Today in Class – May 9, 2008

Bellringer:

If you could design a pair of socks that would best describe you, what would those socks look like?  What type of colors would you use?  What designs or patterns would be on them?

Today/Classwork:

Today we continued watching presentations of the Grammar Rock Projects. When time allowed, we resumed vocabulary test re-takes.

Homework:

Those groups that did not present today need to be prepared to present on Monday.

Word of the Day:

prodigious – (adjective) extraordinary or impressive

My only love sprung from my only hate!

Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

Prodigious birth of love it is to me,

That I must love a loathed enemy.

– Juliet, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

Today in Class – May 8, 2008

Bellringer:

What do you do to “cure” or overcome writer’s block?

Today/Classwork:

Today we watched presentations of the Grammar Rock Projects.

4^th and 7^th Periods – We did not meet today because of the emergency evacuation. (Please write “bomb threat” for today’s bellringer.)

Homework:

Those groups that did not present today need to be prepared to present tomorrow.

Also, study for vocabulary test re-takes which will resume tomorrow.

Word of the Day:

placate – (verb) to appease or pacify

Many of the men, who knew that they were in danger of his big bear-paw when it reached out for the honey vats, even made efforts to placate him, to get on the friendly side of him.

– Burning Daylight, Jack London

Today in Class – May 7, 2008

Bellringer:

If you could talk to a famous fictional character, who would you talk to and what three questions would you ask him or her?

Today/Classwork:

All Classes: Grammar Rock final drafts were turned in. If your group did not turn in the project, it needs to be turned in immediately!

1^st, 2^nd, and 6^th Periods: These classes began working on mini-lesson plans for our study next week of modern literary elements. Students paired up and began developing a lesson which will be presented to their class. If you missed this class, you will be paired up and given further instructions when we resume this activity next week.

4^th and 5^th Periods: These classes began their study of modern literary elements with a PowerPoint presentation and vocabulary exercise. If you missed this class, please copy the literary concepts and their definitions into your notes as soon as possible. You will need them for future classwork.

7^th Period: The class was given this period to put the finishing touches on their Grammar Rock projects.

Homework:

Be prepared for your group presentations tomorrow.

Word of the Day:

immutable – (adjective) unchangeable; changeless

Today in Class – May 6, 2008

Bellringer:

Name three things that you believe get better with age.

Today/Classwork:

1^st, 2^nd, 6^th, and 7^th Periods – These classes began their study of modern literary elements with a PowerPoint presentation and vocabulary exercise. If you missed this class, please copy the literary concepts and their definitions into your notes as soon as possible. You will need them for future classwork.

4^th Period – I was attending a meeting and the class had a free period.

5^th Period – The class was given this period to put the finishing touches on their Grammar Rock projects.

Homework:

Finish your Grammar Rock Projects – DUE TOMORROW – and be prepared to turn them in at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Grammar Rock Group Evaluation Form

Word of the Day:

guile – (noun) craftiness; cunning

Captain John Smith: They are gentle, loving, faithful, lacking in all guile and trickery.

– The New World (2005)

Today in Class – May 5, 2008

Bellringer:

Do you believe there are any circumstances under which war is necessary, and if so, what are they?

Today:

Today we discussed the literary use of war imagery, specifically in the poem “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner.”

Classwork:

Read “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” and answer the questions on the Poetry Analysis Flowchart handed out in class. Keep the completed worksheet in your notes for future reference.

Homework:

1^st, 2^nd, 6^th, and 7^th Periods – Your homework assignment is to draw a single frame political cartoon that communicates a message about war to the reader. You are not being graded on your artistic skills, but rather your use of imagery to make a point about war. This assignment is due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

4^th and 5^th Periods – Work on your Grammar Rock projects. You have no additional homework assignment today.

Word of the Day:

altruism – (noun) unselfish regard for the welfare of others

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today in Class – May 2, 2008

Bellringer:

Which of the following characters do you relate the most closely with and why: Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the TinMan, or the Lion?

Today:

Today students were given individual, oral exam re-takes on the word-of-the-day vocabulary words. Those students who did not get a chance to complete their re-take today will be given the opportunity to do so next Friday; so keep studying!

