Mrs. Webster's Homework Assignments

Welcome to Mrs. Webster's Homework Assignments Page! Here you can see from day to day what we are doing in class and what homework has been assigned and when it is due.

20071030

Wednesday, October 31

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer (Work for ten minutes on anticipation guide paragraph. Due at end of bellringer time [10 minutes])
• Turn in bellringer paragraph before you leave class today
• Discuss assigned essay (due next Wednesday). You will NOT have lots of time in class except to type, so write the draft at home!
• Hand out study guide
• TEST TUESDAY!

Communications second hour:
• Work on study guide (due tomorrow)
• Finish and turn in thank you letter
• Finish interviews and packets and turn in
• TEST MONDAY over Chapter 4!!

English 4 fourth hour:
§ Discuss validating online resources
§ Group work on evaluating online resources
§ Present findings if time permits

Communications fifth hour:
• Check and then discuss study guide answers
• Finish and turn in thank you letter
• TEST MONDAY over Chapter 4!!
• If time remains, begin Chapter 5

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer (Work for ten minutes on anticipation guide paragraph. Due at end of bellringer time [10 minutes])
• Discuss aftermath of trials
• McCarthyism worksheet for homework (due Monday)


English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer (Write paragraph based on anticipation guide. Use the directions sheet given to you. Work for ten minutes.)
• Watch movie clips
• With remaining time, discuss “aftermath”

English 4 eighth hour:

• Discuss validating online resources
• Group work on evaluating online resources
• Present findings if time permits

20071029

Tuesday, October 30

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer (work for ten minutes on anticipation guide paragraph)
• Check homework for completion
• Discuss McCarthyism and Arthur Miller
• Compare the witch trials and McCarthyism era

Communications second hour:
• Discuss thank you letters
• Write ONE and turn in for grade
• Work on study guide for review (due Weds.)
• Chapter 4 test Monday

English 4 fourth hour:
• Begin making notes for zero draft of essay
• Validating online sources (www.rlc.edu)
• Examine assigned sites in groups and present

Communications fifth hour:
• Work on thank you letter (due Weds. to me by end of hour)
• Work on study guide (due Weds. at beginning of hour)
• Chapter 4 review

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer (work for ten minutes on anticipation guide paragraph)
• Continue movie


English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer
• Check study guide for Act IV for completion
• Discuss Act IV study guide

English 4 eighth hour:
• Begin making notes for zero draft of essay
• Validating online sources (www.rlc.edu)
• Examine assigned sites in groups and present

20071026

Monday, October 29

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer (Write paragraph based on anticipation guide. Use the directions sheet given to you. Work for ten minutes. Due Weds.)
• Discuss the aftermath
• Begin McCarthyism reading/worksheet

Communications second hour:
• Finish interviews
• Put folders in order and turn in
• If time allows, begin Chapter 4 study guide

English 4 fourth hour:
• Quiz
• Discuss poverty essay
• Work on thesis statement
• Consider how to organize your ideas
• Read sample student essay on page 295-296.
• Work on “zero” draft

Communications fifth hour:
• Take 10-15 minutes to wrap up interviews and put folders in order
• Turn in folders
• Chapter 4 review
• Work on Chapter 4 study guide

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer (Write paragraph based on anticipation guide. Use the directions sheet given to you. Work for ten minutes. Due Weds.)
• Watch movie J

English 3 seventh hour:
• Continue reading Act IV

English 4 eighth hour:
• Quiz
• Discuss poverty essay
• Work on thesis statement
• Consider how to organize your ideas
• Read sample student essay on page 295-296.
• Work on “zero” draft

20071023

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer (1. I told my Mom that she needed to give we kids more allowance this year. 2. times three is a poetry book that contains the funny selection lancelot a poem about young love.)
• Watch movie

Communications second hour:
• Finish wincareers.com and turn in
• Write out answers to possible questions for interviews
• Correct, print, and keep final copies of resumes and cover letters (staple together)

• Put everything in manila folder
• Discuss preparations for interviews
• Assign companies to interview tomorrow and Monday (no school Friday)

English 4 fourth hour:
• Freewrite: what is your definition of masculinity or femininity?
• Freewrite on your topic (Freewrite about the following concerning your probably topic:
• --why concept is important to your life
• --why the concept needs to be defined
• --what is it similar to?
• Different from?
• --what are its causes? What effects does it have? --what information needs to be in definition)

• Discuss pages 272-277
• Do p. 277
• Reading assignment: “What Is Religion?”

Communications fifth hour:
• Interviews begin for these two companies:
• When Duckie Calls
• Shoes Galore

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer (1. I told my Mom that she needed to give we kids more allowance this year. 2. times three is a poetry book that contains the funny selection lancelot a poem about young love.)

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer (1. I told my Mom that she needed to give we kids more allowance this year. 2. times three is a poetry book that contains the funny selection lancelot a poem about young love.)

English 4 eighth hour:
• Freewrite: what is your definition of masculinity or femininity?
• Freewrite on your topic (Freewrite about the following concerning your probably topic:
• --why concept is important to your life
• --why the concept needs to be defined
• --what is it similar to?
• Different from?
• --what are its causes? What effects does it have? --what information needs to be in definition)

20071022

Tuesday, OCTOBER 23, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer (Who bears the most guilt for the fate of those hanged in the Salem witch trials—the girls who accused innocent people or the judges who sentenced them to death? Why?)
• Watch movie

Communications second hour:
• Finish wincareers.com and turn in
• Write out answers to possible questions for interviews
• Correct, print, and keep final copies of resumes and cover letters (staple together)
• Put everything in manila folder
• Discuss preparations for interviews
• Assign companies to interview
• tomorrow and Thursday

English 4 fourth hour:
• Quiz
• Discuss essay
• Freewrite activity (Freewrite about the following concerning your probably topic:
• --why concept is important to your life
• --why the concept needs to be defined
• --what is it similar to?
• Different from?
• --what are its causes? What effects does it have? --what information needs to be in definition)

Communications fifth hour:
• Finish wincareers.com and turn in
• Write out answers to possible questions for interviews
• Correct, print, and keep final copies of resumes and cover letters (staple together)
• Put everything in manila folder
• Discuss preparations for interviews
• Assign companies to interview
• tomorrow and Thursday

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer (Who bears the most guilt for the fate of those hanged in the Salem witch trials—the girls who accused innocent people or the judges who sentenced them to death? Why?)
• Read Act IV
• Hand out study guide
• Finish the play on your own. You will have tomorrow all hour to read and finish study guide.
• Study guide due Thursday.

