"Students...today when you go to school...Sit with someone who is alone at the lunch table, befriend the new kid in class, lend a helping hand, make it a point to be kind, and if you see something that is not quite right, say something.  You can be a hero to someone, just by being their friend."  - Ray Rice

Daily Agenda and Objectives

Day 180:  Friday, June 28, 2013

• Exam make-up day

Day 179:  Thursday, June 27, 2013

• Perid 2 Exam
• Period 4 Exam
• Period 6 Exam

Day 178:  Wednesday, June 26, 2013

• Perid 1 Exam
• Period 3 Exam
• Period 5 Exam

Day 177:  Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Summer reading
• Curriculum questions
• MASSPIRG opportunity
• Teacher recommendations

Today's Goals:

• Hand back work
• Collect make-up work
• Collect books
• Jeopardy review game.
• Period 6: video project

Today's HW:

• Make up work.
• Study for exam.

Day 176:  Monday, June 24, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Summer reading
• Curriculum questions
• MASSPIRG opportunity
• Teacher recommendations

Today's Goals:

• To wrap up some items from the week and to share and workshop our college essay drafts.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back work
• Submit book reviews
• College presentations
• Pair and share essays
• Circle share and worskhop our essays

Tonight's HW:

• Make up all work!
• Return all books by tomorrow!!
• Study for exam!!!

Day 175:  Friday, June 21, 2013

• Curriculum questions with Ms. Stevens

Day 174:  Thursday, June 20, 2013

• Curriculum questions with Ms. Stevens

Day 173:  Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.3:  Student will analyze the impact of author's choices regarding how to develop elements of a story.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back work
• College presentation du jour
• Do Now:  Read and annotate "Hills Like White Elephants"
• Small Groups - complete Hemingway analysis graphic organizer and check Gatsby annotations
• Circle discussion:  Hills and why it is the quintessential Modernist story

Homework:

• College essay draft due Friday, 6/21
• Outside book review due Monday, 6/24
• Curriculum questions due Tuesday, 6/25
• Final exam Thursday, 6/27

Day 172:  Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Lost Generation Unit, Day 1

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.3:  Students will analyze the impact of author's choices regarding how to develop elements of a story.

Today's Agenda:

• College presentation du jour
• Do Now:  Read and annotate "Old Man at the Bridge"
• Small Groups:  Complete Hemingway's Defining Elements of Style Handout.
• Circle Discussion:  Share elements that define Hemingway's style AND explain how they contribute meaning to the text.  Here is a helfpul resource for facilitating discussion of this story.
• Ticket Out:  Completed Graphic Organizer.

Homework:

• College essay draft due Friday, 6/21
• Outside book review due Monday, 6/24
• Curriculum questions due Tuesday, 6/25
• Final exam Thursday, 6/27

Day 171:  Monday, June 17, 2013

Lost Generation Unit, Day 0

Today's Announcements:

• Summer Reading List
• Brag Sheets and Common Application prompts
• Ongoing Asignments
• Did we want to go to see Gatsby?

Today's Goals:

• Students will analyze how historical events such as WWI contributed to the development of the Lost Generation movement.
• Students will examine the development of Modernism by analyzing two Modernist poems.

Today's Agenda:

• College presentation du jour
• Lost Generation notes.
• In a Station of the Metro.
• Landscape with the Fall of Icarus.
• Write your own poem in this style

Homework:

• College essay draft due Friday, 6/21
• Outside book review due Monday, 6/24
• Curriculum questions due Tuesday, 6/25
• Final exam Thursday, 6/27

Day 170:  Friday, June 14, 2013

Gatsby, 9

Today's Goal:

• To discuss themes and symbols in The Great Gatsby.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Watch Baz Luhrman Gatsby movie trailer (twice).  Write about how efectively it adapts the novel.  Note plot points, characterization, and symbolism.
• Discuss trailer and how effectively it adapts the book
• Around the Horn discussion game
• Discuss Symbolism from last night's HW

Homework:

• College Essay Draft (Typed - due Friday, 6/21)
• Outside Reading Book Review (due Monday, 6/24)

Day 169:  Thursday, June 13, 2013

Gatsby, 7 and 8

Today's Goals:

• To analyze how symbols (things and colors) contribute meaning to theme.
• To review what you've discussed so far.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Journal on (1) what you did with Ms. Stevens and (2) questions you hvae about the book.
• Discussion on the book so far
• Small Group:  ID symbols and their significance
• Discuss Symbols and Other Questions

Homework for Friday, 6/14:

• Finish reading the book.
• Write a brief resonse about how symbolism contributed to the books theme.  Are the symols and colors vivid?  What significance do they have?

Day 168:  Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Lesson with Ms. Stevens on Gatsby, chapters 5 and 6

Goal: 

• Ms. Stevens, what is your primary objective for today?

Agenda:

• Last Word discussion.
  • Students should be familir with this discussion format.  Works best when they are in groups of four at first, and then you bring it out to the large group
• Review Vocab Words from Unit List
• Suggested optional small group activities: 
  • create a Facebook profile for a character
  • crete a symboslim chart of major symbols and color symbols
• Any additional Ms. Stevens connections

Homework for Thursday, June 13:

• Read and annotate chapters 7 and 8

Day 167:  Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Lesson with Ms. Stevens on Gatsby, chapters 3 and 4

Goal:

• To continue our study of plot, characterization, narration, and symbolism in the opening chapters of Gatsby.

Agenda:

• Before class:  Cut these questions into individual slips of paper.  Staple each question to a large piece of paper from the alrge pad in the classroom.  Post the large paper around the class.
• Carousel/Jigsaw/Big Paper activity:  Have the students go aroudn the room and quietly write their comments in response to each question on the large sheet of paper.  Encourage them to fill up the paper with as much evidence as they can, and encourage them to have a dialogue right there on the paper.
• Have groups present out and facilitate a discussion
• Any additional Ms. Stevens connections as you continue to discuss chapters 3 and 4
• Review Vocab Words (chapters three and four) from Unit Vocab List

Homework for Wednesday, June 12:

• Read and annotate chapters 5 and 6

Day 166:  Monday, June 10, 2013

Lesson with Ms. Stevens on Gatsby, chapters 1 and 2

Goal:

• To begin to understand the basics of plot, characterization, narration, and symbolism in the opening chapters of Gatsby.

Agenda:

• Do Now:  Have students complete some of the discussion questions about chapter one.  (Download questions here.)  You may have students work independently, with partners, or in a small group.  You may have them answer all of the questions or have different groups take ownership over different ones.
• Facilitate a large group discussion about chapters one and two.  Students may elect to arrange themselves in rows or in a large circle.  (In adition to the link above, this link may help you with some notes/ideas for discussion topics.)  Try to have the kids steer the discussion as much as possible.
• Review Vocab Words (chapters one and two) from Unit Vocab List.
• Any additional activities Ms. Stevens wants to incoporate.

Homework for Tuesday, June 11:

• Read and annotate chapters 3 and 4

Day 165:  Friday, June 7, 2013

College essay lesson with Ms. Stevens

• Examine writing prompts from Common Application.
  • The Common App recently revised their prompts to make some significant changes, so use this link here.
• Examine some mentor texts - effective essays
  • Perhaps see if some students in class want to share their writing, like Shannon in period 2 or Abby C in period 6
  • Share other samples from Ms. Stevens
  • Discuss strengths
• Free writing, workshopping, and sharing on essay topics
• Any other writing activities with Ms. Stevens
• If you have extra time:
  • You could have students present their college projects and score them according to the rubric (on my small wooden table)
  • You could have students read their outside reading book

Homework for Monday:

• Reading schedule for Gatsby (with annotations):
  • Due M 6/10:  ch. 1 and 2
  • Due Tu 6/11:  ch. 3 and 4
  • Due W 6/12:  ch. 5 and 6
  • Due Th 6/13:  ch. 7 and 8
  • Due F 6/14:   ch. 9 and symbolism response

Day 164:  Thursday, June 6, 2013

Gatsby Intro Day

Goals:

• To introduce themes of Gatsby and background information about Fitzgerald.

Agenda:

• Do Now:  Free write on the epigraph of Gatsby.
• 5 Things you didn't know about Fitzgerald.
• Distribute Vocab List for the Unit.
• Distribute books and begin guided reading of chapter 1

Homework:

• Examine p. 36 and 37 from Don't Forget to Write for some helfpul hints, couretsy of Ms. Stevens.
• Select a writing prompt from the link below and do some free-writing/outlining - start a draft, but don't worry if it's not perfectly polished yet.
• Maybe try to use something you've written before to fit into one of these prompts.  Don't reinvent the wheel - look through your portfolio of best work.
• Here is the link:  https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Docs/DownloadForms/2013/EssayAnnouncementFinal.pdf

Day 163:  Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Goals:

• To assess the skills that we hve practiced during our Social Commentary (Chicago Poems) unit.

Agenda:

• Hand back portfolio work
• Chicago Poems test

Homework:

• Long term:  Read and annotate chapters 1 and 2 of Gatsby by Monday.
• Read and annotate chapters 3 and 4 of Gatsby by Tuesday.

Day 162:  Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To teach the class about your assigned poem using a concrete lesson plan.

Today's Agenda:

• 2 20-25 min. student-directed lessons (100 point grades)

Tonight's HW:

• Study for poem test.

Day 161:  Monday, June 3, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To teach the class about your assigned poem using a concrete lesson plan.

Today's Agenda:

• 2 20-25 min. student-directed lessons (100 point grades)

Tonight's HW:

• Be ready for college presentations tomorrow.
• Be ready for poem presentations Monday and Tuesday.

Day 160:  Friday, May 31, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To prepare for tomorrow's SAT.
• To expose our classmates to colleges.
• To work on oral presentation skills.

Today's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now:  SAT work from College Board book (p. 587 and 588)
• Review SAT work
• College presentations
• Outside Reading

This weekend's HW:

• Work on poem presentations.
• Prepare for poem test (Wednesday).

Day 159:  Thursday, May 30, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To teach the class about your assigned poem using a concrete lesson plan.

Today's Agenda:

• 2 20-25 min. student-directed lessons (100 point grades)

Tonight's HW:

• Be ready for college presentations tomorrow.
• Be ready for poem presentations Monday and Tuesday.
• Bring in outside reading book.

Day 158:  Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To help our peers edit essay (period 2).
• To prepare poems to teach the class.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back Mockingbird test
• Review peom presentation assignment, come up with schedule
• Share and submit HW poems
• Peer edits (period 2) or work on poem presentations (perid 2 and 6)

Tonight's HW:

• Work on presentations (for Sandburg's poems)

Day 157:  Tuesday, May 28, 2013

"Chicago" Poems - An Introduction

Today's Goal:  To introduce the themes of Carl Sandberg's poetry and to write a poem in his style.

Submit To Kill a Mockingbird essays and books.

Journal:  Examine photos of industrial Chicago

• Photos saved on desktop computer in classroom. 
• Write adjectives and phrases you would use to describe this city.

Carl Sandberg background

(Read and discuss biography from Glencoe textbook.)

Eminem Super Bowl Commercial - view and discuss

Download handout here

"Chicago" by Carl Sandberg

• Read and discuss
• Review literary and rhetorical devices
• Use Glencoe textbook

Write your own version of "Chicago," modeled after Sandberg's piece (perhaps "Medford" or "Boston")

• Begin with about five lines of epitaphs
• Continue with five lines of "I know why the criticism is true
• Continue with five to ten lines about the city's greatness
• Wrap up with why you take pride in the epitaphs associated with your city

HW:  Wrap up the final version of your "Chicago" poem

Day 156:  Fridy, May 24, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To prepare for the SAT, with a focus on critical reading stratigies.
• To expose our classmates to various colleges and to work on our oral presentation skills.

Today's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now:  Questions 9-24 from College Board practice SAT section 7
• Outside Reading
• Review SAT Do Now
• College Presentations

This weekend's HW:

• Finish To Kill a Mockingbird essay (2-3 sources, 3-5 pages)

Day 155:  Thursday, May 23, 2013

THIS LESSON POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT WEEK.

Today's Goals:

• To explore some college essay prompts and do some pre-writing and drafting.
• To base the voice of our own personal narratives on Scout's voice in To Kill a Mockingbird.
• To work on refining our To Kill a Mockingbird analysis essays.

Today's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now:  Pre-writing and free writing on college essay prompts from www.commonapp.org.  (Discuss how to use Scout's voice as inspiriation.)
• Pair and share.  Revise.
• Return to quiet writing.
• Share out with the large group in a circle.  You have to read your narrative aloud.
• Touch base and work on Mockingbird analysis essay.

Tonight's HW:

• Work on Mockingbirdanalysis essay (due Tuesday).
• Be prepared to present your college project.
• Bring in outside reading book.

