Friday, September 30, 2005

English 3 --We will finish our Bookworm contest and I will award a prize to the winning team.

English 4 -- work on your essays.

Speech -- complete and turn in your resumes and applications in preparation for our interviews.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

English 3 -- We will have a Bookworm contest first hour. There is no class 6th or 7th hours due to the talent show and cookout.

English 4 -- Fourth hour may have classtime to type essays. There is no class 8th hour due to the talent show and cookout.

Speech -- We will discuss interviewing techniques in preparation for class "interviews" next week.

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

English 3 -- We are watching more of the movie The Crucible. If you didn't turn in the Internet worksheet on the aftermath of the witch trials, do so ASAP.

English 4 -- I will be giving you credit for your rough drafts today. I will have you exchange with someone and peer edit. Final drafts will be due Tuesday, though this is the last week to type in class (that means those of you in 8th hour will need to type at home or some other time at school--or in my room before school from 7:30 -8:00 or after right after school if you let me know you're coming in)

Speech -- Today, we will sign up for "interviews" and figure out with what company and with whom we will interview. We will then complete our resumes by adding an objective statement and fixing anything else still needed.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

English 3 -- Turn in your worksheets from yesterday. We will begin The Crucible video.

English 4 -- Work on comparison and contrast draft.

Speech --We will be working on resumes. Be sure you have your www.careercruising.com username and password.

Monday, September 26, 2005

English 3--Now that we have finished The Crucible, we will look at the aftermath. You will be given a worksheet to complete in class. The work will require you to read two articles on the Internet and answer questions about what happened when the trials were over. I will have printed copies of the Internet pages if you do not complete them and need to work at home without Internet access. Worksheets are due tomorrow. We will then begin watching the movie. A Crucible test will follow next Monday.

English 4 -- Now that we have read several essays using comparison and contrast and completed some activites practicing organization, you should begin your draft. You were given a packet of papers to help you begin organizing your thoughts and to help you begin making lists of similarities and differences. Using the suggestions, develop a thesis statement and begin your draft. We will type today and Tuesday in class. Wednesday, we will peer edit. Essays will be due MONDAY at the beginning of class since 8th hour has no class Thursday or Friday. 4th hour may type in class Thurs. and Fri. and hopefully will not have any homework that way.

Speech -- We will be working on resumes.

Friday, September 23, 2005

English 3 -- We will, I think, finish The Crucible today.

English 4 -- We will discuss "The Ugly Truth about Beauty" and the activities we did yesterday. I will then give you your topic choices for compare-contrast and we will begin pre-writing.

Speech -- Today, you will get back in your group from yesterday and create your job ads. If time remains, we will begin creating resumes by going to www.careercruising.com .

Reading Lab -- continue reading!

Thursday, September 22, 2005

English 3 --We will attempt to post the last three journal entries to our blogs today. Then, finally, we will begin Act 4.

English 4 -- We will discuss Dave Barry's essay today. Then, with a partner, go to http://college.hmco.com/devenglish/wong/paragraph_essentials/1e/students/exercises/ch6_4.html and

http://college.hmco.com/devenglish/wong/paragraph_essentials/1e/students/exercises/ch6_3.html. You need to answer the questions and then print and turn in. We will discuss the answers at the end of the hour. Begin thinking about what compare and contrast topic you will choose.

Speech -- we will be discussing interviewing.

Reading Lab--read a book or the newspaper today and continue filling out your bookmark. Remember to look up works you don't know and then put a star by them.

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

English 3 -- We will have Socratic Circles today. You MUST have your annotated text to participate and to receive a grade.

English 4 -- We will discuss "A Fable for Tomorrow" and the five questions assigned. Next, we will practice organizational patterns in comparison and contrast. Go to http://wps.ablongman.com/long_long_rw_1/0,8256,1453897-,00.html with a partner. Answer the questions and have the results emailed to me. Finally, do the following:
1. Find a partner. You must work with a peer.2. Link to Yahoo! Movies (http://movies.yahoo.com)3. Choose a movie (that is either in theaters or on its way) and click on the link for that movie. 4. Scroll down the movie's page until you find the "report-card" of reviews. 5. After browsing the entire set of reviews (you can click on the "more" option to get this), choose two reviews to compare. (When picking your reviews, try to steer clear of reviews that are extremely similar in their criticisms, or reviews that are very short.) 6. Decide on the structure you will use and formulate an outline. You'll have to decide if your comparison is either a point-to-point comparison or whole-to-whole comparison.
7. Turn in your outline with BOTH of your names on it.
For homework, read Dave Barry's "The Ugly Truth About Beauty" and answer question 1 on the first set of questions, and all four questions on the second set.

Speech -- We will continue Chapter 4. Today, we will discuss telephone conversations and practice some. If time allows, we will also discuss interviews.