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer (Who bears the most guilt for the fate of those hanged in the Salem witch trials—the girls who accused innocent people or the judges who sentenced them to death? Why?)
• Continue reading Act 3

English 4 eighth hour:
• Quiz
• Discuss essay
• Freewrite activity (Freewrite about the following concerning your probably topic:
• --why concept is important to your life
• --why the concept needs to be defined
• --what is it similar to?
• Different from?
• --what are its causes? What effects does it have? --what information needs to be in definition)

20071016

Wedensday, October 17, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer: (Answer the following: If you were John Proctor, would you tell the truth about you and Abigail so that everyone would know what she was truly like? What if it would save your wife’s as well as other people’s lives? What might the consequences be if you did, indeed, tell? If you didn’t tell?)
• Read in Act 3
• Work on study guide (due Thursday)

Communications second hour:
• Work on cover letters

English 4 fourth hour:
• Make list of concepts for possible topics
• Read pages 254-257 and do questions 1 and 2 in the first set and 1 and 3 in the second set
• Quiz tomorrow

Communications fifth hour:
• Work on cover letters

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer: (Answer the following: If you were John Proctor, would you tell the truth about you and Abigail so that everyone would know what she was truly like? What if it would save your wife’s as well as other people’s lives? What might the consequences be if you did, indeed, tell? If you didn’t tell?)
• Act 2 quiz
• If time remains, continue in Act 3

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer
• Continue reading in Act 2

English 4 eighth hour:
• Make list of concepts for possible topics
• Read pages 254-257 and do questions 1 and 2 in the first set and 1 and 3 in the second set
• Quiz tomorrow

20071010

Thursday, October 11

English 3 first hour:
• Vocabulary test
• Continue in Chapter Act 2

Communications second hour:
• Finish job opening advertisements
• Save to my flash drive and turn in a copy
• Work on job applications

English 4 fourth hour:
• Begin Chapter 8 discussion of concepts

Communications fifth hour:
• Finish job opening advertisements
• Save to my flash drive and turn in a copy
• Work on job applications

English 3 sixth hour:
• Vocabulary test
• Possibly present two groups
• Begin reading Act II if time allows

English 3 seventh hour:
• Vocabulary test
• Work on essays for ten minutes
• Turn in essays (final, then drafts, then peer edit sheet)
• Work in groups

English 4 eighth hour:
• Continue Chapter 8 discussion of concepts

20071009

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringers
• Practice for vocabulary test tomorrow
• Continue in Act II

Communications second hour:
• Continue working on job descriptions
• Make job opening advertisement and save to my flash drive

English 4 fourth hour:
§ Discuss Chapter 8

Communications fifth hour:
• Continue working on job descriptions
• Make job opening advertisement and save to my flash drive

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringers
• Practice for vocabulary test tomorrow
• Turn in essays
• Continue Mr. Ruedin’s activity

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringers
• Practice for vocabulary test tomorrow
• Hand back peer editing
• Correct errors (paper due tomorrow)
• Continue Mr. Ruedin’s activity

English 4 eighth hour:
§ Discuss Chapter 8

20071003

Thursday, October 4

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringers
• Complete your draft
• Begin peer editing

Communications second hour:
• Discuss resumes
• work with www.careercruising.com


English 4 fourth hour:
• Discuss formatting of paper
• Choose a partner and peer edit using chart in the back of your textbook
• Fix your draft
• Final draft due by the end of the hour tomorrow

Communications fifth hour:
• Discuss resumes
• work with www.careercruising.com


English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer
• Primary sources activity with Mr. Ruedin
• Essay due Monday

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer
• Primary sources activity with Mr. Ruedin
• Essay due Monday

English 4 eighth hour:
• Discuss formatting of paper
• Choose a partner and peer edit using chart in the back of your textbook
• Fix your draft
• Final draft due by the end of the hour tomorrow

20071002

Wednesday, October 3

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer
• Last vocab. presentation (test on all words Friday)
• Work on essay. Be ready to peer edit tomorrow.
• Final due Friday the end of the day though you will not have time Friday to work in class (I can write you a pass in study hall).

Communications second hour:
• Work on www.wincareers.com
• Remember your new user name and password

English 4 fourth hour:
• Work on peer editing
• Work on draft, due Friday

Communications fifth hour:
• Work on www.wincareers.com
• Remember your new user name and password

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer
• Vocabulary presentations (test on all words Friday)
• Work on essay. Be ready to peer edit tomorrow.
• Final due Friday the end of the day though you will not have time Friday to work in class (I can write you a pass in study hall).

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer
• Vocabulary presentations (test on all words Friday)
• Work on essay.
• Final due Friday the end of the day though you will not have time Friday to work in class (I can write you a pass in study hall).