Day 154:  Wednesday, May 22, 2013

With Mr. Tuden, do the following:

• Get with a partner and exchange your essay drafts.
• Peer edit your partner's essay with a focus on the following five areas:  thesis, topic sentences, use of quotes, use of secondary, sources, academic diction.
• Help your partner to work on your essay.  (I'd encourage you to use the book and/or various nonfiction primary source documents for evidence/quotes.)

Tonight's HW:

• Continue to work on your essay.  (Final draft is due next Tuesday.)  Tomorrow, bring in your essay draft and materials so we can continue to work on it.

Day 153:  Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Distribute and discuss info about SAT Prep class at St. Clement
• Progress Reports
• May 28 College Inforamation Night

Today's Goal:

• To assess what we learned during our Mockingbird unit.

Today's Agenda:

• Test
  • 35 multiple choice
  • 2 open rsponse
  • do 1 open reponse more for extra credit

Tonight's HW:

• Typed draft of Mockingbird essay.

Day 152:  Monday, May 20, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Distribute and discuss info about SAT Prep class at St. Clement
• Progress Reports

Today's Goals:

• To examine Atticus as a model father.
• To discuss major themes and reas of interest from the book.
• To begin to organize idesa for our Mockingbird essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read and respond to Art of Manliness article about Atticus
• Book Club style discussion.  Discuss major themes of the book and areas of interest.  You could use the essay prompts as a guide, but also may feel free to include other ideas. 
• Small Groups:  Pre-writing/outlining for Mockingbird essay
• Ticket to Leave:  What topic are you exploring for your essy?

Tonight's HW:

• Study for Mockingbird test (tomorrow)
• Work on typed rough draft of essay (due Wednesday) 

Week of 6/3:  Lost Generation

Week of 5/27:  Sandberg and Sinclair - Social Commentary

Friday:

• Section 7, part 2, of SAT practice test
• College presentations
• As I Lay Dying videos

Day 151:  Friday, May 17, 2013

Friday's Goals:

Friday's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now:  SAT vocabulary (from College Board test on web - section 7:  questions 1-8)
  • Review vocabulary and strategies
• SAT Essay Writing
  • Post SAT rubric on board
  • Turn and talk with partner - score eaach other's esays from HW according to the rubric, provide feedback (circulte to ID good essays to be read aloud)
  • Share and submit essays
• College presentations (scored according to school-wide rubric)
  • Kim
  • Jim
  • Kerry
  • Abby C.
• Maybe an As I Lay Dying video or two?
• Touch base on Mockingbird essy prompts
• Outside Reading

Friday's HW:

• Prepare for book club discussion (Monday)
• Prepare for test (Tuesday)
• Prepare draft of essay for Wednesday
  • Start to think about doing some prewriting over the weekend - we'll work on the essay in class on Monday

Day 150:  Thursday, May 16, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To make self to text connections.
• To connect themes of poetry to themes of the novel.
• To review expectatiosn for an essay assignment.

Today's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now:  Mirrors and Windows.
• Discuss Mirrors and Windows and Final Pages
• Poetic Perspectives (Jigsaw - count off by threes - each group presents out to class about poem's main idea and thematic and stylistic connections to the book)
  • My Arkansas
  • Incident
  • Strange Fruit
• Essay and Rubric
  • Review prompts and rubric.  Point out thata graphic organizers will be helpful.  If time allows, tell students to get into groups and begin brainstorming.

Tonight's HW:

• Bring in outside reding book.
• Complete To Kill a Mockingbird 25-min. SAT prompt.

Day 149:  Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To examine the historical precedence for Mayella Ewell's character and testimony.
• To trace motifs involving coming-of-age.

Today's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now
  • Read nonfiction information text about Ruby Bates.  ID main ideas and connections to Mockingbird.  Discuss.
• Wrap up yesterday's Jigsaw
  • Chapters 23-25 still need to present.
• Briefly review major events from last night's reading.
• Complete Coming-of-Age handoutin small groups (and HW check)
• Ticket to leave:  Share some ideas on coming-of-age handout.

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annotate ch.29-31.  As you read, look for "mirrors" and "widows."

Day 148:  Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To examine the falling action of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Today's Agenda:

• Quiet Do Now:  Review your assigned chapter (ch. 21, 22, 23, 24, or 25).
• Quick In-Context Vocabulary
  • Acquittal
  • Arid
  • Exodus
  • Impudent
• Small Groups:  Complete Falling Action Jigsaw Analysis Sheet for your assigned chpter
• Jigsaw Groups present out
• Ticket to Leave:  Write one thing you leanred from another Jigsaw group

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annotate ch. 26-28. 

Day 147:  Monday, May 13, 2013

Today's Goal: 

• To examine the use of rhetoric in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Reread (silently) passages from the Tom Robinson tiral.  Note rhetoric.
• Access prior knowledge:  Review rhetorical terms (listed on sheet).
• Clippage:  2 closing arguments (www.americanrhetoric.com)
  • Atticus Finch- To Kill a Mockingbird
  • Jake Brigance - A Time to Kill
• Small Groups:  Complete rhetorical analysis sheet (+HW check)
• Large Group:  Review rhetorcial analysis
• Ticket to Leave:  Write one rhetorical device used in Mockingbird and define it.

Tonight's HW:

• Read chapters 23-25.  Annotate using active reading strategies. 

What's on tap for next week?

Monday, May 13:  Closing Argument, Rhetoric Lesson

Tuesday, May 14:  Falling Action, Jigsaw

Wednesday, May 15:  Ruby Bates and Coming of Age

Thursday, May 16:  Mirrors and Windowns, Closing Thoughts, Poetic Perspectives, Review Essay Prompts

Friday, May 17:  SAT PDF, College Projects, Outside Reading

Day 146:  Friday, May 10, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To practice our grammar skills.
• To present ideas to our peers and expose them to college.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Section 10 of College Board practice test (see link for last night's homework to download)
• Review section 10 - improving sentences
• Presentations re:  College (This is the primary goal of today and takes up the bulk of the time)
• Outside Reading Time

This Weekend's HW:

• Read and annotate ch. 20-22.  Focus on rhetoric in closing arguments.

Day 145:  Thursday, May 9, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• AP test tomorrow - we have a history of success; best of luck to everyone taking the test!
• SAT registration - who is taking it in June?  late registration until May 17 (with $23 late fee)
• Portfolio reflection - anyone who did not submit reflection should do so
• Hip Hop event on Saturday nihgt at MFA
• Prom tomorrow!

Today's Goals:

• To determine the meaning of words in context.
• To analyze the historical significance of the lynch mob in the novel.
• To analyze the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of the story, with a particular focus on symbolism.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary.
  • acrimonious
  • tenet
  • mollify
• Nonfiction Informational Texts about Lynching
  • Take 5 minutes to silently read and annotate your PERSONALIZED article.  ID 3 talking points and make at least 1 connection to the rising action of the novel (201-207).  How is the rising action a realistic depiction of a lynch mob?  What connections can we make to Scout?
  • Take 5 minutes to partner with someone ewho read a different article and share ideas, make connections.
  • Discuss articles in a large group.  Challenge:  really work to bring it back to the text by using relevant quotes from the nonfiction text and from pp.2010-207 in the novel.
• Symbolism:  Names and Motifs
  • Review symbolism definition
  • COLLABORATE with other student to complete symbolism chart in small groups
  • HW Check
  • Make connections to the text.  Use relevant quotes. 
  • Return to large group to presnt out.
    • Some potential ideas:  LJ's connection to the Oxbow Incident
    • LJ's comment on religious symbolism.
• Ticket to Leave (FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT)
  • Write down one significant symbol that you learned about today and explain its relevance

Tonight's HW:

• Finish college project, which will be scored according to the school-wide rubric.  (Does anyone need that book?)
• Bring in outside reading book.
• Print section 10 of official SAT practice test:  https://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.org/SR/digital_assets/assessment/pdf/0833A611-0A43-10C2-0148-CC8C0087FB06-F.pdf
  • Don't worry about doing it - we'll focus on it tomorrow.
• For Monday, read and annotate ch. 20-22.  Focus on the closing arguments of the trial.

Day 144:  Wednesday, May 8, 2013

PERIOD 2:

• See agenda from 5/7 for period 6

PERIOD 6:

• Read and work with JTV

Tonight's HW:

• All classes:  significant annotations on ch. 17-19, focus on symbolism (names, elements, etc.)

Day 143:  Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Potential visitors
• Retrun As I Lay Dying book
• SAT registration - deadline is 11:59 PM tonight!

PERIOD 2:

Today's Goals:

• To review in-context vocabulary.
• To reflect on Atticus Finch's advice and apply it to our own experiences.
• To discuss the significance of Mrs. Dubose's character. 
• To analyze plot and character development.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context Vocabulary
• Journal and Discussion
  • Free write on this quote:  "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.  It's when you you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what."
• Small Groups:  Complete Morphine handout
• Large Group:  Discuss Morphine handout and other itms from last night's annotations
• Ticket to Leave

Tonight's PERIOD 2 HW:

• Read and respond to chapters 14-16
• Due Thursday:  Significant annotations on chapters 17-19, focsusing on symbolism.
• Due Friday:  College project; +10 points for anyone who presents on this day

PERIOD 6:

Today's Goals:

• To review in-context vocabulary.
• To identify and analzye the rising action.
• To analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary.
• Review literary term - rising action
• Reread pp.201-207 aloud
• In small groups, complete rising action graphic organizer
• Discuss rising action
• Ticket to leave:  What is the significance, structurally, of the rising action?

Tonight's PERIOD 6 HW:

• Due Thursday:  significant annotations on chapters 17-19, focusing on symbolism
• Due Friday:  college project, +10 points for anyone who presents on this day

Day 142:  Monday, May 6, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Potential visitors
• As I Lay Dying video festival - when to do it?
• SAT registration

PERIOD 2:

Today's Goals:

• To follow Atticus and Scouts' dynamic relatioship.
• To analyze what Scouts' narrative voice and perspective bring to the novel.
• To analyze the significance of foreshadowing.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit video project
• In-context vocabulary
• Journal and discussion:  Scout's perspective and voice re: relationship with Atticus
• Wrap-up Discussion and Ticket to Leave

Tonight's HW (PERIOD 2):

• Read and respond to chapters 10-13.
• Due Friday: College project (+10 points for people who are ready to present on that day)

PERIOD 6:

Today's Goals:

• To review in-context vocabulary.
• To reflect on Atticus Finch's advice and apply it to our own experiences.
• To discuss the significance of Mrs. Dubose's character. 
• To analyze plot and character development.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context Vocabulary
• Journal and Discussion
  • Free write on this quote:  "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.  It's when you you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what."
• Small Groups:  Complete Morphine handout
• Large Group:  Discuss Morphine handout and other itms from last night's annotations
• Ticket to Leave

Tonight's HW (PERIOD 6):

• Read and respond to chapters 14-16
• Due Friday:  College project (+10 points for people who are ready to present on that day)

On tap for next week:

• Monday, 5/6:  Period 2:  review ch. 7-9, consider Scout's perspective, Period 6:  review ch. 10-13, discuss nonfiction informational text about addiction
• Tuesday, 5/7:  Period 2:  review ch. 10-13, discuss nonfiction informational text about addiction, Period 6:  review ch. 14-16, discuss rising action of the story
• Wednesday, 5/8:  Period 2:  review ch. 14-16, discuss rising action of the story, Period 6:  active reading skills, supplemental texts, discusion
• Thursday, 5/9:  review ch. 17-19, discuss nonfiction informational texts about lynching, HW:  print PDF of next section of practice test, finish college presentation
• Friday, 5/10:  first day of college presentations, SAT skills, outside reading

Day 141:  Friday, May 3, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Get a good night's sleep before the SAT!
• Register for the SAT - deadline extended - Tuesday
• Get video projects in by Monday

Today's Goals:

• To review material and strategeis for tomorrow's SAT.

Today's Agenda:

• Review grammar topic 27 from last week
• Review SAT practice sections 3 and 5 from last night (official College Board practice test)
• Complete some guided SAT questions
• Review final SAT tips.
• Outside reading time

Tonight's HW:

• As I Lay Dyingproject due on Monday
• Additionally, complete the following reading assignments:
  • Period 2:  Read and annotate chapters 7-9
  • Period 6:  Read and annotate chapters 10-13

Day 140:  Thursday, May 2, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• iStudent
• SAT registration (Thursday deadline)
• Portfolio reflection - hand it in if you didn't do so already

PERIOD 2:  SEE PERIOD 6 FROM YESTERDAY

Period 6:

Today's Period 6 Goals:

• To follow Atticus and Scout's dynamic father-daughter relationship.
• To analyze what Scout's narrative voice and perspective bring to the novel.
• To analyze the significance and foreshadowing of what she finds out about the Tom Robinson trial.

