Check here for daily updates about what is going on in my junior classes!

Exams will be administered on Wednesday, June 24, and Thursday, June 25.

Day 176:  Tuesday, June 23, 2015

HUMANITIES LAB RESERVED FOR TODAY' S CLASS

Return books

Finish College Essay Draft!

HW:  Study for Exam

Download exam review here.

Day 175:  Monday, June 22, 2015

Final Exam Review!

• Small Groups:  Share Review Sheets (from HW)
• Curriculum Questions
• Large Group:  Type Master Review Sheet
• Edit this topic sheet from last year 

Return As I Lay Dying Books

College Presentations

Touch Base on Common Application Prompts

HW:  Study for Final Exam.  Work on College Essay.

Day 174:  Friday, June 19, 2015

As I Lay Dying Test

College Presentations

HW:  Study for Final Exam.  Work on College Essay.

Day 173: Thursday, June 18, 2015

As I Lay Dying - Last Day

• Chiasmus
• Rap
• Significance of Names Article
• Who Said It and Test Review
• Discussion Based on Your HW
• College Presentation Du Jour

HW:  Study for As I Lay Dying test

• There are five short answer questions on the test tomorrow.  You will pick two:
• Explain how this book functions as a typical Southern Gothic narrative.
• Explain some of the dark humor in the novel.
• Explain how this book functions as a coming-of-age novel.
• Explain Jewel's evolution or Darl's devolution as a character.
• Explain the irony and the literary significance of Addie's monologue.

Day 172:  Wednesday, June 17, 2015

College Presentation du Jour

Addie's Monologue - close reading in groups + HW check

Large Group Discussion

• ch. 40 - Addie's monologue and its significance
• ch. 41 - Whitfield's revelation and his desire to confess
• ch. 43 - Armstid reinforces the buzzard motif
• ch. 48 - Darl taunts Jewel
• ch. 50 - Darl sets the barn on fire

HW:  Finish reading the book.  Write a response paper for what you would like to discuss tomorrow.

Day 171:  Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Harvard Survey in Library

Discuss Addie's Monologue if time allows

HW:  46-52

Day 170:  Monday, June 15, 2015

As I Lay Dying ch. 20-39

• College Presentation du jour
• Discussion Questions in Small Groups
• Large Group Discussion
• Read Addie Bundren's Monologue and Discuss Significance

HW:  Response to the Significance of Addie's Monologue.  Read ch. 41-45.

Day 169:  Friday, June 12, 2015

Finish College Presentations

College Essay Workshopping

• Examine Common Application Prompts
• Silent Writing/Brainstorming
• Take Out What You Have and Share; Revise
• Share with Large Group

HW:  ch. 33-39 - and write notes on each chapter

Day 168:  Thursday, June 11, 2015

Do Now:  Fells Day Journal (to supply quotes for reflection) and Fells Day Debriefing

Small Groups:  As I Lay Dying ch. 20-32 Last Word Discussion

Large Group:  Close Reading of Samson's Chapter

To Wrap Up:  Sublimation Journal Exercise

HW:  College essay ideas - bring in anything you might use for an essay and any ideas you have.

Day 167:  Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Nature Readings in 10 Minute Class to Prepare for Fells Day

HW:  FOR THURSDAY:  Read ch. 26-32 and prepare for discussion with notes.

Day 166:  Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Goals:

• To learn about dark humor.
• To identify dark humor in As I Lay Dying.

Agenda:

• Dark Humor Lesson
• Define dark humor
• Watch video clips from Little Miss Sunshine
• Discuss dark humor within As I Lay Dying
• Share and discuss relevant quotes from last night's reading
• Small groups and HW check
• Large group
• On tap for tomorrow:  Nature readings in 10 minute class

HW:  FOR THURSDAY:  Read ch. 26-32 and prepare for discussion with notes.

Day 165:  Monday, June 8, 2015

Objectives/Goals:

• Determine the meaning of a word in context.
• Analyze plot and character development.

Agenda:

• Do Now:  Ch. 1-19 Vocabulary
• Small Groups:  6 groups, each representing a question from the weekend's HW (+HW check)
• Discussion:  6 groups present out and share answers

HW:

• Read ch. 19-25
• Select three quotes
• Offer an analysis of each quote (characterization, plot, etc.)

Day 164:  Friday, June 5, 2015

Objectives/Goals:

• Final practice of English fundamentals before Saturday's SAT.
• Exposure to a new college.

Agenda:

• Small Groups:  come to concensus and check HW (practice test 4, section 5)
• Correct and review HW
• Writing multiple choice questions from Practice Test 4
• Final SAT tips and logistics for tomorrow
• College Presentation

HW:

• Read up through ch. 19 of As I Lay Dying.  Answer six discussion questions from Oprah's Book Club.

Day 163:  Thursday, June 4, 2015

Objectives/Goals:

• Exposure to a college lecture (comprehension).
• Close reading of a challenging text (analysis).

Agenda:

• Hand Back Hemingway Essays and Comments
• Do Now:  Read and Discuss Part 2 of Oprah Lecture
• Review HW (Ch. 10-12) - Small Groups, then Large Group
• Read Ch. 13 (Vardaman) and Discuss

HW:

• Due Friday:  SAT Packet (distributed in class)
• Due Monday:  Read through ch. 19 of As I Lay Dying.  Complete 6 questions for discussion (ch. 1-19).

Day 162:  Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Do Now:  As I Lay Dying College Lecture 1

Review HW questions (Ch. 3-6)

Read and discuss Dewey Dell's monologue (Ch. 7)

Skip Chapter 8

Read and discuss Anse's monology (Ch. 9)

HW:  Ch. 10-12.  Read and answer discussion questions.

Day 161:  Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Who wants to go on Nature Hike with me and Ms. Sanford?

As I Lay Dying Introductory PPT and Journal Activity

Review last night's HW (AILD ch. 1,  multiple choice and talking points analysis)

Distribute books and read ch. 2.  Discuss close reading.

HW:  Read ch. 3-6.  Answer ch. 1-6 discussion questions.

Day 160:  Monday, June 1, 2015

Wrap up DDM 2 open response (for certain students)

Wrap up college presentations

HW:  Read chapter 1 of As I Lay Dying.  Complete 10 multiple choice questions and note 3 talking points.  Download handout here.

Day 159:  Friday, May 29, 2015

DDM 1

DDM 2, open response

HW HOLIDAY!

Day 158:  Thursday, May 28, 2015

Today's Goal:

• Complete district-determined assessment

Today's Agenda:

• DDM

Tonight's HW:

• Prepare for DDM

Day 157:  Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To expose classmates to colleges.
• To prepare for SAT.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back work
• Hand in Gatsby books
• College Presentations
• College Essay

Tonight's HW:

• Prepare for DDM

Day 156:  Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Today's Goal:

• Assessment for Lost Generation unit

Today's Agenda:

• Gatsby Test

HW:  HW Holiday!

On Tap for Future Weeks:

• 6/1:  As I Lay Dying
• 6/8:  As I Lay Dying
• 6/15:  Nature Hikes
• 6/22:  College Essay and Final Review, Exam

On Tap for Next Week:

• Tuesday, 5/26:  Gatsby Test
• Wednesday, 5/27:  DDM 1
• Thursday, 5/28:  DDM 2
• Friday, 5/29:  College presentations
• HW throughout the week:  25-minute SAT sections

Day 155:  Friday, May 22, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Gatsby Test Review
• Format:  20 vocab, 40 other multiple choice, 2 open response
• Vocabulary
• feign
• supercilious
• incredulous
• facet
• apathetic
• vehement
• vacuous
• provincial
• denizen
• reproach
• nebulous
• laudable
• antecedent
• vicarious
• rancor
• garrulous
• forlorn
• superfluous
• elocution
• unutterable
• Multiple Choice
• plot 
• characterization
• narrative
• study packets
• Open Response
• Pick one symbol from the novel and explain how it contributes meaning to theme.
• Is the novel an endorsement or satire of the American Dream?  Why?
• College presentations
• Period 2
• Rayne
• Talia
• Period 6
• Mass
• Shaima
• Others

This weekend's HW:

• Study for test.  Prep cheat sheet for open reponses (1-3 talking points, 1-2 quotes for each).  See above review.

Day 154:  Thursday, May 21, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Guided viewing of Gatsby film, day 3
• Discuss film adaptation

Tonight's HW:

• Wrap up your college presentation and email it to me.

Day 153:  Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Guided viewing of Gatsby film, day 2

Day 152:  Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Correct take-home quiz
• Record Scores
• Review Gatsby guided viewing packet
• Guided viewing of Gatsby film, day 1

Day 151:  Monday, May 18, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit response papers
• Review ch. 9 vocabulary
• Around the Horn discussion format

HW:  

• Gatsby ch. 7-9 take-home quiz
• Prepare for Gatsby test (Thursday, 5/21)

Day 150:  Friday, May 15, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  SAT preparation (test 4, section 2, first half)
• Review Common App Essay Prompts
• College Project Presentations

HW for weekend:

• Read ch. 9 of Gatsby.  Write a one-page response paper about the end of the book (quiz grade).

