touch and taste) and to use vivid language (maybe language someone would not use in everyday speech).

Absent students should be sure to make up both the bellwork and the descriptive writing.

Theme

Today was a short day due to the early release. For bellwork we wrote a paragraph telling the story of a fable. Some well-known fables include The Tortise and the Hare and The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Then we took a lot at the literary concept of theme through this powerpoint. Afterwards we read an excerpt from The Kite Runner and discussed its theme.

Identifying Tone

Today's bellwork was to define the following terms- plot, conflict, mood, tone, characterization and "show, don't tell."

We finished our Mark Twain activity in which we read three stories and compared the tone of each of them. You can get the readings and questions from the blog entry from Thursday.

Afterwards we read the school newspaper. We each picked one article to do the five w's for (who, what, when, where, why and how). To make this up, take any newspaper article and tell me about these five w's.

Freewrite

Today was a wild one with the lockdown drill and then class getting out 30 minutes early do to early release. Make sure you make up the bellwork if you were absent, which was to freewrite. Give me one paragraph about anything you wish.

We went over scheduling option in the English department and we'll finish up with our Mark Twain/tone activity on Monday.

Tone

Today we started with the following bellwork:

Write at least one paragraph on the following prompt: You wake up one morning and look in the mirror to find the face looking back at you is not your own...

Then we went over tone with this powerpoint. In small groups, we each read three different passages by Mark Twain and compared their different tones. The passages and questions can be found here:

Chapters from My Autobiography

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Tone questions

Mood

To make up today's bellwork, describe a character using interesting objects that are important to this character. As always, a paragraph (4-6 sentences) is the minimum for credit for bellwork.

We followed along with the mood powerpoint and looked for mood in two texts: Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted on the Young and The Raven.

Library Orientation

Today we went to the library and completed a library orientation to familiarize us with the library and the services they provide. The work cannot really be made up, but will not count against those absent.

Characterization

Today's bellwork was to tell a personal story, a story that happened to you or someone you know. Then we talked about characterization and read the short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Then we filled out this survey from the perspective of one of the characters.

Bird by Bird

Today's bellwork was to create a story based on one of the plot structures from your 20 Plot Structures handout. After you write your short story, mark where the exposition is (with a "1"), rising action (2), climax (3), falling action (4) and resolution (5).

Then we read Bird by Bird by Anne Lammott and answered these questions that go along with it.

Finally, we went over some potential book report ideas and read from our Gateway Books.

Plot

Today we went over plot. Here's the day's work:

Bellwork #2

Plot powerpoint

Plot notes

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe

SRI Testing

Here's what went on today:

Short story anticipation bw

SRI Testing

Selected our Gateway Books

Syllabus

Everyone was here today, but if you lose your copy of the syllabus you can check this one out here:

Syllabus