English 4 eighth hour:
• Work on peer editing
• Work on draft, due Friday

October 2, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer
• Vocabulary presentations
• Work on essay (due Thursday)

Communications second hour:
• Continue in Chapter 4

English 4 fourth hour:
• Peer editing: read aloud in groups and discuss.
• See page 87

Communications fifth hour:
• Continue in Chapter 4

English 3 sixth hour:
• Bellringer
• Vocabulary presentations
• Work on essay (due Thursday)

English 3 seventh hour:
• Bellringer
• Vocabulary presentations
• Work on essay (due Thursday)

English 4 eighth hour:
• Peer editing: read aloud in groups and discuss.
• See page 87

20070928

Monday, October 1, 2007

English 3 first hour:

  • Bellringers
  • Vocabulary presentations
  • Act I quiz
  • Work on essay response (due Wednesday)

Communications 2nd hour:

  • Continue Chapter 4 discussions (telephone conversations)

English 4 fourth hour:

  • Quiz over Orwell’s essay
  • Discuss Orwell’s essay
  • Discuss editing your draft
  • Work on typing / editing draft in preparation for peer editing tomorrow

Communications 5th hour

  • Continue Chapter 4 discussions (telephone conversations)

English 3 sixth hour:

  • Bellringers
  • Vocabulary presentations
  • Act I quiz
  • Work on essay response (due Wednesday)

English 3 seventh hour:

  • Bellringers
  • Vocabulary presentations
  • Act I quiz
  • Work on essay response (due Thursday)

English 4 eighth hour:

  • Quiz over Orwell’s essay
  • Discuss Orwell’s essay
  • Work on typing / editing draft in preparation for peer editing tomorrow

20070913

Friday, September 14, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer:

  • Assign vocabulary presentation dates
  • Continue in the play

Communications second hour:
• Practice logical fallacies
• Explain commercial assignment

English 4 4th hour:
• Continue discussion of essay in groups
• Discussion on creativity
• Discuss topics/thesis statements

Communications 5th hour:
• Finish fallacies worksheets and go over answers
• Work on commercial project

English 3 6th hour:
. Same as first hour

English 3 7th hour:

  • Bellringer
  • Assign vocabulary and discuss assignment
  • Assign parts for Act I
  • Begin reading Act I
  • Homework: read pages 1234-1235 all, 1236 last paragraph, and 1237 all. Quiz over it tomorrow.

English 4 8th hour:
Same as fourth hour

20070912

Thursday, September 13, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer
• Assign vocabulary and discuss assignment
• Assign vocabulary presentation days
• Assign parts for Act I
• Begin reading Act I
. READ pages 1234-1235 all; 1236 last paragraph; 1237 until the play begins--QUIZ over reading tomorrow


Communications 2nd hour:
. Discuss logical fallacies
. Work on commercials

English 4 fourth hour:
• Quiz
• Discuss reading selection
• Work on essay

Communications 5th hour:
• Logical fallacies practice in groups
• Discuss commercial project -work on commercials

English 3 6th hour:
• Bellringer
• Assign vocabulary and discuss assignment
• Assign vocabulary presentation days
• Assign parts for Act I
• Begin reading Act I

English 3 7th hour:
• Bellringers
• Continue discussion of background of the play
• Finish study guide and outline notes

English 4 8th hour:
--Same as fourth hour

20070911

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer
• Continue discussion of background to The Crucible.
• Finish study guide outline notes
• Assign vocabulary
• Assign parts to Act I first half

Communications second hour:
• Continue in Chapter 3 discussion
• Listening exercise

English 4 4th hour:
• Discuss thesis statements
• Discuss Chapter 3 and 4

Communications 5th hour:
• Review logical fallacies/propaganda
• Look at examples

English 3 6th hour:
• Bellringer
• Continue discussion of background to The Crucible.
• Finish study guide outline notes
• Assign vocabulary
• Assign parts to Act I first half

English 3 7th hour:
• Do Bellringer: anticipation guide
• Discuss “Sinners” sermon
• Fill in notes over Pilgrims/Puritans
• Continue discussion

English 4 8th hour:
• Discuss thesis statements
• Discuss Chapter 3 and 4

20070910

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer
• Discuss “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
• Check homework
• Discuss background to The Crucible


Communications second hour:
• Chapter 2 test
• Articulation test
• Discuss Chapter 3

English 4 fourth hour:
. Discuss first assignment parameters

Communications 5th hour:
. Discuss Chapter 3

English 3 sixth hour:
. Same as first hour

English 3 seventh hour:
. Bellringer
. Collect summaries
. Discuss Pilgrims and Puritans
. Assign “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
. Discuss background to The Crucible

English 4 eighth hour:
. Same as fourth hour

Monday, September 10, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer: do citation
• Collect summaries
• Puritan Power Point –take notes

Communications 2nd hour:
• Go over study guide
• Discuss articulation test
• Journal write: Write about one or two times you judged a person based on the language he/she used? Or, write about a time you were judged based upon the language us were using. Explain.
• Test Monday
• Begin Chapter 3

English 4 4th hour:
• Quiz over “Under Water”
• Discuss “Under Water”
• If time permits, discuss essay assignment #1

Communications 5th hour:
• Test over Chapter 2
• Articulation test
• If time permits, continue in Chapter 3


English 3 6th hour:
• Bellringer: do citation
• Collect summaries
• Puritan Power Point –take notes

English 3 7th hour:
. No bellringer
. Discuss "America"
. Assign summary
. Turn in old bellringers up to last Weds.