Today's Period 6 Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary
• Journal:  Scout's perspective on Atticus as a dad 
• Perspective and Voice
• Wrap up disucssion and Ticket to Leave

TONIGHT'S HW (ALL CLASSES):

• Complete sections 3 and 5 of the SAT practice test at this link:
• https://satonlinecourse.collegeboard.org/SR/digital_assets/assessment/pdf/0833A611-0A43-10C2-0148-CC8C0087FB06-F.pdf
• If that link does not work, navigate to the practice test via this website:
• http://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test

Day 139:  Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• iStudent
• SAT registration (Thursday deadline)
• Portfolio reflection - hand it in if you didn't do so already

PERIOD 2:  ASSEMBLY

Period 6:

Today's Goals:

• To analyze Atticus Finch as a father. 
• To analyze the imagery used to describe Boo Radley.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary
• Journal and Discussion
• Small groups:  Imagery re:  Boo Radley
• Discussion and Ticket Out

Tonight's Period 6 HW:

• Read and respond to ch. 7-9.

Day 138:  Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• iStudent
• SAT registration (Thursday deadline)
• Portfolio reflection - hand it in if you didn't do so already
• Assembly tomorrow

Today's Goals:

• To make inferences about characters in To Kill a Mockingbirdand to analyze what we know via indirect characterization.
• To figure out the meaning of vocabulary words in context.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary - chapters 1 and 2
• Small Groups - complete characterization handout for your assigned character
• Circle discussion
• Ticket out the cdoor - write one things you know about your character via indirect characterization.

Tonight's HW:

• Read chapters 4-6.  Annotate or write a response.

Day 137:  Monday, April 29, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• iStudent
• SAT registration (Thursday deadline)
• Portfolio reflection - hand it in if you didn't do so already

Today's Goal:

• To anticipate the themes of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Today's Agenda:

• A little background on Harper Lee
• Anticipation Guide - on your own
• Discuss anticipation guide in small groups
• Circle discussion - discuss anticipation guide in large group
• Begin reading

Today's HW:

• Read chapters 1-3.  Annotate as you go.
• Due Monday, 5/6 - As I Lay Dying project
• Due Friday, 5/10 - college project

Day 136:  Friday, April 26, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Check iStudent for up-to-date grade info
• See me with questions
• Check email
• Sign up for June SAT

Today's Goals:

• Analyze a work of Southern Gothic literature.
• Read!
• Work on Standard English conventions.
• Reflect on our best work.

Today's Agenda:

• Wrap up Discussion:  "Revelation"
  • Connection to Faulkner?
  • Is the work racist?
• Outside Reading (period 2 only)
• Grammar
  • Small Group - review topic 26
  • Large group - review topic 26
• Portfolio Reflection

Tonight's HW:

• As I Lay Dying project (due Monday, 5/6)
• College project (due Friday, 5/10)

Day 135:  Thursday, April 25, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Check iStudent for up-to-date grade info
• See me with questions
• Check email
• Sign up for June SAT

Today's Goals:

• To assess what makes good writing.
• To use O'Connor's writing as a mentor text to potentially create a college essay.
• To analyze some Southern Gothic literature (primary goal).

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Jounal - Flannery O'Connor once said she writes "because she's good at it."  What makes O'Connor so good as a writer?  Use particular evidence from teh text.
• Small Groups:
  • HW Check
  • Complete "Revelation" discussion questions
  • Share journal
  • Work on project
• Circle Discussion - Make it all about the text!

Tonight's HW:

• Complete next two topics in grammar book (topics 26 and 27)
• Bring in outside reading book
• Bring in binder to complete reflection

Day 134:  Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Check iStudent for up-to-date grade info
• See me with questions
• Check email
• Sign up for June SAT

Today's Goals:

• To COLLABORATE on our video project.
• To use Welty's text as a mentor text to potentially create a college essay.
• To analyze Southern Gothic writing.

Today's Agenda:

• Get in groups to touch base on As I Lay Dying video project
• Share and submit your "unique family" story
• Return to yesterday's discussion of "Why I Live at the P.O."
• Read aloud and discuss the first five pages of "Revelation."  Use guided discussion questions.  Focus on idirect characterization of Mrs. Turpin.

Tonight's HW:

• Finish reading and annotating "Revelation"

Day 133:  Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Check iStudent for up-to-date grade info
• See me with questions
• Check email
• Sign up for June SAT

Today's Goals:

• To connect the themes of Welty's photography to the themes of her writing.
• To analyze the effect of perspective.
• To analyze a work that belongs to the Southern Gothic genre.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Journal on photos (download PPT here)
• With a partner, go over letter questions
• Small groups:  P.O. discussion questions
• Discussion in circle

Today's Homework:

• Write a draft of your own "unique family" sotry - a personal narrative.

Day 132:  Monday, April 22, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• How were the college visits?
• Register for June SAT

Today's Goals:

• Learn about Southern Gothic literature.
• Read and annotate a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Journal about "American Gothic"
• Southern Gothic literature background (Download PPT notes here.)
• "Why I Live at the P.O." - read in circle
  • Read aloud and annotate first two pages of story.  Discuss family dynamic.  Two areas of focus:  How does this reflect universal family dynamics and how does this represent a prodigal child story?
• If time allows, collaborate with your group on your video project.

Tonight's HW:

• Finish reading "Why I Live at the P.O."
• Write a letter (one page) from the perspective of one of the characters to Sister.
• Ongoing:  Work on As I Lay Dying project and college project.

Day 131:  Friday, April 12, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Have a great vacation!
• Hand in make-up work today
• Email me revisions over break.

Today's Goals:

• To go over some grammar and teh exam.
• To review expectations for two upcoming projects.

Today's Agenda:

• Outisde reading
• Share and submit As I Lay Dying essays
• Grammar work - small group review tpoic s24 and 25, large group review
• Hand back exam
• Review rubric and expectations for As I Lay Dying project and college project.
• Check out a sample of the college project here.
• Check out a sample of the As I Lay Dying project here.

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on one of the two projects.
• Try to visit a college.

Day 130:  Thursday, April 11, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Make-up work should be in by tomorrow
• Revisions can be emailed to me over break
• SAT deadline - April 19 (with $23 late fee)
• AP group - meets this Thursday!

Today's Goals:

• To summatively assess the skills we practiced during quarter 3.

Today's Agenda:

• Quarter 3 Exam

Tonight's Homework:

• As I Lay Dying essay assignment (essentially the subjective component of your exam - do your best work!)

Day 129:  Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• GSA Day of Silence and Dialogue
• Hand back work (Ethan Frome essays)
• SAT deadline - April 19 (with $23 late fee)
• AP group - meets this Thursday!

Today's Goals:

• To examine Faulkner's Nobel Prize speech by performing a close reading of this nonfiction informational text.
• To discuss "How to Read and Why."
• To determine meaning of vocabulary words in context.
• To review for our exam.

Today's Agneda:

• Do Now:  Read and annotate Faulkner's Nobel Prize acceptance speech; discuss talking poitns
• Small Groups:  discuss talking points of How to Read and Why, complete As I Lay Dying final review sheets, HW check
• Discuss "How to Read and Why," go over review sheets, Mr. Ambrose does As I Lay Dying rap
• Final Exam review format
  • vocab (past quizzes, on the web)
  • grammar (yellow book)
  • Hamlet - Act 5 (monologue or dialogue)
  • Ethan Frome (questions from past test, focus on prologue)
  • As I Lay Dying (review materials, focus on Darl's monologue)
• Study for exam or touch base on essay in small groups

Tonight's HW:

• Prepare for Thursday's exam.
• For Friday: As I Lay Dying essay, make-up work, revisions.

Day 128:  Monday, April 8, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• permission form for Globe winners
• SAT deadline - April 19 (with late fee)
• AP Group - Thursday

Today's Goals:

• Journal and Discussion:  Cash's quote on p. 233
  • make connections - text to text, text to world, text to self
• Small Groups:  Complete 7 questions re:  ch. 40-59 and discuss other talking points; also, HW check
• Circle Discussion

Tonight's HW:

• For Wed: Read, annotate, and respond to excerpt from How to Read and Why
• For Thurs: Prepare for quarterly exam
• For Fri: As I Lay Dying essay, as well as all make-up work and revisions

Day 127:  Friday, April 5, 2013

• Vocabulary Quiz 6
• Grammar topics 24 and 25
• Outside reading (or reading As I Lay Dying)

Weekend HW:

• Finish reading and annotating the book.
• Exam on Thursday, 4/11
• Essay due on Friday, 4/12

Day 126:  Thursday, April 4, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose
• SAT deadline - April 5
• AP group - Thursday
• Quarterly exam - Thursday, April 11

Today's Goals:

• Analyze the significance of Faulkner's choice of names.
• Analyze plot and character development.
• Work on essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read and discuss etymology article
• Small Groups:  discuss reading, ID talking points
• Circle Discussion
• Work on Essay

Tonight's Homework:

• Study for vocab quiz.
• Bring in grammar book and outside reading book.

Day 125:  Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose
• SAT deadline - April 5
• AP group - Thursday
• Quarterly exam - Thursday, April 11

Today's Goals:

• Perform a close redaing of Addie's monologue, incorporating discussion of tone, voice, irony, and textual evidence.
• Brainstorm three talking points for your Faulkner essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Turn and talk - about Addie's monologue
• Circle discussion - talking points on Addie's monologue
• Review essay expectations and rubric
• Small group:  Work on essay

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annotate ch. 46-52. 
• Work on essay (due Friday, 4/12)

Day 124:  Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose
• SAT deadline - April 5
• AP group - Thursday

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words as they are used in the text.
• RL.11-12.3 Analyze impact of author's choices (re: dark humor).
• Make connections between narratives to explain influence of an author.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  ch. 20-39 in-context vocabulary
• Review dark humor handout
• View clippage (Little Miss Sunshine)
• Complete connection questions
• Discuss (connections to As I Lay Dying, HW)
• Small Group:  Brainstorm ideas for essays and connections

Tonight's HW:

• Read ch. 40-45.  Write a response to Addie's monologue (ch. 40) - perform a close reading.  Challenge:  use three quotes from the text.

Day 123:  Monday, April 1, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose
• SAT deadline - April 5
• AP group - Thursday

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.1 State concrete evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• RL.11-12.3 Analyze why an author would structure a text this way.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  6 focus questions (ch. 20-39) on your own
• Review format of the Last Word (do question 1 as a model)
• Last Word in small groups
• HW Check
• Large Circle Discussion

Tonight's HW:

• Select 3 works that are somehow inspired by As I Lay Dying.  Write a paragraph about each.

Day 122:  Thursday, March 28, 2013

Today's Goals:

• L.11-12.1:  Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read and discuss New York Times grammar article
• Small groups:  Review grammar topics, check HW
• School House Rock - Adverbs and Adjectives
• Outside Reading

Tonight's HW:

• Read ch. 33-39.  Annotate your text!
• Here are some potential guiding questions:
  • Anse Bundren may be one of the most feckless characters in literature, but why do you think his neighbors repeatedly come to his aid?  Is it out of pity, guilt, charity, community, or is Anse really that good at manipulation?
  • Faulkner allows Darl and Vardaman to express themselves in language that would be impossible given their lack of education and experience in teh world.  Why does Faulkner break with the realistic representation of character in this way?
  • Which are the most sympathetic voices in the novel?  Discuss which characters you most and least identify with.
  • What does Darl's tale of how Jewel bought his first horse reveal about Jewel's pesonality and his relationship with his family?
  • What does the novel reveal about the ways in which human beings deal with death, grieving, and letting go of loved ones?
  • Is Tull and Jewel's serach in the river for Cash's tools an act of love or obligation?

Day 121:  Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.1:  Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences.
• RL.11-12.3:  Why would an author choose to structure a book this way?

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  ch. 20-32 questions.
• Small Groups:  practice last word discussion
• Last Word discussion in large group
• Hand in your questions sheet for formative assessment

Tonight's Homework:

• Complete exercises for topics 22-23 in grammar book.  Bring in outside reading book.

Day 120:  Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose
• AP Group - today and Thursday
• Sign up for SAT

Today's Goals:

• Learn about sublimation and apply to the text.
• Make inferences about the text and support them.
• Begin to take a psychoanalytical approach to literature.

Today's Agenda:

• Sublimation - review and discuss handout
• Journal and Discussion - how do you use sublimation?
• Discuss ch. 20-25 (HW check)
• Read ch. 26-28 aloud, discuss how we make inferences; support with evidence to explain what the text says explicitly and what it implies
• Circle discussion

Tonight's HW:

• Read ch. 29-32.  Use active reading strategies.