Day 149:  Thursday, May 14, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Review ch. 8 vocabulary
• Ch. 8 sheet in small groups (or in Last Word format)
• Large group discussion (ideas from HW, then my ideas)

Thursday's HW:

• Work on college presentation project
• Students who present Friday, 5/15 will earn extra credit

Day 148:  Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To continue to discuss Gatsby using the more active and challenging "Last Word" format.

Today's Agenda:

• Finish Last Word Questions (in small groups)
• Ch. 4-6 questions
• Ch. 7 questions
• Review ch. 7 vocabulary

Wednesday's HW:

• Read Gatsby ch. 8
• Vocabulary
• 3 Items (quotes, questions, analysis, etc.)

Day 147:  Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To assess our ability to approach Gatsby (Ch. 4-6) from a language/rhetoric standpoint.
• To discuss Ch. 4-6 in a new unique format.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  ch. 4-6 quiz; complete and review
• Review ch. 5 and 6 vocabulary
• Last Word discussion format for ch. 5 and 6

Tuesday's HW:

• Read Gatsby ch. 7.
• Vocabulary.
• 3 Items (quotes, questions, analysis, etc.)

Day 146:  Monday, May 11, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To review expectations for college presentation project.
• To perform a close reading of Gatsby ch. 4.

Today's Agenda:

• Review college presentation rubric
• Share examples and answer questions about project
• Another student work example here.
• Ch. 4 Gatsby vocabulary
• Revisit passages from ch. 4 and discuss
• Opening Passage
• Gatsby in the War
• Meyer Wolfsheim characterization
• Nick's invitation from Gatsby
• Guiding questions

Tonight's HW:

• Read ch. 5 and 6 of Gatsby.
• Look up vocabulary words from ch. 5 and 6 list.
• ID 3 elements from each chapter to discuss.

Day 145:  Friday, May 8, 2015

Today's Goal:  

• To work on close reading skills, with a focus on rhetorical devices that contribute meaning to the text.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Gatsby quiz 1, questions 6-13 (from AP packet); Review answers and discuss
• Review HW (rhetorical analysis of ch. 3 from AP packet)
• SAT preparation (Practice Test 4, Section 2, second half)

This Weekend's HW:

• Read Gatsby Ch. 4
• Look up vocabulary definitions
• Write 3 items to discuss (quotes, questions, etc.)

Day 144:  Thursday, May 7, 2015

The Great Gatsby, Day 4

Today's Goal:

• To analyze chapters 1-3 of The Great Gatsby.

Today's Agenda:

• Review chapter 3 vocabulary
• Gatsby Big Paper Activity (chapters 1-3)
• Students present out from big paper

HW:  

• Due Thursday:  Chapter 3 rhetorical close reading sheet from Gatsby AP packet
• Due Friday:  Prepare chapter 4 of Gatsby (read, take notes, look up vocabulary words)

Day 143:  Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Great Gatsby, Day 3

Today's Goal:

• To analyze chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby.

Today's Agenda:

• Review Vocabulary from Chapter 2
• Small Groups:  Discuss Three Talking Points from Chapter 2 - Use HW and Guided Question Sheet (+HW Check)
• Large Group Discussion:  Read Highlighted Passages and Discuss
• Symbolism
• Eyes
• Colors
• Historical Context (Marriage)
• Setting

Tonight's HW:

• Read Chapter 3.
• ID 3 things you'd like to discuss, with a focus on Gatsby's character.
• Look up any words from the vocabulary list that you do not know.

Day 142:  Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The Great Gatsby, Day 2

Today's Goal:

• To analyze chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby.

Today's Agenda:

• Review Vocabulary from Chapter 1
• Review Mr. Ambrose's Notes from Chapter 1
• Small Groups:  Discuss Three Talking Points from Chapter 1 - Use HW and Guided Question Sheet (+HW Check)
• Large Group:  Circle Discussion

Tonight's HW:

• Read Chapter 2.
• ID 3 things you'd like to discuss, with a focus on symbolism.
• Look up any words from the vocabulary list that you do not know.

Day 141:  Monday, May 4, 2015

The Great Gatsby, Day 1

Today's Goal:

• To introduce themes of The Great Gatsby

Today's Agenda:

• Journal and Discussion:  Epigraph from Gatsy (while listening to Jazz Age music)
• Images and Discussion:  Slides 20-26 from Lost Generation PowerPoint
• Background Info on Fitzgerald
• Slides 27-31 from PowerPoint
• 5 Things You Didn't Know About F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Distribute vocabulary list
• Distribute books and begin reading chapter 1

Monday's HW:

• Finish reading chapter 1
• Create bullet points for discussion
• Define chapter 1 vocabulary words

Day 140:  Friday, May 1, 2015

Submit Hemingway Essays (Share if students are interested)

Review SAT Logistics for tomorrrow

Do Now:  Quietly read through Prompts from March 2015 SAT administration.  Write down three examples (from history, literature, and personal experience) for each.  Discuss with group.

Together, complete Practice Test 3, Section 9

HW:  NO HW!  GOOD LUCK ON THE SAT!

On tap for Monday: Gatsby, Day 1

Day 138 (Wed, 4.29) and Day 139 (Thursday, 4.30)

Work on Hemingway essays

HW:  Hemingway essays due Friday

Day 137:  Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To discuss passages of Hemingway's nonfiction writing.
• To introduce Hemingway essay assignment.

Today's Agenda:

• Small Groups:  Share passages from HW (and HW check)
• Large Group:  Discuss passages (3 chapters from A Moveable Feast)
• Review Hemingway essay expectations
• Small group brainstrorming for essay topic

HW:  

• Work on essay.  
  Working draft (hard copy and digital) due Thursday.
• Final draft due Friday.

Day 136:  Monday, April 26, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To examine Hemingway's experience in France.

Today's Agenda:

• Video (16 minutes of Hemingway biography - A Moveable Feast chapter)
• Discuss guided questions
• Read first chapter (of 3) from A Moveable Feast
• Small groups (if time allows)

HW:  

• Read and annotate packet.
• Select three passages for discsussion for tomorrow.

On tap for after break:

• Week of 4.27:
• Monday - Hand back work, Moveable Feast video and one excerpt from Moveable Feast
• Tuesday - another excerpt from Moveable Feast and intro Hemingway essay assignment
• Wednesday - work on Hemingway essay assignment
• Thursday - essay workshopping
• Friday - SAT (College visit project)
• Week of 5.4:
• Great Gatsby (and Lost Generation tests and other assessments)
• Week of 5:25:
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• To wrap up the year:
• Nature walks and nature literature reading packet
• College visit project
• College essay writing

Day 135:  Friday, April 17, 2015

• SAT Prep (Practice Test 3)
• Outside Reading
• HW:  HW HOLIDAY!

Day 134:  Thursday, April 16, 2015

Lost Generation Unit, Hemingway, Day 4

Goal:

• To analyze coming-of-age themes in two of Hemingway's earlier works.

Agenda:

• Do Now:  Revisit "Indian Camp" and "Ten Indians"
• Two Groups:  Each prepares one of the above stories for discussion.
• Present out and discuss in large group.
• HW:  HW HOLIDAY!

Day 133:  Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Lost Generation Unit, Hemingway, Day 3

Goal:

• To analyze a story that represents the "iceberg theory."

Agenda:

• Allusion:  What is a white elephant?
• Read story; write down three inferences you make
• Small groups:  discuss inferences
• Large group discussion

HW:  Prepare "Ten Indians" and "Indian Camp" for discussion.  Focus on the character development of Nick Adams.

Day 132:  Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Lost Generation Unit, Hemingway, Day 2

Goal: 

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

Agenda:

• Submit 2-paragraph poem summary (from Thursday)
• Hemingway Biography Video - guided viewing
• Chapter 2 - A Farewell to Arms (6:30)
• Discuss
• Hemingway PPT (brief bio)
• Read "Up in Michigan"
• Discuss elements of style in "Up in Michigan"

Homework:

• For Thursday, prepare three stories for discussion:
• "Indian Camp"
• "Ten Indians"

Day 131:  Monday, April 13, 2015

Lost Generation Unit, Hemingway, Day 1

Goal:

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

Agenda:

• Do Now:  Read and annotate "Old Man at the Bridge"
• 2 Small Groups:  ID elements of the story
• Group 1:  Hemingway Short Story Analysis
• Group 2:  Defining Elements of Hem's Style
• (Be sure students understand all terms on both sheets before they break into groups.)
• Large Group:  Discuss small group findings and story in general.  How does style bring meaning?
• Use Dr. J's discussion notes.