English 4 8th hour:
. Same as fourth hour

20070906

Friday, September 7, 2007

English 3 (all hours):
• Bellringers and print/turn in all old ones (not yesterday’s or today’s)
• Discuss “Born in the U.S.A.”
• Listen to and annotate “America”
• Discuss how to write a summary
• Summary assignment, with focus on complete sentences and spelling

Communications 2nd hour:
• Practice w/partner for articulation test Monday
• Work on study guide, due Monday
• Test Tuesday
• Journal write: What are your problem areas as a speaker? Do you speak too rapidly? Are you too quiet/loud? Are you monotone? Do you use vocal fillers such as “um” or “uh”? Do you have pronunciation/articulation problems with specific words/sounds? What are they?

Communications 5th hour:
• Go over study guide
• Discuss articulation test
• Journal write: Write about one or two times you judged a person based on the language he/she used? Or, write about a time you were judged based upon the language us were using. Explain
• Test Monday
• Begin Chapter 3

English 4 (both hours):
• Quiz over Dillard’s essay
• Discuss Dillard’s essay
• Assign next reading assignment: “Under Water” and questions that follow

Thursday, September 6, 2007

English 3 (all hours): Discuss annotating. Discuss the poem "Barbie's Shoes". Listen to "Born in the U.S.A." and annotate for discussion tomorrow.

Communications:

second hour:

  • journal write on "experiment"
  • Finish articulation problems discussion
  • Practice articulation

Fifth hour:

  • practice with a partner for articulation test on Monday
  • work on study guide, due tomorrow, over Chapter 2
  • Journal write over articulation problems
  • Test over Chapter 2 Monday

English 4 (both hours): Discuss p. 67 homework. Journal write on page 64. Assignment: pages 69-70--read first time for questions on p. 68 (just think about them--don't write them out) then read a second time, answering on paper both sets of questions at end of reading.

20070831

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer paragraph with open notes
• If time permits, discuss the American Dream concept through poetry and song

Communications 2nd hour:
• Finish discussion over articulation
• Practice articulation exercises


English 4 4th hour:
  • Continue Chapter 3 discussion
  • Discuss homework from Friday: page 61.

Communications 5th hour:
• Articulation exercises


English 3 6-7 hours:
• Finish presentations


English 4 8th hour:
• Continue Chapter 3 discussion

  • Discuss homework from Friday: page 29 #3 and page 61.

20070828

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

English 3 first hour:
• Bellringer
• Discuss visual aid
• Discuss presentation
• Discuss grade requirements for project
• Finish peer editing and then work on final draft
• Final draft and presentations due tomorrow

English 3 sixth and seventh hours:
• Bellringer
• Peer edit
• Work on fixing up your draft and getting it typed
• If time allows, discuss visual aid for presentation

Communications:
• Review yesterday’s discussion.
• Continue in Chapter 2, slides 18-28
• Nonverbal practice activities

English 4:
• Discuss semantic meaning (denotation/connotation) and pragmatic meaning
• Work on “Grounds for Fiction” and five assigned questions (due Thursday when you come to class).

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

English 3: First hour--peer edit draft and then fix errors. Final draft due Thursday at beginning of class (presentations also begin then). Discuss visual aid for presentation.
Sixth and seventh hours--finish drafts. Final draft due Friday at beginning of class (presentations also begin then).

Communications: Continue Chapter 2 discussion.

English 4: Discuss "Plato's Cave" and annotations. Metacognition discussion and practice. Begin reading "Grounds for Fiction" and working on annotating the reading. Additionally, do all three questions following in the first section and the last two questions in the second section. This is due Thursday when you come to class.

Monday, August 27, 2007

English 3: Bellringer. Work on draft of CD project.

Communications: Chapter 1 test. Second hour, do journal entry #1.

English 4: Discussion over Chapter 2 in CWWH and Chapter 1 in CWH. Work on analyzing textbook from other class.

20070823

Friday, August 24, 2007

English 3: Bellringer activity. Discuss CD project directions and sample. Begin working on project. Draft due Tuesday when you come to class.

Communications: Do journal assignment. Go over review sheet for Chapter 1 (I will take a 10 point completion grade). Begin Chapter 2 discussion. Chapter 1 test is Monday.

English 4: (4th hour): Do journal activity (page 3 in CTTW in green box). Begin Chapter 2: "Reading Actively, Reading Critically." If time permits, we will practice a sample reading activity in class. (8th hour): Quiz over "Writing. . .Hamburger" and discussion. For tonight, read in CTTW pages 27-35.

Thursday, August 24, 2007

We will drop 7th hour today. 8th hour will go straight to their class during 7th hour period. Dismissal at 2:00! Remember to return your Internet use permission slips ASAP!

English 3: Bellringer activity. Lyrics chart due. Discuss directions for CD project. Look at sample completed project. Draft of project due Tuesday when you come to class.

Communications: Finish bag speeches. You will recieve a Chapter 1 study guide that is due tomorrow for 10 completion points. Work on this in class during remaining time and finish tonight. Chapter 1 test postponed until Monday!

English 4: 4th hour: Quiz over "Writing. . .Hamburger" and discussion. For tonight, read in CTTW pages 27-35. Think about which suggestions you already do and which ones you think might help you to become a more critical reader.

Wednesday, August 22

English 3: Go to http://www.leoslyrics.com/ and work on locating lyrics. Discuss CD project a bit.

Communications: Present bag speeches

English 4: 4th hour: Quiz over Colin Powell's essay. Discuss essay in class. Assign "Writing Isn't a McDonald's Hamburger" and do the first three questions that follow. 8th hour: Complete diagnostic quiz on vocabulary. Discuss Chapter 1 in CTTW. Assign Colin Powell's Essay "My American Journey" and the first three questions that follow. Quiz over reading tomorrow.

20070821

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

WELCOME BACK!! Here we go...

English 3: Signed forms due back tomorrow for a 10 point grade. Continue working on your lyrics chart. You may want to search your CDs and music at home or work at home on the same website as class... www.leoslyrics.com or www.lyricsspy.com. If you find you don't have enough class time to finish, you may need to work at home.