Day 119:  Monday, March 25, 2013

Today's Goals:

• Determine meaning of words in context. 
• Analyze plot and character development.
• Analyze author's choices regarding how to structure a story.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  In-context vocab, ch.1-19
• Small groups - answer 6 questions about 1-19, ID talking points, HW check
• Circle discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Read chapters 20-25.
• Write some sort of active reading response.

Day 118:  Friday, March 22, 2013

Today's Goals:

• L.11-12.1 Demonstrate command of standard English grammar and usage.

Today's Agenda:

• Period 2
  • Small groups:  Review your answers to grammar topics 20-21
  • Large group - review topics 20-21
  • Outside Reading
• Period 6
  • Review HW (SAT 2007 qwizdom 3)
  • Small groups:  complete grammar topics 20-21
  • Review grammar
  • Ouside Reading

Tonight's HW:

• Read As I Lay Dying ch. 13-19.  Annotate.  Write a brief response (paragraph or bullet points based on your annotations).  This will guide our discussion on Monday.

Day 117:  Thursday, March 21, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.1:  Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• RL.11-12.3:  Analyze the impact of author's choices regarding how to develop the story.
• Get a sense of what a real college lecture is like.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read, highlight, and annotate parts 1 adn 2 of the Faulkner college lecture.  Discuss takeaway points.
• Small Groups:  Review questions from last night's homework (and homework check).  ID talking points to discuss in large group.
• Circle Discussion:  Large group discussion of student-generated talking points.

Tonight's Homework:

• Period 2:  Complete exercises in topics 20 and 21 in the yellow grammar book.
• Period 6:  Complete the grammar exercises in this PowerPoint.  Write a brief explanation about why your answer is correct.

Day 116:  Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.1:  Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• RL.11-12.3:  Analyze the impact of author's choices regarding how to develop the story.

Today's Agenda:

• General questions that you had about last night's reading
• Small groups:  HW check, review discussion questions (ch. 1-6), ID talking points for large discussion
• Circle discussion: raise student talking points from small groups, based on annotations and ch. 1-6 discussion questions
• Bonus time:  Read ch. 7 and work on making inferences

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annotate ch. 7-12 in As I Lay Dying.
• Complete these discussion questions.

Day 115: Monday, March 18, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly, as well as inferences drawn from the text.
• RL.11-12.3: Analyze the impact of author's choices regarding how to develop the story.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit HW
• Journal and Discussion: Think about a book you have read or a movie that you have scene that using multiple narrative perspective (Vantage Point, any Jodi Picoult book). Write about what the narrative perspective adds to the story.
• Notes on As I Lay Dying
• Read and discuss chapter 1 - make inferences!

Tonight's Homework:

• Read and annotate chapters 2-6.
• Answer discussion questions.

Day 114:  Friday, March 15, 2013

PERIOD 2

Today's Goal: 

• Language strand and writing strand - Revise writing for style and grammar - ID errors

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit essays; submit Ethan Frome books
• Collaborate on questions from SAT Qwizdom PPT 3- get in your group to decide each answer and write down your answer
• Review items on board - diagram sentence errors, find trends, etc.
• Formative assessment: As you go, hand in a slip of paper that records your score - Who did the best?

PERIOD 6

Period 6 will meet in cafeteria 3 today, as Mr. Ambrose has to attend the MCAS assembly.

THIS WEEKEND'S HOMEWORK (ALL CLASSES):

25 minute SAT essay:

Today's Goal:

• To work on five elements of our writing that will be assessed with the essay rubric.

Today's Agenda:

• Battle Stations
  • Thesis
  • Evidence
  • Primary Source
  • Secondary Source
  • Vocabulary

Tonight's Homework:

• Due Thursday: Typed draft of essay in MLA format
• Due Friday:  Final essay due

Day 111:  Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Today's Goal:

• Summative Assessment:  To assess our understanding of literary elements of Ethan Frome.

Today's Agenda:

• Ethan Frome test

Tonight's Homework:

• Due Wednesday:  Bring in what you have for your essay so far.
• Due Thursday:  Typed draft of essay ni MLA format.
• Due Friday:  Final draft of essay.

Day 110:  Monday, March 11, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose - follow me on Twitter!
• Writing contest entries for the SU contest must be in by today
• Send work to mhsmatra@gmail.comfor extra credit
• Donations for the school supply/clothing drive for Haiti must be in by today
• AP group - meeting Thursday during lunch; come with a draft of your Virginia Woolf "Shakespeare's Sister" analysis essay

Today's Goal: 

• To work on our Ethan Frome literary criticism essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Review for Frome test
• Review Frome essay rubric
• To the library computer lab to work on essay!
  • Encourage students to use Google Scholar
  • Have students submit writing contest entries
  • Have students show me SAT practice essay to score according to SAT rubric

Tonight's Homework:

• Ethan Frome test - tomorrow, Tuesday, 3.12.13
• Ethan Frome essay - 2 secondary sources, 3 pages, MLA format - due Friday, 3.15.13

Day 109: Thursday, March 7, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose - follow me!
• Writing contest deadline - Friday
• mhsmantra@gmail.com
• Haitian school clothing/school supplies drive
• AP group - today!

Today's Goal:

• To analyze and discuss literary elements:  plot, theme, characterization, foreshadowing, diction, structure, etc.

Today's Agenda:

• Frome vocabulary words of the day
  • resolute
  • ingratiate
  • affable
  • desolate
  • destitute
• Do Now:  Mirrors and Windows
• Circle Discussion - use these talking points.
• Small Groups:  finish graphic organizer from yesterday and HW check

Tonight's HW:

• 25 min SAT practice essay: 

  • Many people think that success is impossible without help and support from others. They believe that even the strongest and most successful leaders need advisers to define their goals, and followers to carry out their plans. Real success, however, cannot be claimed by those who need others to solve their problems and help them confront obstacles. Only those whose accomplishments are truly their own can claim to be successful.

    Assignment: Is real success achieved only by people who accomplish goals and solve problems on their own? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

• Bring in outside reading book

Day 108:  Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose - follow me!
• Writing contest deadline - Friday
• mhsmantra@gmail.com
• Haitian school clothing/school supplies drive
• AP group - Thursday

Today's Goal:

• To analyze symbolism in a modern novel.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocabulary quiz
• Discussion:  chapters 7 and 8
• Introduce allegory (Ethan = Edith, Zeena = Teddy, etc.)
• Small groups: Symbolism graphic organizer (most of our time will be spent on this task)
• Wrap up - share some of the symbolism insight

Tonight's Homework:

• Read chapter 9 and the epilogue.
• Annotate with a focus. 
• Here are some suggestions to focus on:
• 1. How is Zeena’s reactioin to Mattie’s departure a contrast to Ethan’s?
  2. Comment on the irony of Ethan’s defiance of her command to stay home and let Jotham drive Mattie to the station.
  3. Why does suicide seem logical?  Is this decision a solution or a “cop out”?
  4. How is the reader surprised by the epilogue?
  5. How does the Narrator deal with the story at the end of the epilogue?

Day 107:  Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• @misterambrose - follow me!
• Writing contest deadline - Friday
• mhsmantra@gmail.com
• Haitian school clothing/school supplies drive
• AP group - Thursday

Today's Goals:

• To create a stream-of-consciousness monologue from Ethan's perspective.
• To analyze literary elements of Ethan Frome.

Today's Agenda:

• Words of the Day
• Hamlet Video Festival Part 2
• Small Groups:
  • RAFT
    • Role: Ethan's conflicting personalities
    • Audience: our class
    • Format: Rap/poem/dialogue
    • Topic: his passion for Mattie, his obligation to Zeena
  • Discussion
• Present Out and Discuss

Tonight's Homework:

• Read and annotate chapters 7 and 8 of Ethan Frome. 
• Prepare for vocabulary quiz.  Here are the words:  taciturn, capitulate, repugnant, querulous, vex, dormant, plaintive, credulous, feign, insatiable

Day 106:  Monday, March 4, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To analyze the dynamics of the Frome marriage.
• To analyze literary elements of Frome.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocabulary
• Journal and discussion
• Small groups and HW check
• Dr. Phil
• Circle discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Read chapters 5 and 6.  Annotate with sticky notes.  Focus:  difference between Ethan and Mattie, and their relationship's development.

Day 105:  Friday, March 1, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Writing contests
• Practice SAT
• Send work to Mantra
• AP lunch group tomorrow
• Portfolio work

Today's Goals:

• To synthesize our knowledge of Hamlet into a multimedia project.

Today's Agenda:

• Come up with criteria for judging videos
• Presentations - HAMLET VIDEO FESTIVAL
• Write what you liked about each, rate top 3
• Announce the winner
• Collect Hamlet books

This weekend's HW:

• Read chapter 4 of Ethan Frome.  Annotate with sticky notes, with a focus on literary elements - plot, theme, indirect and direct characterization, metaphor and symbolism, foreshadowing, tone, diction

Day 104:  Thursday, February 28, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Writing contests
• Practice SAT
• Send work to Mantra
• AP lunch group tomorrow
• Portfolio work

Today's Goals:

• To examine what we learn about characters via indirect characterization.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary
  • dormant
  • plantive
  • credulous
  • repugnant
  • scintillating
• Discussion
  • questions about chapter 3
  • discuss HW
• Small groups
  • Quote analysis
  • Facebook
• Wrap up discussion

Tonight's HW:

• Due Friday:  Hamlet video
• Due Monday:  Read chapter 4.  Mark up with sticky notes, focusing on literary elements.

Day 103:  Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Writing contests
• Practice SAT
• Send work to Mantra
• AP lunch group tomorrow
• Portfolio work

Today's Goals:

• To examine how the prologue sets a tone and forewshadows events.
• To analyze plot and characterization.

Today's Agenda:

• In-context vocabulary
• Discuss prologue in circle
• Discuss chapters 1 and 2 in circle
• Role-play
• Small groups:  Characterization (and HW check)

Tonight's Homework:

• Read chapter 3.  Write a two paragraph analysis of your charcter, using at least two quotes in MLA format.
• Due Friday:  Hamlet video.

Day 102:  Tuesday, February 26, 2013

• Read chapters 1 and 2
• Complete vocabulary and analysis questions on chapters 1 and 2

Day 101:  Monday, February 25, 2013

Today's Announcements:

• Return Hamlet book Friday 3/1
• Sign up for practice SAT - Saturday 3/2 - $10
• Writing contest - all genres - deadline 3/15
• Writing contest - poetry genre - deadline 3/18

Today's Goals:

• To introduce five major themes of Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome.

Today's Agenda:

• Distribute personalized feedback and portfolio reflection.
• Five Theme Activities:
  • Conflicts exist between persaonl and group obligations.
  • How much control do we have over our choices?
  • Why do some consider suicide a solution?
  • People need people.
  • How do we know what is true or real?

Tonight's HW:

• Due tomorrow:  Read the PROLOGUE of Ethan Frome.  Answer the following questions:
  • What does the name "Starkfield" suggest about the setting? 
  • What is the stereotype of an engineer?  How is the narrator/engineer atypical of this stereotype?
  • What is significant about hte missing "L"-structure on the farm?
  • What places do Herman Gow and Mrs. Ned Hale occupy in the story?  (Said another way, What role do they play?)

Go to www.artandwriting.org for info on the Globe writing contest! 

Day 100:  Friday, February 15, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To assess our understanding of recent vocabulary words.
• To reflect on our best work from quarter 2.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocab Quiz 5 (and course recs)
• Reflect on our 3 best pieces of work (and submit portfolio reflection)
• Outside reading time
• Review/correct quiz
• SAT Qwizdom 1

Homework:

• Work on Hamlet video (due March 1)

After break:

• Intro Ethan Frome

Day 99: Thursday, February 14, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To brainstorm and plan a vision for your Hamlet video.
• To begin writing a script/making a storyboard.

Today's Agenda:

• Review project expectations
• Work in small groups to brainstorm
• Wrap-up

Tonight's Homework:

• Study for vocabulary quiz
• Bring in outside reading book and binder
• Work on Hamlet video (due March 1)

Day 98:  Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To examine a sample Hamlet video and to review expectations for Hamlet video project.

Today's Agenda:

• Share topics and submit essays
• Watch Reduced Shakespeare video
• Review rubric for video project

Tonight's HW:

• Video project due Friday after break.
• Vocab quiz this Friday.

On tap for Monday:

• share, discuss, and submit Hamlet essays
• review Hamlet video assignment
• watch Reduced Shakespeare

Day 97:  Thursday, February 7, 2013

TO THE COMPUTER LAB!