Reading Lab -- Remember to look up unknown words on your bookmark and put a star or "ok" by them once you know what they mean.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

English 3 -- JOURNAL = Answer in your journal = Name one thing in your reading of The Crucible so far that you can somehow relate to or connect with in some way. (This could be an incident in the story, a character in the story, a particular scene, a line from one of the characters, etc.) Explain how you relate to or connect with what you've named. IN CLASS = Yesterday, we learned at the end of Act 3 that Rev. Hale has quit the court. We also learned that Elizabeth, who has (according to her husband Proctor) never lied before lied to the jury about her husband's affair with Abigail. We will discuss static and dynamic characters and plot the changes to the dynamic characters. HOMEWORK = I will be giving you a poem to mark the text for Socratic Circles tomorrow. We will spend a little time in class reviewing how to mark text.

English 4 -- We will go over "A Fable for Tomorrow" and the assigned questions. For tonight, read "The Ugly Truth about Beauty." Answer question1 from the first set and then all from the second set.

Speech = We will begin Chapter 4 today.

Reading Lab=continue reading your chosen books and filling out the bookmarks. Today, we will discuss how to think about things that you wonder about, since many of you are leaving that part blank on your bookmarks.

Monday, September 19, 2005

English 3 -- Today, in your blog (or in Word, if blogger is still blocked) answer the following: Write about a book or movie that has revenge as a theme. What movie or book is it? Explain how the idea of revenge is developed in that movie or book. We wil attempt to finish Act 3 today. We will also attempt to publish to our blogs what we wrote Friday.

English 4 -- Process analysis papers are due by the end of the day today. (You wil not have class time to type.) Today, we will begin comparison/contrast essays. For homework, read "A Fable for Tomorrow" beginning on page 351. Answer question 1 in the first set and all of the second set.

Speech -- We will finish viewing commercials and then attempt to finish impromptu speeches. Tomorrow, we will begin Chapter 4.

Reading Lab -- Now that you are reading books of your choosing, you will be completing bookmarks that ask you to think as you read. Remember to fill out those bookmarks as you are reading.

Friday, September 16, 2005

English 3 -- 1. Write in your blog. Write about a time when you (or someone you know of) were accused of something you did not do. How did you feel? Did the person who accused you ever realize that you did not do it? If the person never accepted you were innocent, how did you deal with it?
2. We will then continue reading Act 3.

English 4 -- Last day to work on your process analysis essay. Two pages, double spaced, Times New Roman--due Monday when you walk in the door. Today you will have time to peer edit.

Speech -- We will be watching commercials all hour and attempting to discern the logical fallacies and propaganda used.

Reading Lab -- Today, you will each get the book you chose yesterday and begin reading. Each day, you will fill out a paper before the end of the hour. These will be kept in a folder for my room.

Thusrday, September 15, 205

English 3 -- Turn in your worksheets from Act 2 today at the beginning of the hour. We will begin reading Act 3 today.

English 4 -- We will discuss your thesis sentences in class today. The rest of the hour will be yours to finish your drafts so that tomorrow you can peer edit for each other. Essays will be due Monday when you walk in the classroom.

Speech -- Test over Chapter 3 today. We will watch videos tomorrow.

Reading Lab -- We will watch your Power Point presentations today. Tomorrow, we will begin choosing books to read.

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

English 3 --You will get into assigned groups and read Act 2. Assign each group member a part. Discuss periodically as needed. For homework, answer the questions on the worksheet the sub will give you.

English 4 -- Work on your rough draft. By the end of the hour, turn in your thesis statement. The following website might be of help in developing your theisis statement: http://www.wonderfulwritingskillsunhandbook.com/html/thesis_worksheet.html

Speech -- impromptu speeches

Reading Lab--finish working on your Power Point presentations.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

English 3 -- We will continue reading. Most of you have been assigned parts. Don't forget to be reading at home and practicing so that your presentation is smooth and has emotion.

English 4 -- We will have a guest speaker, Jason Swann, from RLC today. I do not know how much classtime he will take. It is possible that he might take all hour. Continue working at home on your drafts. We will practice more common grammar errors as well as discuss "The Fine Art of Complaining" tomorrow. Tomorrow, I will check for a thesis statement.

Speech -- You should be working on getting together to film your commercials. Remember, if you don't have access in your group to a video camera let me know ASAP so we can arrange for you to meet me before or after school to film. Commercials are due Friday in class. We will continue practicing recognizing logical fallacies and propaganda.

Reading Lab -- Keep working on your Power Point presentations. They are looking great! Remember, at least five slides and three pictuers that go with the book. In your presentation, tell what happened in the book. For your last two slides (Dustyn, just one last slide), tell what the favorite part of the book was and why for each person in your group.

Monday, September 12, 2005

English 3 -- We didn't get as far Friday as I had hoped we would. Therefore, we will take the vocab test today, then begin Act 2. Remember, you should have practiced your part so that today you can read it fluently and with emotion (we don't want to fall asleep from boredom :) ) Tonight, some of you will have new assigned parts to practice for tomorrow.