English 4: Signed forms due tomorrow! Fourth hour is a day ahead of 8th hour. 4th hour, we will complete a diagnostic definitions quiz (not for a grade) and we will discuss today your reading assignment (pages 2-10). Tonight, read Colin Powell’s essay in the CTTW textbook, pages 10-12, and do the questions from the Active Reading section. Remember, there will be an brief quiz over the essay you have to read. 8th hour, we will complete a diagnostic essay. For homework, read pages 2-10 in the CTTW textbook.

Communications: We will discuss Chapter 1 today and possibly do some exercises to practice what we learn. Remember, your signed sheet is due tomorrow as well as your bag speeches.

20070517

Thursday, May 17, 2007

The end is near! Summer's almost here. The rest of this week we're going to review. My website has changed some as I'm getting ready for next year (believe it or not!). However, the links you will need to review and my speech students' links are still working.

English 3: Be sure to print a RLC transcript for Mrs. Zawaske and get it to her before the summer. For review for the final exam, go to www.bearcatenglish.com and click on the English 3 link. The three links provided will take you to review sites to help you. English 3 first hour exam is Monday and the exam for sixth and seventh hours is next Weds. You should have received a study guide a couple of days ago. IF you need a new one, you may take one from the table in front of my desk.

Reading: Finish your Power Point this week. Be sure you have everything required and be sure you know how to pronounce everything. Your presentation for final exams is Monday second hour.

Hang in there, guys. You're almost there!

20070510

Friday, May 11, 2007

“All our dreams can come true...if we have the courage to pursue them.”--Walt Disney
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.” --Milton Berle

~*Happy Graduation To Me*~ I graduate with with my master's degree with Mrs. Fitch and Mrs. Polley tomorrow at McKendree. Whoo Hoo!

Friday is Mr. O'Hara's last day. He's graduating, too, very soon. We'll have a goodbye party each hour and give him advice and such. Bring enough food to share and don't bring anything that will stain.

English 3: Make sure your poetry journals are finished and ready to turn in next week. Practice for poetry presentations which will resume Monday. I will miss those of you that are seniors. Congratulations! This is YOUR last day while the rest of us are here for another week and a half. You made it!

English 4/1102: LAST DAY! MLA final exam. After that, party for Mr. O'Hara. We will give him advice on his new career. You can bring snacks if you wish, but remember that drinks should not be red or a color that would stain the carpet. Bring enough to share. I will miss you all. Come back to see me!

Speech: Last day of farewell speeches. Last day for Mr. O'Hara. Heck, last day of everything, including class. You're outta here! I will miss you all! Come back to see me!

Reading: Continue reading in your books and finish your reading packets. Congratulations, Brandon! You made it! I'm proud of you! Be sure to come back and visit some.

20070508

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

...[Poetry. . .]the art of saying everything and reducing it to nothing...
- Barbara Hyett


** Please see yesterday's post for more detailed information including a party for Mr. O'Hara this Friday the 11th and a final exam schedule. **

English 3--We will again work on journals today. First hour, you need to be sure by class tomorrow your journals (the five poem paragraph entries) are finished when you come to class. Today, you will work on choosing one of the five to present and work on finishing the presentation/practicing the presentation. You (first hour only) will present beginning tomorrow and continue each day until the 15th. We will probably take off , however, for Mr. O'Hara's last day this Friday the 11th to party and say goodbye (read yesterday's post). Sixth and seventh hours, you will also work today on the poetry journals. You should be finished by the beginning of class Thursday when you enter the door. You will then spend Thursday working on your presentation and practicing reading your chosen poem. You will present your poems beginning Monday the 14th and finish the 16th.

I will be giving you copies of the rubrics I will use to grade you so you know what to expect. You will need to staple your poetry rubric I give you onto your journal before you turn it in next week. Journals (even though we finish them this week) will not be due until the presentations are completed (I'll keep you posted on the date later on).

English 4/1102: Post write final exam today and tomorrow. Good luck!

Speech: Farewell speeches the rest of this week. Bring hankies or Kleenex!

20070507

Heeeerrrreeeee's Jenny (That's Mrs. Webster to you!) Monday, May 7, 2007

With apologies to Johnny Carson. Are you too young to know who he was? If not, you REALLY need to catch up! Or maybe I'm just getting old....NAH.

Well, I'm back for most classes. It feels great. I love to teach, and it's not easy giving up my classroom or my students though I knew you were in good hands with Mr. O'Hara. Friday is his last day with us, so we will probably do something out of the ordinary Friday. You can bring snacks if you would like (Just make sure it's nothing that ruins or stains carpet) and we'll take time to say goodbye and leave him with advice for being a teacher from the student side of things. So start shopping and start thinking.

Here's what's going on in classes this week.

English 3: All hours are working on their poetry journals. However, due to unforeseen (and one seen) circumstances, sixth hour is lagging behind a day or two. But it's ok, I promise. During finals week, first hour has to take their finals on Monday the 21st and sixth and seventh don't take theirs until Weds. the 23rd. This means that you sixthers and seventhers get an extra 30 minutes on that Monday and Tuesday to catch up on whatever we're behind on. No biggie, see? So first hour should pretty much be finished with their five journal entries by the end of the hour Tuesday (you get all hour Monday to work, too). First hour will then spend all hour Wednesday working on the presentation of their favorite poem and practicing reading their individual poems. They will present their poems beginning Thursday and will continue a few a day until the end of the day the Tuesday the 15th. Sixth and seventh hours can work all hour today and Tuesday and should be finished probably by the end of the hour Wednesday. Thursday you can work on your presentation and practice presenting and presentations will begin most likely Monday the 14th and continue until the end of class the 16th. Then , for all of you reviews will begin for the final exam. Whoo hoo!