HW:  Prepare 3 Nick Adams Hemingway stories for discussion FOR THURSDAY.

• "Indian Camp"
• "Ten Indians"
• "The Killers"

On tap for week of 4/13:

• Monday - Hemingway Intro/Defining Elements of Hemingway's Style, "Old Man at the Bridge" (see lesson from 5.7.12 for ideas); HW (for Thursday):  Read three Nick Adams stories, prepare for discussion
• Tuesday - collect 2 paragraph HW from Thursday, Guided viewing of Hemingway video, "Up in Michigan" (be sure to include PPT), read story in class, see ongoing HW from Monday
• Wednesday - "Hills Like White Elephants" (have students make the inferences!), read story in class, see ongoing HW from Monday
• Thursday - Nick Adams stories - "Indian Camp," "Ten Indians," and perhaps "The Killers" - 3 groups - meet in groups to discuss and ID talking points - experts lead discussion; HW:  Read and annotate A Moveable Feast; note what you learn from a nonfiction perspective
• Friday - SAT

Day 130:  Friday, April 10, 2015

• SAT Prep - Test 3, Section 6 - finish

Day 129: Thursday, April 9, 2015

Goals:

• To share an analytical close reading paragraph and to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
• To perform a close reading of a Millay poem and to build our understanding by collaborating with classmates.

Agenda:

• Share one example of an analysis paragraph for each of yesterday's poems.  Discuss strengths and areas for improvement.  Submit.
• Do Now:  Examine poem (Millay's sonnet, use Sanford's handout) on your own
• Second reading:  Analyze poem with groups.  While students are working, select two students to research Millay to create and present a few brief slides of her biography
• Third reading:  Get in a large circle to discuss poem.  Read aloud, share bio, discuss guiding questions
• Download biography slide here.
• While discussing, have a student share information on biography.  Discuss how it might impact Millay's work.
• Bonus time:  Dickinson lesson
• Lesson Plans
• Poem
• Biography slide
• Graduate school essay for reference

HW:  Two paragraph response to one of today's poems

Day 128:  Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Goals:

• To share an original poem.
• To perform a close reading of a poem.

Today's Agenda:

• Small groups:  share HW.  (Go to a computer and bring up your painting if you want to share with large group.)
• Share poems with large group and submit.
• Split into two groups:
• one group analyzes "Dulce et decorum est"
• one group analyzes "Anthem for Doomed Youth"
• Focus areas:  (1) tone, structure, symbolism, literary devices (2) theme re:  Lost Generation
• Reciprocal teaching:  2-4 representatives from each group teach the class about the assigned poem.
• Compare/contrast poems in large group.
• HW:  Write a formal analysis (close reading, two paragraphs, two quotes) about one of the poems from today's class

Day 127:  Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Goals:

• To analyze a Lost Generation poem, focusing on allusions to Greek mythology.  To compare it to another artistic medium (painting).
• To learn about the history of the Lost Generation and to compare it to ours.

Agenda:

• Return Hamlet books, distribute Globe permission forms
• Return to yesterday's ticket out the door BRIEFLY
• Access prior knowledge about ALLUSIONS to mythology - the Story of Icarus
• Use this bedtime story Youtube video
• Or this Lego story Youtube video
• "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus" poem lesson
• Download handout here
• Link to painting and text, as well as some interesting questions
• "To a friend whose work has come to triumph"
• Discuss allusion, tone, retelling of the story
• Lost Generation background
• Present out and discuss HW from last night - how does the Lost Generation compare to ours?

HW:  Find a painting (with an allusion to mythology) on the internet.  Write a poem inspired by it.

Day 126: Monday, April 6, 2015

Download today's lesson plan here.

Announcements:

• Globe winners will be recognized at school committee next Monday, 4/13.
• SAT testimonials?

Goals:

• To learn about the history of the Lost Generation and to learn the defining traits of Lost Generation works.
• To analyze a Lost Generation poem, to connect its themes to a modern song, and to write our own version of a Lost Generation poem.

Agenda:

• Return Hamlet books
• Lost Generation PowerPoint notes
• In a Station of the Metro
• Beautiful
• Small Groups
• Ticket Out

HW:  

• Research Lost Generation on a reputable internet-based source.
• Compare Lost Generation to our generation.  (Shoot for ten bullet points.)

Day 125:  Thursday, April 2, 2015

• Essay due today
• Small group sharing
• Large group thesis defense
• Wrap up Hamlet
• HW:  No weekend HW.  Enjoy your weekend with your families!  Happy holidays!

Day 124:  Wednesday, April 1, 2015

• Bloomberg Room to work on essay
• Be sure to review MLA format
• (Laptop cart reserved)

Day 123:  Tuesday, March 31, 2015

• Hamlet test
• Bloomberg Room

Day 122:  Monday, March 30, 2015

• Essay workshopping (laptop cart)
• Share print sources!
• Test Review
• HW:  Study for Hamlet test

Day 121:  Friday, March 27, 2015

• SAT Prep (Second half of practice test 3, section 4)
• Reduced Shakespeare Video
• Weekend HW:  Digital draft of Hamlet essay.

Day 120:  Thursday, March 26, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To work on our RESEARCH skills using the school-wide databases.

Today's Agenda:

• Laptop cart reserved
• Discuss "Inferring Hamlet" - what makes it a good model piece?
• Mini lesson on various critical schools - examine this site
• Mini lesson on finding sources on databases
• Work on RESEARCH - gathering up evidence - in class

Thursday's HW:

• Work on essay.  Digital draft due MONDAY in class.

Day 119:  Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To conduct our final discussion of Hamlet.
• To introduce our Hamlet essay assignment.

Today's Agenda:

• 8 students to Ms. Saulnier for MCAS work (period 2)
• Be sure to give them final paper rubric and "Inferring Hamlet" before they leave
• Hamlet Final discussion
• Introduce Paper Assignment
• Distribute and begin reading "Inferring Hamlet"

Wednesday's HW:

• HW:  Finish reading and annotating "Inferring Hamlet"  (In particular, focus on how it works as a mentor text.)

Day 118:  Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Tuesday's Goals:

• To view and analyze the resolution of the play.
• To compare the depiction to our expectations based on the text.

Tuesday's Agenda:

• Last Year's MCAS - parallel passages?
• Volunteers to work with Ms. Saulnier (8 in period 2)
• View Hamlet 5.2 on video (:45-1:19) (34 minutes)
• Discuss Hamlet 5.2

Tuesday's HW:

• Complete 10 questions about Hamlet.
• In addition to selecting a multiple choice answer option, you should also write 1-3 bullet points for each response so that you can be prepared for tomorrow's discussion.
• Handout provided in class.  If you need, the PowerPoint presentation is also available here.

Day 117:  Monday, March 23, 2015

Monday's Goals:

• To analyze the role of the "clown" character in Shakespeare's works.
• To analyze how 5.1 sets up for the play's resolution.

Monday's Agenda:

• The Role of the Clown
• Students take notes on the role of the clown in Shakespeare's time.
• View the scene, and discuss periodically during three clips.
• What insight does the clown provide?
• How do the gravediggers' comments and Hamlet's comments on death relate to the themes of the play?
• How old is Hamlet?  What is up with his quick aging?
• What is the touchy matter concerning Ophelia's death and burial?
• Do you believe Gertrude when she says she wishes Ophelia could have married Hamlet?
• What is the role of Yoric (whose skull becomes such a very famous symbol in this play)?

Monday's HW:

• Read Hamlet 5.2.  Respond in your log book in the prescribed format.  (I will collect Act 4 logs and Act 5 logs together.)

On tap for next week:

• Monday:  5.1
• Tuesday:  5 on video
• Wednesday:  SRS discussion and essay intro (HW:  read and annotate "Inferring Hamlet")
• Thursday:  work on essay (brief lesson to start about finding sources, share other Bloom sources)
• Friday:  SAT and fundamentals

Day 116:  Friday, March 20, 2015

• Mrs. Donlon comes to talk about Psychology
• Revew SAT vocabulary words from HW.  
• Practice Test 3, Section 4, numbers 1-8 - on your own
• Review
• Bonus time:  Jillian's great vocabulary game.
• HW:  Read 5.1.  Complete logs in the prescribed format.

Day 115:  Thursday, March 19, 2015

• Hamlet Act 4 Character Committees Present (Four Groups)
• Discuss Act 4 and the role of minor characters in plot and characterization
• Bonus time:  View other clips from alternative film versions (Act 4).  Discuss.
• HW:  Look up definitions and word roots for these 20 SAT vocabulary words.

Day 114:  Wednesday, March 18, 2015

• Hamlet Act 4 Character Committees
• Laertes, Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius
• Share logs
• Share guided viewing questions
• Dicuss
• Brainstorm an innovative way to present to class tomorrow.
• HW:  Finish up character committee presentation

Day 113:  Tuesday, March 17, 2015

• Guided viewing of Hamlet Act 4
• Discuss Act 4
• HW:  Finish up guided viewing sheet and other reflections in Hamlet log.