Today's Goals:

• To incorporate secondary sources (literary criticism and biography).
• To apply a critical lens (Feminism, Marxism, Freudian Psychoanalysis).

Today's Agenda:

• Work on essay
• Gather sources
• Apply lens to brainstorming
• Make sure everything is in MLA format - use Purdue OWL and guide students to achieve this

Today's Homework:

• Work on Hamlet essay (due Monday 2.11.2013)

Download primer for today's literary criticism focus here.

Day 96:  Wednesday, February 6, 2013

TO THE COMPUTER LAB!

Today's Goals:

• To incorporate secondary sources (literary criticism and biography).
• To apply a critical lens (Feminism, Marxism, Freudian Psychoanalysis).

Today's Agenda:

• Work on essay
• Gather sources
• Apply lens to brainstorming

Today's Homework:

• Work on Hamlet essay (due Monday 2.11.2013)

Day 95:  Tuesday, February 5, 2013

TO THE COMPUTER LAB!

Today's Goals:

• To learn about various critical approaches to literature.
• To attempt to apply one of these approaches and begin to write our essay.

Today's Agenda:

• A Primer:  Critical Approaches to Literature
  • Present to students and discuss how they could a critical lens to write their essay.
• To the computer lab to work on Hamlet essays - start writing the essay and try to impose one of the critical lenses

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on Hamlet essay - due Monday, 2/11/2013.
• Email yourself anything you want to work on in the lab.

Day 94:  Monday, February 4, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To examine a mentor text that could potentially be used as a secondary source.
• To leave class with a working outline.

Today's Agenda:

• Discuss Hamlet Brainstorming Ideas (in circle)
• Discuss "Inferring Hamlet" (in circle)
  • Focus:  How can we model our writing after Bloom's?  What are some relevant ideas that Bloom shares that we have questions about?
• Small Groups:  COLLABORATE to create an outline for your essay (+HW check on recent HW)

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on Hamlet essay - due Friday, 2.11.2013.
• Email yourself anything that you want to work on in the computer lab tomorrow.

Day 93:  Friday, February 1, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To practice some reading and writing skills for the SAT.

Today's Agenda:

• Mrs. Donlon visits class to talk about Psychology class
• Hand back midterms and review
• Do Now:  Free Write
  • Brainstorm, plan, and write intro for prompt 3 from May 2011 SAT prompts.
• SAT Qwizdom - first half of session 1.
• Outside Reading Time

This Weekend's Homework:

• Read, highlight, and annotate chapter 1 of Bloom's Poem Unlimited (chapter title:  "Inferring Hamlet")

Day 92:  Thursday, January 31, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To have an academic discussion about Hamlet, asserting opinions and supporting with textual evidence.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit any missing work
• Do Now:  Review talking points that you identified from homework
• Discussion - download Qwizdom discussion questions here.
• Review Hamlet character analysis essay assignment.

Tonight's Homework:

• Brainstorm ideas for Hamlet essay

Day 91:  Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Today's Goal:

• RL.11-12.7:  Analyze an interpretation of a source text on film.

Today's Agenda:

• Hamlet Act 5 on Film
• Complete Guided Viewing Sheet.
• Discuss.

Tonight's Homework:

• Make up and revisions due tomorrow.
• Be ready to hand in Hamlet log for quiz grade.

Day 90:  Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To analyze the role of the clown in Shakespeare's works.
• To analyze how Hamlet 5.1 sets up the play's dramatic resolution.

Today's Agenda:

• Role of the Clown - discuss
• Act 5.1 - act out and discuss 6 discussion questions.
• Character committees - get into groups to discuss your character's development (Ophelia group represents Hamlet now) or discuss as a large group to wrap up

Today's HW:

• Read Hamlet 5.2. Write in your logs.

Day 89:  Monday, January 28, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To familiarize ourselves with the Naviance program and to begin our exploration of colleges and careers.

Today's Agenda:

• Library Computer Lab with Ms. Horne and Ms. Davis

Tonight's Homework:

• Quarter 2 Book Review due tomorrow

Day 88:  Friday, January 25, 2013

• Period 2:  Present out on character committees
• Period 6:   Midterm exam
• HW:  See ongoing homework below

Day 87:  Thursday, January 24, 2013

• Period 2:  Midterm exam
• Period 6:  Present out on character committees
• HW:  See ongoing homework below

Day 86:  Wednesday, January 23, 2013 

• Character Committees in small groups
• Act 4 Log Check
• HW:  See ongoing homework below

Day 85:  Tuesday, January 22, 2013

• Act 4 on DVD with guided viewing questions
• Act 4 Discussion
• HW:  See ongoing homework below

Day 84:  Friday, January 18, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To assess how we are improving in the realm of "SAT style" writing.
• To review for midterm exam.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Outside Reading time
• SAT Essay scoring (with your same group from last week, see how they did with the focus standards)
• Create a review guide - the best one gets 5 points on the midterm for all participants and will be photocopied and distributed to the class on Tuesday

Homework:

• Due Tuesday, 1.22.2013 - Act 4 log (with a focus on your particular character)
• Wednesday, 1.23.2013 - Friday, 1.25.2013 - Exam period
• Due Friday, 1.25.2013 - Hamlet film essay
• Due Tuesday, 1.29.2013 - Q2 book review
• Tuesday, 1.29-2013 - last day for any make-up work

Day 83:  Thursday, January 17, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.7 Analyze a film adaptation of a work.  Include one work by Shakespeare.

Today's Agenda:

• Review SAT essay prompt for HW
• Questions from Act 3 logs and submit
• Journal and Discussion:  Strategies you use when arguing with your parents
• Previewing 3.4 and questions
• Clippage 3.4 and discuss

Tonight's Homework:

• SAT essay prompt 2 - 25 minute writing.
• Here is the prompt:

  • People today seem to spend most of their free time being passively entertained: they just sit on the couch and watch movies or television or sporting events. This is mainly because they use up all their energy at work or at school. If they had more time and energy to devote to activities outside of work or school, you can be sure they would enjoy more creative and active pursuits during their free time.

    Assignment: If people worked less, would they be more creative and active during their free time? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

Day 82:  Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To analyze literary devices in monologues in Hamlet 3.2 and 3.3.

Today's Agenda:

• Questions from your log regarding Hamlet3.3
• Small Groups - ID at least 5 literary devices in your assigned soliloquy from 3.2 or 3.3.  Explain how they bring meaning to the text.
• Report Out

Homework:

• Due Thursday, 1.17.13:  Read Hamlet 3.4 and write in log
• Due Friday, 1.18.13:  Write 25 minute SAT essay on SAT Essay prompt 2
• Due Tuesday, 1.22.13 (period 2) or Thursday, 1.24.13 (period 6):  Prepare for midterm exam
• Due Friday, 1.25.13:  Hamlet film analysis essay (2-3 pages)
• Due Tuesday, 1.29.13:  Quarter 2 Book Review

Day 81:  Tuesday, Janury 15, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.7:  Analyze two or more interpretations of  work of literature on film.  (Include at least one work by Shakespeare.

Today's Agenda:

• Review our Mousetrap - discuss actinh choices, etc.
• Clippage - Branagh
• Clippage - Tennant
• Discuss Clippage
• Review Film Analysis Essay Expectations

Tonight's Homework:

• Due Thursday, 1.17.13 - Hamlet 3.4 Log
• Tuesday, 1.22.13 - Thursday, 1.24.13 - Exams
• Due Friday, 1.25.13 - Hamlet Film Review
• Due Tuesday, 1.29.13 - Q2 Book Review

Day 80:  Monday, January 14, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To act out the famous "Mousetrap" scene, with a particular focus on what it shows about Claudius and Hamlet's characters.

Today's Agenda:

• Access prior knowledge - talk about plot of 3.2
• Small groups
  • before the play (3.2.90-140)
  • the dumb show (stage direction at line 140)
  • Mousetrap (3.2.140-235
  • Claudius's reaction (3.2.235-280)
• Present out and explain

Tonight's homework:

• Make sure your logs are in order
• Start to review for exam (period 2 - Tuesday 1.22.13, period 6 - Thursday, 1.24.13)

Day 79:  Friday, January 11, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To work on writing (grammar and style) with an eye on the January SAT.

Today's Agenda:

• Small groups of 3 - score and comment on the SAT essay from last night's HW (and HW check)
• Share and discuss essay tips; ID a focus area that you will target for next week's essay
• SAT practice questions - complete test 3, section 6, numbers 1-11 in small groups; review with large group
• Outside reading time

This weekend's homework:

• Read Hamlet 3.3.  Write in your logs in the prescribed format.

Day 78:  Thursday, January 10, 2013

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.7:  Analyze multiple interpretations of a drama (a recorded production of a play).  Include at least one play by Shakespeare.

Today's Agenda:

• Period 6 only:  Review and submit your own soliloquy
• Questions re:  Hamlet 3.1 and 3.2
• Comparative Film Analysis (complete handout and keep in your log book for next week's log check)
• Discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Write for 25 minutes on prompt 1 from this handout of recent SAT essay prompts.
• If you cannot download the file, here is the prompt:
• Most of us tend to find rules, limits, and restraints irritating. We want to be free of anything that limits our choices. But limitations protect us. Without limitations on our behavior, too many of us will act without regard to the consequences for ourselves, for others, and for the future. Limitations contribute to, rather than take away from, our overall happiness.  Assignment: Do rules and limitations contribute to a person's happiness? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.
• Bring in outside reading book.

Day 77:  Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To cast our own production of the Mousetrap scene.

Today's Agenda:

• In small groups, complete create your own mousetrap activity.

Tonight's Homework:

• Write in your log for Hamlet 3.1.  This should be easy, as we've already read the scene.

Day 76:  Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To demonstrate how Hamlet's tone shifts if he becomes aware of the presence of Claudius and Polonius.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit HW (your own "To be or not to be")
• What is a nunnery?
• What's up with Ophelia? (Access prior knowledge about their relationship history.)
• 3 Small Groups:
  • Hamlet never knows he's being watched
  • Hamlet always knows he's being watched
  • Hamlet discovers he's being watched during the scene

Tonight's Homework:

• Read Hamlet 3.2.  Write in your logs.

Day 75:  Monday, January 7, 2013

Today's Goal:

• To provide a rhetorical analysis of Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soiloquy.

Today's Agenda:

• Clippage, journal, and discussion:  5 Hamlets doing "To be or not to be"
• Clippage, journal, and discussion:  Tenant doing "To be or not to be"
• Small Groups (and HW check):  Discuss homework, create a list of talking points regarding Hamlet's use of rhetoric in the soliloquy (with a focus on antithesis)
• Large Group:  Report out, discuss

Tonight's Homework:

• Write your own version of the "To be or not to be" soliloquy.

Day 74:  Friday, January 4, 2013

Today's Goals: 

• To assess our understanding of recent vocabulary words.
• To learn about the SAT essay and to practice writing this type of response.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocabulary Quiz 4
• SAT Essay PPT.
• Examine model essays.
• 25 minute writing on a topic.
• Exchange and score.  Comment.
• Outside reading (be sure to write down what book you are reading for Q2 book review)

This Weekend's Homework:

• Read Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy.
• Write a one-page rhetorical analysis, with a focus on antithesis.

Day 73:  Thursday, January 3, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To examine Hamlet's theme and rhetoric in his "O What a Rogue" soliloquy.

Today's Agenda:

• Questions from Act 2 logs and submit Act 2 logs
• Clippage to compare - note similarities and differences, discuss which version your prefer
• Tennant vs. Branagh doing the "O What a Rogue" soliloquy - note similiarites and differences, discuss which version you prefer
• Small Groups - answer analysis questions about soliloquy
• Large Group - review those questions

Tonight's Homework:

• Study for vocabulary quiz on ten most recent words
• Bring in the outside reading book you'll be writing about for your Q2 book review.

Day 72:  Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Today's Goals:

• To analyze Shakespeare's use of three classical language tricks:  double entendre, pun, and classical allusion.  WORDS WORDS WORDS!

Today's Agenda:

• Access Prior Knowledge:  What was Hamlet doing the last time we saw him?
• Define Terms:  double entendre, pun, classical allusion
• Guided Viewing 2.2:  View 2.2 on Branagh version of Hamlet as students read along (28 minutes).  Split students into 3 groups - each group is accountable for recording a different classical language trick as it appears.
• Small Groups:  Touch base with the other members of your group
• Large Group:  Share and discuss examples of the three classical laguage tricks.  Explain that the allusions foreshadow what Hamlet wants to do to Claudius, that the puns establish Hamlet's intellect, and that the double entendres establish Hamlet's relationship with his college friends.