English 4 --We will discuss "Cyberschool" and the two sets of questions that followed. For homework, read "The Fine Art of Complaining." At home, begin working on your process analysis draft.

Speech -- Work on your draft for your commercial.

Reading -- We will begin working on your individual Power Point presentations over The Lottery Rose.

Friday, September 9, 2005

English 3 -- We will finish our vocabulary story that we started yesterday. Afterward, we will begin reading Act II. Several of you were assigned parts yesterday. You should be prepared to read fluently and with some emotion. Vocabulary test over Act I Monday.

English 4 -- We will discuss "Your New Computer" and the two sets of questions that followed. Tonight, read "Cyberschool" and do the two sets of questions that follow.

Speech -- We will go over the worksheet you completed with a partner (logical fallacies/propaganda). Next, we will discuss how to make commercials.

Reading Lab -- We finished our first book! Today, all hour, in celebration we will play Bookworm. Monday, we will begin creating Power Point presentations over the The Lottery Rose.

Thursday, September 8, 2005

English 3 -- Turn in completed character wheel worksheets that you completed yesterday with your group. We will practice vocabulary again today. Test wil be Monday.

English 4 -- We will discuss narration. I will hand back (I hope) your description essays today.

Speech -- We will continue practicing identifying logical fallacies and propaganda. If time allows, we will begin discussing commercials that you will create next week.

Reading Lab-- Only two chapters left in our book! We will continue "Say Something!" and our Bookworm contest.

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

English 3 -- You need to post your draft of your letter from Act I to your blog today. You will then be assigned a group to work with and a character wheel to complete in your group. Continue studying your vocabulary words. The quiz will be Friday. Tomorrow, we will play a game to help you remember definitions.

English 4 -- Several of you did not have your drafts completed yesterday, which made it difficult to have it checked over by a partner for vivid verbs, colorful language, similes, etc. Today is your last day to work in class, though your paper is due tomorrow (Thursday) by the end of the day. I will give you a rubric that I will use to grade your paper. This should give you a clear guide in which to check your paper before turning it in.

Speech -- You did great with mnemonic devices yesterday. Today, we will discuss logical fallacies and dissect several advertisements to see how they are persuading us.

Reading Lab -- You did awesome yesterday with "Say Something." We will read Chapter 12 and practice "Say Something" again. Also, we will continue our Bookworm contest. We're halfway through the contest. Keep making those longer words for more points!!!

Tuesday, September 6, 2005

English 3 -- We will finish reading Act I today in class. You will then need to write the following in your blog: Write a journal entry of either Betty, Abigail, or Reverend Parris that clearly shows his/her thinking so far in Act I. Include elements of the plot so far. Here's an example for Reverend Hale (not a choice for this assignment):


Salem, 1692
Well, here I am. I have been called from my hometown of Beverly by the Reverend Parris to determine what ails his daughter, Betty. They say she lies inert in her bed and has attempted to fly out her window. Apparently, Betty and some other girls danced in the woods and Goody Putnam has confessed to me that she sent her daughter Ruth to the woods to talk to her seven dead babies. The girls danced around a kettle with a frog inside. Additionally, Giles has now mentioned that his wife reads mysterious books and when she does, he cannot pray. However, after she puts away her books, he can again resume his prayers. Very suspicious. Since I am a learned man who has dealt with this situation just recently, I feel I am the one to solve their problems. Parris has agreed to abide by my decision as to whether witchcraft is or is not involved.

For homework, begin learning the definitions of the vocabulary words from Act I that I will give you today. They are words that often appear on ACT and SAT exams.

English 4 -- We will discuss your rough drafts today. I will ask you to look for weaknesses in vivid details, weak verbs, lack of similes and metaphors. Final drafts will be due Thursday by the end of the day. However, tomorrow is the last class day to work on them.

Speech -- We will continue discussing Chapter 3. We may try to get the following sites to work:
http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/advertisingtricks/whatsinanad.html

http://www.coke.com/usa/tvcommercials/index.html

http://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/tricks_of_the_trade

Reading Lab -- I hope we will finish our book this week. We will continue working on asking questions and learn a new technique this week called "Say Something." We will also continue our Bookworm competition.

Friday, September 2, 2005

NO SCHOOL MONDAY!!!

English 3 -- We will continue in Act I today. If you were absent yesterday, see me immediately to make up the pop quiz from yesterday.

English 4 -- We will discuss "Bombs Bursting in Air" and look at a sample essay. Then, I will give you time to brainstorm and possibly begin your exemplification draft.

Speech -- Today, we will begin Chapter 3. The last 15 minutes or so we will continue impromptu speeches for those of you who haven't yet given them.

Reading -- We are close to being finished with our first book. I will again read aloud today and expect you to raise your hand if you don't understand something so we can discuss it. You have done very well with that the last two days. Afterwards, we will continue our Bookworm contest. Try to make longer words so you can earn more points!