Day 112:  Monday, March 16, 2015

• DDM 2
• Work on reading Act 4
• HW:  Finish reading act 4 and finish "character committee" logs

Day 111:  Friday, March 13, 2015

• Do Now:  Examine and brainstorm for SAT essay 
• Use these prompts from previous years
• Other SAT tips
• SAT Practice Test 2 - Section 10 - completed yesterday, review today
• Ticket Out:  Hand in Act 3 logs
• HW:  Due Tuesday:  Read Act 4 of Hamlet by Tuesday.  Complete "character committee logs."

Day 110:  Thursday, March 12, 2015

• Section 10 of SAT practice test 2 (with grammar explanations) 

Day 109:  Wednesday, March 11, 2015

• Do Now:  Journal on harsh language used when fighting with a parent or loved one.
• Discuss Journal
• View "closet scene" (Hamlet 3.4, 2:10-2:25) and follow along in your book
• Complete discussion questions in small groups (this counts as your 3.4 log)
• Review discussion questions as large group
• HW:  Be sure all Act 3 logs are completed for log check tomorrow.

Day 108:  Tuesday, March 10, 2015

• Did you see the Mousetrap scene?
• Did you complete Mousetrap handout?
• Small groups:  3.2 and 3.3 speech anlysis
• Report out and disucss rhetorical analysis
• HW:  One page write-up of rhetorical analysis of your assigned speech from Hamlet

Day 107:  Monday, March 9, 2015

• Meet in lecture hall

On Tap for Next Week:

• DDM 2
• More Hamlet (starting with 3.3)
• SAT Practice Test 3
• SAT Videos

Day 106:  Friday, March 6, 2015

• SAT Practice Test 2, Section 10
• View and discuss Mousetrap scene on Kenneth Branagh DVD (disc 1, chapters 29-33)
• Outside Reading
• HW:  Read Hamlet 3.3.  Respond in your logs.

Day 105:  Thursday, March 5, 2015

• Announcements
• Touch base on Silver Key Award Winners attending awards ceremony
• Reschedule afterschool AP group; touch base to provide common essay to work on
• Hamlet:  Nunnery Scene Comparative Film Analysis
• See Four Links Below (3.3.15)
• Discuss Guided Questions
• Read through of Mousetrap Scene - in Relay
• Before the Play
• The Dumb Show
• The Mousetrap
• After the Play
• HW:  Finish reading Hamlet 3.2.  Respond in your logs.

Day 104:  Wednesday, March 4, 2015

• Class Meets in Lecture Hall

Day 103:  Tuesday, March 3, 2015

• Hamlet:  Nunnery Scene Comparative Film Analysis - Links Below
• Branagh version
• Hawke version
• Tennant version
• Mirren version
• Guided questions and discussion

Day 102:  Monday, March 2, 2015

• Share your own version of the "To be or not to be" soiloquy
• Discuss objectives of the nunnery scene (revisit other parts of 3.1 beyond "To be or not to be")
• Small group prep - 3 groups, 3 interpretations of the nunnery scene
• Groups present various interpretations of nunnery scene.
• HW:  Page debriefing on your interpretation of the scene

Day 101:  Friday, February 27, 2015

• Spain photos
• SAT preparation (Test 2 - Section 9)
• Outside reading
• Weekend HW:  Your own version of the "To be or not to be" soliloquy if you have not yet completed it

Day 100:  Thursday, February 26, 2015

Goals:

• To perform a close reading of one of Hamlet's soliloquies with a particular focus on antithesis and other rhetorical devices.

Agenda:

• Do Now:  Comparative Film Analysis of various readings of "To be or not be" soliloquy
• Link for 5 versions of To Be Or Not To Be with guided questions in video
• Link to another version of the soliloquy (Ethan Hawke)
• Complete Ms. Sanford's guided viewing sheet
• Small groups:  discuss guided viewing questions and HW
• Large group:  Discuss various interpretations and To be or not to be soliloquy

Thursday's HW (due MONDAY):  

• Write your own version of the "To be or not to be" soliloquy (quiz grade)

Day 99:  Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Goals: 

• To perform a close reading of one of Hamlet's soliloquies and to compare multiple film versions of the soliloquy.

Agenda:

• Submit act 2 logs for grading (quiz grade)
• Do Now:  Paraphrase "O What a Rogue" soiloquy
• Comparative Film Analysis - View and Discuss
• Tenant
• Branagh
• Third Option
• Small Groups:  Complete analysis questions about soliloquy

Wednesday's HW:

• Read Hamlet 3.1.  Respond in your logs, with a focus on the "To be or not to be" soliloquy. 

Day 98:  Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Goals:

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

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 members of your group
• Large group:  Share and discuss examples of the three classical language 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. 
• Also discuss any other impressions of the video interpretation.

Tuesday's HW:

• Be sure that Act 2 logs are completed for a log check Wednesday.

Day 97:  Monday, February 23, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• How was vacation?
• Polonius's Values - large group then small group
• Playing the Newly Mad Hamlet
• Discussion
• Download handout for today's class here.

Tonight's HW:

• Read Hamlet 2.2.  Write in your logs in the prescribed format. 

When we return from vacation...

• Hamlet Act 2 - read 2.1 in class, examine Polonius's value system with handout in small groups

Day 96:  Friday, February 13, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Watch Act 1 on Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet
• Hand in Act 1 logs for grading

Vacation HW:

• Enjoy the vacation!

Day 95:  Thursday, February 12, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Wrap up 1.3
• 1.4
• 1.5

Tonight's HW:

• Wrap up logs for grading tomorrow.

Day 94:  Wednesday, February 11, 2015

• Hand back work
• Touch base on grades
• 1.2 Hamlet's soliloquy
• Hand in 3 paragraph speech analysis
• 1.3 lesson
• questions from logs
• role play
• read and analyze
• Monday's HW:  1.4 an 1.5

Day 93: Friday, February 6, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Muck-raking presentations
• Claudius's speech
• Hamlet's speech
• Other things in scene 2
• Hand in HW

HW for the weekend:

• Read Hamlet 1.3
• Respond in the log in the prescribed format 

Day 92:  Thursday, February 5, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back papers
• Muck-raking presentations
• Rhetorical Analysis of Claudius Speech
• Return to Small Groups
• Large Group Review:  Discuss how literary devices bring meaning to text
• Close Reading of Hamlet's First Soliloquy
• Review HW
• Large Group Review:  Discuss how literary devices bring meaning to text

Tonight's HW:

• Multi-paragraph analysis of either Claudius speech or Hamlet soiloquy (with quotes) - AP style

Day 91:  Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back papers
• Muck-raking presentations
• Questions from logs, 1.1 and 1.2
• Getting the Politics of Hamlet Right
• Small Groups:  Rhetorical Analysis of Claudius

Tonight's HW:

• Complete handout from class (close reading of Hamlet's first soliloquy)

Day 90:  Friday, January 30, 2015

First Day of Quarter 3

Today's Goals:

• English fundamentals
• Read and analyze Hamlet

Today's Agenda:

• SAT - critical reading - test 2, section 7
• read aloud passage about Venus in circle
• discuss main idea, specific details, tone
• answer questions all together
• small groups - read and answer passage about Puerto Rico
• Review
• Hamlet 1.1
• continue reading/acting 1.1 in the round

This Weekend's HW:

• Read Hamlet 1.1 and 1.2. Respond in your log in the prescribed format.
• Be ready to present your muck-raking project next week.  (Send it to me by Monday, present on Tuesday.)

Day 89:  Thursday, January 29, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To introduce our Hamlet unit and to begin reading the text.

Today's Agenda:

• Touch base on muck-raking project (when will we present) and Oil! lesson
• Establish the log format - share model entries
• Journal - questions about Shakespeare, Hamlet, the unit - discuss
• Distribute books
• Read around 1.1.1-80
• Questions
• Act out in the round

Tonight's HW:

• For Monday, read 1.1 and 1.2.  Respond in the prescribed format.

Day 88:  Monday, January 26, 2015

Work on muck-raking projects with Ms. Ford

On tap for next week:

• Monday:  work on muck-raking project
• Tuesday:  Oil and There Will Be Blood
• Wednesday:  Present muck-raking project
• Thursday:  Introduce Hamlet
• Friday:  SAT Skills

Day 87:  Friday, January 23, 2015

Friday's Goal:

• Diagnostic pre-test

Friday's Agenda:

• Pre-test on English Fundamentals (DDM 1)
• Outside reading
• Last-minute SAT tips

Friday's HW:

• Work on muck-raking project.  Due Wednesday, 1/28.