Classwork:

There was no classwork assignment today on account of the exam re-takes.

Homework:

Worksheets 96-100 are due on Monday!

Word of the Day:

abscond – (verb) to leave quickly and secretly, especially to avoid legal action

Captain Renault: I’ve often speculated why you don’t return to America. Did you abscondwith the church funds? Run off with a senator’s wife?

– Casablanca (1942)

Today in Class – May 1, 2008

Bellringer:

If you could travel to any of the planets, which one would you visit and why?

Today:

Today was a Grammar Rock Project group workday. Today is the last in-class workday groups will have to complete their projects.

Classwork:

Students worked with their Grammar Rock Project groups to revise lyrics and presentation outlines and finalize their presentation details.

If you missed this class, please contact your group members as soon as possible to make sure you are all ready to turn in your projects next week.

Homework:

Study for tomorrow’s vocabulary test re-take.

Word of the Day:

banal – (adjective) commonplace; trite

Pablo Neruda: When you explain poetry, it becomes banal. Better than any explanation is the experience of feelings that poetry can reveal to a nature open enough to understand it.

– Il Postino (1994)

Today in Class – April 30, 2008

Bellringer:

Write exactly three sentences about your plans for this summer vacation.

Classwork:

Read and complete the Lesson 99 and Lesson 100 worksheets. Worksheets 99-100

Homework:

Complete the Lesson 99 and Lesson 100 worksheets.

These worksheets will be due at the beginning of class on Monday, May 5, 2008.

Reminder:

The extra credit poetry assignment (30 original poems) is due this week. I will be accepting poems on May 1st and May 2nd only. Poems not turned in on those days will not be accepted, even if you are absent, unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances. (“I forgot,” “I left them at home,” “I lost my notebook,” “my printer stopped working,” and similar excuses are not extreme extenuating circumstances.)

Announcement:

The National Foundation for Women Legislators is sponsoring an essay contest for college-bound Junior and Senior female students. Go to http://www.womenlegislators.org/events/scholarship-program.php for entry forms and rules.

Word of the Day:

appease – (verb) to calm or soothe, as by granting concessions; to satisfy or please

Knights: We are the keepers of the sacred words: Ni, Peng, and Neewong.

Arthur: Those who hear those words seldom live to tell the tale.

Knights: Ni, ni, ni, ni, ni, ni, ni. We will say Ni again if you do not appease us.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Today in Class – April 29, 2008

Bellringer:

Describe your favorite green thing in great detail.

Classwork:

Read and complete the Lesson 96, Lesson 97, and Lesson 98 worksheets. Worksheets 96-98

Homework:

Complete the Lesson 96, Lesson 97, and Lesson 98 worksheets.

These worksheets will be due at the beginning of class on Monday, May 5, 2008.

Reminder:

The extra credit poetry assignment (30 original poems) is due on May 1st. I will be accepting poems on May 1st and May 2nd only. Poems not turned in on those days will not be accepted, even if you are absent, unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances. (“I forgot,” “I left them at home,” “I lost my notebook,” “My printer stopped working,” and similar excuses are not extreme extenuating circumstances.)

Announcement:

The National Foundation for Women Legislators is sponsoring an essay contest for college-bound Junior and Senior female students. Go to http://www.womenlegislators.org/events/scholarship-program.php for entry forms and rules.

Word of the Day:

vilify – (verb) to speak of abusively; to defame

And one to other said, “Good faith, of all

The many works Ulysses well hath done,

Wise in the council, foremost in the fight,

He ne’er hath done a better, than when now

He makes this scurril babbler hold his peace.

Methinks his headstrong spirit will not soon

Lead him again to vilify the Kings.”

The Illiad by Homer

Test Announcement

There will be an oral re-take of last week’s vocabulary test on Friday, May 2nd. You must be present in class to earn additional points toward your test score. I will be questioning you individually on your knowledge of the vocabulary. For each question you answer correctly, I will add points to your test grade; so it would be a good idea if you studied between now and Friday.