Tonight's Homework:

• Finish writing in your log for act 2.  We'll check these for a quiz grade tomorrow.  Act 2 log should have the following entries:
  • 2.1
  • Exploring Polonius's Values
  • 2.2

Day 71:  Friday, December 21, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To review our performance on the PSAT.

Today's Agenda:

• Review PSAT sections 1 and 3
• Read "It's Not Easy Being Santa"
• Outside Reading

This Week's Homework:

• Do something nice for someone.
• Read something.
• Shovel for your family if it snows.
• Spend time with family and friends.

Day 70:  Thursday, December 20, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To explore Polonius's values.
• To understand how Hamlet is acting "antic" or "mad."

Today's Agenda:

• Questions from logs
• Small groups
• Polonius's values
• The newly mad Hamlet

Tonight's Homework:

• Bring in PSAT materials and outside reading book tomorrow.

Day 69:  Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To analyze a scene in two different mediums (RL.11-12.7).

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Previewing Question
• Submit Logs
• Video Clippge with Guided Viewing Questions
• Discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Read Hamlet 2.1.  Write in your logs in the prescribed format.

Day 68:  Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To closely examine Hamlet's language after his vist from the ghost.

Today's Agenda:

• Questions from the Log
• Performing the Ghost Scene
• Unfolding the Tale
• Whither Wilt Thou Lead Me?

Tonight's Homework:

• Due tomorrow:  Act 1 logs all complete and presentable for a quiz grade.
• Due Thursday:  Red Hamlet 2.1.  Write in you logs.

Day 67:  Monday, December 17, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To explore relationships in Polonius's family and compare these to relationships in the royal family.
• To explore language devices as a way of analyzing character.

Today's Agenda:

• Literary Term:  Foil
• Improvisations
• Family Relationships
• Quick Journal:  3 Things That Are Generic or Contradictory About Polonius's Advice
• Polonius's Language Cues

Tonight's Homework:

• Read Hamlet 1.4 and 1.5.  Write inyour logs.

Day 66:  Friday, December 14, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To assess our performance on the PSAT and to build ou vocabulary, reading comprehension, and grammar skills.

Today's Agenda:

• Explain scoring
• Strengths
• Things to improve
• Review section 5 - and explain your answers
• Outside reading

This weekend's homework:

• Read Hamlet 1.3.  Write in your logs.

Day 65:  Thursday, December 13, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To make Shakespeare's rich language tangible with quotes and illustrations.

Today's Agenda:

• Review HW (Hamlet's first soliloquy)
• Small Group Big Paper (and HW check)
• Present Out Big Paper

Tonight's Homework:

• List strengths and weaknesses based on PSAT.  Write bullet point self-assessment.
• Due Monday:  Read Hamlet 1.3.  Write in your log.

Day 64:  Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Today's Objectives: To examine how word choice of idiom or metaphor can suggest a speaker's attitudes or motives (RI.11-12.6).

Today's Agenda:

Questions from Logs

Getting the Politics Right

Close Reading of Claudius's Speech

• Royal "We"
• Antithesis/Oxymoron
• Understatement
• Word Choice
• Ethos
• Pathos
• Logos
• Other Ideas

Underlying Thoughts of Hamlet

Tonight's Homework:

• Close reading of Hamlet's soliloquy.
• Download handout for Hamlet's soliloquy here.

Day 63:  Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To establish the actor's approach.
• To establish the tone of Hamlet.

Today's Agenda:

• Questions from the log
• Read around
• Questions
• Deciding to play the ghost
• Setting the scene and acting

Tonight's Homework:

• Read Hamlet 1.2.
• Write in your logs in the prescribed format.
• Bring in canned good for food drive for extra credit.

Day 62:  Monday, December 10, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To establish the log assignment for our Hamlet unit.
• To write our first log entry and discuss.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit short story literry analysis essays
• Establish the log
• Model entries (with Talia Boos's examples)
• Respond to journal questions
• Sign out books

Tonight's Homework:

• Read Hamlet 1.1.
• Write in your logs.

Day 61:  Friday, December 7, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To assess the skills we built during our short story unit, predominantly the ability to analyze plot, theme, and character development.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit personal narrative assignment (with rubric)
• Short Story Unit Test
• Score SAT from previous weeks
• Outside reading

This Weekend's Homework:

• Critical Literary Analysis Essay on one of the short stories.  Shoot for 5-7 paragraphs (2-3 pages).  Submit with school-wide rubric on Monday.

On Tap for Monday:

• Introduction to Hamlet unit

Day 60:  Thursday, December 6, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To revise our personal narrative so it is suitable to eter the Globe contest.

Today's Agenda:

• Period 2:  16 students to Ms. Saulnier's class to assist with peer revision.
• Revise personal narrative
• Brainstorm talking points, outline, thesis, and evidence for critical analysis essay.

Tonight's Homework:

• For Friday:  Personal narrative, study for test.
• For Monday:  Analytical essay

Day 59:  Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To review material from our short story unit and to introduce an assignment for the weekend.

Today's Agenda:

• Test Review Game.
• Go over test short answer questions.
• Review literary analysis essay prompts.
• Review school-wide rubric for writing.

Homework:

• Due Friday:  Personal narrative - final draft submitted with rubric.
• Friday:  Short story test.
• Due Monday:  Literary analysis essay for one of the stories from the short story unit.

Day 58:  Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To analyze plot, theme, and character development in a short story.

Today's Agenda:

• Read "Awaiting Orders"
• College Analysis Questions.
• Book Club Discussion Questions.
• (all in a circle)

Homework:

• Due Friday:  Personal narrative - final draft submitted with rubric.
• Friday:  Short story test.
• Due Monday:  Literary analysis essay for one of the stories from the short story unit.

Day 57:  Monday, December 3, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To "slow down the moment" and include more detail in our writing.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read and discuss excerpt from On Writingin which Stephen King talks about revision 
• View and discuss the scene from Big Fishin which the character meets the love of his love.  How can we apply this type of thinking to our revision process?
• Discuss samples of slowed down moments in stories we have read so far.
• Peer revision and journaling time
• Mr. Ambrose shares "mentor text" - his memoir about his dad, titled "Little Big Man"

Homework:

• Due Friday:  Personal narrative - final draft submitted with rubric.
• Friday:  Short story test.
• Due Monday:  Literary analysis essay for one of the stories from the short story unit.

Day 56:  Friday, November 30, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To conduct an individual, personalized SAT diagnostic as formative assessment - to see if we should take the January SAT or a later test.

Today's Agenda:

• SAT test 1, sections 9 and 10
• Review answers
• Outside Reading

This Weekend's Homework:

• Write your own memoir in this format:  "With that in mind, I think I have become a ___________________ because of _________________ and - more specifically - because of ___________________.

Day 55:  Thursday, November 29, 2012

Today's Goals:

• To examine tone, characterization, and theme within John Irving's memoir, "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed."
• To begin to think about writing our own memoir in this style.

Today's Agenda:

• Literary Term:  Memoir
• Vocabulary:  Vexation, Aesthetic
• Opener:  Journal
• Six Groups
  • Tone:  comic
  • Tone:  nostalgic
  • Tone:  moralizing
  • Characterization:  Piggy Sneed
  • Characterization:  Grandmother
  • Theme:  What is the point of the story?
• Present Out
• Your Own Memoir

Tonight's Homework:

• Due tomorrow:  Bring in your outside reading book.
• Due Monday:  Write your own memoir in this format:  "With that in mind, I think I have become a ___________________ because of _________________ and - more specifically - because of ___________________.

Day 54:  Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Today's Goals:

• RL.11-12.5 Analyze the author's choices about how to structure a text to build suspense.
• RL.11-12.6 Analyze irony in a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit coming-of-age pieces
• Journal and discussion:  Can we all reform?
• Literary Term Review
  • Situational Irony
  • Self-fulfilling prophecy
  • Pygmalion effect
  • Phoenix
• Discuss story
• Self-fulfilling prophecy - read and discuss (and HW check - Freytag's pyramid)

Tonight's Homework:

• Read, highlight, and annotate "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed" by John Irving.

Day 53:  Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Today's Goal:

• To workshop our coming-of-age narrative.

Today's Agenda:

• Workshop coming-of-age narrative with Ms. Stevens. 
• Spend some time quietly adding to your narrative.
• Spend some time working with a peer editor to workshop your piece.  Add dialogue and vivid descriptions.  Consider the five stages of Freytag's Pyramid that we talked about yesterday.

Day 52:  Monday, November 26, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• How was your holiday?
• Globe contest - deadline Dec. 14
• Bulletin Board/Mantra

Today's Goals:

• To learn about Freytag's Pyramid and to apply the theory to a familiar narrative.
• To flesh out our coming-of-age narratives.

Today's Agenda:

• Freytag's Pyramid Notes.
• Complete Freytag's Pyramid Graphic Organizerfor a story or movie you know well
• Share organizers with large group; discuss
• Work on coming-of-age narrative

Tonight's Homework:

• Read and highlight "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry.  Complete Freytag's Pyramid Graphic Organizer.  List all elements that are ironic.

Day 51:  Wednesday, November 21, 2012

PERIOD 2:

See schedule for period 6 from yesterday.

PERIOD 6:

Almost pep rally time!

HOMEWORK FOR ALL CLASSES OVER THANKSGIVING:

SPEND TIME WITH YOU FAMILY.

Day 50:  Tuesday, November 20, 2012

PERIOD 2:

See schedule for period 6 from yesterday.

PERIOD 6:

Today's Objectives:

• To begin writing our own coming-of-age story.
• To analyze a coming-of-age story.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  journal free write on your own coming-of-age moment.
• Small Groups:
  • Review HW questions
  • Share coming-of-age journals
• Circle discussion of Creighton University questions and share topics for coming-of-age story

Day 49:  Monday, November 19, 2012

PERIOD 2:

Visit with author of The Zombie Autopsies.

PERIOD 6:

Today's Announcements:

• Questions re:  grade reports?
• Globe contest
• Work for the bulletin board

Today's Objectives:

• To share an original story in which a symbolic artifact acts as a motif.
• To examine a coming-of-age story.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Share artifact story with partner
• Share and submit stories
• Read "A & P"
• Answer 4 questions about "A & P"

Tonight's Homework:

• Answer collegiate-level questions.

Day 48:  Friday, November 16, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• Questions re:  grade reports?
• Parent-teacher conferences
• Globe contest
• Work for the bulletin board

Today's Objectives:

• RI.11-12.4:  Determine the meaning of words.
• L.11-12.1:  Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocabulary Quiz 3
• Outside Reading
• SAT test 1, section 6 in groups
• Review SAT test 1, section 6

This Weekend's Homework:

• Your own artifact story (500 words).

Day 47:  Thursday, November 15, 2012

Today's Objectives:

• To reflect on the work we have done throughout quarter 1.
• To begin to write a personal narrative that we could potentially use as a college essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Take out your three best pieces of work from your binder.  Write a paragraph reflection (what did you learn from the assignment, why does it represent your best work?)
• Partner up with a classmate to complete artifact exchange activity.
• Mr. Ambrose shares his artifact essay with the class
• Students share artifacts with the class

Homework:

• Study for vocab quiz.  Bring in outside reading book.
• Due Monday:  Your own artifact story (500 words)

Day 46:  Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• Grade reports will be distributed today.  See me with any questions.
• Parent-teacher conference night is tomorrow.

Today's Objective:

• RL.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of the text.
• RL.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Mirrors and Windows
• Small Groups:  Share Mirrors and Windows and review discussion questions (plus HW check from Mr. Ambrose)
• Introduce idea for artifact exchange by sharing Karina's Everyday Use piece
• Distribute grade reports

Tonight's Homework:

• Bring in an "artifact" that has a story to it.

Day 45:  Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• Who went to the play?  Write your name down to earn some extra credit.
• Grade print-outs tomorrow.
• Parent-teacher conference night on Thursday.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back quarter 1 work
• Share your own original "Girl" and submit
• Everyday Use quilt PowerPoint.
• Active Reading in Groups (using graphic organizer)

Tonight's Homework:

• Finish reading Everday Use and answer the six discussion questions.

Day 44:  Friday, November 9, 2012

Today's Objectives:

• To analyze the voice and perspective of Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl" and to create our own narratives to capture such a voice.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit "Snapshots" stories
• Review literary terms, access prior knowledge
  • allegory
  • metaphor
  • stream-of-consciousness
• Grabber, Journal, Discussion
  • "Just a Girl," No Doubt
  • "Stupid Girls," Pink
• Read Girl, Discuss
• Personal Response
• Author's Biography.
• Ticket Out the Door

This Weekend's Homework:

• Write your own version of Girl or Boy based on Mr. Ambrose's model piece.