Day 86:  Thursday, January 22, 2015

Today's Goal:  

• Project Work

Today's Agenda:

• Muck-raking videos (student choice)
• Project requirements review
• Small group project work

HW:  

• Continue to work on project (due W 1/28)
• DDM assessment tomorrow

Day 85:  Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Today's Goal:

• Review muck-raking project and brainstorm topics.

Today's Agenda:

• Talk about HW (journalism ethics) and submit
• Muck-raking videos (student choice)
• Muck-raking project rubric
• Group brainstorming for project

HW:  Work on muck-raking project (due Wednesday, 1/28)

DDM on Friday (exam day)!

Day 84:  Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To examine some ethical dilemmas in journalism.

Today's Agenda:

• Read ethical dilemmas
• Small groups:  5 ethical dilemmas
• Large group in a circle: report out to discuss ethical dilemmas

HW:  one page analytical response (2-3 paragraphs) on your ethical dilemma

On tap for next week:

• Tuesday: Review vocabulary from last week, Ethics in Journalism activity
• Wednesday: Assign muck-raking project, Work on project in groups (using HW from weekend)
• Thursday: Work on muck-raking project
• Friday: DDM (Mid-year exam, pre-test diagnostic)

Day 83:  Friday, January 16, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To practice defining vocabulary words in context.
• To practice writing a timed essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Share HW (Vocabulary words).  Identify common words that many students are struggling with.
• Vocabulary in-context exercise for chapters 1-5 of The Jungle
• 25 minute SAT-style essay on The Jungle
• Outside Reading

This Weekend's HW:

• Investigate issues (online) that you could potentially explore in a muck-raking assignment.

Day 82:  Thursday, January 15, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To share DBQ response.
• To perform a close reading of The Jungle.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and discuss HW (DBQ) in small groups; read aloud excerpts of HW in large circle to discuss strengths and areas to improve; submit
• Read aloud and discuss chapter 6 of The Jungle
• Bonus Time:  Video Clips

Tonight's HW:

• Identify 8-10 challenging SAT vocabulary words from The Jungle.
• Copy down the sentence in which they appear.  Define them.

Day 81:  Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To analyze a modern piece of muck-raking.
• To suggest revisions for DBQ-style essay.

Today's Agenda:

• View clippage from Last Week Tonight, suggested by Ian Adams from period 6:  Predatory Lending
• Discuss clippage: 
• How does it function as a modern work of muck-raking?
• How is the plight of these people similar to that of Jurgis?
• Share HW with a partner and discuss potential revisions

Tonight's HW:

• Revise/polish last night's HW (DBQ-style question about if home ownership is linked to the American Dream).
• For extra credit, send me a video clip of modern-day muck-raking that you would like to watch with the class.

Day 80:  Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Today's Goals:

• To analyze the notion of the American Dream, with a particular focus on home ownership.
• To synthesize ideas from articles about home ownership and the American Dream to create an original thesis.

Today's Agenda:

• Small Groups
• In small groups, share HW (brief response paper to chapter 5).  Discuss how Jurgis perceives the American Dream as being tethered to home ownership.  Identify some quotes.
• Reading Period
• Take 10 minutes to silently read and annotate three articles about the American Dream
• Article 1
• Article 2
• Article 3
• Small Groups
• Synthesize ideas from Jungle readings and from articles to create bullet point list of potential talking points - then group and develop thesis
• Large Group Wrap-Up
• Download period 2 brainstorm ideas
• Download period 6 brainstorm ideas

Tonight's HW:

• 3-5 paragraph response (DBQ style)
• use at least 3 of the sources
• Is the American Dream still linked to the notion of home ownership?

Day 79:  Monday, January 12, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To analyze imagery and characterization in The Jungle.

Today's Agenda:

• Finish notes on Upton Sinclair (period 2)
• Small Groups:  Analyze ch. 2 and 3 - ID three talking points to bring back to the large group, centering around close reading, American Dream, imagery, diction, etc.
• Large Group Circle Discussion
• Begin reading chapter 5 (period 6)

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annontate chapter 5 of The Jungle (distributed in class and available here on the web)

On Tap for Tomorrow:

• Chapter 5 discussion (Does owning a home have to be part of the American Dream?  What is the role of unions?)
• Articles about predatory mortgage lending and unions
• Muck-raking project Introduction

Day 78:  Friday, January 9, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To work on English fundamentals.

Today's Agenda:

• Outside Reading
• Small Group Collaboration:  Practice Test 2, Section 6
• Review Grammar Rules within Section

This Weekend's HW:

• Read chapter 3 from The Jungle.  Write a 1-2 paragraph response about the vivid imagery in the passage.

Thursday, January 8, 2015:  No School!

Cold Day!

Day 77:  Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Period 2:  Distracted Driving Assembly

Period 6:  Muck-raking PPT, Discuss ch. 2 of The Jungle

Day 76:  Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To discuss modern articles that deal with immigration and the American Dream.
• To learn a little bit about the history of muck-raking.

Today's Agenda:

• Small Groups:  Share HW (article about immigration and the American Dream) and HW check
• Large Group:  Present best articles from HW
• Muck-Raking background notes
• Small Group Task from PPT (Hardships faced by newcomers to America, etc.)

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annotate chapter 2 of The Jungle (distributed in packet in class).
• Write a response to the guided question:  "How does this chapter show the main characters' notion of the American Dream?"

Day 75:  Monday, January 5, 2015

Today's Goal:

• To analyze and discuss the ideal of the American Dream.

Today's Agenda:

• Journal on American Dream quotes, get into small groups to discuss, discuss as large group
• View and discuss trailer for "Run Ricky Run"
• Read and discuss article about Pat Tillman

Tonight's HW:

• Find an article or a clip on the internet having to deal with the immigrant experience and the American Dream.  Write a 1-2 paragraph analysis and be prepared to discuss in class tomorrow.

Day 74:  Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Read It's Not Easy Being Santa

Epic Holiday Rap Battles

See Mr. Ambroses's original raps here

HW:  HAVE AN AWESOME VACATION!

Day 73:  Monday, December 22, 2014

Parameters of holiday rap battle

Brainstorm sample songs

Work independently on holiday rap

Work collaboratively on holiday rap

HW:  Finish holiday rap

Day 72:  Friday, December 19, 2014

Review PSAT section 5

Outside Reading

HW:  Write down grammatical answer explanation for all questions on section 5 of PSAT.

Day 71:  Thursday, December 18, 2014

Today's Agenda:

Read passages from section 3 - highlight and summarize

Small groups - review section 3 of PSAT

Large group - review section 3 of PSAT

HW:  Write answer explanations for section 3 questions you got wrong; bring in outside reading book

Day 70:  Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Today's Agenda:

• Submit HW
• How to read PSAT scores
• Section 1 of PSAT

Tonight's HW:

• Explain incorrect answers for section one.

Day 69:  Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Today's Goal:

• To analyze some Modernist poetry by Carl Sandburg.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and submit poems from last night
• Small group reading and analysis of Sandburg's poems
• Large group discussion/presentation on these poems - use these guiding questions here
• Wrap up 

Tonight's HW:

• Bring in PSAT materials.
• 2 paragraph critical analysis of one of Sandburg's pome - What is the theme, and how do literary devices contribute to that theme?

Day 68:  Monday, December 15, 2014

Agenda:

• Submit Globe forms for writing contest entries
• Submit essay assignment
• Chicago poems introdutory lesson (see lesson plan on 2.28.11)
• Journal and discussion:  Examine photo of industrial Chicago.  What does this imagery evoke?  Write adjectives and phrases that you would use to describe this city.
• View and discuss Eminem Super Bowl commercial.  What is the message that is delivered about this working class city, and how is a tone of pride created?
• Read biography of Carl Sandburg
• Read and discuss "Chicago," poem by Carl Sandburg
• Begin writing your own version of "Chicago" about Medford
• start with 5 lines of epitaphs about your city (negative connotation, perhaps)
• continue with 5 lines about how you know these epitaphs to be true
• continue with 5-10 lines explaining how you still have pride in your city despite this
• finish with 5 lines of epitaphs that now have a positive connotation

Monday's HW:

• Write your own version of a Chicago poem (i.e. Medford) in Sandburg's style

Day 67:  Friday, December 12, 2014

Agenda:

• Touch Base on Globe Contest
• Outside Reading
• SAT Preparation, Test 2, Section 4
• Review SAT Preparation

Friday's HW:

• Finish literary analysis essay.