Reading class: you are reading your book and completing your packet. Remember, this is the book you will probably use to create your Power Point presentation for your final exam. You can bring snacks Friday to say goodbye to Mr. O'Hara if you would like. Just make sure it's nothing that ruins or stains carpet.

Speech: you will finish out the week creating and presenting your farewell speeches. Friday is Mr. O'Hara's last day and I have a little something different for you as a way to say goodbye to all of you and Mr. O'Hara. Sad, sad, sad. I'll miss you all. Remember that you can bring snacks if you'd like to celebrate this most momentous occasion. Just make sure it's nothing that ruins or stains carpet.

English 4/1102: Here's the rundown. After you finish presenting your research papers Monday and Tuesday, you're down to the final exams. In case you haven't paid a lick of attention the last two weeks, Wednesday and Thursday you have a rewrite of your prewrite and then Friday you have a little MLA test (little as in 5 questions). We'll have a little going-away party for Mr. O'Hara (and all of you--You can bring snacks if you want since the MLA test will not take long--Just make sure it's nothing that ruins or stains carpet). Then, you're outta here!

Final exams for underclassmen are as follows:

Monday the 21st: First and second hours (the other hours are shortened to about 30 minutes each for review)
Tuesday the 22nd: Begin the day with third, fourth, and fifth hours with shortened hours afterwards.
Wednesday the 23rd: Begin the day with sixth, seventh, and eighth hours and then go home
Thursday the 24th: Teacher institute day. Stay home. Sleep. Watch Oprah. Think about me at school grading all those final exams.
Friday the 25th: Come get your report cards and have a great summer.

20070420

I've Got a Second Life!

Most people probably know that I'm somewhat addicted to video games. I could play Zelda, KotOR, Fable, and Halo forever. Back in the days of old computer games like Labyrinth, King's Quest, Monkey Island, and Jousting, I would play for hours. If someone could have hooked me up intraveneously to sustenance and kept me full of caffeine, I would have played all night. Role playing games, though, are what I like best. I love working through puzzles and investigating new places. So when I heard about an online virtual community called Second Life, I had to see it for myself.

I logged into www.secondlife.com and signed up for an account. It was at first a bit scary. I was standing in a new world, looking not a bit like myself. I tweaked the controls to make my avatar look more like me and set off to find adventure. Since I didn't know where to go, I took the advice of a fellow teacher, who is known as Existential Paine in Second Life, and went to Eduisland. It was a world all its own. I was met with buildings, strange upturned vehicles, and odd masses littering the ground. After some time of wandering aimlessly, I met someone who helped me tour the island. However, I kept thinking it was a video game. I wanted to pick up mugs of java and bash them against walls to see what money I could collect. I kept thinking people who were flying above me were enemies or aliens. I expected to get into trouble at any minute for looking into people's houses. And I couldn't figure out my quest for solving a level. Finally, I realized this was not the purpose of Second Life. Though I'm not entirely sure of its purpose except for fun in a virtual world, I do see how it could hold potential in the educational world.

Second Life has educational possibilities, I think. One can meet others to chat. Some places have buildings with rooms to sit at tables and hold discussions. Dean Koontz, master horror crafter, read his book at Bantam Dell's book shop and cafe. How cool would this be for students to be able to meet all together in virtual reality and hear a famous author reading his or her book or to be able to hold a discussion with an author of a book? Students could meet somewhere on SL and hold real discussions about assigned text or work on class projects. What better way to garner student interest than to meet another classroom from somewhere else in the world to converse about some educational topic? So many possibilities, I think. And since many students love technology and are so much more literate in this medium than I, I think many would be more interested in the subject at hand.

I do, however, think this would require much planning and caution. I noticed I could strip down to my skivvies (maybe even more, though I was not about to try), put on strange outfits, choose an alien-like persona for my avatar, and wreck places by creating litter (which had just happened on Eduisland when I was there and some virtual people were cleaning up the trash). Would I as the leader of the group be able to monitor student activities? Could a student fly (yes, you can actually fly to new places on SL) off and create mischief unbeknownst to me? How would Iensure student learning? How would I evaluate participation? And more challenging still: can students join the adult SL and vice versa? If not, how will we all get on the same island? One can buy an island, at least according to one person I talked to on SL, for about $2000 and then high monthly fees. Perhaps if I own my own island, I would have more control.

I could own my own island. Maybe call it "Webster's Island" or something pithy like that. Perhaps I'll retire there some day when I am ready to leave my teaching days behind. . .

20070328

I've Been Blogged!

While sitting in the library while Mr. O'Hara was busily usurping my position as classroom teacher (ok, only sort of. . .student teachers have to do this), I ran out of teacher-y stuff to do. I created a list of students who will accompany me on the field trip in April. Completed in two minutes. I found an outline sample for Mrs. Forbes. Check. I talked with Mr. Biby about a problem with the colored printer while attempting to print scholar bowl certificates. Done. Put the finishing touches on the last two chapters of my action research project for McKendree College. My eyelids were getting heavy. After sighing forlornly and wiping the drool off my lip, I decided to do what lots of people do. I decided to google family members. I got lots of hits on my cousin, who is apparently a tech guru, but no one else. I decided to google myself. Up popped really cool pictures of other Jennifer Websters. Doctors, lawyers, average Joes, er, Janes. But not ME, Jennifer Webster. Fairly entertaining, I must say, but not entertaining enough to feel like a good use of my time. So I did the next best thing: I googled Bearcatenglish, my classroom website and blog. The majority of posts were links to assignments and various pages I've created on the website, but in the midst I found one site I'd long forgotten. It was a link to someone else's blog, called NerdyTales. I remember finding it one day in 2004 and thinking it was cool that someone else in cyberspace had found my homework blog. I printed it for posterity, put it in a file in case I ever needed to impress someone, and then promptly forgot about it. But there it was again. And seven people had replied to the author's comments about my blog (ok, one reply was mine, but seven is so much more impressive than six).