Day 43:  Thursday, November 8, 2012

Today's Objective:

• To work on vocabulary and critical reading skills.

Today's Agenda:

• SAT Practice Test 3, Section 4

Day 42:  Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Today's Objective:

• To workshop our snapshot writing.

Today's Agenda:

• Think - Pair - Share
• Share findings with group
• Share Susie's Model Piece
• Revise independently
• Share your best pieces

Tonight's Homework:

• Polish that piece.  (Scroll down to Monday night to get links for images.)

Day 41:  Monday, November 5, 2012

Today's Objective:

• To compare snapshots to short stories.  To create our own narratives based on these snapshots.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back work
• Book review - expectations and due dates
• Snapshots
• What Writing Is
• Slideshow Writing

Tonight's Homework:

• Polish your narrative into a 1-2 page typed vignette.  Include your photo at the top of the Word document.

Here are the photo files so you can download them:

• 1 Man with Mud on His Face

• 2 African Boy Running

• 3 Woman with Hand Over Her Mouth

• 4 Brazilian Waterfall

• 5 Arguing Couple



• 6 Shoeshine Men

Day 40:  Friday, November 2, 2012

Today's Objective:

• To work on vocabulary and critical reading skills.

Today's Agenda:

• Globe contest - announce
• SAT Test 1, section 5
  • 1-12 on your own
  • 13-24 with a group
  • review
• Outside reading

This weekend's homework:

• Book review due Monday

Day 39:  Thursday, November 1, 2012

Today's Objective:

• To assess what we have learned during the first quarter.

Today's Agenda:

• Quarter 1 Exam

Day 38:  Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Today's Objective:

• To review for quarterly exam.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit rhetoricl analysis essay (political speeches)
• Jeopardy Review Game.
• Review Sheet.

Tonight's Homework:

• Prepare for quarterly exam.  (Use PowerPoint and Word document above to help you with this.)
• Book review due Monday.

Day 37:  Friday, October 26, 2012

Today's Objectives:

• To work on reading of informational texts and vocabulary skills (RI.11-12.1-6).

Today's Agenda:

• SAT Practice Test 1, section 2:  Critical Reading
  • 15 minutes:  work independently to complete #1-15; then read the Mona Lisa passages and write a statement of main idea for each
  • 15 minutes: get into small groups to complete #16-24 and to confirm your answers for #16-24
  • 10 minutes:  large group to review answers
• 10 minutes:  outside reading

This weekend's homework:

• Select one of the speakers we studied this week:  Mitt Romney, Barrack Obama, Paul Ryan, Deval Patrick, Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln, or Kal Penn.  Write a 5-paragraph analysis of how the speaker uses rhetoric to convey his ideas.  Be sure to consider main ideas, rhetorical devices, and structure in your response.

Day 36:  Thursday, October 25, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• 10.30.12 Quarterly Exam
• Book review and revisions - by the end of the quarter

Today's Objectives:

• SL.11-12.3: Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read excerpt from Clinton's inaugural address (in Princeton Review MCAS book); complete questions; review questions with large group
• Discuss Ryan vs. Patrick, using yesterday's graphic organizer
• View Kal Penn's DNC speech and discuss rhetoric.
• Listen to and discuss Gettysburg Address.

Homework (due Monday:

• Select one of the speakers we studied this week: Mitt Romney, Barrack Obama, Paul Ryan, Deval Patrick, Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln, or Kal Penn. Write a 5-paragraph analysis of how the speaker uses rhetoric to convey his ideas. Be sure to consider main ideas, rhetorical devices, and structure in your response.

Day 35:  Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• 10.30.12 Quarterly Exam
• Book review and revisions - by the end of the quarter

Today's Objectives:

• SL.11-12.3: Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit Walden Essay
• Review school-wide rubric for oral presentations.
• View the following speeches with a focus on evaluation on each speaker's rhetoric
  • Paul Ryan at the RNC.
  • Deval Patrick at the DNC.
• Use the school-wide rubric to score each speaker.  Use this T-chart handout to comment on particular talking points and rhetoric.

Homework (due Monday:

• Select one of the speakers we studied this week: Mitt Romney, Barrack Obama, Paul Ryan, Deval Patrick, Bill Clinton, Abraham Lincoln, or Kal Penn. Write a 5-paragraph analysis of how the speaker uses rhetoric to convey his ideas. Be sure to consider main ideas, rhetorical devices, and structure in your response.

Day 34:  Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• 10.30.12 Quarterly Exam
• Book review and revisions - by the end of the quarter

Today's Objectives:

• SL.11-12.3:  Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read, highlight, and annotate this Washington Post article, a summary of the debate from the Associated Press.
• Clippage, Organizer, and Discussion
  • View highlights from last night's debate.
  • Complete this graphic organizer while viewing.
  • Discuss, with a focus on rhetoric.
• Wrap up:  Thoughts on Education
  • As a student in Massachusetts, how did you feel about Romney and Obama's reference to things like the MCAS?

Tonight's Homework:

• Walden essay due tomorrow.

What's on tap for tomorrow?

• RNC and DNC speeches, scored according to the school-wide rubric.

Day 33:  Monday, October 22, 2012

Today's Announcements:

• 10.30.12 Quarterly Exam
• Book review and revisions - by the end of the quarter

Today's Objectives:

• To assess our understanding of the Transcendentalism unit (Reading of Informational Texts and Reading of Literature).

Today's Agenda:

• How was the PSAT?  (Discussion, 5 minutes)
• Test (35 multiple choice questions, 3 open response questions)

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on your own Walden essay (3-5 pages, due Wednesday, 10.24.12)

Day 32:  Friday, October 19, 2012

Today's Objectives:

• To work on our vocabulary, reading comprehension, and grammar skills for PSAT.

Today's Agenda:

• Report out on college fair
• PSAT Tip Sheet.
• PSAT Review - small group then large group
• Outside Reading

This weekend's Homework:

• Prepare for Transcendentalism unit test on Monday.  Use this review sheet to guide your studying.

Day 31:  Thursday, October 18, 2012

Today's Objectives:

• To share our original poems based on Transcendentalist philosophies.
• To start thinking about college.
• To answer any questions about college.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit Transcendentalist poems.
• Do Now:  Write questions about college.
• Mr. Ambrose's college presentation.
• Q & A about college.

Tonight's Homework:

• Finish PSAT packet.

Day 30:  Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Today's Objectives: 

• RI.11-12.1-6:  Determine main ideas and analyze rhetoric.
• RL.11-12.5:  Analyze author's choice in regards to structuring a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Self-Reliance.
• MDTSVO discussion on Self-Reliance.
• A Little Background on Whitman.
• Two poems by Whitman - read and discuss.

Tonight's Homework:

• Write your own Transcendentalist poem - either a found poem based on a quote from Emerson or a poem based on the theme and style of Whitman - and write a paragraph reflection on why is represents Transcendentalist views.

Day 29:  Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Today's Objectives:

• To experience the world as Thoreau would want us to - to explore ature in our own backyard - to better understand his writings.
• To align the physical education curriculum with the English curriculum.
• To be inspired to write our own reflection on nature.

Today's Agenda:

• Nature Walk
• Reflection

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on PSAT packet (due Friday)
• Walden essay (due W 10.24).

Day 28:  Monday, October 15, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.7 Evaluate different media formats (Transcendentalist essays and Transcendentalist songs)
• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Listen to "You Never Know" by Dave Matthews Band.  Write down reasons why you think the Thoreau Institute at Walden Woods has chosen this as a "theme song."  Discuss.
• Small Groups:  Review homework (quotes from "Reading") and prepare one quote to present to the class.
• Present out, with a focus on the guiding question "Is Thoreau still relevant?"
• Review assignment and rubric for Walden essay.  Here is a sample of the assignment from Maria Voci.

Tonight's Homework:

• For Friday, 10/19 - Complete PSAT Packet
• For Monday, 10/22 - Prepare for Transcendentalism Test
• For Wednesdy, 10/24 - Your own Walden paper

Day 27:  Friday, October 12, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.4 Determine meaning of words in context.
• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text.
• RL.11-12.10 Read and comprehend literature.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocabulary Quiz
• Distribute Grading Sheets
• Read 1 of 2 Thoreau articles, partner with a friend to tell him/her about your article, discuss as a large group
  • Thoreau as a Climatologist

• Depth and Purity

• Outside Reading Time

Tonight's Homework:

• Respond to quotes from Thoreau about reading.

Day 26:  Thursday, October 11, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Personal Economy sheetand discussion
• Circle Discussion
  • "Where I Lived and What I Lived For"
  • "Economy"

Tonight's Homework:

• Vocabulary Quiz tomorrow
• Due Monday:  HDT Reading Quote Sheet
• Due Friday, 10/19 - PSAT Practice Packet due

Day 25:  Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing.
• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Journal and Discussion:  Where do you live and what do you live for?
• Small Groups:  Close Reading of Quotes from last night's readingand homework check.
• Wrap up Questions

Tonight's Homework:

• Print, red, highlight, and annotate excerpts from the Economy chapter in Walden.

Day 24:  Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing.
• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Submit essay and school-wide rubric
• Hand back work
• Free Write on Slideshow.
• 6 Signs of Transcendentalism.
• Agree/Disagree Discussion.

Tonight's Homework:

Print, read, highlight, and annotate excerpt from Walden. 

Day 23:  Friday, October 5, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• W.11-12.8 Gather relevant information...following a standard format for citation.
• L.11-12.1 Demonstrate command of standard English grammar and usage.
• RL.11-12.10 Read and comprehend literature.

Today's Agenda:

• Review MLA format for Works Cited page
• Grammar and Style - Part 2 of SAT Grammar PPT.
• Complete Guided Practice from PSAT book, correct, and submit for formative assessment.
• Outside Reading Time

This Weekend's Homework:

• Finish HDT/MLK essay.
• Try using this useful handout from Ms. Peritore to work on inserting quotes into your paper.
• Try using the Purdue OWL site for help with citations.

Day 22:  Thursday, October 4, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• W.11-12.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to convey complex ideas.
• W.11-12.9 Draw evidence from informational texts.

Today's Agenda:

• Work on HDT/MLK essay.

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on HDT/MLK essay (due Tuesday).
• Bring in outside reading book.

Day 21:  Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• W.11-12.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to convey complex ideas.
• W.11-12.9 Draw evidence from informational texts.

Today's Agenda:

• Share self-assessment from yesterday's discussion
• Review MLA Format (headings and titles) using Purdue OWL.
• Review HDT/MLK essay assignment and school-wide rubric.
• Shannon/Jackie teach the class about connections between MLK and HDT (they were responsible for this topic in yesterday's discussion)
• Work on graphic organizer for essay.

Tonight's Homework:

• Work on essay.  Email it to yourself to work on in class tomorrow.

Day 20:  Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts.
• RI.11-12.9 Analyze 19th century U.S. documents.
• SL.11-12.1 Initiate and participate effectively in discussions.

Today's Agenda:

• Review school-wide rubric for discussion (oral communication)
• Prepare for discussion (turn and talk to a classmate about discussion points while Mr. Ambrose checks HW)
• Student facilitated discussion in circle
  • Earn 1 point of extra credit every time you speak.
  • Earn up to 10 points of extra credit as a discussion leader
  • Student-led discussion topics:
    • main ideas
    • rhetoric
    • HDT's tone toward jail
    • HDT on voting and politics
    • Is civil disobedience really a duty?
    • Connections to MLK
    • Connections to the Federalist Papers

Tonight's Homework:

• Self-assessment:  Write a one-page reflection on how well you performed in discussion today, using the school-wide rubric as a metric.

Day 19:  Monday, October 1, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts.
• RI.11-12.9 Analyze 19th century U.S. documents.

Today's Agenda:

• 4 Tough Vocab Words from the Reading
  • tract, propriety, brute, rectitude
• 4 Discussion Questionsin small groups + HW check
• Circle Discussion
• Assign Student Leaders for Tomorrow's Discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Civil Disobedience questios to prepare for tomorrow's discussion.

Day 18:  Friday, September 28, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words in context.
• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of the text.
• L.11-12.1 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English conventions.

Today's Agenda:

• Vocabulary Quiz
• New York Times article re:  Occupy Wall Street
• Corect quiz and MDTSOV on article
• SAT Grammar - PPT up through verbs
• Outside reading

Tonight's Homework:

• Read, highlight, and annotate part 3of "Civil Disobedience."
• For Tuesday, "Civil Disobedience" questions. 

Day 17:  Thursday, September 27, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts.
• RI.11-12.9 Analyze 19th-century foundational U.S. documents for their themes, purposes, and rhetoric.