Day 66:  Thursday, December 11, 2014

Agenda:

• Review Globe contest categories
• Review how to enter the Globe contest
• Peer Revision - 5-7 minutes of quiet peer edits
• Work on literary analysis essay in small groups

HW:

• Work on literary analysis essay (due Monday, 12/15)
• Bring in outside reading book for tomorrow 

Day 65:  Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Literary analysis essay peer revision day

Work on incorporating quotes

Also, edit pieces for submission to Globe contest (deadline 12/15)

Day 64:  Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Short story unit test

HW for Tuesday night:

• Bring in draft of literary analysis essay

Day 63:  Monday, December 8, 2014

Agenda:

• Review analysis essay topics
• Small group sharing of brainstorming
• Large group workshopping on grouping and thesis

HW for Monday night:

• Study for short story unit test

Day 62:  Friday, December 5, 2014

Agenda:

• Outside Reading Time
• Share and submit coming-of-age personal narrative
• SAT preparation (Practice test 1, section 10)
• Distribute assignment sheet and rubric for literary analysis essay assignment
• Test review

HW for the weekend:

• Brainstorming for literary analysis essay assignment

Day 61:  Thursday, December 4, 2014

Goals:

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

Agenda:

• Review literary terms
• Review vocab
• Small group preparation for Sneed presentations
• Round robin Sneed presentations
• Free write in style of Irving

HW:  Typed coming-of-age draft tomorrow.

Day 60:  Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Work on coming-of-age narrative.

Day 59:  Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Work on Sneed presentations.

Day 58:  Monday, December 1, 2014

Agenda:

• Journal on quote from "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed"
• Share Journal
• Review Expectations for Small Group Lessons
• Guided Reading of "Trying to Save Piggy Sneed"
• HW:  Small Group Preparation for "Sneed"
• On Tap:  Work on Coming of Age narrative, Sneed presentations, FUBAR, literary analysis essay, more stories (Al Jolson?), test

Day 57:  Wednesday, November 26, 2014

• Brainteasers!
• No homework!  Homework Holiday!  Enjoy time with family and friends!

Day 56: Tuesday, November 25, 2014

• Journal:  Can criminals (like Jimmy Valentine) reform?
• Literary Term Review (situational irony, self-fulfilling prophecy, Pygmalion effect, phoenix)
• Circle Discussion (and review Freytag's pyramid)
• Work on coming-of-age narratives (and check HW)
• HW:  No homework!

Day 55:  Monday, November 24, 2014

• Quarter 1 Portfolio Reflection
• Share and check coming-of-age HW
• Take notes plot structure
• Small group:  complete graphic organizer for your choice of a book or movie
• HW:  Read and annotate "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry.  Complete graphic organizer.

Day 54:  Friday, November 21, 2014

• Share our writing pieces for artifact assignment in large circle
• HW:  Free write on your coming-of-age experience

Day 53:  Thursday, November 20, 2014

Today's Goals:

• Share writing and analyze "A & P."

Today's Agenda:

• Share writing
• Small Groups:  "A & P" analysis questions
• Large Group circle discussion

Tonight's Homework:

• Final draft of artifact essay due tomorrow.
• Bring in outside reading book tomorrow.

Day 52:  Wednesday, November 19, 2014

• Share artifact pieces that we are working on with large group
• Read aloud and discuss A and P
• Complete basic discussion questions for A and P
• HW:  Continue work on your artifact piece.  Due Friday.

Day 51:  Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Today's Objective:

• To slow down the pace of something we have written.

Today's Agenda:

• View two video clips.  Discuss how each "slows down the moment" and how this theory could be applied to our writing.
• Twilight clip
• Big Fish clip
• Re-read paragraph from "Everyday Use" (when Dee gets out of the car).  Discuss how the moment is slowed down by Walker's technique.
• Journal:  Quietly journal and try to add to your piece by slowing down a moment.
• Share with small groups
• Mr. Ambrose shares his pieces with large group
• Download lesson plan from today here.

HW:  Continue working on your artifact piece.  Final copy (typed, with photo, approximately 750 words) due Friday.

Day 50:  Monday, November 17, 2014

• Play Extra Credit
• Quarter 1 Grades
• Artifact Exchange
• Share 2 model pieces 
• Small group share of artifacts
• Large group share of artifacts
• HW:  1-2 page draft of your artifact story

Day 49:  Friday, November 14, 2014

• SAT Section 9 - Do Now (Test 1)
• Outside Reading
• Small Group:  Score essays (HW)
• Small Group:  Review Section 9
• Large Group Review
• Ticket Out:  Scored essay from HW
• HW:  Bring in an object, artifact, or photo that has personal significance that you would like to write a story about.

Day 48:  Thursday, November 13, 2014

Thursday's Objective:

• Close reading of Everyday Use and analysis of text.

Thursday's Agenda:

• Extra credit - go to the play!
• Mirrors and Windows - do now, then share
• Small groups
• discuss HW (and check HW)
• complete 6 Everyday Use discussion questions
• Large group discussion
• Alice Walker's bio - how did it impact her work?

Thursday's HW:

• 25-minute timed essay SAT practice.
• outside reading book

Day 47:  Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Wednesday's Objective:

• To read and analyze Alice Walker's "Everyday Use," with a focus on what its message is about family heritage.

Wednesday's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Girl journal entry and discussion
• Quilt PowerPoint to establish context for story
• Active reading of Everyday Use (use active reading sheet)

Wednesday's HW:

• Finish reading "Everyday Use."
• Write a one-page response paper (using quotes from the text) - Did the right sister get to keep the quilt?  Why or why not?

Day 46:  Monday, November 10, 2014

Monday's Objective:

• To share our stories.

Monday's Agenda:

• Review Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards categories
• Small Groups - share stories from HW
• Large Group - share stories from HW in circle

Monday's HW:

• Go to the website for the Boston Globe Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
• Sign up for a username and password.  Explore the various options for entering writing in different categories.

Day 45:  Friday, November 7, 2014

Friday's Goals:

• To analyze and evaluate the benefits of various educational philosophies.
• To review English fundamentals like vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Friday's Agenda:

• Outside Reading
• Homeschool TED Talk recommended by Mackenzie
• View
• Discuss
• Finish SAT test 1, section 2 in small groups (17-24)
• Review section 2 and record score
• Period 6 - C. Smith teaches Whitman poem, "Grass"

Weekend HW:

• Polish short story for Monday.

Day 44:  Thursday, November 6, 2014

Thursday's Goals:

• Analyze the voice and perspective of Jamaica Kincaid's "Girl" and create your own story in her style.

Thursday's Agenda:

• Review 3 literary terms
• Analyze Pink's "Stupid Girls"
• Read "Girl"
• Discussion
• Preview writing your own version

Thursday's HW:

• Any make-up work or essay revisions should be turned in tomorrow.
• Bring in outside reading book.

Day 43:  Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Today's Essential Question:

• How do we write with the door closed, but rewrite with the door open?

Today's Goal:

• Students will revise snapshot vignettes using standard proofreading marks and suggestions from Stephen King's On Writing.

Today's Agenda:

• Hand back summer reading essays; review option to revise
• Read aloud and discuss excerpt from Stephen King's On Writing (Chapter 20, about proofreading)
• Review common proofreading symbols
• Complete Think-Pair-Share activity from PPT to revise pieces
• Share pieces with large group
• Wrap-up/Ticket Out:  Reflection on how today's activity improved the writing

Wednesday's HW:

• Continue to polish your story into a final piece, worthy of entry into a writing contest (due Monday) 

Day 42:  Monday, November 3, 2014

Today's Essential Question:

• How is a short story like a snapshot?

Today's Agenda:

• Share Walden Essays
• Snapshots PowerPoint (with photos for free write) - explore and journal about quotes re:  short stories
• Read aloud and discuss "What Writing Is" by Stephen King
• Free write on photos - see link above to download PPT and look at photos

HW:

• Polish your free write from today into a 2-page narrative vignette.
• Extra credit:  Go to John Brewers tomorrow from 5-10 PM.

Day 41:  Friday, October 31, 2014

Today's Goal:

• To practice English fundamentals like vocabulary and reading comprehension.

Today's Agenda:

• Poem presentation (period 6)
• Do Now:  Vocab questions and read passages (test 1, section 2)
• Collaborate to review and complete questions 1-16
• Review answers
• Submit Walden essays

Tonigh'ts HW:

• Homework Holiday!
• Happy Halloween!

Days 39 and 40:  Wed and Thurs, Oct. 29 and 30

Goal:

• To engage the class in a discussion of a Whitman poem - theme, literary devices, etc.

Agenda:

• Period 2 Poem Presenters:
• 1 - Amani
• 10 - Julia
• 33 - Montana
• 52 - Talia
• America - Abdullahi
• Sight - Lexi
• Period 6 Poem Presenters:
• 1 - Emma
• 10 - Hannah
• 33 - Estafany
• 52 - Sam
• America - Leo
• Sight - Karma

Homework:

• Walden Essay due Friday

Day 38:  Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Tuesday's Goals:

• To share our poems in the style of Whitman.
• To analyze a poem and prepare for a presentation outside.