I forget sometimes that what I put on the Internet is there for all to see. I forget when pecking away at my keyboard that it is not beyond the realm of possibility that someone outside of our humble town of Christopher might view my website or blog. And even though I ask my students to blog and reply to each other online in the hopes that they will receive an authentic audience of world wide webbers, I fail to believe that my students may really get that audience. But it IS possible. With that possibility, then, comes a set of potential problems that I must consider. While it is great to have a real audience, how much do I want them to know about my students? How will I ensure their privacy (whether they want to be anonymous or not. . .some are all too eager to put their favorite bands or pictures of their friends or their emails on their pages)? When they begin adding pictures to dress up their boring pages, as teenagers are wont to do, must I teach them about copyright laws? How often should I check their pages to ensure Mary isn't jonseing Billy because he chatted with Mary's best friend last night on MSN or to be comfortable that Precious hasn't added a picture of Eminem in his skivvies?

Technology is fun. It's fascinating. It can make a boring class a bit more palatable for reluctant students. But it sure creates new stresses for the teacher. In the long run, however, I think it's worth it. Students are famished to see their world brought into the classroom. And I'm just as eager to incorporate this technology as well. Especially if it gets me a hit when I google myself. Now, when I find myself as a Wikipedia entry, or if some anonymous admirer creates me a myspacepage and adds me some friends, I will know I have arrived.

20070326

Mr. O'Hara's Blog for Homework

Now that Mr. O'Hara has taken over teaching full time during his student teaching, he has created his own blog for your assignments.

Go to http://mrosenglish.blogspot.com/ to view it.

20070126

Monday, January 29, 2007

English 3: Quiz over chapters 11-20
Discuss Chapters 21-24 with Smart Board timeline activity
We will discuss level 4 questions.
Two questions due w/possible answers


English 4/1102: You will have time to work on your annotated bibliography and to work on finding sources for your paper.

Speech: Speeches, beginning with Bridgette, and then Rachel, Amanda, and then Jordan.


Reading: Reading in A Man Named Dave and finishing up your pen pal letters.

20070125

Friday, January 26, 2007

English 3:Chapters 21-24 and questions (at least TWO level 4).
We will discuss level 4 questions.
Quiz over Chapters 11-20 for Monday.
Quiz over five prefixes for Tuesday.
Discussion over Shephardsons and Grangerfords today.


English 4/1102: We will discuss MLA documentation, specifically internal citations. Your annotated bibliography will be due next week on Wednesday.

Speech: More speeches today, beginning with Chelsey and then Susan, Gretchen, and MAYBE Bridgette.

Reading: Finish your pen pal letter today.

20070124

Thursday, January 25, 2007

English 3: We will go over the next five prefixes today (some classes got through the first couple of slides). We will discuss Chapters 18-20. Be sure you have questions, most of them level 3 type. Read Chapters 21-24 for Monday and do level at least one level 4 question.

English 4: We will discuss MLA documentation most of the hour, specifically focusing on the Works Cited page and punctuating quotations/titles.

Speech: Jason Swan will be here today to talk to you about college.

Reading: Pen pals are in, so you will write to him/her today and some of tomorrow. Finally!!

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

English 3: You will finish and then present your projects for Mr. O'Hara and then will present to the class.
Go over next five prefixes.

English 4: Kris Kuberski will be here for about ten minutes to register you for ENGL 1102.
Quiz over “Young Goodman Brown”
Discuss story


Speech: More speeches today. Presenting today for us will be Cassie, Megan, and Amber. We *might* get to Chelsey. If not, Chelsey, tomorrow!

Reading: Mr. O’Hara will be reading to you.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

English 3: Do your last quick 8 today. Print each one separately and turn them in in numerical order (Quick 8 #1, if you did it, would be first and so on).

Mr. O’Hara worked with your class in groups on a creative writing assignment. Your assignment will have to be completed on your own instead of in a group. Attached is the assignment.

Read Chapters 18, 19, and 20 for tomorrow and prepare level 3 questions for discussion.

English 4: We will discuss more on MLA style. You will have a b it of time to research. Read "Young Goodman Brown" for tomorrow, applying the archetypal/symbolism criticism to the reading. Try looking at other criticisms as well.

Speech: Speeches begin today! Presenting for us will be Janell, Tyler, and Cassie. If we don't get to you, Cassie, today, we WILL get to you tomorrow, promise.

20070119

Monday, January 22, 2007

English 3: Do quick 8 (your ninth one...one more to go!). We will have several students presenting today each hour. Afterwards, with what time remains, we will discuss Chapters 14-17 and turn in t-charts for those chapters.

English 4/1102: Time to research again. We will discuss argumentation a bit.

Speech: Work on finalizing outlines. Turn in completed outline by end of hour today. We will draw for speech order.

Reading: Mr. O'Hara will read once again to you.

Friday, January 19, 2007

English 3 -- Quick 8. Mr. O'Hara and I will check your t-chart and discuss with you Chapters 11-13. Chapters 14-17 due Monday with level 3 questions on your t-chart.

English 4/1102: Class fourth hour only due to 2:00 P.M. dismissal. Fourth hour will have all hour to research.

Speech: I will hand back your outlines today and give you suggestions for improving and turning in a final copy by the end of the hour Monday. We will also discuss notecards and how to prepare them for your speech. Speeches will begin Tuesday. We will draw for the order Monday in class.

Reading: Bookworm.