Today's Agenda:

• Word of the Day
• Photo Day
• MLK test - hand back to students
  • Period 2 - average grade=77, high grade=94 (Lian Blake)
  • Period 6 - average grade=81, high grade=96 (Eli Kissman)
• 3-2-1 on last night's reading
  • 3 main ideas
  • 2 questions
  • 1 challenging vocabulary word
• Discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Study for vocabulary quiz.
• Bring in outside reading book.
• Work on revisions of your summer reading essay, if you like.

Day 16:  Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.8 Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts.
• RI.11-12.9 Analyze 19th-century foundational U.S. documents for their themes, purposes, and rhetoric.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Individually attempt 10 AP questions on Civil Disobedience.
• Small Groups:  Confer on answers, find textual support, HW check
• Large Group
  • Review AP questions
  • Questions about vocab and concepts from last night's reading
  • Make sure we talk MDTSOV about the reading

Tonight's Homework:

• Print, read, highlight, and annotate part 2 of Civil Disobedience.

Day 15:  Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.3 Analyze a complex set of ideas or sequence of events and explain how specific ideas develop over the course of the text.
• RI.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases ("duty," "civil disobedience") as they are used in the text.
• W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

Today's Agenda:

• Journal and Discussion.
• Definition of Civil Disobedience
• Five Things You Didn't Know About Thoreau.
• Thoreau Timeline.
• Model Reading and Annotating Part 1

Tonight's Homework:

• Print, read, highlight, and annotate part 1 of "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" with a focus on recent class objectives.

Day 14:  Monday, September 24, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• Assessment for the following standards:
  • RI.11-12.1 (main ideas and inferences)
  • RI.11-12.2 (main ideas and development)
  • RI.11-12.4 (vocabulary)
  • RI.11-12.5 (structure in essay)
  • RI.11-12.6 (rhetoric in essay)
  • SL.11-12.3 (rhetoric in speech)

Today's Agenda

• MLK Rhetoric Test
  • 35 multiple choice
  • 3 open response

Tonight's Homework:

• Due Wednesday:  Print, read, highlight, and annotate part 1 of "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience."

Day 13:  Friday, September 21, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• Ri.11-12.1 Cit strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences from the text.
• RI.11-12.4 Determine the meaining of words and phrases as they are used in the text.

Today's Agenda:

• Word of the Day
• Brief MLK Test Review
• Do Now:  read follow up article on MLK monument.  Discuss.
• Review vocabulary HW and HW check
• SAT Critical Reading strategiesand guided practice
• Outside Reading

Tonight's Homework:

• Study for MLK rhetoric test

Day 12:  Thursday, September 20, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric...word choice...tone.

Today's Agenda

• Word of the Day
• Listen to first five minutes of "I Have a Dream"
  • Focus on alliteration, allusion, imperative, polysyndeton, asyndeton
  • Pause to discuss students' annotations
• Listen to final five minutes of "I Have a Dream"
  • Pause to discuss students' annotations
• Discuss HW and Focus Areas
• Small Groups:  Backwards Outline of MLK's three major ideas (and HW check)

Tonight's Homework:

• Due Friday:  SAT Vocabulary Exercises (and look up any words you don't know)
• Monday:  MLK test (rhetoric, argument, structure, historical context, vocabulary, etc.)

Day 11:  Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze how they develop.
• RI.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Pair and Share HW
• Discuss Analysis, with a focus on quality of thesis
• Vocabulary In-Context.
• NPR Article about MLK Monument - read and annotate - discuss main idea and opinion

Tonight's Homework:

• Read/listen to "I Have a Dream" on www.americanrhetoric.com(16 minutes)
• Print it out
• Answer 5 Discussion Questions (15 minutes)

Day 10:  Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Today's Common Core Objectives:

• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text.
• RI.11-12.5 Analyze the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his argument.
• RI.11-12.6 Determine an author's point of view in a piece in which the rhetoric is particularly effective.

Today's Agenda: 

• Word of the Day
• Do Now:  Discussion Questions.
• Circle Discussion
• Small Groups:  Plan Essay (use graphic organizer)

Tonight's Homework:

• 5-paragraph essay analyzing the structure/argument/rhetoric of your assigned section of MLK's "Letter"

Day 9:  Monday, September 17, 2012

Today's Objective:

• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to provide a complex analysis.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back work and review Word of the Day
• Small Groups (Jigsaw):  Collaborate with the other students who created an argument map for your assigned section.  Share maps and look for similarities/differences.  Select one student's map to present to the class.  Select a spokesperson or spokespersons for your group.  Practice how you will teach the class about the development of the argument.  Cue up map on overhead.
• Reciprocal Teaching (Jigsaw):  Groups 1-5 take turns, in order, presenting the argument to the class.
• Large Group Discussion:  ID tone and subject for each of the sections.
  • section 1 - MLK uses first person, calm tone
  • section 2 - MLK uses second person, takes a confrontational tone
  • section 3 - MLK talks about church and white moderate, disappointed tone
  • section 4 - MLK implies harsh consequence for actions, takes a threatening tone
  • section 5 - MLK is steadfast and hopeful, conveying a determined tone
• Review AP-style 5-paragraph essay assignment (argument analysis question) and review rubric for this assignment (school-wide rubric for writing)

Tonight's Homework:  (Due Wednesday, 9.19.12) 5-paragraph essay analyzing the argument (structure and rhetoric) of MLK's "Letter"

Day 8:  Friday, September 14, 2012

Today's Objectives: 

• RI.11-12.2 Determine two or more central ideas of a text.
• RI.11-12.4 Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back work and review Word of the Day
• Do Now:  Read weekly nonfiction informational text - New York Times article about iPhone 5.  Cite main ideas and supporting details.
• SAT Session 1 - Vocabulary Sentence Completion.
• Guided Practice:  PSAT Preparation Book, p. 254, #1-8.  Review.
• Outside Reading

This weekend's homework:

• Type up your own argument map - a graphic organizer tht details the structure of the argument in your assigned section of "Letter from Birmingham Jail."  (Email it to yourself so you can bring it up on the overhead.)

Day 7:  Thursday, September 13, 2012

Today's Objective:  RI.11-12.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective.

So, today, we're looking at rhetoric and how it impacts the pupose of a text. 

Today's Agenda:

• Small Groups (and HW check).  Get with a partner.  Share your homework.  What rhetorical devices did you identify?  How did these rhetorical devices contribute to the purpose of King's text?  (And as you do this, see if you can ID what the pupose IS.)
• Large Group Discussion.  ID rhetorical devices and discuss how they work to contribute to the purpose of the text.
• Argument Mapping.  What is it?  This site provides a great tutorial.  Review the site and do the practice questions on the overhead.
• Assignments.  Count off by five to figure out what section of the text you'll be responsible for.

Homework:

• For Friday:  Bring in an outside reading book.  Feel free to browse my shelves; I have plenty of new editions.
• For Monday:  Type up your own argument map - a graphic orgnizer that details the stucture of the argument in your assigned section of King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail."  (Email it to yourself so you can bring it up on the overhead.

Day 6:  Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Today's Objectives:  To review the historical context surrounding MLK's imprisonment.  To practice annotating a text.

Today's Agenda:

• Historical Context PowerPoint and Critical Thinking Discussion Questions
• Selected students present tips on annotating, based on Hunter College site
• Show Mr. Ambrose your annotated text so far, or partner with someone and try to annotate based on the tips

Tonight's Homework:

Highlight and annotate "Letter from Birmingham Jail" with a focus on rhetoric. 

Here is a useful site with tips about annotating a text - courtesy of Hunter College. 

Day 5:  Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Today's Objectives:  To review some basic rhetorical devices.  To articulate main ideas of a nonfiction informational text.  To identify how the Birmingham Segregation Ordinances violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Today's Agenda:

• Four of a Kind.
• Rhetorical Devices.
• Main Ideas
• Small Groups - ID violations (and HW check)
• Wrap Up

Tonight's Homework:  For Thursday, highlight and annotate "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" with a focus on rhetoric. 

Day 4:  Monday, Septemer 10, 2012

Today's Objectives: 

• To decide why we consider certain laws unjust. 
• RI.11-12.9 Analyze foundational U.S. documents of historical and literary significance (i.e. the Bill of Rights) for their themes, purposes, and rhetorical features.

Today's Agenda:

• Word of the Day
• Small Groups:  Unjust Laws
• Report Out:  Unjust Laws
• Jigsaw:  Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• Report Out:  Jigsaw

Tonight's Homework:

• Read "Birmingham in the 1960s."  Write one paragraph about the main ideas of the piece.
• Read "Birmingham Segregation Ordinances."  Write two paragraphs - one about each of two of the ordinances and why they violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and/or the Bill of Rights.  Be particular.

Day 3:  Friday, September 7, 2012

Today's Objectives:  To assess our comprehension of the summer reading texts.  To provide a writing diagnostic for the class.

Today's Agenda:

Summer Reading In-Class Essay

• you may use your graphic organizer
• when you are done, staple essay to rubric and graphic organizer

Silent Reading

Tonight's Homework:  Find an example of an unjust law.  Write 2-3 paragraphs on the law:

1. What is the law?
2. Why is it unjust?
3. What do we do about it? 

Day 2:  Thursday, September 6, 2012

Today's Objectives:  To learn all of our names.  To review rubric and mentor texts for summer reading essays.

Today's Agenda:

• Collect parent forms
• Name histories (hand in HW)
• Review school-wide rubric.
• Review summer reading prompts.
• Mentor texts
  • Susie Smit.
  • Mady Forcier.

Tonight's Homework:  Complete graphic organizer for summer reading test. 

Day 1:  Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Today's Objectives:  To review course syllabus.  To get familiar with the class.

Today's Agenda:

• Welcome
• Review syllabus.
• Review letter home to parents/guardians.
• Setting goals
• Student survey.
• Essentials for a good school year

Tonight's Homework (10 points):

• Write two paragraphs on the history/meaning of your name.
• Get parent/guardian to sign letter home.

Unit 1:  Rhetoric and Voice, via Transcendentalism

• "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King, Jr. *
• "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" and excerpts from Walden, Henry David Thoreau *
• Excerpts from "Self-Reliance," Ralph Waldo Emerson *
• American Political Rhetoric:  From Washington and Lincoln to Romney and Obama *

Unit 2:  Snapshots Short Stories

• "Girl," Jamaica Kincaid
• "Everyday Use," Alice Walker
• "A & P," John Updike
• "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed," John Irving
• ""A Retrieved Reformation," O. Henry
• "Awaiting Orders," Tobias Wolff
• Excerpts from On Writing, Stephen King *

Unit 3:  Shakespeare

• Hamlet, William Shakespeare
• Excerpts from Poem Unlimited, Harold Bloom *

Unit 4:  Ethan Frome

• Ethan Frome, Edith Wharton
• secondary sources selected by students *

Unit 5:  Southern Gothic Literature

• As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner
• excerpts from How to Read and Why, Harold Bloom *
• William Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, 1950 *
• "Why I Live at the P.O." Eudora Welty
• "Revelation," Flannery O'Connor
• To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Unit 6:  Social Commentary in Chicago

• selected poems from Chicago, Carl Sandberg
• excerpts from The Jungle, Upton Sinclair

Unit 7:  Lost Generation

• The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
• selected Nick Adams stories, Ernest Hemingwaay
• selected poems, Ezra Pound

PSAT/NMSQT Preparation

SAT/AP Preparation

College Essay Writing

Vocabulary Word of the Day

In-Context Vocabulary

* - denotes nonfiction informational text

Rhetorical Devices Covered

Alliteration (9.20.12)

Allusion (9.20.12)

Anaphora (9.11.12)

Antithesis (1.7.13)

Asyndeton (9.20.12)

Delayed Sentence (9.11.12)

Dialectic (9.11.12)

Digression (9.11.12)

Epanalepsis (9.11.12)

Epistrophe (9.11.12)

Ethos (9.11.12)

Imperative (9.20.12)

Logos (9.11.12)

Opposition's Argument (9.11.12)

Parison (9.11.12)

Pathos (9.11.12)

Polysyndeton (9.20.12)

SAT Sections Covered

Test 1, section 2, 1-24 (10.26.12)

Test 1, section 5, 1-24 (11.2.12)

Test 1, section 6, 1-35 (11.16.12)

Test 1, section 9, 1-19 (11.30.12)

Test 1, section 10, 1-14 (11.30.12)

Test 2, section 4, 1-8 (9.21.12)

Test 2, section 9, 1-6 (9.21.12)

Test 3, section 4 (11.8.12)

Test 3, section 6, 1-11 (1.11.13)

Lunch-Time AP Group

Pink Flamingo open response (9.12)

Confessions on an English Opium Eater - 500 questions, 1-10 (10.26.12)