Tuesday's Agenda:

• Share and submit HW
• Review expectations for presenting Whitman poems
• Small Group Analysis of Whitman poems from textbook

Tuesday's HW:

• Due Tomorrow:  Be prepared to teach your poem.
• 3-5 page Walden essay due Friday.

Day 37:  Monday, October 27, 2014

Monday's Goals:

• To introduce a new Transcendentalist, Walt Whitman, and explore some of his poetry.

Monday's Agenda:

1. View clippage (from An American Experience), journal, and discuss:  How does this represent Transcendentalism as we know it, but also a new brand of Transcendentalist ideals?
2. View clippage (from An American Experience), discuss:  What does this tell us about Whiman and his work?
3. When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer (view clip, read poem again, analyze, previous MCAS questions)
4. Small Groups:  Write your own version of the poem (about when you have had such an epiphany)

Monday's HW:

• Finish and edit your own version of "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer"
• Personal statement of Transcendentalist beliefs due Friday

Day 36:  Friday, October 24, 2015

Friday's Goals:

• To read and appreciate a beautiful personal narrative written by an MHS graduate.
• To work on English fundamentals (grammar) by practicing with College Board materials.

Friday's Agenda:

• College Fair - How was it?
• Outside Reading
• Read Natalie Breen's essay about her brother
• Collaborate on SAT practice session from blue book
• Review SAT practice session from blue book

Friday's HW:  

• Work on your personal statement of Transcendentalist beliefs

Day 35:  Thursday, October 23, 2015

Meet in lecture hall 2

Day 34:  Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Wednesday's Goals:

• To introduce an essay assignment on Transcendentalism, to review rubric and expectations, and to start brainstorming.

Wednesday's Agenda:

• College Fair Tips
• Review Your Own Walden Essay Expectations and Rubric
• Collaborate to Share Ideas on Essay (review past HWs and reading assignments, etc.)

Wednesday's HW:

• No formal HW.
• Go to the college fair.
• Here is a list of schools that will be in attendance.

Day 33:  Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To assess the skills we have practiced during our Transcendentalism unit.

Today's Agenda:

• Transcendentalism Test
• Distribute College Fair Info

Tonight's HW:

• No formal HW.  Start to plan the schools you would like to see at the college fair.

Day 32:  Monday, October 20, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To evaluate our performance on PSAT and diagnostics.
• To share our ideas for outdoor education.
• To review for our unit test by doing some challenging practice questions.

Today's Agenda:

• How was the PSAT?
• Scoring PSAT pratice diagnostics
• Small Group:  Share outdoor education ideas
• For extra credit, who wants to synthesize and summarize?
• Civil Disobedience AP questions
• Test review

Tonight's HW:

• Study for unit test.

On tap for next week:

• Monday:  how was PSAT, review and collect outdoor ed HW, Civil Disobedience AP packet, test review, ticket out PSAT scores
• Tuesday:  Transcendentalist rhetoric test
• Wednesday:  Your Own Walden - introduce and work on essay
• Thursday:  Whitman poems - OUTSIDE!
• Friday:  SAT preparation

Day 31:  Friday, October 17, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To work on fundamental English language skills (grammar) and to prepare for tomorrow's PSAT.

Today's Agenda:

• PSAT logistics
• Complete section 5 of practice test
• Review and score
• Final tips for PSAT

Tonight's HW:

• Good luck on PSAT

Day 30:  Thursday, October 16, 2014

• Emerson's "Self-Reliance" and Henley's essay on Walden - read and answer questions in textbook with Mr. McLaughlin

Day 29:  Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To SYNTHESIZE our reading, journals, and experiences to ENGAGE in meaningful dialogue about outdoor education.

Today's Agenda:

• Review guiding questions for discussion
• Collaborate in small groups to prep discussion
• Circle Discussion
• Reflect by putting ideas on big paper

Tonight's HW:

• Page reflection on one meaningful type of outdoor education and how and why we should adapt it.

Day 28:  Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To ask me questions about the college experience.

Today's Agenda:

• College Presentation 
• College Q and A

Tonight's HW:

•  Prepare for tomorrow's discussion.

On tap for next week:

• Day 28, Tuesday, 10.14.2014:  College Pride Day - bring your questions about college and the college application process
• Day 29, Wednesday, 10.15.2014:  Discussion about the importance of outdoor education with Dr. Perella, Mr. Galusi, and Mr. Tucci
• Day 30, Thursday, 10.16.2014:  Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance"
• Day 31, Friday, 10.17.2014:  Final PSAT practice day, general tips, section 5 of practice booklet
• Additional items:  Hand back all work, distribute progress reports, introduce various writing contests.

Day 27:  Friday, October 10, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To improve fundamental English skills - vocabulary and critical reading comprehension.

Today's Agenda:

• Complete section 3 of PSAT practice booklet
• HW check - pre- and post-hike journal
• When you are finished, read from your outside reading book
• Review section 3 as a large group 

Homework:

• For WEDNESDAY:  Prepare for a circle discussion about the importance of outdoor education.  Seek to synthesize our reading assignments and our outdoor experiences.  Write questions, quotes, and talking points that you would like to raise.

• To ENGAGE in a discussion about Thoreau's relevance.
• To read some PERSONALIZED articles about outdoor education.

Today's Agenda:

• Share and check HW
• So...is he relevant? discussion
• Read articles and discuss
• Want your kids to go to Harvard?  Tell them to go outside
• Into the Wild article - Outside magazine
• Christopher McCandless Obsession Problem

Tonight's HW:

• Pre-hike journal:  What do you hope to experience?  What are your expectations?

Day 24:  Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Today's Goal:

• To discuss our analysis questions and our personalized response.
• To discuss some articles regarding Thoreau's relevance.

Today's Agenda:

• Review PSAT section 1
• Share HW from the other day (Where I Live and What I Lived For)
• Discuss HW and Pass Back Friday Classwork
• Read 2 articles with a partner.  Discuss Thoreau's relevance
• article 1:  Depth and Purity
• article 2:  Thoreau as a Climatologist
• Into the Wild - view trailer and discuss this modern Transcendentalist

Tonight's HW:

• One page...So...Is Thoreau still relevant?

Day 23:  Monday, October 6, 2014

See agenda for sophomores.

Day 22:  Friday, October 3, 2014

Today's Agenda:

• Finish reading Walden and answer comprehension and analysis questions in the textbook.

Day 21:  Thursday, October 2, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To reflect on what Thoreau woudl think of our PERSONALIZED choices regarding money.
• To ENGAGE in a close reading of Walden.
• To COLLABORATE through discussion.

Today's Agenda:

• Share "Economy" Reflection
• Discussion:  What would Thoreau say about our practices?
• Read Where I Lived and What I Lived For and Solitude
• Discuss

Tonight's HW:

• One page - Where You Live and What You Live For
• Bring in PSAT booklet and outside reading book

Day 20:  Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To reflect on our writing using the SCHOOL-WIDE RUBRIC.
• To ENGAGE in a close reading of Beowulf.
• To reflect on what Thoreau would think of our PERSONAL choices.

Today's Agenda:

• Self-Reflection According to Rubric
• Submit Essay (with Rubric and Reflection)
• Read and Discuss "Economy" in Circle
• Complete "Economy" Reflection

Tonight's HW:

• Homework Holiday!  Thanks for your efforts on the Thoreau essay assignment!

Day 19:  Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To write a journal inspired by images of Walden.
• To ENGAGE in a discussion about Transcendentalism.
• To analyze a Transcendentalism anthem.

Today's Agenda:

• Walden Free Write (download PPT with images here)
• Agree/Disagree
• Signs You Might Be Transcendentalist
• You Never Know
• video link
• lyrics link

Tonight's HW:

• Final Draft of Essay Due Tomorrow

Day 18:  Monday, September 29, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To provide and receive PERSONALIZED feedback to make your essay more ENGAGING.
• To COLLABORATE in groups.

Today's Agenda:

• Review rubric and expectations
• ID focus areas for revision
• Two rounds of peer revision
• silently read essay
• on-site corrections
• overall suggestions
• score according to rubric
• praise-suggestion-praise
• Ticket Out:  What concrete things do I need to do to improve my essay?

Tonight's HW:

• Work on Henry David Thoreau essay.  Final draft due Wednesday, October 1

Day 17:  Friday, September 26, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To drop everything and read.
• To collaborate to complete an SAT section.
• To review grammar fundamentals.

Today's Agenda:

• Introduce idea of College Pride Day
• Outside Reading
• Collaborate on Section 5 of official College Board practice Test
• Review Section as a Class using overhead projector

This Weekend's HW:

• Finish your pretty polished draft (typed, two pages) of your HDT vs. MLK essay.  Peer revisions on Monday.

Day 16:  Thursday, September 25, 2014

Picture Day

Work collaboratively on HDT vs. MLK essay

Day 15:  Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Today's Goals:

• COLLABORATE to plan an essay.
• Come out of class with thesis, three talking points, and six quotes.