20070118

Thursday, January 18, 2007

English 3: NO QUICK 8 TODAY! Instead, you will take a test over Chapters 1-10. Some students may present today their assigned chapters. T-chart for Chapters 8, 9, and 10 is due today, with ONE level 3 and TWO level 2 questions. Mr. O'Hara will discuss these chapters with you today. Read Chapters 11-13 for tomorrow and do your t-chart with some level 3 questions.

English 4/1102: Quiz over "The Lottery." Mr. O'Hara will then discuss the story with you. Then, you will have time to work on research. You will be allowed to research all hour tomorrow.

Speech: We will discuss Easybib and your Works Cited/visual aid page. The rest of the hour, work on your visual aid and speech.

Reading: Reading A Man Named Dave.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Welcome Mr. O'Hara, our new student teacher! We are so glad to have you.

English 3: Quick 8. Discuss level 3 questions...do ONE with TWO level 2 questions for Chapters 8-10 tomorrow. Discuss in groups some questions I will give you. Read Chapters 11-13 for Friday. You will have a quiz over Chapters 1-10 tomorrow.

English 4/1102: Discuss methods for saving sources and research paper assignment.

Speech: We will discuss how to use appropriately Power Point for your presentations.

Reading: Mr. O'Hara will begin reading A Man Named Dave to you.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

English 3: Do a quick 8. Those who are supposed to teach a chapter will present. Quiz over ten prefixes. We will then work in groups discussing what we've read so far. Chapters 8-10 are due for discussion Wednesday.

English 4/1102: Disuss EBSCOHost and setting limiters/tutorial. Research.

Speech: Outline due by end of hour.

Reading: Read on own.

20070111

Friday, January 12, 2007

No School Monday due to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday!

English 3: Do a Quick 8. Any student signed up to teach Chapters 5-7 teach will teach first. Turn in the study guide for me to copy for the class before the end of the our.
Discuss Chapters 5-7: t-chart (level 2 questions/plot list)Discuss movie from yesterday: Born to Trouble: The Adventures of Huck Finn (Part 1)
Read Chapters 8, 9, and 10 for Tuesday. Tuesday you will also have a quiz over the next five root words from the 30-15-10 list.

English 4/1102: We will discuss how to record information from sources you locate. Next week, you will have some time to work on locating information. Research questions are due by Weds. A working thesis is due by Friday.

Speech: Work on outlines and audience analyses. Detailed outline, typed, due by end of the hour Tuesday.

Reading: Bookworm contest.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

English 3: Quick 8
Go over new root words
Watch movie: Born to Trouble: The Adventures of Huck Finn (Part 1)
Finish Chapters 5-7 and t-chart for tomorrow.

English 4/1102: We will discuss “Teenage Wasteland”
We will discuss RLC’s library and EBSCOHost
If you need more information, you can go to the following: http://www.mckendree.edu/academics/library_infor_svcs.aspx and click on “tutorials” in the middle and then on the following links: (you will need to have the volume up)

Advanced Searching Techniques
Advanced Search / Guided Style Techniques
Basic EBSCO Searching in Academic Libraries
Using My EBSCOhost


Speech: Work on outlines and audience analyses.

Reading:Bookworm

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

English 3: Do a Quick 8
Go over level 2 questions and answers/t-chart
Read Chapters 5-7 for Friday's class.
Remember to tell me which chapter you want to present.

English 4/1102: Read "Teenage Wasteland" for tomorrow's class.
Discuss literary criticism.
Apply literary criticism to "All About Suicide"

Speech: Work on audience analysis and outline.

Reading: Read in your book.

20070108

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

English 3: We will go over and attempt answers to the four level 2 questions you wrote last night. Next, we will discuss how to prepare for a chapter presentation, as each of you will be required to teach a chapter. Last, we will read on in Huck Finn and write four questions on the t-chart (level 2) as well as write plot items.

English 4/1102: We will discuss indicators of critical thinking. We will also discuss the research paper, pages 443-445 in The College Writer's Handbook, and work on looking for an acceptable topic for your first paper.

Speech: Work on locating a topic and completing your audience analysis. Next, we will discuss locating reliable sources. You will then have time to work on finding information for your topic and working on an outline.

Reading: Read assigned book in folder on right side floor of my desk.

20070105

Monday, January 8, 2007

English 3: We will complete an anticipation guide today before beginning the novel. I will begin reading Chapter 1 aloud and we will discuss the use of the "n" word as well as Twain's use of the vernacular.

English 4/1102: We will discuss the short story you read as homework, "All About Suicide". We will also discuss critical thining indicators. Additionally, we will begin discussing the research paper.

Speech: Chapter 6 test. Afterwards, you will be given a worksheet that we did not get to Friday due to our discussion of subliminal advertising. You will work on analyzing your audience and topic for your first speech.

Friday, January 5, 2007

English 3: We will discuss Mark Twain's life and a bit about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn today. You will receive a copy of the novel as well as a novel packet for notes.

English 4/1102: We will discuss understanding literature today, pages 3-19. For tomorrow, read the story "All About Suicide" on page 5 and mark text/prepare for discussion tomorrow.

Speech: I will give you a sheet explaining your first speech, the expository speech. We will discuss expectations and then you will have some time to work on an audience/topic analysis and do some research. Remember, you have a Chapter 6 test Monday.

Reading: Continue reading in your books.

Thursday, January 4, 2007

Happy 2007!

English 3: I will let you see your exam grades and your fourth quarter grades. We will then discuss the next time period: "Division, Expansion, and Reconciliation."

English 4/1102: We will go over your RLC and high school grades and then discuss the syllabus for this semester.

Speech: We will finish and then review Chapter 6. You will have a Ch. 6 test Monday.

Reading: You will read a book of your choice today.