Today's Agenda:

• Do Now:  Revisit your HW and notes to add to outline
• Questions about rubric
• What is grouping?
• Collaboration
• Thesis
• Three talking points
• Six quotes
• Wrap up:  Share ideas for thesis statements

Tonight's HW:

• Continue working on essay.

Day 14:  Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Today's Goals:

• Review essay EXPECTATIONS and SCHOOL-WIDE RUBRIC.
• ENGAGE in a discussion about MLK and HDT.
• COLLABORATE to share PERSONALIZED feedback.

Today's Agenda:

• Essay Expectations and School-Wide Rubric
• Discussion Format, Ticket Out
• Round 1 Socratic Discussion:  HDT"s Main Idea and Rhetoric
• Round 2 Socratic Discussion:  HDT's Influence on MLK
• Ticket Out:  Personalized Feedback

Tonigh'ts HW:  Brainstorm ideas for essay (one page).  

Essay draft due for peer revision.

Day 13:  Monday, September 22, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To write a PERSONALIZED journal about your own thoughts on Thoreau's philosophy of small government.
• To achieve a COMMON definition of "civil disobedience."
• To COLLABORATE to create an argument map of each section of Thoreau's essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Download PowerPoint for today here.
• Do Now:  Personalized Journal
• Civil Disobedience:  A Definition
• Small Groups:  Collaboration - Argument Map, etc.
• Present Out to Large Group
• Ticket Out:  One idea/question you have for tomorrow's discussion

Tonight's HW:

• Prepare for tomorrow's Socratic Seminar.
• Pull quotes
• Write open-ended questions
• Essential questions:
• What are Thoreau's main ideas, and how does he use rhetoric and structure to convey them?
• In what particular ways did Thoreau's philosophy and writing style influence King?

On Tap for Tomorrow:

• Review of Thoreau essay assignment and school-wide rubric
• Socratic Seminar
• Personalized feedback

Day 12:  Friday, September 19, 2014

Today's Objectives:

• Read a personalized book.
• Colaborate to discern meanings of words.
• Engage in a discussion about a nonfiction text.

Today's Agenda:

• Review weekend reading assignment
• Outside Reading
• In-context vocab activity:  MLK
• NPR MLK article:  read and discuss

Tonight's HW:

• Read and annotate your assigned section of Civil Disobedience. 

Day 11:  Thursday, September 18, 2014

Today's Objectives:

• Engage in a student-centered discussion
• Get some personalized feedback

Today's Agenda:

• Yesterday's Activity
• All students get credit
• How do we like argument mapping?
• Socratic Seminar
• see essential questions
• Ticket Out:  Provide feedback to your partner

Day 10:  Wednesday, September 17, 2014

• Collaborate in small groups to create argument map of your assigned section of MLK's letter with sub.
• HW:  Prepare for tomorrow's Socratic Seminar discussion

Day 9:  Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To learn about the concept of argument mapping.
• To use that concept to create a "reverse outline."
• To discuss in small groups (COLLABORATION) how particular rhetorical devices serve to support meaning.

Today's Agenda:

• What is an argument map?
• Small Group Tasks
• Create argument map
• Review rhetoric/annotations
• Check HW
• Large Group Wrap-up

Tonigh's HW:  Create an argument map for your assigned section.  (Count off by fives.)

Day 8:  Monday, September 15, 2014

Today's Goals:

• To review major rhetorical devices PERSONALIZED based on what rhetoric you know.
• To analyze rhetoric in a clip from a modern TV show, which will hopefully ENGAGE you.

Today's Agenda:

• A Rhetoric Review
• Mad Men Clippage
• Discuss Clip in Small Groups
• Wrap up

Tonigh'ts HW:  Add 3-5 points to your annotations, based on today's rhetoric lesson.

On tap for Next Week:

• Monday:  Ms. Steven's rhetorical device activity (with Mad Men scene); my rhetorical device PPT; review activity
• Tuesday:  discussion of HW; create argument map in class
• Wednesday:  answer MLK questions in groups; discuss format for Socratic Seminar
• Thursday:  Socratic Seminar with the guiding question, "How does King use rhetoric and structure to convey meaning?"
• Friday:  record SAT diagnostic scores from last week, maybe King nonfiction, maybe SAT, outside reading

Day 7:  Friday, September 12, 2014

Unit:  Rhetoric via Transcendentalism

Essential Question:  How do authors use rhetoric to convey their message?

Today's Objective:  

• ENGAGEMENT and PERSONALIZATION!
• To drop everything and read.
• To provide historical context for MLK's arrest.
• To ID strengths and areas for improvement.

Today's Agenda:

1. Outside Reading
2. Finish MLK PPT
3. Collaborate to finish SAT packet
4. Score and review SAT packet

This Weekend's HW:

• Annotate your copy of "Letter from Birmingham Jail."

Day 6:  Thursday, September 11, 2014

Unit:  Rhetoric via Transcendentalism

Essential Question:  How do authors use rhetoric to convey their message?

Today's Objective:  ENGAGEMENT!

• To commemorate a hero of 9/11/2001 by viewing and discussing a short documentary.
• To learn up the historical context leading up to MLK's arrest in Birmingham.

Today's Agenda:

• Man in the Red Bandana - view and discuss
• HW - share HW with group, check HW
• Letter from Birmingham - historical context PPT

Tonight's HW:

• For Friday - Bring in an outside reading book.  If you don't have one, you can borrow one from me tomorrow!
• For Monday - Bring in a copy of MLK's Letter from Birmingham Jail - with your annotations.  If you need me to print you a copy, just let me know!

Day 5:  Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Unit:  Rhetoric via Transcendentalism

Essential Question:  How do authors use rhetoric to convey their message?

Today's Objective:  COLLABORATION!

• RI.11-12.1 To collaborate to understand a foundational government document.

Today's Agenda:

• Journal:  Just vs. Unjust Laws
• Discussion
• Jigsaw on UN Declaration of Human Rights
• Present Out

Tonight's HW:

• Read excerpt from MLK's autobiography.
• Bullet points:  How was this a violation of UN Declaration of Human Rights?  (3-5 bullet points)

Day 4:  Monday, September 8, 2014

Today's Objective:  ASSESSMENT!

• To demonstrate our knowledge of a summer reading book by writing an in-class essay.

Today's Agenda:

• Summer reading essay
• 5 paragraphs
• 3 talking points
• 1-3 quotes (or so)
• hand in outline, rubric, essay

Tonight's HW:

• Homework holiday!
• Be sure to be prepared with other component of summer reading (MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail") by Thursday

On tap for next week:

• Monday:  in-class summer reading essay
• Tuesday:  no school
• Wednesday and Thursday:  MLK intro
• Friday:  return to diagnostic

Day 3:  Friday, September 5, 2014

Today's Objectives:  COLLABORATION!  DIAGNOSTIC!  

• To review expectations for summer reading essay.
• To complete a collaborative diagnostic to assess our ELA skills as a group.

Today's Agenda:

• Review summer reading prompts and rubrics
• Independent MCAS/SAT reading
• Reading passages from section 3 of College Board practice SAT test
• Small groups:  complete collaborative diagnostic
• sections 3 and 5 of College Board practice SAT test

This weekend's HW:

• Outline summer reading essay.
• 3 talking points
• quotes
• everything on one sheet of paper

Day 2:  Thursday, September 4, 2014

Today's Objectives:  PERSONALIZATION - To learn all of your classmates' names as we build an effective class community.

Today's Agenda:

• Collect paperwork (outstanding surveys, parent forms)
• Name histories and ice-breakers
• Review school-wide rubric
• mechanics:  spelling, grammer, capitalization, punctuation
• purpose:  thesis
• development of ideas:  quotes and paraphrase
• organization:  topic sentences

• audience awareness

Tonight's HW:

• Begin to prepare for Monday's summer reading in-class essay (notes on plot and characterization, quotes, etc.)

Day 1:  Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Today's Objectives:  To learn about the class and to set some personal goals.

Today's Agenda:

• Review syllabus and letter home
• Meet Arantxa King and Shane Battier - PPT
• Set personal goals and complete survey

Tonight's HW:

• Ger parent/guardian letter signed
• Write 1-2 paragraphs about the history of your name.  Be prepared to present tomorrow.

SAT test sections completed

Practice Test 1

• Section 2
• Section 6
• Section 9
• Section 10

Practice Test 2

• Section 4
• Section 6
• Section 7 (1.30.15)
• Section 9 (2.27.15)
• Section 10 (3.6.15)

Practice Test 3

• Section 4 (3.20.15 and 3.27.15)
• Section 6 (4.2.15 and 4.10.15)
• Section 7 (4.17.15)
• Section 9 (5.1.15)

Practice Test 4

• Section 2 (5.8.15 and 5.15.15)
• Section 5 (6.5.15)